What is 'Screen Presence' Anyway?

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Shaitaan Haiwan

@Shaitan-Haiwan

Stunner

+ 8

Posted: 9 years ago

I see this term being used alot around the forum, moreso for people who cant act. Is it an excuse to cover up acting flaws?

I dont understand what exactly this is meant to be 😆 Cuz I look at everyone equally in a film. You kind of dont have a choice right? If someone has a solo scene what else are you supposed to look at?😆

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pinkeye

@pinkeye

Stunner

+ 2

Posted: 9 years ago

I guess its about how an actor engages you to focus on him while he is there. And how he becomes distinct despite the presence of other actors. An actor with strong screen presence means he has superb control on his scenes and who dont allow you take your eyes off him or her while he performs.

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Justmoi

@Justmoi

Rocker

Posted: 9 years ago

Well, I'll try 😆

It is basically when someone is memorable on screen that you remember that scene solo or with others, but especially with others. That audiences connect with. It has nothing to do with looks or acting IMO. But every single person with a long career has it.

Examples

1. The solo one that demonstrates it best to me is Salman entry in Ek Tha Tiger. The scene behind him is actually buildings on a cliff and is rather spectacular and he is in silhouette in the foreground, but your eyes go straight to him.

2. Among a group of beautiful people, Kangana in the Marjaawan song of Fashion. You only see her.

3. Most everyone will agree Shilpa Shetty is more beautiful and sexier than Kajol but few remember her in Baazigar over Kajol. The audience never connected with her and more with Kajol and SRK who have massive individual screen presence without the chemistry. That is the reason people sympathize with the Baazigar though Shilpa's character is brutally murdered. That is one reason Shilpa never had a long career IMO, people never connected much with her.

4. Kat. Her entire career is a testament to her screen presence.

5. Kareena. Lots of people hated Poo and can tell you why exactly they hated her even now, but that is exactly why Kareena still has the career she has. Massive screen presence and at even her most annoying she is hard to ignore.

6. Genelia D'Souza and John Abraham. Examples of pretty people who faded because of bad screen presence.

7. Deepika. Even in terrible films you remembered her and that helped her have a career until Cocktail IMO.

Edited by Justmoi - 9 years ago

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lovemango

@lovemango

Navigator

Posted: 9 years ago

I think its a phrase people use when they are inexplicably drawn to an actor in the movie... I feel its usually when I can't take my eyes off the actor/actress in a scene, and I want to see more of them/more scenes, so its usually when someone grabs my attention. It doesn't have to be the main actor/actress, sometimes its even the supporting characters who grab your attention - you just feel connected to them on screen. Some people have better screen presence than others, like someone else mentioned.. Amitabh Bachchan has tremendous screen presence, and will easily outshine other personalities in the frame with his sheer presence.