"Behind the footlights there is always the applause, which stimulates the actors. On the screen it is a different matter"

Ivor Novello's observation identifies the contrasting dynamics of live theater and movie theater. At the heart of this quote is the concept of immediacy and the distinct relationship in between a live efficiency and its audience.

In theater, "behind the footlights", stars are fueled by the concrete, real-time action of the audience-- the applause, laughter, gasps, and even the peaceful attention that stress their existence and effect. This live feedback loop is a powerful stimulant, energizing performers, and enabling them to adjust their representations in accordance with the audience's reactions. The energy in a theater performance is therefore a shared experience, a discussion in which both the audience and entertainers are active individuals. Each program is special and ephemeral, greatly shaped by this dynamic exchange that is as much about receiving energy as it has to do with giving it.

On the other hand, Novello highlights that "on the screen, it is a different matter". In cinema, the lack of a live audience eliminates this interactive component. The imaginative procedure is more solitary and detached for the star, as the performance is caught by cams in a controlled environment, typically piecemeal, to be modified and shown later on in a fixed form. The actors do not get to experience the immediate reaction of the audience; rather, they need to trust in the assistance of the director, the capabilities of the film team, and their own instincts to communicate reality and feeling through the lens.

This difference underscores the distinct natures of the two art kinds. In movie theater, the interaction with the audience is indirect; the applause, if it exists, is delayed and disassociated from those moments of development. While movie actors count on technical abilities to convey authenticity and emotion, phase stars are buoyed by the mutual energy of a present audience-- a relationship that is both stimulating and important. Novello's insight calls attention to these nuanced artistic obstacles and the contrasting nature of performance art within the theater versus on the screen.