Upon directing a scene, what sort of relationship should the director have with the actors? In Face, Body and Movement  David Forgacs explores this through the actions of different directors such as Michael Carne and Antonioni Sternberg.

Within the reading, Fornac explores the idea of how the realtionships between Director and Actors have on the total effect of the film. For example, Sternberg slapped an actress in order to ‘undermine her natural happiness’ and withheld information from an actor in order to achieve the performance he was endeavoring to strive for. Additionally, Sternberg released a statement during 1960-1962 stating that actors ‘do not need to understand’ and that they are just ‘elements’ within a shot.

Antonioni’s reputation in regards to working with actors certainly exceeded itself and Forgacs uses statements of actors to reinforce this. For example, Jack Nicholson seemed to admire Antonioni’s method of directing saying that actors were not ‘the most important thing’ and compared them to ‘moving space’ within a shot.

Forgacs then goes to compare and contrast Antonioni with/against other directors such as De Sica, who enforced a more empathetic approach when dealing with actors; and Fellini who started out writing radio sketches and animations.

The crucial difference between screen acting and theatrical performance is also clearly outlined by Forgacs, in that actors on the screen have a limited space in which they are allowed to move and perform. However, it can be argued that this limitation allows for the flourish of potential as the scene can be filmed from different camera angles and techniques such as close-ups etc.

Additionally, with screen acting, the script does not need to be performed in complete fluidity; in that it is broken up and not always followed in chronological order in terms of cinematic events.

However, although Antonioni’s directing methods may be seen as harsh – he was widely commended for his ability as a screen director. He placed extreme importance in regards to how each scene was covered and, additionally, had extreme attention to detail when placing actors within the scene; ultimately, he achieved great success as a director.

Antonioni was a director who worked with extreme clarity and determination and although his treatment and attitude toward actors, both trained and untrained, could be considered cruel – he is one of the most pivotal and celebrated directors throughout the cinematic field.