What is ‘screen cooking’ theory? What do junior artists talk about behind the lead characters?

What is Screen Cooking Theory: Today, when we watch a film or web series on a big theater or mobile screen, our eyes often remain focused on the main character. But if you have ever noticed carefully, the people present in his background are also seen talking continuously. He is laughing, walking or busy in some work. At first glance it seems that he is really talking about a specific issue. But the reality is completely different from this. In the film industry, a special technology works behind creating this entire background environment. Which is called ‘Screen Cooking’. Through this, such an environment is created in the background of the lead character, due to which the world shown on the screen is completely real. Let us understand in simple language in this explainer what this theory is and what junior artists talk about.

What is ‘screen cooking’ theory?

If we understand the scree cooking theory in very simple words, it means preparing the background of a scene in such a way that it looks completely real. The director does not want to show only the lead character’s conversations on screen. He wants that when the lead characters on screen are talking in a hotel, it seems as if they are present in a real hotel-like environment. Similarly, when they are in the market or in the college canteen, they really feel full of students. This is the reason why every junior artist present in the background is given special training for this. At the same time, if everyone sits quietly in the background without moving, people will immediately realize that it is all fake. Therefore, small actions of the background artist make the entire scene look real.

What do junior artists talk about in the background?

The most interesting question of this explainer is what the junior artists talk about in the background of the lead character. Let us tell you that in reality, in most of the cases, junior artists do not talk about any real issue or anything important. During the shooting, they are often asked to slowly speak words like ‘Rhubarb’, ‘Wallah’, ‘Rush-Rush’ or ‘Matadors’ repeatedly. These words have no meaning in any conversation. But when the junior artists speak these words in the background, their lips, cheeks and jaws move exactly as if a normal conversation is taking place. At the same time, many times they are asked to count down, repeat ABCD or say something in their mind. He is also asked to speak poetry. It seems as if he is actually talking on some issue on camera.

Why don’t junior artists talk in the background?

In any film, TV and web series, junior artistes are considered to actually talk in the background because it affects the quality of the audio recording. There are small wireless microphones fitted in the man character’s clothes. Not only this, they are also recorded through boom microphone. These microphones record even light sounds, in such a situation, if the people standing behind talk in real life, their voice will also be recorded and the dialogues of the hero and heroine will get spoiled. This is the reason why on the set they are asked only to move their lips, give facial expressions and talk without any voice. This is also called ‘mute gossip’.

How is the complete planning of background actors done?

Many people might think that the junior artist would be made to stand somewhere in the background to gossip about the muse, however, this does not happen at all. Before every crowd scene, the assistant director tells everyone which way they have to walk, when to stop, who will sit when, who will pick up the coffee and who will go out of the frame at what time, all this is decided in advance. If a scene of a railway station is to be shown, it is also decided at which second who will come from inside the frame with a suitcase and at what time a family will catch the train. For this reason, many people also call background acting as background choreography.

When do background artists start ‘silent acting’?

After the director calls the action, the camera rolls. After this the entire set looks like the real thing from outside. Junior artists smile, make hand gestures, act like laughing and keep moving their lips continuously. But the voice of any artist present there is not recorded. This is the reason why whoever comes to see the shooting and sees the set for the first time is surprised, the hotel which seems full of noise, is actually silent there.

How is sound added?

Now the question arises that if any voice of a junior artist is heard during the shooting, then where does the sound of hotel, market or club come from in the film? The answer is sound design, yes. After the shooting is over, the sound designer later records the sound of the crowd, the clinking of spoons, the sound of chairs sliding, the noise of the market, light conversations of people and applause. These are later aligned with the scene during editing. This process is sometimes also called creating Ambience Sound or Walla Track. This is the reason why people feel everything as real while watching a movie.

What things do junior artists have to keep in mind while shooting?

As easy as background acting may seem, it is actually as tough as it is. They have to follow many strict rules. The director gives them strict instructions not to look at the camera at all, not to give excessive expression, not to look at the main character and is asked to do the same movements in every take. Props (like cup, mobile, book) have to be lifted in exactly the same style and time every time. If one of the junior artists makes a mistake, the entire scene may have to be shot again.

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