On-screen Chemistry

What causes great chemistry between actors/actresses?  Is it that they bond behind the scenes? Or is it that they were friends or lovers before the filming of the movie began?  How is it that Julia Roberts and Richard Gere had great chemistry in “Pretty Woman” and in “Runaway Bride”?  They worked very well together.  Does that mean they were best friends off the set?  Or just that they were both very proffesional?

I really feel that it takes great stars to be able to hold a good connection with one another in order to make a great movie.  They have to be able to make it convincing to the audience so that even if there is “drama” behind the scenes, we won’t be able to tell.  For example, in the drama “Girl, Interrupted”, two very talented actresses had to create great on-screen chemistry in order to have a successful film.  The film starred Angelina Jolie and Winona Ryder.  According to reporters, the two stars did not get along very well off the set.  Would you have ever guessed that from watching the film?  I didnt.  They were phenomenal together.  When I had heard that they weren’t too fond of each other, I was really shocked.  I guess I used to think that for actors/actresses to work that well together, they had to be close friends off-screen.  Apparently I was very wrong about that.

 It really comes down to how hard the stars are willing to work and how cooperative they are willing to be.  They don’t have to be friends, but they do need to be proffesional.  Does it help for actors/actresses to be friends behind the scenes or should it not have any effect at all? 

Fantasy vs. Reality

What movies are people more drawn to?  Do they prefer movies with some truth in it or would they rather watch a film that they know is completely unrealistic?

There are differnt types of reality.  There are true stories and then there are realistic stories.  True stories are films that are based on actual events, people, or ideas.  Realistic stories are films about ideal situations or circumstances.  Fantasy stories are unrealistic films.

I find that a lot of people I talk to are really interested in movies such as “The Lord of the Rings” and “Harry Potter”.  These movies are complete fiction films that consist of witches, trolls and wizards.  I think a lot of people like to escape reality by watching movies and feeling like they are a part of an adventure that is otherwise impossible for them to experience.  I feel that way too sometimes.  When I watch “Pirates of the Carribean”, I get so into the movie because I know it is an unrealistic experience for me to ever have unless I am watching the movie. 

There are other people who really jump into the true stories and try to understand what it would feel like to go through what people really experienced.  Films such as “United 91″ and “Open Water” are not only frieghtning and emotional because there is death and terror, but because they are based on actual events, they simply become even more emotional.  These are the types of films that people enjoy because they have actually happened and it makes people think , “what if that happened to me?”

For me, I am more into realistic films, but sometimes I still enjoy getting lost in a great fantasy for even just a couple of hours.

The Significance of Movies and Film

People do not watch movies just for something to do.  Movies provide laughter, understanding, comfort, adventure, motivation, and romance.  The most important aspect of a movie is that the audience can relate to it.  Whether the story is similar to your life experiences or if it’s seeing alot of your qualities in a specific character, how an individual connects to a movie is very significant.   Nobody wants to see a movie that doesn’t do anything for them.  If it creates no interest for them then it is pointless.

Once a person can relate to a film, it gives the film so much more power.   It has the power to create many different emotions and to connect a person to their emotions.  For example, many people do not realize how sensitive they are until they see a movie that completely breaks them down into tears. 

A lot of people haven’t found what it is that they are interested in until they see a film that reaches out to them.  A person may really only be into comedy until they see a suspensful film that keeps them focused and at the edge of their seat the whole time.  Focus is very important for any type of film. If the movie does not capture and maintain the audience’s attention, than they will lose interest. 

It never matters what movie someone is watching.  It only matters what they get out of it.  The ways that the movie is significant to them is the main thing.