The Many Faces of Acting

【Writing Series】

Hey there! Welcome back! In today’s post, we’ll be analyzing the components that make up an essay as you probably now know what is expected in the introductory paragraph, body paragraphs, and conclusion paragraph. Read and study the essay below. It is titled: The Many Faces of Acting.

Did you know that as recently as a few generations ago, one of the most common forms of entertainment was listening to actors in radio dramas? During the 1930s, for example, radio audiences had to imagine the scenery, the action, and even the physical appearance of the performers. Nowadays, it is difficult to imagine acting as a form of entertainment without a visual format. Modern acting comes in a variety of forms and can be classified into three types: stage acting, television acting, and film acting.

Stage acting is the oldest form among the modern types of acting. Various plays, ranging from Shakespearean classics to contemporary hits, are showcased in both large theaters and small community stages. During stage acting, the same performance is repeated, and the stage sets remain unchanged for every show. The preparation for stage acting can be lengthy due to the necessity for all actors to memorize their lines. Moreover, stage acting is "live," so the use of understudies— or replacement actors—is crucial. If a lead actor is injured or unable to perform, an understudy takes their place. Unlike film, where editing is possible, stage performances can vary in quality from one day to the next. Many believe that there is nothing more captivating than witnessing actors perform live on stage.

Television acting is perhaps the most well-known form of acting. Typically, this type of acting is carried out for television programs that are produced in a studio. Each week, the storylines evolve as writers craft fresh dialogues and scenes for the main characters. Actors usually come in five days a week to practice and rehearse their lines. Finally, on the last day, filming begins as the TV cameras start rolling. TV actors receive assistance from teleprompters and guidance from directors off-camera to enhance their delivery. Television scenes can be shot multiple times until the actors achieve the desired performance. Given that almost every household has a television, it's no surprise that television acting is the most recognizable form of acting.

Finally, film acting involves starting with a screenplay that contains all the necessary information about the set and actors' dialogues and evolves into a full-fledged movie. The filming can take place anywhere across the globe. For example, if the storyline is set in Brazil, the film crew and actors travel to that country for shooting. Unlike screenplays, movies can be filmed out of order, meaning actors might film the ending before the beginning scenes. Since it's not a live performance, directors often ask actors to redo scenes until they are satisfied with the outcome, leading to extensive work for the actors. Due to these factors, film actors need to be diligent and adaptable in their approach to work.

Acting, whether on stage, television, or in film, holds a favorable position as an entertainment choice among most people. Each form of acting possesses distinctive features, adding depth and diversity to the viewing experience. Despite individual preferences for a particular acting style, the audience's enduring appreciation for acting as an art form remains unchanged. It is safe to say that audience members will continue to appreciate the craft of acting as long as it provides such enjoyable entertainment.

Now, complete the outline using a few key words to see if you grasped the understanding of this essay.

Title: The Many Faces of Acting

I. _____________________

A. Hook

B. Connecting information

C. ___________________

II. Body Paragraph 1: Stage acting

A: General information

1. Oldest type of acting

2. ___________________

3. Performed on large and small stages

B. Performance/set

1. Performance is repeated each night

2. _________________________

C. Actors’ responsibilities

1. Rehearse for months

2. ________________________

3. Importance of understudies

D. Disadvantages

1. ________________________

2. Great one day/uneven the next

III. Body paragraph 2: ___________________

A. General information

1. _______________________

2. TV programs

3. Filmed in a studio

B. Story

1. _______________________

2. Writers create new dialogs and scenes

C. Actors’ responsibilities

1. Actors rehearse five days per week

2. Filming on the last day

D. Advantages

1. _______________________

2. Director’s help

3. Filmed until it is just right

IV. Body Paragraph 3: Film acting

A. Process

1. _______________________

2. Becomes a movie

B. Filming

1. Filmed on location

2. Scenes can be filmed in any order

C. Advantages/disadvantages

1. Repeat scene until good results

2. _________________________

D. Actors’ responsibilities

1. Be a hard worker

2. Be flexible in how and where they work

V. Conclusion

A. Restate the thesis statement

B. Summarize the main points

C. Concluding statement: a prediction

Scroll down to reveal the answers

Scroll down to reveal the answers

Scroll down to reveal the answers

Scroll down to reveal the answers

Scroll down to reveal the answers

Scroll down to reveal the answers

Title: The Many Faces of Acting

I. Introduction

A. Hook

B. Connecting information

C. Thesis statement

II. Body Paragraph 1: Stage acting

A: General information

1. Oldest type of acting

2. Stories change every week

3. Performed on large and small stages

B. Performance/set

1. Performance is repeated each night

2. Sets stay the same

C. Actors’ responsibilities

1. Rehearse for months

2. Must memorize lines

3. Importance of understudies

D. Disadvantages

1. No editing

2. Great one day/uneven the next

III. Body paragraph 2: TV acting

A. General information

1. Best known acting

2. TV programs

3. Filmed in a studio

B. Story

1. Stories change every week

2. Writers create new dialogs and scenes

C. Actors’ responsibilities

1. Actors rehearse five days per week

2. Filming on the last day

D. Advantages

1. Teleprompters give lines

2. Director’s help

3. Filmed until it is just right

IV. Body Paragraph 3: Film acting

A. Process

1. Starts with a screenplay

2. Becomes a movie

B. Filming

1. Filmed on location

2. Scenes can be filmed in any order

C. Advantages/disadvantages

1. Repeat scene until good results

2. A lot of work for actors

D. Actors’ responsibilities

1. Be a hard worker

2. Be flexible in how and where they work

V. Conclusion

A. Restate the thesis statement

B. Summarize the main points

C. Concluding statement: a prediction

Knowing how to structure your writing helps you create content that's easy to follow and understand. It's like arranging puzzle pieces to make a clear picture! With a good structure, your ideas flow smoothly, making your writing engaging and enjoyable for readers. It's all about making sure your message comes across clearly and effectively!

Your favorite EMI friend, JJ

—Signing off—