Is he a good actor?

[onehandbh]

Steady Eddy, while there are exceptions, I think most people for the most
part underestimate film acting. Take the average person, throw them on
a film set and tell them that they have to speak to a point just next to the
camera as if it's a real person. Now add some bright lights (much brighter
than regular environments), a crew of people all around them. Just have the
person try and not stumble on their lines and sound like they are not
reading. It's hard. Most of the time they will fail. A lot of actors (who never
book jobs) struggle with just the audition. I've seen it many times.
Just simply add an audition camera and suddenly the person can barely
talk normal. Green screen acting? Adding blocking? Forget about it.
We're talking simple scenes, not emotionally challenging scenes or scenes
requiring comedic timing and extensive script analysis.

There are also many intangible things like charisma, presence, body-awareness,
etc. (though some of these things can be improved over time) Take
someone like DeCaprio. Some people diss his acting, but he works **Damn**
hard at it to do what he does.

Try this experiment. Take one of Keanu Reeves' scenes from one of his
popular movies. Print out the lines, memorize it, and have one of your
friends record you delivering the lines in a closeup using a cheap camera.
Your friend can read the other lines behind the camera. Put it on youtube...
Or sendspace it to me. I'll edit it and put it on youtube for you.

[heycal]

Originally Posted by onehandbh

.

Try this experiment. Take one of Keanu Reeves scenes from one of his
popular movies. Print out the lines, memorize it, and have one of your
friends record you delivering the lines in a closeup using a cheap camera.
Your friend can read the other lines behind the camera. Put it on youtube...
Or sendspace it to me. I'll edit it and put it on youtube for you.

I suggested the exact thing to him earlier in the thread. He thinks it so easy? Go try it and then get back to us....

[onehandbh]

Originally Posted by heycal

I suggested the exact thing to him earlier in the thread. He thinks it so easy? Go try it and then get back to us....

Oops. Missed that. A Few Good men is too challenging, though. Sorkin's
writing is good. I picked Keanu b/c people like to criticize him as an actor.
Who knows. Steady Eddy could be a hidden talent better than Liam Neeson
or maybe he's more like the Rock or perhaps just a mere pebble in a
smaller puddle...

[heycal]

Originally Posted by onehandbh

Oops. Missed that. A Few Good men is too challenging, though. Sorkin's
writing is good. I picked Keanu b/c people like to criticize him as an actor.
Who knows. Steady Eddy could be a hidden talent better than Liam Neeson
or maybe he's more like the Rock or perhaps just a mere pebble in a
smaller puddle...

Yes, Keanu was an excellent choice for such an experiment. I also wanted him to do a Tom Arnold scene and screw that up as well since he had ridiculed him.

Come on, Eddy! Show us your stuff.

[Steady Eddy]

Originally Posted by heycal

Yes, Keanu was an excellent choice for such an experiment. I also wanted him to do a Tom Arnold scene and screw that up as well since he had ridiculed him.

Come on, Eddy! Show us your stuff.

Ok, here you go.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7fwclePNmA

[heycal]

Originally Posted by Steady Eddy

Ok, here you go.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7fwclePNmA

Wha'ts the point of this clip, Eddy? Arnold's acting was solid, and he transitioned very well between emotions. Are you suggesting you're a bettter golf cart driver than he is? (I couldn't tell if hitting the palm tree was intentional or not.)

[Steady Eddy]

Originally Posted by heycal

Wha'ts the point of this clip, Eddy? Arnold's acting was solid, and he transitioned very well between emotions. Are you suggesting you're a bettter golf cart driver than he is? (I couldn't tell if hitting the palm tree was intentional or not.)

What's the point? You said, "Show us your stuff" and I did. That was ME impersonating Tom Arnold! Seems I did it so well, you thought I was him.

[heycal]

Originally Posted by Steady Eddy

What's the point? You said, "Show us your stuff" and I did. That was ME impersonating Tom Arnold! Seems I did it so well, you thought I was him.

Okay, so you can do it well. But can 70 percent of your neighbors do it just as well?

[onehandbh]

Originally Posted by Steady Eddy

What's the point? You said, "Show us your stuff" and I did. That was ME impersonating Tom Arnold! Seems I did it so well, you thought I was him.

Nice try. that video was posted 2 yrs ago. It's a take from one of the
scenes in "The Pool Boys."

It's okay Steady, most people who talk ***** on the web usually back down
when called out. It's the internet, where there are more 5.0's than 3.5's,
25% bodyfat = a 6 pack, and 350 lbs bench presses are weaksauce.

Nice avatar. Cute dog.

[raiden031]

Originally Posted by heycal

But don't ever let that fool you into thinking that film acting isn't a real skill, or that most people could do it if given the opportunity, or that 98 percent of those working in the business aren't there because they have the chops to do the job. Yes, there is much more luck and other factors involved in who succeeds and who fails than there is in sports, a lot having to do with that subjectivity factor, but that's more about which talented person succeeds or fails, not that 'anyone could do it'.

Much less than 98% of actors out there don't have the chops to do the job, yet are still being paid millions of dollars per film. Ever heard of Van Damme, Steven Seagal, etc. Its true that not everyone can do acting, I know I couldn't, but its not like people with little to no true talent don't get lucky breaks all the time. If you have the right image for a role, even if your acting sucks, you can get it. Its all about marketing. Most people don't appreciate good acting so its not necessary to find the best actors, but instead film producers would rather pick a big name like Keanu Reeves or Van Damme.

You know in the music industry as well, most famous singers and musicians are no better than average when it comes to their chops. I mean how does someone like Britney Spears become a star when she has mediocre singing skills?

[heycal]

Originally Posted by raiden031

Much less than 98% of actors out there don't have the chops to do the job, yet are still being paid millions of dollars per film. Ever heard of Van Damme, Steven Seagal, etc. ?

Ever heard of 2%?

Not only that, those guys are generally better than people give them credit for. And remember, those guys and their movies are really about their fighting skills -- they aren't beating out some Juillard graduate for the role of the gay brother in some James L. Brooks tearjerker.

Originally Posted by raiden031

Most people don't appreciate good acting so its not necessary to find the best actors, but instead film producers would rather pick a big name like Keanu Reeves or Van Damme.

Actually people do appreciate good acting, or more to the point, they take it for granted and don't notice it. They would hate many of the movies and TV shows they currently like if they were cast with truly bad actors.

Originally Posted by raiden031

You know in the music industry as well, most famous singers and musicians are no better than average when it comes to their chops. I mean how does someone like Britney Spears become a star when she has mediocre singing skills?

I'm not very familiar with Britney's work, but I would venture a guess that she's actuallly a better singer than given credit for, and she is offering a whole package of entertainment that includes dancing and image and whatever. I doubt that 99 percent of the population can do what she does as well as she does it.

[heycal]

Originally Posted by onehandbh

Nice try. that video was posted 2 yrs ago. It's a take from one of the
scenes in "The Pool Boys."

It's okay Steady, most people who talk ***** on the web usually back down
when called out. It's the internet, where there are more 5.0's than 3.5's,
25% bodyfat = a 6 pack, and 350 lbs bench presses are weaksauce.

Nice avatar. Cute dog.

I doubt he was seriously trying to fool us, onehandbh.

[Steady Eddy]

Originally Posted by onehandbh

Nice try. that video was posted 2 yrs ago. It's a take from one of the
scenes in "The Pool Boys."

It's okay Steady, most people who talk ***** on the web usually back down
when called out. It's the internet, where there are more 5.0's than 3.5's,
25% bodyfat = a 6 pack, and 350 lbs bench presses are weaksauce.

Nice avatar. Cute dog.

I DID that scene from Pool Boys, (a great movie BTW). See, I "channel" the actor. I can imitate almost anybody. Here's me in another scene.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv9uF...eature=related

[raiden031]

Originally Posted by heycal

Ever heard of 2%?

Not only that, those guys are generally better than people give them credit for. And remember, those guys and their movies are really about their fighting skills -- they aren't beating out some Juillard graduate for the role of the gay brother in some James L. Brooks tearjerker.

Yes when good acting is necessary to tell the story, the actual talented actors are chosen. But that doesn't affect the thousands of movies featuring lousy actors and writing.

Actually people do appreciate good acting, or more to the point, they take it for granted and don't notice it. They would hate many of the movies and TV shows they currently like if they were cast with truly bad actors.

With the success of such movies like Avatar, I think that a good number of people are more satisfied with eye candy then with substance.

I'm not very familiar with Britney's work, but I would venture a guess that she's actuallly a better singer than given credit for, and she is offering a whole package of entertainment that includes dancing and image and whatever. I doubt that 99 percent of the population can do what she does as well as she does it.

Well if she's a good singer, then why would she not demonstrate it? Her studio recordings are filled with vocal effects and she doesn't even sing live in concert.

[heycal]

Originally Posted by raiden031

Yes when good acting is necessary to tell the story, the actual talented actors are chosen. But that doesn't affect the thousands of movies featuring lousy actors and writing.

There are very few movies that feature less than competent acting. Like 2 percent of them.

Everyone one who hold views like this should be forced to watching truly lousing acting and then get back to us...

Originally Posted by raiden031

With the success of such movies like Avatar, I think that a good number of people are more satisfied with eye candy then with substance.

Didn't see the film, but I'm betting the acting in it is professional and competent.

I agree that people have horrible taste and low standards, but that's mostly related to story and plot elements. If the audience had to put up with actual bad acting in these films, it would take them out of the story and they would revolt.

Originally Posted by raiden031

Well if she's a good singer, then why would she not demonstrate it? Her studio recordings are filled with vocal effects and she doesn't even sing live in concert.

Again, I don't enough about her to say specifically, but people like her are generally more talented than people give them credit for, and actual singing ability is only part of her appeal. Her concerts aren't just standing at the mic lip syncing are they? She's probably dancing up a storm and otherwise working hard and doing stuff 99 percent of the population could not do.

Is there any footage of her singing live? I'm sure she's had to do it a few times on TV shows or in concerts. I'd like to check it out if you know of any.