19 January 2012, 7:32 am
If you don't want to read all the background stuff you can skip to the last line of the question. To give some background, I'm 20 years old in my 2nd semester of college and the only experience I have is doing a short beginning acting class at my community theater. It involved improv and a scene from a play we performed. (Aside from the fact that 95% of the people there are 60 years of age or older and my part was that of a 60 year old man making the acting for me very challenging and hard to believe) it was VERY fun. It was the only time in my life that I've been told straight to my face "You were horrible, it sounded like you were reading a newspaper." and DIDN'T give up because of my insecurity and shyness. The best part is that because I stuck with it I improved greatly and had the whole class and guests laughing (it was a short comedy). I'm taking my first REAL acting class at college this semester and I can't wait. I'll also say that I DO dream of "making it" and in my mind that's landing a role in an epic movie similar to Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings and being invited to the Oscars even without a nomination. (Don't even care if it's a lead role. I'd be happy with a small role.) Now I know many people out there give up and then tell everyone else in their shoes to be realistic but Will Smith said "realism is the most commonly traveled road to mediocrity" and I just know in my heart that I would rather live my whole life being poor and trying then giving up and living in a middle class rut. NOW my question... I'm thinking that acting on screen would be easier than acting in plays because in plays you have to keep coming back to shows and bringing the same amount of emotion. I don't know if that's harder or if you wear yourself out and don't believe it anymore. On screen it seems like you have plenty of time to do takes and get it right and you can usually experiment with the lines so it sounds more real to you. Not to mention you get paid way less in plays for wayyy harder work. SO are there any famous screen actors who have said they don't like plays or prefer screen? I respect that but I also think that the reason there are so many actors in those situations is because they became complacent. I don't think wanting (a little bit) of financial success from acting is a bad thing, but rather something to keep you motivated. I always have battled with that. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited by the prospect of fame and fortune, who isn't. But what I really love about acting is being able to experience so many different lives. I've always been very ambitious and had many interests and acting is the place where I can live out all those dreams to a lesser extent. I say a movie like Harry Potter or LOTR because I love fantasy. I just refuse to "grow up" and be "realistic" because you notice that the people who tell you to do those things are the one's who never made it and the people who DID make it are the one's who believe in the unbelievable. Do you think that's a good reason to act? I have the d... Read More »
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