The difference between THEATRE & FILM Acting according to JOHN MALKOVICH

It’s a question that is put to established actors time and time again:

What are the differences between acting in theatre and acting in film?

Some actors do not draw any distinction between the two. Certainly when approaching the material at the beginning the basic key questions still apply…

• Where have I been?
• Where am I going?
• WHAT DO I WANT?

But, once the ground work is in place, it could be argued that the two mediums, whilst being of equal artistic merit, have their own unique set of requirements and challenges. JOHN MALKOVICH certainly sees the two as being worlds apart. 

Theatre is an ephemeral, living organism. Film is not. 

Film acting has no momentum…it’s like pushing a boulder up a hill. Doing a great play? That’s like hanging on to a runaway train

What do you think?