José Martins: Theater Creates a Connection, Cameras Can't

In this episode of "Key Figures," actor and director José Martins explores the unique relationship between cinema and theater, particularly regarding the connection between actors and audiences. He delves into the craft of acting, discussing the theories of Stanislavski and Brecht, the challenges of depicting age, and the transformative power of storytelling. Martins draws a comparison between acting and journalism, asserting that both fields require strong leadership and effective storytelling.

Key insights from José Martins

THEATRE IS FULFILLED WHEN AN ACTOR TELLS A STORY DIRECTLY TO A SPECTATOR. It happens when the story is shared in the moment.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ACTORS AND SPECTATORS IS MEDIATED BY THE CAMERA. And that is something completely different.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOMEONE WHO TELLS A STORY AND SOMEONE WHO LISTENS IS SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL. Nothing can replace that connection.

THEATRE IS ONE OF THE FIRST ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS OF HUMANITY. It has survived for centuries.

I DON’T BELIEVE THEATRE WILL EVER DIE. The camera cannot create that relationship. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CANNOT CREATE IT EITHER. It’s something else.

AN ACTOR WORKS TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY. Even when he walks in the street, he observes people.

AN ACTOR MUST USE BOTH AFFECTIVE MEMORY AND HISTORICAL MEMORY. This is how he discovers each character.

EVEN PEOPLE WITH VERY RIGID POSITIONS CAN CHANGE. Attitudes can evolve over time.

Timecodes

0:54 – Theater vs cinema: direct audience connection vs camera-mediated performance

1:25 – Question: “What acting method do you use?”

2:01 – Stanislavski & Brecht: their influence and fusion in Portuguese theatre

2:11 – Russian director at Taganka Theatre: blending Stanislavski & Brecht

3:30 – Acting tools: affective memory, historical memory, and keen observation

4:36 – Actor/director perspective: “I became an actor because I wanted to be the director”

5:12 – Why attend theatre: a unique human connection that cameras or AI cannot replicate

6:20 – “Emotion is created in that moment of connection”

7:23 – Introducing a new film: The Scent of Things Remember

7:39 – Core theme: aging; portraying the challenges of growing old

8:14 – Acting and mortality: anticipating death as a reflection on life and faith

9:00 – Society favors youth in cinema

12:22 – Film’s message: “Even people with the most condemned positions can change”

14:38 – Journalism and acting: “Creating a newspaper is like directing a play”