FACE

February 2nd, 2006General2 comments

So I finished reading Blink.

One thing it says is that massive studies have been conducted in facial expressions; all the facial muscles and their movements have been mapped into a taxonomy called FACS — Facial Action Coding System.

Each facial muscle movement is called an Action Unit. These could be the singular movements that stretch the lips, raise the eybrows, etc.. Apparently there are 43 total Action Units in the face.

Facial expressions are combinations of these Action Units. For instance, sadness might be expressed by three or four A.U.s combined together.

We are trained from birth to be able to recognize facial expressions in other people. And according to the book, our facial expressions have a direct link to our thoughts. No matter how tightly controlled we may think we are, our faces are always giving “tells” away.

Sometimes these expressions literally last for a split second. But experts can view slow-motion tape of someone and glean all sorts of information by isolating which A.U.s they’re exhibiting. And their accuracy is uncanny.

So here’s my observation: I think that a person that is considered a talented actor is most likely (intentionally or not) a master of these Action Units.

By “talented” I don’t necessarily mean that a person is an intelligent actor, or someone who thinks deeply about a role and what it means. No.

What I’m talking about is the talent of being easy to read. Someone who can convey their Action Units in such a way that is appealing and fascinating to watch. Their AUs should “pop”, and something about the way they use them should touch the masses.

I’m talking about a Jack Nicholson, Natalie Portman kind of smile. When I name those two, you can probably picture what I’m talking about.

According to Blink, some of the Action Units are extremely difficult for most people to do consciously. For instance, the frontalis, pars medialis, which is used in a frown, is extremely hard to use in an A.U. consciously. It only really happens when motivated by a real frown. But Woody Allen is apparently able to do it on cue.

So control over your looks may be as crucial as how you look in the first place.

This explains a lot of things. It explains why most actors have large heads. It makes them easy to read.

Tom Cruise is notorious for having a large head. From 50 yards away you can tell if the guy’s smiling or not.

Plus it explains why a lot of Korean American actors are doing so well — because of KBF (Korean Big Face). (Thank you whoever originally came up with this term, because I’m only borrowing it here.)

It also explains why Keanu Reeves is so successful. Love him or hate him (personally I like him), he has a face that is very good at conveying the A.U.s required for the “WHOA.” look. And “WHOA.” reads well in a lot of situations, from being witness to a firey explosion to time-travelling with Abraham Lincoln.

Anyway, if you’re an actor it might be worth it to look into this FACS system. Apparently even Pixar animators have studied it to see how it can add to their characters.

You also might want to look at it if you’re a poker player. See which muscles you should consider deadening in order to kill your tells (or fake them).

Peace out, my facey friends.

I’m Pretty Sure They’re All Gay

February 1st, 2006General3 comments

I watch Project Runway.

There, I said it.

A friend suggested that I watch it so I did. And I like it a lot.

I know nothing about fashion. Sometimes I’ll wear mismatched socks. Sometimes there’ll be a bird’s nest in my hair. I can’t control these things.

But I like this show, Project Runway. I like how creative these people are, and I like how the show treats the fashion industry as a working business instead of a la-la land frou frou festival. It’s a real business with real priorities and methodologies, and it’s always interesting to watch.

It’s really cool to watch people work. America is fascinated with the office and working life.

I think part of it is a “Grass-Is-Greener” thing. Like I wonder how I would’ve turned out if I was saved from drowning by dolphins. Would I be a marine biologist now? Maybe Aquaman?

No, that would suck.

But I could’ve been an I-Banker or a crackhead. An air force pilot or the inventor of a longer lasting lightbulb. That would’ve been interesting.

Anyway, I’m pretty sure Daniel is going to win this season’s Project Runway.

He’s won two challenges already, his designs are consistently at the top, and he’s the least dramatic of the people on the show. The editors can usually pick out an off-hand snide look captured on tape and emphasize it — and we’ve seen those from everyone except for this guy. He seems to be genuinely pleased to be there, is doing his thing, and has no animosity for anyone.

Plus he has floppy emo hair. Massive points.