acting; to research or not to research

[Scully931]

Yes, that is one way to look at it. However, most actors would agree 
that given the opportunity to have such rich background for your 
character is a wonderful thing and something to be used. For 
instance, an actor playing, let's say, someone involved in the Salem 
Witch trials would be well advised to research the people and 
atmosphere of that time. That's not to say he/she would be taking 
everything and applying it *directly* to their character. More, it 
gives flavor and a layered performance. These characters were not 
made up from scratch for the screenplay. They came from something. 
And, given the opportunity to read what they actually came from is 
something I can't quite believe some do not take advantage of. My 
degree is in acting, so I understand the difference research can 
make. 

Not that any of these movie stars care what I think, but let's face 
it, some of them don't have the emotional investment in this that 
we, as fans have. We pour over every detail, wanting everything to 
be just right. (whether similar to the book or not) They show up and 
tape their part and move on to the next thing. Not saying they don't 
do a good job, but it is a job. Now, if they were given a part that 
they had dreamed of for their entire lives, or a part in a movie 
about which they felt passionate, perhaps there would be research. 
But, every actor I know, cringes when they hear someone say they 
didn't bother reading the books. 

~Deborah

> 
> I think the problem is that the actor's job is not to play the 
> character in the book, it's to play the character in the 
> screenplay.  There are often significant differences between the 
> two, as the PoA movie so richly demonstrated.  It could be that 
the 
> actor doesn't want to be put in the position of having to 
reconcile 
> those differences, and I think that's a legitimate approach.
> 
> In effect, it's impossible to serve two masters (ie, book author 
vs 
> screenplay/director), and that's not what the actor is being paid 
to 
> do.
> 
> Jo Serenadust