jiya

He looks exhausted, and sad, and he clearly isn't involved in whatever bullshit the two companies he's beholden to have going on. It's heartbreaking to see the toll all this has taken on him in just a day.

He so clearly loves Boom and the work they've done together, and I hope that every single person who was talking out their ass about him yesterday feels the weight of his tears (and stubs their toe everyday for a year).

He's just a person. He's just a guy, trying to build a life for himself and do a job he loves, and there are things being his control that are in the way of that. No one should have to carry the weight of responsibility for all of the expectations and wants of an entire production, or an entire fandom. And no one person should be villainized if things get rocky in the course of a production. These things are huge group projects, and the actors are generally given very little control over how it plays out.

But still, we shouldn't need to see a man crying to recognize all of that.

The breathing technique used by Akin to help Jin cry in Ep. 1 of Top Form is a real-life acting method. It's formally known as the Outside-In/ ALBA Method.

It's a branch of method acting where the actors initially perform the body's actions to certain emotions in order to trigger said emotion. To illustrate: if an actor wants to cry, they must trigger the body's distress functions through movement. They take quick, panicky breaths to mimic a body in distress, which then increases their heart rate. This then triggers the body's natural reaction to calm the heart: deep slow breaths, then-- crying (crying forces the lungs to take in more air, and the high oxygen intake helps the heart re-establish rhythm. It's all very nerdy and scientific but it works 😅)

(Notice how at the start of the teaching at the bridge scene, Akin visibly shortens his breaths and widens his eyes while looking at Jin. He then gradually slows down his breathing, then touches Jin's chest to physically order the other to follow his movements, which Jin does).

It's actually harder to do than the common Inside-Out Method, which requires actors to tap into the emotion of the character first before expressing the action (e.g. crying would require you to think lonely thoughts, or place yourself in the shoes of your character in order to push the tears needed for the scene). Newbies are recommended to do the Inside-Out Method first because they don't have the experience to be instinctual with their body's reactions (the Alba Method requires that you MEMORIZE what a body does when feeling certain emotions. Senior actors, borne from years of doing complex scenes, have these actions mastered). Once a new actor gains enough experience, they'll be able to switch to the Outside-In/Alba (and get to do all sorts of roles).

But the Inside-Out is not reserved for newbies. Some prolific actors stay within the Inside-Out Method because that's what works for them. Regardless, both the Outside-In/Alba and Inside-Out are branches of Method Acting-- a very difficult (and controversial) technique which requires actors to physically and/or emotionally embody their character in its extremes in order to make their performance believable. Some method actors are stellar, some lackluster. There are about a dozen other acting techniques aside from Method Acting that actors can choose from.

Famous Hollywood Inside-Out Method Actors (based on interviews): Heath Ledger, Al Pacino, Natalie Portman

Famous Hollywood Alba Method actors (based on interviews): Benedict Cumberbatch, Joaquin Phoenix, Adrien Brody

In Thailand:

Famous BL actors who practice the Inside- Out Method (based on how they describe their performance in interviews):

Zee Pruk

Off Jumpol and Gun Atthaphan

And based on current interviews, our very own beloved Boom Raweewit is an Inside-Out actor. He studied the source materials, discussed the character with cast and crew, and even wrote the character's motivations for each scene to help fully immerse in the role. See the Black Honey Cut interview for reference.

Next, famous BL actors who practice the Alba Method (based on how they describe their performance in interviews):

Fluke Natouch

Ohm Pawat and Nanon Korapat

(I used this gif to make us all cry)

And based on current interviews, our resident heartthrob Smart Chisanupong describes his technique as Alba-adjacent. He describes his portrayal of Jin based on action-reaction: what body movements would show anger, happiness, or arousal to the audience, and what actions would trigger the same reactions from his acting partner. See the Black Honey Cut interview for reference.

Adversely, famous BL actors who REJECT Method Acting based on their interviews (and do Presentational Acting instead, where they completely separate the character from themselves and their real-life personas)

Khaotung Thanawat

Up Poompat and Poom Phuripan

Bonus (although I know this is quite long already):

The Alba Method may be indirectly responsible for causing Jin's infatuation with Akin 😅

The Alba method is NOTORIOUS for triggering "sham love" reactions from its practitioners and fans. Sham love in media refers to two things: 1) the audience believes that actors may have fallen in love for real because their actions come off as very natural onscreen, or 2) the actors THEMSELVES think they've fallen in love with their costars because their body's reactions mimic that of attraction or arousal.

Our brains, though infinitely complex, may sometimes be quite foolish. Our body's actions help our brain logically conclude what's occurring around it, so it in turn can order the body to react and fix any issues.

In Jin's case, an elevated heartbeat, dilated pupils, and a skin-on-skin contact-- these are all bodily reactions to arousal. Crying, funnily enough, is also a bodily reaction to arousal. 😅 Sexual activity increases the heartbeat, and the body's reaction to calming our heart is to increase oxygen intake and release accumulated body heat-- all achieved through crying. It doesn't help that Jin instantly found Akin captivating when they first met.

So in teaching Jin the Alba Method, Akin may have inadvertently triggered Jin's arousal 😅

(I was going to analyse Akin's swordfight with Johnny and how that triggered Johnny's attraction for Akin, but it awakened my anger for Johnny even more, so, never mind).

Edit: I made the Johnny retrospective. Click here if you're interested.

Thinking about Zoro wrapping him in a bear hug and Sanji being wildly uncomfortable for the first 3 seconds then going “oh ok” and melting into it.

Its so crazy that Izuku was the last thing he thought about a

The animation is so good

but it broke me so much

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to walk the same path for the rest of our lives

that's why he was so happy when he was revived. he was so thankful for the second chance. YES he can catch up, he'll surpass izuku and izuku will catch up and they can still chase each other and that future is so near he can feel it. they can still do this! only to have to let it go again because izuku is quirkless again, because he wasted so much time in the past being a terrible friend and he lost his chance. he could've had this with him the entire time, but he ruined it for himself.

edit: oh my god the TCB translation gives me brain damage....he thinks of the way he treated him when he was quirkless and thinks there's NO WAY izuku forgives him now. how can izuku lay there and be content and smile at him? their quirks gave them a more even ground with each other, he knows how to help him. he was going to do it right this time. he thought he had more time to make it up for him this way. damn.

katsuki just deals with so much emotional turmoil man......he wantsss he wants so much but he can't because The Past and now that izuku's quirkless again, the memories are too real and too painful that they can't possibly start anew. and why would izuku want anything to do with him now that katsuki is useless? he serves no purpose for him anymore. he has no place in his life. he doesn't know where he would fit in.

they don't know how to communicate. the only thing they have in common is their passion for heroism & that was the only time they can be remotely normal with each other. the first time they were civil was them discussing izuku's shoot style. from there katsuki just slotted himself back into his life as this figure that can help him get better & reach his dreams. and they created a dynamic that worked for them & it was doing so well until oh no he started loving it too much & he realized he probably was the one who caused izuku to become so callous with his own well being.

so he apologized & said nothing had to change because he didn't need forgiveness. because the arrangement they had is already good enough, he didn't need more (he did). he just wanted to stay by his side. he just wanted to be in his life, and that meant atoning for what he did, which meant keeping up the rivalry.

and if that wasn't enough, he'd even resort to being the supporting character. he'd finish what izuku started, help him do what he can't handle himself. "izuku, i won't get in your way anymore" could also mean this was his resolve as a resurrected person to use this second chance and permanently establish his position in izuku's life. as his closest person, as shigaraki put it. he'll help him and guide him and be there for him so goddamn well this time that izuku won't even feel a shadow of past katsuki over him saying he's worthless or that he needs to prove his worth by breaking his body and be alone in this journey. because he wants to be in his life forever.

the feelings they have for each other are just too complicated & too intense that they Need the cushion of quirks & heroism. without it they're back to square one, and it's too dangerous. and katsuki is so heartbroken and scared that nothing has changed after all. heartbroken because even though he himself is no longer that child who felt inferior & exposed to izuku's heroic heart, izuku is still at a disadvantage of not having a quirk to support his heroism. and it's so unfair. even all might said that the reason he gave izuku his quirk is because he wanted him to stand on the same ring as everybody else.

and he's scared that izuku is going to be so far away again like before. back when he felt so lonely and isolated and betrayed for some reason, which caused their complicated past and his bullying. like it really ultimately boils down to them being so insecure to say they want to continue being important to each other. izuku saying that it isn't katsuki to cry because he thinks he's mourning his chance to surpass OFA and prove himself as the number 1 hero. he also thinks they can't be anything but rivals and he no longer has any importance in his life and he wants to deny that. he can't contribute in the rivalry so kacchan won't want him anymore.

it's fitting with how the other characters are doing too. like if the villains are still alive, tgck & shotouya would have to navigate their relationships outside of their status as heroes and villains as do bkdk.