The Art of the Matter






Ivanov In Moscow
A Documentary
ArtZone
Ovation
The Arts Network
2001




With his performances in Schindler's List, Quiz Show, and The English Patient, Ralph Fiennes (pronounced 'Rafe Fines') has become recognized as one of the top British actors of his generation. When the British production of Ivanov came to Moscow, journalists there were curious about this movie star, and wanted to know whether he preferred acting on stage or on screen. Here's what Fiennes responded:


<< "If I had to choose I hope I would choose theater. Because it seems to me the truest form of acting. You're acting in a continuum of time, in the framework of a play, a performance and above all it's the interaction with the audience, which is so strong. It's a way of provoking people's hearts and minds and spirits about the world that they live in, about the human condition. There is nothing, I believe, so powerful as a collaborative act of theater, between actors and audience. It is one of the most powerful forms we have."
>>

In America, there is also a tradition of our best actors moving back and forth between stage and screen. Kevin Kline, for example, starred in New York as Ivanov (Winter, 1997-98), at the same time that several of his movies (In and Out, The Ice Storm) were playing in theaters around the country. Some other actors who are comfortable switching back and forth between films and theater are:

James Earl Jones
Jane Alexander
Meryl Streep
Patrick Stewart
Dustin Hoffman
Kelly McGillis
Al Pacino
Robert DeNiro


Leaving aside the powerful lure of money, what are some reasons an actor might prefer one medium over the other? Make a list of the differences between stage work and movie acting. What do the two kinds of acting have in common?


 

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Ralph Fiennes Links Page

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