It was an unexpected delight to see how well Steven Hayet’s animated short McIntosh perfectly illustrates the concept attributed to Konstantin Stanislavski, “There are no small parts, only small actors.”
When students Keri (Najah Imani Muhammad) and Stacy (Giselle Muise) meet up to talk about the posted cast list for a production of the Wizard of Oz, Keri informs Stacy that her part as one tree in the background is far more crucial to the overarching plot then most people realize.
In McIntosh, even background characters like the talking tree are given purpose and personality.
“…her part as one tree in the background is far more crucial to the overarching plot…”
The importance of her character is so pivotal. Keri, believing everyone should have one, has even given her character a name: McIntosh. The genius of the simplicity of the message in this movie is astounding. How one character’s perspective of all parts being essential to the narrative soon has Stacy reconsidering her place as one lead.
The animation style is vibrant, comical, yet effective. Seeing the tools to create animated shorts and features become so widely available and easy to use brings to mind Coppola’s prophecy at the conclusion of Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmakers Apocalypse, when he talked about people will make films that wouldn’t normally be making them, and this would nullify the professionalism surrounding film-making, thus rendering it primarily, an art-form.
So, what McIntosh presents daintily and eloquently, it’s not the part you play, but what you make of your time on the stage, is what truly matters.
"…There are no small parts, only small actors."
