Chemistry Continued: Reacting to Stuff

I discuss in a prior post what creates chemistry, platonic or otherwise, between actors. I list five factors:

1. The leads are attractive in the same kind of way. 

2. The leads match each other's energy in the same shot.

3. The leads are comfortable in their own skins and with each other. 

4. The actors play off each other. 

5. Je ne sais quoi. 

The next factor goes along with 2 and 4: The leads actually react to each other. 

Red Letter Media addresses this issue in his, uh, dismantling of the Star Wars prequels when he points out that even a skilled actor such as Ewan McGregor has difficulty reacting to a blue-screen. A huge creature with lightsabers shows up in front of him and...he doesn't even blink?

Jackson did much better with The Hobbit in large part because he stuck sensors all over people and had them crawl around the set.

It doesn't hurt, of course, to have Martin Freeman, who is a master at reacting subtly to external stimuli, facing down Andy Serkis, who is totally fun.

But, unfortunately, it is not unusual when watching television and even movies to get the sense that actors are simply waiting for their cues.

Can and Tin Again

One of my favorite scenes in Love by Chance, Season 1 occurs when Can and Tin end up eating at an outside university shindig. Tin is less than pleased since it is hot and Can loads him down with bags. Can says to Tin in his usual direct way, "Sorry. I'll wipe off the sweat. Where's your handkerchief?" 

Tin replies, "Front left pocket."

At which point, I become endlessly delighted because Can does what I do: he turns slightly to remind himself what is the left and right of the person he is facing.

The gesture is so quick and unself-conscious, I suspect the actor simply did it--and then the director said, "Okay, keep doing that" for the next 40 takes.

Using the actor who plays Can as a guide, an actor who makes these unthinking responses can inspire other actors. In Love by Chance, Season 1, Plan (Can) and Saint (Pete) have an extremely funny scene in which Can basically talks out loud about what a strange guy Tin is: hot but obnoxious with a great car but he's a terrible driver and so on. Saint plays a bashful, sweet, innocent character throughout most of that season but for a few minutes, opposite Plan as Can, Saint's straight-man comedic side shines, to the point where one wishes the series had given him more opportunities to be funny.

Likewise, Mean, who plays Tin, starts out ahead of many of the series' actors in terms of responding quickly to cues (a sideways glance of his eyes, for instance) but that ability increases as he plays opposite Plan as Can. 

And he responds to the existence of objects--as does Plan. In the second season, at the car, both he and Plan reach for the backpack on the hood at the same time. Plan snags it first but the responses emphasize that both actors don't forget their props. They remain aware that there is a backpack on the car despite the constant stops and starts due to "cuts." The action looks clumsy but is very realistic.

In commentary on a Numb3rs episode, Rob Morrow remarks that a guest director or guest actor can make a difference. Rather acerbically, he adds that sometimes, the lousiness of the guest can inspire others to try harder.

Reacting to stuff--not just saying, "Oh, it's my turn now?"--makes a difference.