Robert Westenberg, associate professor of theater at Drury University, is known among his peers for his teaching and stage work.
But he has also appeared in film and television, working with acclaimed directors such as James Ivory, Barbet Schroder and Ang Lee, among others. He offered a few insights for people interested in trying to make their move to screen:
Consider the size of the role.
According to Westenberg, you do not need to project on screen unlike on stage. “It’s a matter of scale,” he said. As the projection is different, a large scale — vocal or physical — would be too much for a confined area such as a 16×9 television or a movie theater screen.
Get used to the technical aspects.
Sound and lights are important when making a movie or TV show. Stage marks are also important, to stay in the frame as specified by the standards of film and television. With the 2.39:1 aspect ratio (or scope), you have more space, but most film and television will be in the 1:33:1 (or Academy) or 1.78:1 (or flat) aspect ratios, leaving less space. Without understanding these aspects, you are setting yourself up for failure as you will not know where you are supposed to be.
Be prepared to adjust to the hours.
Film shoots can go all day. Westenberg recalls one shoot he did that went from 7 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. As a result, you must become comfortable with what goes on during a film or television shoot, and keep yourself available, especially when you must face a 21½-hour workday.
Listen more deeply.
The camera knows when one isn’t listening, for it can serve as an all-seeing eye. Westenberg says 90 percent of shots are reaction shots. Since such media is heavy on reaction, being interested or being able to fake it well is important. Otherwise, the illusion of the characters listening is broken.
Find a film or television agent, not a theater agent.
Theater agents do not have connections to film or television, so choose wisely. If you do not and get a stage agent when you are in film or television, work might be harder to achieve. If you want to do both (as Westenberg has), it is valuable in getting work despite the potentially heavy cost of having two agents.
