Is acting casting?
Sat, 12 May 2001, 01:53 amWalter Plinge44 posts in thread
Is acting casting?
Sat, 12 May 2001, 01:53 amI have a theory: that acting is casting.
If a character in a play is urbane and sophisticated, then you cast an urbane and sophisticated actor. If the character is neurotic, you cast a neurotic actor. That kind of thing.
If, instead of asking a loose-hipped type to play a starched collar, or an intellectual to play an ignorant, uneducated type, a director were to cast actors who are as close as possible to type, how different do you think it would make the process of working and playing the piece?
How many actors can actually play anything? And how many are only good within a limited range of roles? And can a director justify casting their play entirely with "types", who match -- IRL -- some or all of the characteristics of the people they're playing?
I had thought of making this a poll, but I think it's better served in this forum, where lengthy dissertations -- in either direction -- can be offered.
I look forward to a substantial, thought-provoking debate,
peace,
David M.
If a character in a play is urbane and sophisticated, then you cast an urbane and sophisticated actor. If the character is neurotic, you cast a neurotic actor. That kind of thing.
If, instead of asking a loose-hipped type to play a starched collar, or an intellectual to play an ignorant, uneducated type, a director were to cast actors who are as close as possible to type, how different do you think it would make the process of working and playing the piece?
How many actors can actually play anything? And how many are only good within a limited range of roles? And can a director justify casting their play entirely with "types", who match -- IRL -- some or all of the characteristics of the people they're playing?
I had thought of making this a poll, but I think it's better served in this forum, where lengthy dissertations -- in either direction -- can be offered.
I look forward to a substantial, thought-provoking debate,
peace,
David M.
RE: Is acting casting?
Mon, 14 May 2001, 08:29 amWalter Plinge
N:"the actor should leave their own personality in the dressing room."
D:"Why?"
N:"Perhaps it would be better to write. The actor should leave the aspects of their personality that are inappropriate to the character that they're playing. In my case it wouldn't be very useful to maintain my cheerful aspect if I was playing a dark and moody character... I guess we may be getting down to semantics here as this dark and moody character would actually be part of myself, just a part that would only been seen very rarely. It would also be this cheerful aspect that you would see during an audition. Bad luck for me if I wanted to play a dark and moody character, right?"
N:"Besides, if you don't know the person auditioning how can you judge if they share personality traits with the character?"
D:"You don't have to know someone personally to recognize a 'type'".
N:"Really? You've seen me, you don't "know" me, what type am I??? (Please ignore the statements I made above regarding who I am - and no foul language either, this site is G rated.)"
D:"Why?"
N:"Perhaps it would be better to write. The actor should leave the aspects of their personality that are inappropriate to the character that they're playing. In my case it wouldn't be very useful to maintain my cheerful aspect if I was playing a dark and moody character... I guess we may be getting down to semantics here as this dark and moody character would actually be part of myself, just a part that would only been seen very rarely. It would also be this cheerful aspect that you would see during an audition. Bad luck for me if I wanted to play a dark and moody character, right?"
N:"Besides, if you don't know the person auditioning how can you judge if they share personality traits with the character?"
D:"You don't have to know someone personally to recognize a 'type'".
N:"Really? You've seen me, you don't "know" me, what type am I??? (Please ignore the statements I made above regarding who I am - and no foul language either, this site is G rated.)"
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