The Great Acting Blog: “The Driven Actor”
One of the objections to producing your own work is that many actors just want to be actors. They want to be left free of the additional worry and distraction that comes with directing and producing, they want to be able to concentrate on their performance only. And there’s plenty to be said for that. Having to make myriad decisions, motivating others, planning and organising, the stress which accompanies the twists and turns of the production, the disappointments, the frustrations, all are extra aggro we can do without. It’s far more preferable to sit in a corner somewhere, with coffee and cigar, nose firmly entrenched in script.
So why do it then?
As with so much artistic endeavour, the motor for it is not always rational. The primary reason for moving into production for the actor is that they have a vision of how they want things to be done, and the desire to realise that vision becomes so strong that it cannot be resisted. In many ways it’s a response to other movies and plays – “why don’t they do it like this”. This extends to the script, to the visuals and most certainly to the acting.
So, if an actor spent his down time writing a script for himself to do but failed to produce it because he was not willing to go through the stresses of production, then it’s probably best that that script stays un-produced. However, if the actor overcomes the obstacles because he is driven to realise his vision, then I’d be very excited to see the results.
The Great Acting Blog: “Being Woody Allen” – The Great Acting Blog/ 03.08.2013
[…] This really backs up the point I was trying to make in yesterday’s post, The Driven Actor. […]
Deborah Littleton/ 03.08.2013
Good points. Some people have to write their own material, to be seen, as well. As Camryn Manheim had to do in writing her one woman off-Broadway play, “Wake Up, I’m Fat” in 1995. She somewhat cracked the fat barrier then, but it’s only recently been with Gabourey Sidibe and Monique in “Precious” and Melissa McCarthy finally shattering the Hollywood ideal that you don’t have to be stick thin to have talent. I was going around auditioning in SF in ’91/’92 and getting “Wow!!! How do you do that?!” As I have a easy time tapping into emotions, on a consistent basis, yet they’d go. Hmmmmm. Where do we put her. And can I share your audition tape?” because they’d see I didn’t fit the mold they had of their lead that they wanted to be svelte. I even had an informational interview with a BUSY agent–compared to the ones that wanted to see you but offer classes. This lady was on the phone, while I was in her office, booking talent for the “Roseanne” show. She said, “I’m booking a recurring young actress.” So she said, when I was all of 140 lbs. at the time, “Either lose all the weight, or gain 20 more pounds.” So thank you Melissa McCarthy for breaking down the wall of judgment that you don’t have to be anorexic in Hollywood!!!
James Devereaux actor/ 03.08.2013
Thanks for your comment Deborah.
But I don’t think work should be made in order for the actor “to be seen”. I think this is degrading and perverts the true object of our work.