Look up off-screen or off-stage in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
The terms off-screen, off-camera, and off-stage refer to fictional events in theatre, television, or film which are not seen on stage or in frame, but are merely heard by the audience, or described (or implied) by the characters or narrator.[1] Off-screen action often leaves much to the audience's imagination. As a narrative mode and stylistic device, it may be used for a number of dramatic effects. It may also be used to save time in storytelling, to circumvent technical or financial constraints of a production, or to meet content rating standards.
In ancient Greek drama, events were often recounted to the audience by a narrator, rather than being depicted on the stage.[2] Offscreen voice-over narration continues to be a common tool for conveying information authoritatively.[3]
Charlie Chaplin made use of offscreen action to humorous effect. In a deleted scene in Shoulder Arms (1918), Chaplin's character is berated by an abusive wife who is never seen on camera; her presence is merely implied by household objects hurled in Chaplin's direction.[4] In The Kid (1921), his character The Tramp is asked the name of the baby he recently found abandoned. He quickly ducks into a nearby building, emerges seconds later smoothing the child's blankets, and announces, "John" – implying that he had not even determined the child's sex, much less given it a name, until that moment.[4] In City Lights (1931), Chaplin's Tramp is preparing for a boxing match. He asks another boxer a question which the audience is not privy to. He then follows the man's direction off screen, before returning moments later and asking the man to help him remove his boxing gloves – the implication being that he was going to the bathroom. Later, it's shown that he was merely looking for a water fountain.[4]
In the horror genre, placing action offstage or offscreen often serves to heighten the dramatic force of a scene. The Grand Guignol theatre in Paris made much use of this technique; in 1901's Au tėlėphone, the violence is presented at the remove of a telephone connection.[2] In 1931's Dracula, director Tod Browning uses offscreen action to avoid showing scenes of murder, and obscures the action of Dracula rising from his grave. While this served to meet Motion Picture Production Code standards, which dictated that "brutal killings are not to be shown in detail", Browning's offscreen action also maintains the macabre mood of the film.[2] The choice of what the audience is shown in place of the elided action can also contribute to the sense of horror through its symbolic value. In Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931), during the murder of Ivy Pierson, director Rouben Mamoulian focuses his camera on a statuette of Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss, which acts as an ironic commentary on the action.[2]
Offscreen action is often used in sex scenes, with the camera panning from the beginnings of a romantic encounter to a symbolic replacement object, such as a roaring fireplace, a lit candle at first tall and then shorter to show the passage of time, or (in parody) a train entering a tunnel.
Offscreen action may also be used when a scene would otherwise require costly sets, locations, makeup, or special effects to present convincingly.
^Kroon, Richard W. (March 30, 2010). A/V A to Z: An Encyclopedic Dictionary of Media, Entertainment and Other Audiovisual Terms. McFarland. p. 465. ISBN9780786457403. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
^ abcdTowlson, Jon (September 12, 2016). The Turn to Gruesomeness in American Horror Films, 1931-1936. McFarland. pp. 171–172. ISBN9781476626390. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
^Rayner, Philip; Wall, Peter; Kruger, Stephen (2001). Media Studies: The Essential Introduction. Psychology Press. p. 51. ISBN9780415236102. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
^ abcFawell, John (September 17, 2014). The Essence of Chaplin: The Style, the Rhythm and the Grace of a Master. McFarland. p. 89. ISBN9781476617435. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
Further readingedit
Peretz, Eyal (March 21, 2017). The Off-Screen: An Investigation of the Cinematic Frame. Stanford University Press. ISBN9781503601611.
April 11, 2024
offscreen, other, uses, disambiguation, making, look, screen, stage, wiktionary, free, dictionary, terms, screen, camera, stage, refer, fictional, events, theatre, television, film, which, seen, stage, frame, merely, heard, audience, described, implied, charac. For other uses see Offscreen disambiguation and Making of Look up off screen or off stage in Wiktionary the free dictionary The terms off screen off camera and off stage refer to fictional events in theatre television or film which are not seen on stage or in frame but are merely heard by the audience or described or implied by the characters or narrator 1 Off screen action often leaves much to the audience s imagination As a narrative mode and stylistic device it may be used for a number of dramatic effects It may also be used to save time in storytelling to circumvent technical or financial constraints of a production or to meet content rating standards Contents 1 Uses 2 See also 3 References 4 Further readingUses editIn ancient Greek drama events were often recounted to the audience by a narrator rather than being depicted on the stage 2 Offscreen voice over narration continues to be a common tool for conveying information authoritatively 3 Charlie Chaplin made use of offscreen action to humorous effect In a deleted scene in Shoulder Arms 1918 Chaplin s character is berated by an abusive wife who is never seen on camera her presence is merely implied by household objects hurled in Chaplin s direction 4 In The Kid 1921 his character The Tramp is asked the name of the baby he recently found abandoned He quickly ducks into a nearby building emerges seconds later smoothing the child s blankets and announces John implying that he had not even determined the child s sex much less given it a name until that moment 4 In City Lights 1931 Chaplin s Tramp is preparing for a boxing match He asks another boxer a question which the audience is not privy to He then follows the man s direction off screen before returning moments later and asking the man to help him remove his boxing gloves the implication being that he was going to the bathroom Later it s shown that he was merely looking for a water fountain 4 In the horror genre placing action offstage or offscreen often serves to heighten the dramatic force of a scene The Grand Guignol theatre in Paris made much use of this technique in 1901 s Au telephone the violence is presented at the remove of a telephone connection 2 In 1931 s Dracula director Tod Browning uses offscreen action to avoid showing scenes of murder and obscures the action of Dracula rising from his grave While this served to meet Motion Picture Production Code standards which dictated that brutal killings are not to be shown in detail Browning s offscreen action also maintains the macabre mood of the film 2 The choice of what the audience is shown in place of the elided action can also contribute to the sense of horror through its symbolic value In Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde 1931 during the murder of Ivy Pierson director Rouben Mamoulian focuses his camera on a statuette of Psyche Revived by Cupid s Kiss which acts as an ironic commentary on the action 2 Offscreen action is often used in sex scenes with the camera panning from the beginnings of a romantic encounter to a symbolic replacement object such as a roaring fireplace a lit candle at first tall and then shorter to show the passage of time or in parody a train entering a tunnel Offscreen action may also be used when a scene would otherwise require costly sets locations makeup or special effects to present convincingly See also editDeleted scene Diegesis and mimesis alternate modes of storytelling DissolveReferences edit Kroon Richard W March 30 2010 A V A to Z An Encyclopedic Dictionary of Media Entertainment and Other Audiovisual Terms McFarland p 465 ISBN 9780786457403 Retrieved 5 July 2019 a b c d Towlson Jon September 12 2016 The Turn to Gruesomeness in American Horror Films 1931 1936 McFarland pp 171 172 ISBN 9781476626390 Retrieved 5 July 2019 Rayner Philip Wall Peter Kruger Stephen 2001 Media Studies The Essential Introduction Psychology Press p 51 ISBN 9780415236102 Retrieved 15 July 2019 a b c Fawell John September 17 2014 The Essence of Chaplin The Style the Rhythm and the Grace of a Master McFarland p 89 ISBN 9781476617435 Retrieved 5 July 2019 Further reading editPeretz Eyal March 21 2017 The Off Screen An Investigation of the Cinematic Frame Stanford University Press ISBN 9781503601611 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Offscreen amp oldid 1181666527, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
