Improvisation as Method: Production Process and Acting in John Cassavetes’ <i>Shadows</i>

KATATA Ryo

doi:10.18917/eizogaku.107.0_84

Bibliographic Information

Other Title

方法としての即興――ジョン・カサヴェテス『アメリカの影』における制作過程と俳優演技について

Abstract

<p>This paper analyzes the production process and acting in John Cassavetes film Shadows (1959). The purpose of this paper is to clarify the nature of Cassavetes’ improvisation practiced in the production process of Shadows and what effect it had on the acting in the film. First, the study provides an overview of Method Acting, which was the dominant acting model in Hollywood in the 1950s. The paper focuses on Cassavetes, who was an actor before the production of Shadows, and explores his performances to elucidate his relationship with Method Acting. It further traces the production process of Shadows through statements from the director and actors and examines how Cassavetes collaborated with the actors. Specifically, the study elucidates the functions Cassavetes’ improvisation and its effects on the acting and shows how actors perform ensemble acting in the film. The paper concludes that Shadows was formed at a historic point at which director Cassavetes was born from actor Cassavetes, and it was also the starting point of Cassavetes’ actor-centered filmmaking.</p>

Journal

eizogaku

eizogaku 107 (0), 84-102, 2022-02-25

Japan Society of Image Arts and Sciences

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

CRID: 1390291767802423168

DOI: 10.18917/eizogaku.107.0_84

ISSN: 21896542; 02860279

Text Lang: ja

Data Source

JaLC

Abstract License Flag: Disallowed

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