Non-actors on screen - the good and the bad

[popegregory]

I’ve been bingeing on Fresh Prince of late, the boy seems to like it. They were quite big on cameos and it was Evander Holyfield who made me think of this. He couldn’t act (even playing himself!); he couldn’t do the timing and delivery and just really didn’t look like he was part of the programme. I presume this is purely down to lacking some basic skills they teach you in acting school. Conversely, (and just as randomly), Sting was plausible as an actor in Lock Stock I thought.

What are these “basics” that make it look like someone is a proper actor and what’s the good and the bad of “non-actors” in films?

[Brooksay]

Sting has acted in loads of stuff. For years before 'Lock Stock..'

'Quadrophenia', for instance.

[bloomen]

Acting as a skill is both simultaneously totally piffling and incredibly impressive and way harder than it first appears I would've thought. All those millions of dollars pointing at me would get me to seize up instantly.

The most recent one that struck me was the sports playing bloke in Uncut Gems. No idea who he is but I think he's famous. He was great.

I would've thought the most obvious giveaway for a bad actor is visibly not listening to the other actor. They'll be counting down until they drop their line. And a bad actor tries to project something at you rather than simply being something in front of you.

Edited by bloomen on Friday 29th January 01:48

[fred flange]

R.Lee Ermery being a drill instructor before being cast in full metal jacket as a drill instructor!

[ch37]

bloomen said:

Acting as a skill is both simultaneously totally piffling and incredibly impressive and way harder than it first appears I would've thought.

Comedy acting in particular gets nowhere near the credit it deserves. Watching somebody good at it do it live (including multiple takes) is really impressive and terrifying at the same time!

[ajprice]

ch37 said:

Comedy acting in particular gets nowhere near the credit it deserves. Watching somebody good at it do it live (including multiple takes) is really impressive and terrifying at the same time!

Comedians and comedy actors do tend to be really good actors when they do straight parts.

[forrestgrump]

I imagine confidence plays a very big part.

[mickyh7]

ajprice said:

Comedians and comedy actors do tend to be really good actors when they do straight parts.

Unless they have been cast and Directed in 'Murder in Paradise'.
Which is really quite good entertaining, but makes good actors look like ste!

Edited by mickyh7 on Friday 29th January 09:16

Edited by mickyh7 on Friday 29th January 09:18

Edited by mickyh7 on Friday 29th January 09:19

Edited by mickyh7 on Friday 29th January 09:21

[ajprice]

mickyh7 said:

Well I can't find how to Strikeout a word?

[/-] after the word.

Tadaaa!

[mickyh7]

ajprice said:

[/-] after the word.

Tadaaa!

Thank you, I finally got there!

[waynecyclist]

fred flange said:

R.Lee Ermery being a drill instructor before being cast in full metal jacket as a drill instructor!

Was it an urban myth that it was all unscripted as well.

[Blib]

Does Arnold Schwarzenegger count?

[Mr Pointy]

ajprice said:

ch37 said:

Comedy acting in particular gets nowhere near the credit it deserves. Watching somebody good at it do it live (including multiple takes) is really impressive and terrifying at the same time!

Comedians and comedy actors do tend to be really good actors when they do straight parts.

I thought Micheal Palin was very good in The Death of Stalin.

[citizensm1th]

Stan Lee, multipul cameos and in the end became a hight of the films to spot him.

[P5BNij]

IIRC the air traffic controller in ‘Flight 193’ played himself, that must have been an odd experience for him.

[tangerine_sedge]

Brooksay said:

Sting has acted in loads of stuff. For years before 'Lock Stock..'

'Quadrophenia', for instance.

On the other hand, Vinnie Jones was great in LS, possibly his first (IMDB says) 3rd credited role? Going from footballer to actor is a much greater change than for example going from music performance to movie performance.

[citizensm1th]

tangerine_sedge said:

Brooksay said:

Sting has acted in loads of stuff. For years before 'Lock Stock..'

'Quadrophenia', for instance.

On the other hand, Vinnie Jones was great in LS, possibly his first (IMDB says) 3rd credited role? Going from footballer to actor is a much greater change than for example going from music performance to movie performance.

You could quite easily argue that a career in the Premiership is the idea training ground for a future in action movies and stunt work given all the diving and rolling around that goes on in top flyte football

[ajprice]

The doctor in One flew over the cuckoo's nest who interviews Jack Nicholson was the doctor working there. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3357800/

[DanielSan]

waynecyclist said:

Was it an urban myth that it was all unscripted as well.

I've read somewhere that the straight lines were all scripted as you'd expect but the put downs/insults were all improvised by him using different ones in a few different takes.

[DonBarracuda]

I believe Sharlto Copley was a producer prior his first acting gig as lead in District 9, he was brilliant in that and has delivered brilliant performances in all his movies ever since.

Athletes seem to have the hardest time acting lol, anyone remember Gary Oldman's rant?