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- “Some syllables are swords.” — Metaphysical poet Henry Vaughan
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- “Ballet taught me to stay close to style and tone. Literature taught me to be concerned about the moral life.” — Joan Acocella
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Tag Archives: backting
“I’d marry again if I found a man who had fifteen million dollars, would sign over half to me and guarantee that he’d be dead within a year.” — Bette Davis
“I was thought to be ‘stuck up’. I wasn’t. I was just sure of myself. This is and always has been an unforgivable quality to the unsure.” It’s her birthday today. First up: For Film Comment, I wrote a piece … Continue reading
“If you’re creating anything at all, it’s really dangerous to care about what people think.” — Kristen Wiig
Today is the birthday of one of the greatest actors working today. I can’t seem to stop mentioning Kristen Wiig in my writing. I mention her even if she isn’t the main subject. She’s my favorite. I am in awe … Continue reading
Posted in Actors, Movies, On This Day, Television
Tagged backting, comedy, drama, Kristen Wiig, mirrors
4 Comments
Back-ting and Mirrors
If you’ve been around here for a while, you know how I love moments where actors have their back to the camera (back-ting) and moments where characters stare at themselves in the mirror. I started mulling about this 15 years … Continue reading
Posted in Actors, Movies
Tagged backting, Five Easy Pieces, Harriet Andersson, Ingmar Bergman, Jack Nicholson, mirrors
2 Comments
Bikers back-ting
Well, one is back-ting and one is just living. Marlon Brando as Johnny in “The Wild One” (1953) Croatian biker on the boat in the Adriatic, taken by yours truly
Brando Back-ting
On the Waterfront
Posted in Actors, Movies
Tagged backting, Eva Marie Saint, Lee J. Cobb, Marlon Brando, On the Waterfront
4 Comments
Backting, the continuing story
William Wyler knew Bette Davis could say more with her back than most actresses can say with their faces. This is why Davis plays the majority (literally, it’s got to be about 75-80%) of The Letter with her back to … Continue reading
R.I.P. Nicki Aycox
I was so saddened to hear the news of actress Nicki Aycox’s death. She was 47. Aycox made such an enormous impression as the demon Meg on Supernatural. She showed up in the first season, signaling that larger things were … Continue reading
Back-ting
Veronica Lake, Alan Ladd, The Blue Dahlia
Elvis back-ting, part 4
Part 1 and 2. Part 3. These two shots (from Charro!) are also a great example of working your ANGLES.

