Pantomime 101

In a pantomime the hardest thing to achieve is a good sense of the overall timing and trying to convey the emotion of the character(s) only through the use of good posing and props.

I found a great example in the recent movie "L'Illusioniste" by Sylvain Chomet.

The whole movie is a masterpiece at pantomime, essentially because it's a mute one, but I found one scene in particular with clear moments (beats).

The man doesn't know if he should buy new shoes for his friend or not.

He's living a hard moment of his life in economic terms, his work as illusionist seems to disappear, so he's running out of money.

Even though he would make his friend happy buying to her this new pairs of shoes.

So in this shot we have a conflict (between himself) and an objective (making happy the girl), and an obstacle (the lack of money), and we see his indecision in the succession of the golden poses:

FIRST BEAT: He's looking at the shoes

SECOND BEAT: Then he's thinking (left hand on the chin, 

right hand on his hip).

THIRD BEAT: Clear pose of him counting the money.

Now the action is making obvious to audience.

Notice also his body rotated towards us.

FOURTH BEAT: Scratching his head (more thinking)

FIFTH BEAT: He decided not to buy the shoes, so

he's doing an everyday action (smoking) to sell the idea

that he's sure about it.

He's also going in the opposite direction of the

shop (screen right).

SIXTH BEAT: He suddenly changes his mind and goes towards

the shop.

If you have the chance to see the movie also check the timing of those beats.

It is made by longer pauses and quick changes in pose.