James Snyder is a Broadway actor who has taken four leading roles on the stage. In the following article, James Snyder discusses how actors take the leap from stages to films, the skills they need to make the transition, and how crossover actors benefit the industry.
The great irony Lea Michele in hit TV series Glee as Rachel Berry, dreaming of Broadway stardom, was that Michele herself had already reached the pinnacle of the Great White Way by the time Glee was shot. In fact, her starring work in Les Misérables and Spring Awakening was what won her the role of a lifetime…on television! Life imitated art which imitated life.
Broadway actors frequently dream of making the leap to the screen, hoping for global stardom, economic success, and an escape from the grueling theatrical rehearsal process. In truth, though, it’s never easy.
James Snyder discusses below the uniquely challenging and rewarding journey of Broadway performers making the transition to television and film.
James Snyder Broadway Actor on the Challenges and Opportunities
Actors hoping to leap from Broadway to television and film might encounter a stigma that “theater kids” are not the right fit for the fast-paced, image-focused world of Hollywood production. Or they might be told that theater is only about musicals, not “serious” performing. However, that’s just simply untrue. Stage performers often have better dramatic and comedic acting training than most actors on the big screen, and their skills are certain transferable – given some patience and finesse.
James Snyder, Broadway actor explains that screen acting can offer stage actors the opportunity to reach a much wider audience, as they are no longer limited by the physical and temporal nature of a play; audiences can tune in any time, from anywhere. Film and TV also offer expanded economic opportunities and career longevity.
The Unique Skills of Screen Actors
Actor James Snyder says that there are plenty of actors who regularly move back and forth between the stage and screen. It isn’t easy though, especially for those who got their start in the theater, as making the leap to screen acting is particularly challenging, requiring a
whole new approach to the same skill set.
Broadway actors are used to “playing to the back of the house.” In other words, big voices, big gestures, and big facial expressions that can be seen by an audience sitting many yards away. A film or TV performance generally needs to be much “smaller” and controlled while maintaining the same level of passion and integrity. The camera is usually only a few feet – or even inches – from the actor’s face, so the audience is right there too.
James Snyder, actor notes that stage actors are also used to working with rehearsals and multiple performances, so they have many opportunities to practice, experiment, and refine their character work until the show begins. TV and film actors must endure most of this preparation work on their own, as there is often little to no rehearsal before the camera starts rolling. While they may get the opportunity for multiple takes, they don’t have the benefit of many days’ worth of attempts at delivering a line. When a scene has wrapped, that’s it!
Impact of Crossover Performers in the Entertainment Industry
Crossover performers have had a particularly positive impact in the entertainment industry, bringing their unique set of skills from one medium to the other to reach a wider global audience.
In addition to Lea Michele, another perfect example of someone who mastered the transition from Broadway to television and film is Adam Driver. Driver is a Juilliard-trained stage actor who began booking Broadway roles immediately after school, including acting opposite the legendary Frank Langella in Man and Boy, among other credits. He then transitioned to television with his breakout starring role in Lena Dunham’s Girls on HBO, where he was nominated for an Emmy three times.
James Snyder Broadway actor says that from TV, Driver moved on to film where he has worked with some of the finest directors, including Noah Baumbach, Steven Spielberg, Steven Soderbergh, and Jim Jarmusch to name a few. He even shot to franchise fame playing the iconic villain Kylo Ren in three Star Wars films, taking him from Broadway playhouse to global stardom in less than a decade. At age 39, he’s already been nominated for an Oscar twice!
James Snyder Broadway actor also notes that Driver’s classical training served him well both on stage and off. While he’s known for his bombastic performances, he’s also able to adjust his technique when toggling between Broadway and on-camera, while maintaining breathtaking truthful performances in major motion pictures that we as an audience come to expect mostly from theatre actors.
In Conclusion
With the right talent, training, and ability to adapt, stage actors are more than capable of making the transition from Broadway to television and film.
