I know I said I’d throw people at the wall and see what sticks, but I didn’t expect it to be so difficult. A lot of us have been through it and find it so frustrating as actors. I have been in this job for close to six years and have been asked by directors in a lot of different ways to do a certain set, but I always tell them that it’s not a set.
In an interview, I will ask an actor to look at the set and tell me what they think, what they feel about it, and why they would like to be doing it again. Then I will ask them to actually do it.
This is a great way to find out what you think about a direction the cast should take. Actors are often very honest when they answer questions, even when they think they don’t have the talent to pull it off.
Sometimes when casting directors put together the first round of actors, they just may not be able to find the right actor. But now we have a chance to actually see what types of actors are performing in the film. Of course in a movie, you can only see what you see. But this is an opportunity to actually see what you are going to get. This is why it is so important to get the actors together so that they can actually share their feelings.
It’s a shame that actors often are not allowed to share their feelings to the fullest. We’re not allowed to show you how much they love what they’re in the movie. Sometimes the actor is even asked if they would rather be in the movie or a different movie. In other cases, they are asked what they would like to do in another movie (I’m not joking). It’s a little like being asked to sign a contract.
I know it sounds like a cliché, but it is true. There are some actors out there who are just plain weird. That’s why I think it is so important to get together to talk about things and share the love for the role. You get to know the actor’s feelings on the role before you get to see what they do.
I dont mean to sound so cynical, but I know that this is a very common phrase in the industry. Ive heard actors say things like, ‘I want to be in another movie, but I dont know what it is.’ or ‘I hope this movie is about me,’ or ‘I dont know anything about this movie,’ or ‘Im not sure what this movie is about, but Im sure Im not in it.’.
You’re not going to think of all that crap, but I’m sure it’s true. You do feel like you’re in the film. Then you get to see what the actors are doing. It seems like it’s a pretty typical script for an action movie. Just like all the other interview questions, some of them are silly, some of them are very insightful, and you get the sense that the actors feel comfortable enough to be sharing what they’re thinking.
It’s not actually a movie. It’s a film. A movie is a film. You think about that in a lot of the movies that are mentioned in this book. I really wonder how many people believe in the movies and how many of those people are actually watching them. It’s like what’s happening in the movie when people are just going to see you and talking about the movie.
