Film vs. TV vs. Web Series Acting: What’s the Real Difference?

Have you noticed significant differences in body language, dialogue delivery, and movement within the frame in film, TV, and web series acting? This is because acting and character development are largely influenced by the timeline, pace, target audience, screen, and genre.

Read ahead to explore acting styles, key techniques, challenges, and tips and tricks across different media and formats.

Film vs. TV vs. Web Series Acting – Key Differences

Parameters	Film Acting	TV Acting	Web Series Acting
Performance Type	Although it varies from one genre to another, film acting is more nuanced overall.   Considering it will be viewed on a large screen, too loud and expressive acting can make the film appear jarring.	TV acting, aimed for smaller screens, is much more expressive. It relies on dialogues and verbal expressions to draw in and engage audiences.	Acting for a web series is a mix of subtlety and expressiveness.   It is subtle enough to make it relatable, but it has a punch to cater to reduced attention spans and make the series truly binge-worthy.
Dialogue Delivery	Realistic, sometimes understated, aided by a lot of non-verbal cues, facial expressions, and body language.	Actors might slightly exaggerate the delivery, making it more dramatic.	The dialogue delivery in series (think Fleabag or Made in Heaven) is fast, conversational, and leverages both verbal and non-verbal cues.
Pace	Slow build-up, followed by climax, and resolution.	There are quick plot twists to keep the viewer engaged, with more dialogue than other media.	Fast paced, focus on key moments, direct delivery to hold the audience’s attention.
Production	Longer schedules with higher budgets.	Tight deadlines, don’t necessarily follow a sequence, and can have lower budgets than movies and web series.	Smaller crews, multiple location settings, and shorter timelines.   Actors often have to shoot scenes out of sequence.
Audience Expectation	Details are captured through storytelling, with high production value, and are rich in terms of emotional appeal.	While acting for TV, actors typically follow a consistent style to ensure familiarity among their audience.	Audiences want web series to be binge-worthy, and actors have to be edgy and quick-witted with their lines and body language.
Improvisation	Usually depends on the director. While some films allow room for improvisation, others might want to follow a script strictly.	Depending on the genre and appeal of the show, there can be some scope for improvisation.	Web series are a lot more flexible when it comes to improvisation.   With experimental storylines and newer genres, actors have more room to adapt to their characters and add to their development.
Scope for Rehearsal	Films may require extensive rehearsals and table reads so everyone is on the same page.   Song and dance sequences, fights, and intense emotional scenes can take weeks or even months to rehearse and shoot.	With tight deadlines and continuous shooting, there is little to no scope for rehearsals.	There is usually some room for rehearsals, with many web series providing actors with creative freedom to rehearse and practice for a longer period to truly embrace their characters.

Read Also: Beginner’s Guide to Acting for Camera: Techniques That Work

Acting for Film, TV, and Web Series- Character Development for Different Media

There are multiple ways to develop characters, depending on the format and scope of experimentation. Each of these requires actors to work on their character study and research, adopt mannerisms and accents, and deliver and act differently.

As an aspiring actor, you need to understand what is character development and learn how to adapt to different media to expand your creative horizons, explore the craft, perfect your acting skills, and master the nuances of bringing a character, likeable and unlikeable, to life.

1. Understanding Movie Characters and Their Arcs

The character arcs in films are fully developed in 2-3 hours, so the actor needs to be thorough with the script, analyzing the character’s traits, motive, and their role to further the story.

Here are a few things that influence character development in films –

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• The director has more room to dictate and shape a character the way they have planned, leaving minimal scope for improvisation.

• The actors typically have the script available before the shoot starts. This provides enough time for adequate research, understanding the backstory of the character, and extensive preparations.

• There is almost no audience influence in developing a character arc, since everything is planned and shot pre-release.

• Actors might have to rely heavily on costumes, makeup, and the surroundings to enhance the impact.

• Method acting is a common technique used by professionals to understand the character’s psyche and appear convincing in their roles.

2. Embracing TV Characters

TV characters usually evolve over multiple episodes over the years. The actor is often required to ‘go with the flow’ and adapt quickly to any shifts and changes in the script.

There are multiple factors at play while embracing a character for TV –

• The character arcs are usually shaped by writers, with some scope for improvisation.

• The actors often don’t have the entire script available at the beginning, as the story develops gradually.

• The format and tight schedules might not leave a lot of room for actors to extensively research, rehearse before the shoot and understand the backstory of the character.

• The acting needs to be consistent over a long period, fostering familiarity and boosting viewership.

• Viewer response and TRP can highly influence character arcs, demanding drastic shifts in appearances, traits, and mannerisms. Actors need to quickly adapt to the developments while also maintaining a believable, familiar tone.

Read Also: Top 15 Acting Audition Tips Every Aspirant Should Know

3. Adapting to Different Characters for Web Series

With characters evolving over seasons, plot twists, and newer plot points being introduced periodically, there are quite a few things that web series actors have to work with.

• Writers, directors, and actors can collaborate to shape characters and develop an arc that would resonate with the targeted viewers.

• Actors may get the whole script in advance depending on the production schedule, length of the show, and other factors.

• In web series that span multiple seasons, character arcs can be developed over the years (think Justin Foley in 13 Reasons Why, or Tara Khanna in Made in Heaven), with actors starting out with an initial idea or a quick sketch of the characters.

• Audience reaction can sometimes influence character development, especially for series that have many seasons.

• There is relatively more scope for improvisation and experimentation (like the popular ‘yawn scene’ in the series Adolescence); actors are required to be more relatable while portraying the characters.

• Depending on the story, its timeline, and background, actors rely heavily on elaborate makeup and set design (Heeramandi, Game Of Thrones, Squid Game) or embrace a simpler, person-next-door approach (Taj Mahal 1989, Adulting, Little Things).

Acting Challenges Across Media

If you are planning to make a career in acting, there are some challenges you should be prepared to deal with –

1. Continuity Issues

Have you noticed the little trivia on your screen that says the last shot was the first to be shot, and provide information on the order of shooting?

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Scenes in movies or episodes in web series and TV shows are not always shot in the same sequence they appear. This requires actors to switch between emotions, develop a great emotional recall, and adapt to the scene promptly.

Pro Tip – As a beginner, you can practice out-of-order sequences, intense moments, and quickly getting into the character so you are always at your professional best on sets!

2. Script Changes

Frequent rewrites and script changes can throw even the best actors off their game.

Many TV actors face the problem where multiple parts of a script are altered to suit the viewership, or introduce a new plot point, making it difficult for them to be consistent and convincing with their performance.

Pro Tip – Make sure you are in sync with the personality and identity of your character. A deep understanding of ‘why the character did what they did’ can be really beneficial in navigating script changes.

3. Insufficient Rehearsal Time

TV shows and some web series often have little to no room for proper rehearsals. And let’s be honest, there might be some impromptu changes to the script as well.

Situations like these can affect an actor’s confidence and make their performances unconvincing.

Read Also: Top 10 Acting Tips for Beginners: Master the Art of Performance

Pro Tip – If you have a rough idea of the scene, you can practice before coming for the shoot with a mock script. You can also find little windows when you are not in front of the camera to quickly rehearse your scene.

4. Complex Character Arcs

Unclear or complex character arcs can make it difficult for new actors to adapt to. Gray characters often require an in-depth understanding and research; Actors have to use dialogues, vocal techniques, and body language to bring forth their layered personality, ensuring the idea is conveyed.

Pro Tip – Watch lots of movies and shows with complex characters and then listen to the actors describing what approach they took, and how they made sure they were doing justice to the character.

5. Emotional Disconnect With the Character

Complex or unlikeable characters and too many plot twists can create an emotional disconnect.

Actors can have a hard time relating to the character and empathizing with them, leading to uncomfortable experiences on sets.

Pro Tip – You don’t need to ‘like’ the character, so no guilt there! However, you can try and understand their perspective, how they view the world differently, and where they are coming from. While it might not suddenly make you ‘like’ them, it can help you empathize and enhance your acting.

5 Expert Tips To Keep in Mind For  Film, TV, and Web Series Acting

1. Approach With an Open Mind – Each set, story, and character is different. Having an open mind will allow you to understand a character’s motive and make them more relatable.

2. Know Your Character – What is your character’s perspective of the world around them? How would they respond to certain incidents? Make sure you are well aware of who your character really is.

3. Don’t Buffer With the Basics – Being prompt with the basics of acting and honing those foundational skills will make you integral to every project you sign. From being camera ready to knowing how to position yourself and get into the character – a strong base will enhance your professionalism at the sets.

Read Also: The Importance of Body Language in Acting

4. Learn Your Lines Well – Do a little homework and make sure you know your lines properly so you don’t have to spend any extra time going over that when you are on set.

5. Everyone Has A Different Process – While it’s important to know about different approaches actors take to get into their character, you don’t have to religiously follow any one of those. Find a method that matches your unique style and helps you feel confident, so you can deliver your best work.

Conclusion

Acting is a multi-disciplinary craft that demands rigorous training, sharp analytical skills, the ability to multitask, and flexibility to embrace various formats.

While roles and emotional approaches differ between film, TV, and web series acting, the craft is fundamentally focused on creating memorable characters who have a story to tell.

If you are an aspiring actor, don’t forget to check out the courses offered by AAFT, Noida.