The actor is the actor.
The animator’s on-screen character is the actor.
The actor acts “in the present moment”.
The animator creates an illusion of a present moment.
The actor never thinks about facial expression of emotion.
The animator always thinks about facial expression of emotion.
The actor wants the person in the audience to empathize with him right now.
The animator wants the person in the audience to empathize with the on-screen character later.
The actor’s instrument is himself.
The animator’s instrument is a pencil. Or a keyboard.
The actor cannot act if she has laryngitis.
The animator can animate if she recently had a leg amputated.
The actor is a self-employed person.
The animator wishes he was a self-employed person.
The actor never rehearses in front of a mirror.
The animator always rehearses in front of a mirror.
The actor plays with a variety of other actors.
The animator plays with himself.
The actor’s first question: “What am I doing?”
The animator’s first question: “What does the character look like?”
The actor’s first thought on a new stage: “Is there anything I might slip on or trip over?”
The animator’s first thought in a new studio: “Where is the kitchen?”
The actor pretends.
The animator pretends to pretend.
The actor receives applause immediately after his performance.
The animator receives applause after he dies.
The actor, being human, is already halfway to a successful performance simply by showing up.
The animator is halfway to success only if Andy Serkis shows up.
The animator gets to stare at pixels on a computer screen all day.
The actor gets to stare at Jennifer Anniston.
The actor dreads tech rehearsal.
The animator dreads crunch time.
The actor does relaxation exercises.
The animator drinks Red Bull.
From Ed Hooks monthly newsletter http://actingforanimators.com/
