Acting Technique: Hannibal Lecter meets Mr. Rogers

[CrimsonRabbit]

I was wondering if anyone's seen articles or interview with Michael about his technique.

I'm fascinated how Benry in the Tale of Two Cities was this easy mix of Mr. Roger's politeness and Hannibal Lecter's quiet sadism. I don't think I've ever seen anything like it on screen.

[~Lirpa~]

I was TOTALLY thinking Hanibal Lector when I heard Henry in the preview for this week's eppy. He greets

Spoiler:

Jack with a "Hello, Jack."

Sounds just like when Hanibal said, "Hello, Clarice."

[amidala64]

In an interview he calls it stillness, and explains that it's a trait he's developed as an actor that audiences are instinctively drawn to.

Emerson says:

"Audiences react to something. Maybe it's those intense eyeball-to-eyeball scenes, which have a lot of nuance. I continue to play the role instinctively, and that (creepiness) is what people think of me."



For more from the original Variety dot com article click here:
http://www.variety.com/ac2006_articl...917?nav=eactor

[Myha]

The art of stillness... Another actor, Dough Hutchison (from The Green Mile, I Am Sam...), was giving classes in that in Los Angeles...

The Art of Stillness

[piscescat]

Stillness... it's a great way to get everyone's attention because they're anticipating more dialogue. Sometimes a whisper is more powerful than a shout too.

---

Stillness -- it's a great way to get an audience's attention because they're anticipating more dialogue. And sometimes a whisper is more powerful than a shout too.

[CrimsonRabbit]

Thanks for the links!

Yes, I was picking up on a few things Emmerson would do, like his very subtle bows, that would come out of a very still, rigid posture... it's both polite and scary at the same time and you can't help but react to it.

[penyours]

yes also, we're so use to watching the facial reactions and body language of actors on TV as a way to infer how they are feeling and what they are thinking, when someone like Michael uses stillness effectively, we are drawn to it because it not what everyone else on screen is doing. I think Juliet does this as well but not to the same extent.

Originally Posted by piscescat

And sometimes a whisper is more powerful than a shout too.

yes yes whisper are very powerful!!

[Mads13]

I definitely saw the whole Hannibal Lechter thing going with Ben. That whole situation with Jack and him reminds me a lot of Hannibal and Clarice. It's just funny that it's Jack who's behind the glass. Hmmmm....
That style just unnerves me me, and creeps me out a tad. But I'm somehow drawn into it, like it's charasmatic in some ways.

[Insa]

Hi

My first post on this board...

I just wanted to say that I love the acting of Michael Emerson - he really stands out against all the other actors.
One good explanation is this art of stillness - another in my opinion his great voice. It always gets everyones attention (wether as Henry Gale and a prisoner or as commanding Ben Linus).
Just can´t get enough of it and I must admit - Michael Emerson is the reason I got addicted to Lost (hey, I even watched an episode of the X-Files lately to see his acting )

[Mads13]

Welcome to the board Insa

I do agree about his voice. It's in control, confident, and demanding. But somehow soothing and reassuring at the same time. Unfortunately I never knew who Michael Emerson was until Lost. Now I'm going to have to go back to his other work to see more of him. He was in the X-Files? Hmm, must have missed that one. Now I'll have to rewatch it.