It might help to look at David Bordwell's ON THE HISTORY OF FILM STYLE and THE AMERICAN CINEMA, by Bordwell, Kristin Thompson and Janet Staiger. Bordwell in particular notes the ways in which early cinema stages scenes in the recognition of the presence of the camera. Don Larsson ----------------------------------------------------------- "Only connect" --E.M. Forster Donald F. Larsson Department of English, AH 230 Minnesota State U, Mankato (56001) [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Richard Butsch [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2003 12:21 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: eye contact I would like some feedback about movies of the nickelodeon and later silent era. In these movies, how uncommon or common was an actor looking directly into the camera "at" the audience?? Did the rarely or never happen? Was it a standard "shot" or technique? I recall actors looking toward but past the camera to express shock or dismay, but not directly into the camera to make "eye contact" with audiences. Thanks in advance for your help. Richard Butsch ---- Screen-L is sponsored by the Telecommunication & Film Dept., the University of Alabama: http://www.tcf.ua.edu ---- To sign off Screen-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF Screen-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]