Why did the first screen actors use exaggerated gestures, emphatic expressions, and the mouthing of words to bring their characters to life?
A) This was the standard visual language of cinematic expression.
B) Film directors told them to act this way.
C) This was the accepted comic style of the time.
D) They were adapting the acting style of nineteenth-century theater.
E) They were following the Italian national film style.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The first screen actors were mainly stage actors who were used to performing in the style of nineteenth-century theater, which relied heavily on exaggerated gestures and expressions to convey emotions and actions to a live audience. This style was carried over to early cinema because it was what the actors knew and what audiences were used to seeing.

Why Did the First Screen Actors Use Exaggerated Gestures, Emphatic