I think you are asking the wrong questions...

Posted by John_N (A) on June 26, 2001 at 00:19:16

In Reply to: actors who play themselves posted by Albert B. Broman on June 25, 2001 at 20:13:06:

You have to ask why a certain actor continues to play his characters in a similar way. Has the actor agreed to play this role in a particular way by choice? Does he feel he is choosing roles that he can develop from his own strengths as an actor with the inherent limitations of the part? Has he chosen a role expecting to be given the oportunity to stretch himself as an actor to go beyond the surface level of the character part? Has his expectation to develop as an actor been aborted by the film director, who has already made a decision regarding his expectation from that actor? Has the actor been so typecast that he is accepting these dreary roles only with the hope that an opportunity to show "his stuff" may, someday be given to him by a keen director?

I think you are mistakingly suggesting that the actor has more say in how a part is played than is really the case.
I always thought it was the director's call on what of the actor's performance actually is kept in the film.

Really, the only way for an actor to "grow" as a performer is to accept a wide variety of roles. Think of Robert Dinero and Mel Gibson, for example, and you already know what their character is most likely to be. Neither are likely to be portrayed as cerebral types, because the movie would have to spend a lot more time on character development to make the roles credible to the movie audience.

John_N

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - actors who play themselves - Albert B. Broman 20:13:06 06/25/01 (10)

Re: actors who play themselves - ishmael 13:14:08 08/19/01 (0)

Re: actors who play themselves - Bruce from DC 15:18:07 06/26/01 (1)

Re: actors who play themselves - Dmitry 02:17:50 06/27/01 (0)

I think you are asking the wrong questions... - John_N 00:19:16 06/26/01 (4)

Re: I think you are asking the wrong questions... - Ishmael 13:17:54 08/19/01 (0)

Re: I think you are asking the wrong questions... - Albert B. Broman 19:59:39 06/28/01 (0)

Re: I think you are asking the wrong questions... - caa 19:11:10 06/27/01 (1)

Re: I think you are asking the wrong questions... - John_N 22:42:42 06/27/01 (0)

Jean Gabin... - Dmitry 23:46:13 06/25/01 (0)

Re: actors who play themselves - Victor Khomenko 21:55:15 06/25/01 (0)

Follow Ups

I think you are asking the wrong questions... - John_N 00:19:16 06/26/01 (4)

Re: I think you are asking the wrong questions... - Ishmael 13:17:54 08/19/01 (0)

Re: I think you are asking the wrong questions... - Albert B. Broman 19:59:39 06/28/01 (0)

Re: I think you are asking the wrong questions... - caa 19:11:10 06/27/01 (1)

Re: I think you are asking the wrong questions... - John_N 22:42:42 06/27/01 (0)

You can not post to an archived thread.