Acting Mistakes...

[Alex]

Is it easier to critique actors performances from someone else's movie, or your own movie?

What are acting mistakes that you have either been the director on, or observed in another filmmakers movie?

Was the mistake based on incorrect direction, lack of rehearsal, poor script, etc...?

[emjen]

its more difficult to give critisism about actors in other movies IMO. If the actor is pretty good, it may be believable and you probably think that's how it is supposed to be.

However, the director of that same movie might have had an entirely different idea in mind, and think the final results suks bullocks.

There's a guy who enjoys acting, and he can do it pretty good too (when compared to the majority of the 'normal' people) but he just keeps doing it wrong. He's a bit dumb. Now, I'm not a great actor. I can't keep the **** smile of my face when I'm in front of a camera. But I do KNOW what actors are supposed to do when I'm directing. I tell them. But that stupid boy just kept doing it wrong. He's just stupid.

argh.

[Alex]

I edit actor demo reels on a regular basis, and there is one kind of scene that I consider the kiss of death.

It's the boy meets girl scene(or vice a versa), and the actors are so absorbed with each other it's as if nothing else in the world exists.

When I compare that kind of scene with bigger budgeted movies, I find the biggest difference is the actors that are usually trying to get together have circumstances that are preventing it, such as they can't stand each other, have significant bothers, have other places to be.

In the lower budgeted movies, there is less of the other stuff going on, and sometimes more of the fluff stuff, and usually I find it annoying.

[Yammeryammeryammer]

I find it easier to critique acting in my movies, just by virtue of the fact there are mistakes, and it helps to identify them. They are easier to spot in your own work obviously, but it works your benefit if the audience buys a failed scene for what it ends up being. In our battery of actors they range from subpar to extremely talented, but the thing is it is all about expectation. If an actor I have little faith in pulls off a scene that's great, if they don't I more or less saw it coming. But if a talented one doesn't get it quite right that seems inherently worse than if one you had little faith in blatantly failed. This could be due to lack or rehearsal, poor script, or whatever, but the bottom line is the director is the one trying to get it 'right' to their standards. An actor can screw things up, just ask them to do it differently. If they won't, try to trick them. You are most likely never going to get all the stuff you want, so the great thing about this form of expression is juggling the amount of time, pressure on yourself and actors, patience, budget, and skill to try and do your best. So identify your own mistakes, and get the shots you want.

[GREATwarEAGLE]

I'd say one of the most common mistakes actors make is not living truthfully in the moment. But rather sticking to a predetermined performance. An example would be an actor memorizing their lines in a way so that they have already made up their mind that they will say them with anger.
And that might even make sense if the script appears to be written that way. But what if the other person they're doing the scene with doesn't give them a reason to be angry? What if the other actor's behavior is gentle?

In film, this is easier to hide. Especially if the scene is composed of individual close-ups, cutting back and forth. And if the director catches it, does a few different takes from each actor, and then matches them up in editing.

But if the scene is done in one wide shot, you really can't hide it. You'd have to make sure that the behavioral give and take of both actors is natural.

Living truthfully in the moment comes from theatrical training. Acting in plays. Because the audience sees everything as it happens. If they notice Actor A do something strange, but Actor B doesn't acknowledge it, it creates awkwardness. And is a result of Actor B's bad acting, because he rehearsed his lines the same way, over and over, and didn't know how to respond to the unexpected delivery of Actor A.

Living truthfully in the moment. IMO, this is the most important aspect of acting. Essentially it's improvisation. But it's difficult to achieve because most actors by nature are extremely self-conscious. They want to show off. This tends to be the greatest obstacle in acting. Overcoming ego, vanity and self-consciousness.

Robert DeNiro on Saturday Night Live. He was horrible. He was sticking to his tough guy act, speaking in that intimidating tone. Even when unprovoked. Occasionally it was funny. But most of the time, extremely awkward. He certainly wasn't reacting naturally to the other actors. Like most celebrities of his ilk, Pacino, Nicholson. These "larger than life" actors drift from film to film, sticking to what has worked for them. Resorting to flamboyance. It's all ego. Don't get me wrong, they're very interesting to watch. But it's because they know they're so adored, and therefore can get away with anything. (OJ Simpson?)

I'd say the next biggest problem in acting is a lack of humor. If an actor doesn't have the ability to laugh at him/herself in their everyday life. Or aren't able to find humor in the difficulties we all face in life, then they're probably no good. I don't care if they can cry on cue. Sense of humor is a must. Even in the most morbid, tragic story. Cause then you're gonna get melodrama.

From what I've seen, living truthfully in the moment and a sense of humor usually go hand in hand.

And speaking of crying on cue. I don't consider this to necessarily be good acting. It's biological. It deals with glands. You know anyone who can sweat on cue?

I just can't write simple posts anymore. Everything's a f*cking essay with me. [img]mad.gif[/img]

[Alex]

Any specifics? I don't care as much about if an actor furrowed their brow at the wrong time, but do you believe they are the part they are playing?

When you don't get the performance you want, have you been able to get the performance you wanted, or was something going on that prevented it?

Follow up question. Do you like the actors to do the takes in a similar vein, or do you like a variety of "takes" on the character and the scene?

[Alex]

That's what I was looking for.