Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú

Notes and Queries  permalink

Telephone acting

• Message 1. 

  Posted by racheinderbys (U2394705) on Tuesday, 22nd April 2008

  I have always assumed that when characters (particularly Debbie) are heard speaking on the phone, it is (at least partly) because they are not available to go to Pebble Mill (or whatever it's called now) and can literally "phone in" their performance. But this may be a rather unfair on my part. For one thing, I can imagine that there might be technological problems with recording a performance over the phone, and it may actually be easier to record normally and edit to make it sound as if it have come down a phone line.
  
  Does anyone know what is actually the case?

  Link to this forum: Telephone acting

  Report message1

• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Lalvee (U10667400) on Tuesday, 22nd April 2008

  I've always thought they used a telephone extension but don't quote me, I'm probably wrong!

  Link to this forum: Telephone acting

  Report message2

• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by MissJayBee (U3854634) on Wednesday, 23rd April 2008

  I've always assumed the 'phoning it in' theory. Technically it's no more difficult than recording from a mic and could be done either by Debbie or whoever doing her phone bit then editing in the other side, or Debbie being 'live' on the phone acting with Adam in the studio.
  
  It keeps the character on the fringes of the plot, at least - although there's a limit to how many phone conversations you can realistically have.
  
  

  Link to this forum: Telephone acting

  Report message3

• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by RosieT (U2224719) on Wednesday, 23rd April 2008

  Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:34 GMT, in reply to MissJayBee in message 3
  
  They've missed out on web cam discussions on airs, haven't they? Could have been used for discussion "on heirs," too.

  Link to this forum: Telephone acting

  Report message4

• Message 5

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by archersaddicts (U4251716) on Wednesday, 23rd April 2008

  I have been in the audience at a few recordings of Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú radio sitcoms in the past that have had scenes where a character has spoken on the phone using a studio microphone that creates the effect of someone speaking on the phone. The character on the phone is actually present in the studio. I assume this technique is still used.
  
  The Archers is now recorded at the Mailbox in central Birmingham following the closure of the Pebble Mill Studios a few years ago.

  Link to this forum: Telephone acting

  Report message5

• Message 6

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by Spartacus (U38364) on Thursday, 24th April 2008

  They've missed out on web cam discussions 
  
  I have vague recollections of Brine and Debs indulging in some webcamming between the farm office and Hungary some time back. It was new technology to Brine so he commented on it at length.

  Link to this forum: Telephone acting

  Report message6

• Message 7

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by RosieT (U2224719) on Thursday, 24th April 2008

  The last time the Home Farm Webcam was actually mentiond was when Jennifer told Alice, who'd moved out to Amy's, that Alice could come and use the webcam to speak to Kate. It was used only once before, to have the Debbie putting Adam down scene.
  
  It's never used now!

  Link to this forum: Telephone acting

  Report message7

• Message 8

  , in reply to message 7.

  Posted by Keri Davies (U2219620) on Thursday, 24th April 2008

  Usually the actor is in the studio - they will often have non-telephone scenes to do as well.
  
  Verrrrry occasionally, where the actor has been unable to get to the studio, we literally have done it over the phone. It works perfectly well from a technical standpoint.
  
  There is a phrase in acting about "phoning it in" - performing with no commitment. Oh how we laughed when we asked an actor really to phone it in...

  Link to this forum: Telephone acting

Back to top