Showing posts with label Oscars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oscars. Show all posts

Monday, March 13, 2023

Body Language Analysis No. 4677: Jamie Lee Curtis Accepts her Oscar


Jamie Lee Curtis won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. She played, Deirdre Beaubeirdre (an IRS inspector) in the film, "Everything Everywhere All at Once".

What follows is a Body Language analysis of several nonverbal behaviors Ms. Curtis displays in her acceptance speech.

At the end of her speech (2:17 in the above video), Jamie Lee Curtis says, "And my mother and my father were both nominated for Oscars in different categories — [pausing while tilting her head-neck backward and looking up] I just won an Oscar!"

(Jamie Lee Curtis' mother was Janet Leigh and her father was Tony Curtis)
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Immediately after this sentence, Ms. Curtis, with her left hand, first covers both eyes ...


 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
...then covers her mouth...
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
...then she blows a kiss to the audience.

When a person finds themself in a sudden situation where they learn something dramatic that's factually true (intellectually true) — but they've yet to accept/fully accept the emotional ramifications of this new event (what is 'emotionally true'), they will very often (unconsciously/at the edge-of-consciousness) cover their eyes (both eyes, almost never one eye) with one or both of their hands — or cover their mouth with one or both their hands — or both (as did Ms. Curtis). 

As Jamie Lee Curtis' edge-of-unconsciousness mouth covering progressed into conscious awareness, she then segued into a blown kiss gesture to the audience.

SUMMARY: Colloquially, it's helpful to think of this behavior as a real-time nonverbal manifestation of a person 'trying to wrap their brain around' a suddenly presented high-ramification event/news.

Spontaneous Bilateral Eye covering or mouth covering with one or both hands after sudden awareness of a dramatic/surprise event, is a sincere and common signal of emotional processing.

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Sunday, February 26, 2017

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3861: Emma Stone, The Oscars and Sincerity - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)





At the time of this writing, the 2017 Academy Awards have already begun. It's an hour or so before we know if Emma Stone will win an Oscar for "Best Actress in a Leading Role" for her portrayal of Mia Dolan in the film La La Land.

During this recent interview with Lee Cowan, Ms. Stone displays several excellent body language signals.

























In the image above, Emma is reunited with a childhood mentor, Bobb Cooper of the Valley Youth Theater in Phoenix. Notice that during their hug, although Ms. Stone is not much shorter than Mr. Cooper, when she hugs him, she elevates up on her toes - with both feet - for an extended period of time. Although, of course, such toe elevation during a hug is not at all required for a sincerity to be present - we can be sure that when it is performed bilaterally (that is, with both feet) and for an extended time, it indeed is a signal that high sincerity and true affection are being experienced (and projected).





























In this next image, Ms. Stone and Mr. Cowan are fairly closely mirroring each other. We cannot see most of Cowan's hands - but we can see much of Emma's. She is displaying a good example of an "Alpha-Beta Hybrid". As the categorical name implies, these are a class of nonverbal behaviors which are not too alpha - not too beta, but somewhere intermediate. To slice it even thinner, this particular alpha-beta hybrid is a bit closer to the alpha end of the scale (but certainly not "Hyper-Alpha).

Much of the time when the hands are positioned in the pockets - it does project a beta and sometimes submissive/low confidence emotional tone. Depending on the dynamics, the coexisting verbal cues and the other nonverbal signals with which it may be clustered - hands in the pockets can even be a signal for deception. Yet these examples don't apply to Stone in this scenario - for only her fingers on her right hand (and slightly more on her left) are in her pockets. Moreover, these are her front pockets - allowing a more assertive variation of an "Arms Akimbo" configuration. Her elbows, which are protruding laterally - but not excessively so, is an alpha quality.

Notice too, each of Emma's thumbs are hooked in her belt loops. This is a stronger alpha component adding to this body language cluster, and indeed contains a significant element of sexuality (not for her interviewer, rather that she is "on camera", being herself - rather than a character. This feeling of being "on display", given the right setting and situation, can make a person feel confident and sexy.



























This last image is on the set of Saturday Night Live (which Stone has hosted on three occasions). Her "Thumbs Forward Arms Akimbo" is another example of an Alpha-Beta Hybrid body language display. When the thumbs are positioned forward (and thus the palms are directed up), it projects a confident, open-minded and supportive emotional tone. Depending on the other nonverbal signals present, there may also be an inquisitive component present too.

Good Luck Emma Stone!


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3860: Ian McKellen, The Oscars and a spot-on Maggie Smith Impression

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3858: Milo Yiannopoulos resigns from Breitbart with "Apology"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3856: "Belle" Clip - Beauty and the Beast

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3854: Donald Trump's Press Conference - "I am the least anti-Semitic person that you've ever seen in your entire life

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2814: Claire Foy's recounting of Meeting Kate Winslet

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3809: Horse Lays His Head On Coffin As He Mourns The Loss Of His Human Best Friend

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3729: The 3rd Presidential Debate - Donald Trump v. Hillary Clinton - Part I - Vladimir Putin, Body Language & Emotional Intelligence

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2802: Emma Stone & Jimmy Fallon Lip Sync Battle


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Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3112: John Travolta Chin Holding and Face Touching Idina Menzel at the Oscars - What Makes it Extra-Creepy (PHOTOS)





John Travolta was given a chance at the Oscars to redeem himself for his last year's mispronunciation of Idina Menzel's name. Yet this time he gave everyone the creeps. Indeed, if this video isn't difficult to watch - you have an empathy deficit (no exaggeration). What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis.

Note angle of Idina Menzel's back vs. Travolta's. Also compare their necks - Idina's neck has to be pretty much straight up because of the considerable angle of her back - yet Travolta's head/neck is tilted towards her. Menzel feels invaded and is doing a fairly good job at disguising it (yet all her smiles are feigned) - however for those who know what to look for, her body language can be seen sending beacons of discomfort.

Travolta does not want to let her go - he holds on to her, repeatedly pulling Ms. Menzel close.




And Travolta continues ....

This is so very uncomfortable to watch. Touching another person in such a public context when there is no close relationship. 










Idina Menzel turns away from Travolta - both because of the grand stage and context of the Academy Awards, the camera, etc. - but also because she is emotionally uncomfortable. 

Travolta's hand has also moved up to her cheek and temple region. This is very intimate. Touching in this area is reserved for only those with whom we have affection and love.

Major. Red. Flag.






Menzel continues to look towards the audience, yet Travolta's faux pas continue ...













Travolta then reaches for Idina's chin again to manually rotate it back to HIM - (e.g. "don't look at the audience and the hundreds of millions of viewers, look at ME!)













Chin Holding - Part Deux 

















Idina turns away, yet Travolta still holds on ...

















Travolta finally lets go of Idina's chin
(this time holding it for 7 seconds)
















He still feels the need to touch Ms. Menzel's upper arm - while Idina's fingers are interlaced wtih anxiety.















Now Travolta's hand has moved to Idina's lower back (perhaps even her upper butt).










Face touching - and particularly chin-holding as Travolta did here, when there is no close and loving relationship and basis for true affection - is three (or more) standard deviations removed from normal behavior. These are varieties of false-intimacy. Outside the context of sincere affection, chin and face holding indicates an objectification and even a de-humanizing emotional mindset. Search your memory - such nonverbal signs have even been used in film to underscore evil characters and their malicious motives. Creepy.
See also:

Nonverbal Communication No. 3110: Scarlett Johansson gets invaded by John Travolta - An Awkward Moment from the 2015 Oscars - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3111: Dakota Johnson rips into her Mom, Melanie Griffith at Oscars

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2268:  Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Kathryn Bigelow & Jessica Chastain - Body Language at the 2013 Golden Globe Awards

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2314:  Naomi Watts Pre-Oscar Interview and her  Body Language of the "Jaw Confessional" and the Sincerity Quotient

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2993: Fight in Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport - Passengers Break Up Homophobic Attack - Threat Assessment Warning Signs

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret No. 1212:  Invading Barack Obama's Personal Space  

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2203:  A Body Language Metric of Intimacy and Affection -  How Do YOU cuddle?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2831: "Walking Contest", Anxiety, Mirroring and False Intimacy

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Monday, February 23, 2015

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3111: Dakota Johnson rips into her Mom, Melanie Griffith at Oscars (VIDEO, PHOTOS)





An interesting and awkward family moment was on display last night at the Oscars. Dakota Johnson took her mother to the Academy Awards. Melanie Griffith, an actor in her own right, to everyone's surprise had not yet seen her daughter's first starring role. What follows is a partial body language analysis.




Just as Melanie is asked if she has seen "Fifty Shades of Grey" - Dakota begins to display an "Inward Lip Roll" (ILR). She knows what her mom's answer is going to be and the inward lip roll is (subconsciously) partially suppressing her negative emotions - as well as a more dramatic facial expression (0:36).







A close up of the ILR as it wanes (0:37).














0:40

Dakota is pleading to her mother with mild fear face and elevated central forehead contraction (CFC). This one expression very commonly used when trying to engender empathy in another.

Melanie is tight-lipped, nonverbally projecting, "I don't want to say it ...."




0:41

As her elevated CFC persists,
Dakota's mid-face is projecting a Rationalization Rapport Empathy Expression (R2E2) - she's verbally and nonverbally asking her mother to agree with her - at least here, on the red carpet (e.g., Pleeeease!? Mom!)

Melanie is staring - her upper eyelids elevated higher than baseline and with a tight-lipped (now beginning to down-turn) false smile persisting



1:01- 1:02

As Dakota says, "Alright! You don't have to see it [inaudible]" - she displays a Subtle Eye Roll - which projects both her Contempt & Dismissive feelings.

Meanwhile Melanie's mouth is configured in a Tight-Lipped False-Smile while her mid-face is also manifesting Disgust.







1:03

Dakota then Melanie each then turn their heads (and Dakota her back) away from each other - signaling dissociating, distancing, disliking and disagreeing emotional tones.








1:16

Dakota is displaying a forward lip purse when her mother says, "If she tells me to see it, I will go see it."

Lip pursing, in this cluster-context, is a strong nonverbal signal of clandestine disagreement. Dakota does not at all believe her mother will watch her break-out movie. Dakota is also projecting disgust.

Johnson's partial eyelid closure here is an amplifier of her both her disbelief and disgust.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication No. 3110: Scarlett Johansson gets kissed and invaded by John Travolta - An Awkward Moment from the 2015 Oscars

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3102: Movie Portrayal of "Christian Grey" is a Sociopath or Worse

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2603: Sarah Palin's Body Language - She Feels Disgust toward Pope Francis and ... She Tells a Fib

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3056: Jeb Bush Interview - 14 Dec. 2014 - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3091: Vladimir Putin has Asperger's Syndrome according to Pentagon Report

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2468:  Princess Kate, Prince William & a New Baby Boy -  Body Language, Rapport & Saving Face

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3061: Jimmy Fallon Blew a Chance to Date Nicole Kidman 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3064: Pastor Recounts Punching a Child in the Chest


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Sunday, February 22, 2015

Nonverbal Communication No. 3110: Scarlett Johansson gets invaded by John Travolta - An Awkward Moment from the 2015 Oscars - Body Language Tells (PHOTOS)



John Travolta provided a very awkward moment at the 2015 Oscars.

From a body language perspective there were two huge faux pas by the two-time best actor nominee when he encountered Scarlett Johansson.

Never approach a person from behind. In all but very few scenarios, such a maneuver is rarely endearing and even those who love us other will often become rapidly unnerved. Of course if there is no true affection, such an action is even more offensive.

Not only does he spring a sneak-attack, Travolta also touches Johansson on her mid abdomen. This is of course an intimate area for which Travolta had no invitation - and particularly true in such a public setting as the Academy Awards and when Scarlett recently had her first child.

Johansson's face reveals more than a little bit of anger here. Can you spot its subtle signs?

Those who are skilled and have a good amount of mindfulness can sometimes not react or at least slow down with their response with their arms or hands for a few moments in these and similar social situations. It's very difficult to do though. Such adept arm and hand control in turn tends to engender more control of the rest of the body. Yet even the untrained eye can look at Scarlett Johansson in these photos and feel their back stiffen along with hers.




Because of the rapidity and clandestine nature of Travolta's sneaky kiss & semi-embrace, Johansson did not really have much time to turn her head. Yet she could have responded more (her stomach was touched first providing a warning). A "Side-Eye" is telling. We do not look directly at someone who we don't respect, don't believe or we dislike.

Notice Johansson's head is also tilted away from Travolta. This subtle signal is a definite distancing phenomenon and is often seen in couples months or years prior to a break-up or divorce.

If you look carefully, you can also see Scarlett's lips and jaw shifting away from Travolta.

Given the context, John Travolta's action tends to strongly suggest narcissism (Surprise).



See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3109: Why Chris Christie Will Never Win The White House in 2016 (or the Republican Nomination) - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 1779:  Girl with a Pear Earring, Johannes Vermeer, Scarlett Johansson & Emotional Dissonance - Pain & Concern mixed with Flirting, Sexuality & Attractiveness

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3105: Joe Biden, Ashton Carter & Stephanie Carter - Vice President Encroaches into New Defense Secretary's Wife's Intimate Space

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2995: 10 Hours of Walking in NYC as a Woman - Catcalls, Street Harassment, Body Language, Personal Safety & Threat Assessment

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2563: President Obama's Subtle Anger - Body Language of Government Shutdown & the Debt Ceiling

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2894: Maria Kirilenko, Alex Ovechkin and Subtle Body Language of ....

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2811: Jason and David Benham are Dropped from HGTV - Body Language of Subtle Contempt, Anger & Disgust

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3068: John Boehner Kissing Nancy Pelosi
 
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Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2741: Lupita Nyong'o Wins an Oscar - Signal of high sincerity and empathy (VIDEO, PHOTOS)


























Lupita Nyong'o won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as "Patsy" in "Twelve Years a Slave". The gifted actress gave a very heart-felt and sincere speech (see below). In the image above with the Oscar raised above her head Ms. Nyong'o tilts her head down and towards her elevated arm. This moment has high value when assessing several key personality traits. 

Note the components of Ms. Nyong'o's classic sincere (Duchenne) smile. Lupita's bottom teeth are only visible because of her downward head tilt and an elevated camera angle. In addition to having a relaxed, non-contracted forehead, her cheeks are elevated and her eyelids are partially closed. Both of her lower eyelids are configured in dynamic, concave-up furrows which are required with a true smile of joy-happiness.

This head-tilting towards the elevated arm in celebration is a nonverbal indicative of both high sincerity and an elevated empathy quotient - and it is amplified with the presence of Lupita's sincere smile.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2314:  Naomi Watts Pre-Oscar Interview and her  Body Language of the "Jaw Confessional" and the Sincerity Quotient

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2698: Lupita Nyong'o on Jimmy Fallon - an Underused Body Language Display

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2740: Matthew McConaughey Tells Us What He REALLY THINKS about the Motion Picture Academy - Body Language, Ear Screws and Deception

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2709: Philip Seymour Hoffman - Can You Tell When an Oscar Winning Actor is Lying? Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2315:  Daniel Day-Lewis Wins His 3rd Oscar -  Even the Best Actors will  "Leak" Their True Feelings via Body Language ...  Here via a Microexpression of Fear 






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