A couple of days I re-listened to the Ken Duncan Podcasts and as a result I decided to check out some of the Buster Keaton films.
I bought the DVD box set and the first film I watched was “The General”.
Now, while I don’t consider myself anywhere near a film critic, I must say that this movie was absolutely brilliant! The plot, the cinematography, the music and the clever gags/acting choices made this film a fun and engaging experience.
When I look back at these old silent films, I am slowly starting to realise what original and clever acting choices are about. However coming up with those is a big challenging task on its own. If any of you out there are in need of some pure inspiration, I highly recommend checking out some amazing actor(s)/ film maker(s) such as Keaton (and Chaplin).
I received a couple of great comments about the the motivation of the kid as well as his internal thought process. While experimenting with different gestures, I took a step back, shuffled some poses on the timeline and ended up with something I feel like is more clear, and somewhat simple. Every action has a reaction, and this is one of the things I strived to achieve in this planning.
Personally I think it’s finally starting to come together and look more unified. The acting has a bit more depth with the internal and external thought process being more readable and somewhat simplified. There are still a few things I am working on like the ending and the contrast in the timing.
