Dinnozo and Ziva, Scully and Mulder, Rose and Jack in Titanic, Riggs and Murtaugh - plus many more.
I received some positive feedback from an industry rep on a romance drama I wrote where the dialogue and main characters and their layers was praised. They said they could really feel the emotion , tension and chemistry.
Which got me thinking about how much "chemistry" success is written versus cast?
Who is responsible for creating this chemistry - the writer or the casting people? Sometimes a great script with great chemistry is not translated onto the screen as the actors just dont seem to click. But other times, actors who click can really elevate a script and create that chemistry and take dialogue to a great place.
2 people like this
I think it starts out as written, but morphs into what the cast can do depending on how long the show/film series goes.
3 people like this
I think the dialogue has to be there, but if there's zero chemistry between two actors, it doesn't matter how brilliantly you wrote the parts. I'm looking at you Star Wars Attack of the Clones. Though, I don't think the dialogue was there, if the actors had had some chemistry, I think they could have pulled it off. Also looking at you Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I get second hand cringe watching scenes between Harry and Ginny. This is not to say that any of these actors are not talented, but you can't fake chemistry.
2 people like this
The good words have to be there. Lately I've seen great effects, with great acting, but killed by a terrible story. When it works, its magic.
2 people like this
As a Producer/Director, I attend every casting audition. I pay close attention to chemistry - between the actor & myself. But I pay VERY close attention to the chemistry between Actors. Most times I'm looking for simpatico - sometimes I look for animosity. Read the script.
2 people like this
You neeeeeed great words from the get-go, but whether or not there's actually chemistry depends on who you've cast.
1 person likes this
From my super-limited experience, one way is to pick the actor for one of the characters, and then audition for the counter-part with that actor as part of the audition. You can also build the rapport and chemistry through various exercises during rehearsals.
1 person likes this
Yes.
1 person likes this
To me, I feel it's an “ORGANIC Chemistry” lol(Just kidding).
I mean, Chemistry happens organically. Many writers try to write a better equation between a possible couple, but the common pattern of subconscious mind's sparks created from writer's mind, translates to actor's acting shown on screen, which is what I feel audience experience the residual emotions flowing in them.
Like, Oh look how cute they are together and say “Made for each other” onscreen couple sort of, even thought they might have dialogues or no dialogues at all at times!
Like “TITANIC” or “Oasis” or “96” or “GHOST” or “Notting Hill” or “Life is Beautiful” or “In the Mood for Love” or “Casablanca” kind of movies! Sometimes the equation, the chemistry keeps within the tumbler like “Before Sunrise” or “The Lunchbox” and sometimes it blows out of proportion and throwing it all on people like “365 days” or “Arjun Reddy”. Just a fun way to say.
2 people like this
Acting, in film especially is a lot about charisma...so yes, chemistry between some actors does exist...that's why we have lotta successful pairs bringing movies they're in to stardom...
I think it's the writer's job, the director's job, and the actor's job to create the chemistry.
2 people like this
I didn’t have much of an opinion on this till I listened to the 500th episode of the Empire Podcast. Tom Holland talks about how hard it is to have chemistry with someone you don’t like. So therefore it is in the writing. As Tom managed to pull it off in has acting while disliking Anthony Mackie.
2 people like this
Both! The writer creates the space for two actors to charge with their electricity; to really make it work, it takes great writing to set the actors up, chosen by intelligent, intuitive casting, to make sparks burn up the screen.
1 person likes this
It's always been my belief that it's the Directors decision as to whether t's a closed or open set. Do the unions have their hands in that?
2 people like this
I've always said producing good film/tv is like winning a football game. Can't do it without offense, defense and special teams. Chemistry is much the same way. You don't get the best without good writing, good acting and good directing.
Just my two cents...