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Red in the face

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URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3242
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Topic: Red in the face

Posted By: robert howard
Subject: Red in the face
Date Posted: 6/17/08 at 8:22pm

Hi all,

In 'The Gin Game' there is a point in the play when Weller gets very red in the face. I've found many sources of how to eliminate or minimize red faces, but none that reference how to create the effect for possibly 30 -40 seconds. A colored pin spot has been suggested. There must be another way. Any help?

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What do you mean, I can't play Gin?

Replies:

Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 6/18/08 at 9:52am

hold your breath

Posted By: jaytee060
Date Posted: 6/18/08 at 11:29am

I think perhaps you are taking the "red in the face" thing a bit to literally. I believe its is simply a stage direction to imply his emotion.

Facial expression, body language and vocal inflection can all help to imply that an actor is "red in the face".

However, I did discover that gritting my teeth really hard and holding my breath for a couple minutes did make my face red. But it also gave me a headache and my co workers in my office are all looking at me very strange now.

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"REMEMBER ME IN LIGHT"

Posted By: robert howard
Date Posted: 6/18/08 at 12:25pm

A couple of items in regard to this question. While delivering dialog I find that I can't hold my breath.

Also, in both video versions that are generally avilable, Cronan/Tandy, Van Dyke/Moore, Weller's face does turn red. This MAY have been done in post. It's certainly possible today, but when these shows were produced it would have been much more difficult - especially in the earlier Cronan/Tandy version shot in London.

I'm leaning toward the pin spot, very narrow, very subtle. But I'm still open to suggestions.

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What do you mean, I can't play Gin?

Posted By: jaytee060
Date Posted: 6/18/08 at 12:38pm

Perhaps you could try the "tongue in cheek" method........although it apparently didn't work for me.

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"REMEMBER ME IN LIGHT"

Posted By: sconjott
Date Posted: 6/20/08 at 5:09pm

Need to make your face red but those darned lines prevent the old "hold your breath" gag from working? Try new and improved Straining!!!

Try this... It's a take on the "hold your breath", BUT you don't have to sit there holding your breath. Try quick bursts of holding your breath and straining like you're on the toilet. Essentially your building the red face by forcing blood to your head (a little red), then delivering a couple of lines, forcing more blood to your head (a little redder), delivering more lines, and just for good measure forcing more blood to the head (that guys's head is about to explode). Yes, it may (probably will) give you a headache but it's a lot more realistic than throwing light ,which you can't be sure is going to hit the actor properly... Half a red face with a half a red moon on the set behind the actor isn't really what you're looking for.

Break a leg.

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There are NO small roles, only small actors...

Posted By: jaytee060
Date Posted: 6/20/08 at 5:22pm

OK sconjott. You win.....I am no longer smiling....I am now laughing out loud. You have planted you're tongue in your cheek to a new level.

"straining like on the toilet"...this is something that I never expected to read in the Greenroom. I bow to your inventiveness.

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"REMEMBER ME IN LIGHT"

Posted By: robert howard
Date Posted: 6/20/08 at 6:13pm

...Was willing to try anything......did try......I'll now wash my skivies.

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What do you mean, I can't play Gin?