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Are they though? It's hard to say someone is good at acting if they are put into roles where they basically play themselves. And moreover, what better way to ac

by Retra 7y ago

Are they though? It's hard to say someone is good at acting if they are put into roles where they basically play themselves. And moreover, what better way to act like someone else literally being someone else? Film studios are already keen to paste virtual masks on their actors. In any case, somebody wants this.

syllogism 7y ago
> Are they though? Emphatically yes? There's a pretty big gulf between low-budget/amateur stuff and more professional acting. > It's hard to say someone is good at acting if they are put into roles where they basically play themselves. That's definitely true, but like, even if Keanu Reeves only plays one character, that character just happens to be someone who's fun to see in a particular sort of movie. You still can't achieve the same thing by getting a random person to be themselves, and face-swapping their performance with Keanu Reeves.
- Retra 7y ago
  Yes, but... the difference between low-budget/amateur stuff is more than just acting. It's hard to know that it is even primarily acting. I just don't believe that successful actors are so necessarily due to their acting talents (not that there's anything wrong with that) and also that broadening the kinds of material their visage appears in doesn't necessarily detract from their reputation or the film quality in general. It might if they've only appeared in the greatest material and only if they are the very best acting talents. What if you wanted to shoot a scene where someone is hobnobbing with the rich and famous? You might need dialog, but do you need authentic dialog? What if you want to shoot a scene where somebody is stealing Keanu Reeves' boat, and he is just acting like a normal dude in a weird situation? You don't need his acting talent for that. What if you're shooting an alternative history film and want to present situations that conform to historical accuracy, yet defer from people's memories? Etc.
EliRivers 7y ago
It certainly does feel that Tom Cruise simply plays the exact same person in almost every movie he's in. But that just makes it worse, surely? Tom Cruise is amazing at being Tom Cruise; my low-budget actor who's going to have Tom Cruise's face plastered over him in post-production is probably going to be atrocious at being Tom Cruise. Maybe even creepily so; I'll spend the whole movie wondering what's wrong with him.
- Retra 7y ago
  While that's all true, it doesn't necessarily inhibit a film. You wondering what's wrong with him could very well be the entire point of the role he's being played into. Body snatchers, shape-shifters, crazy people, etc. This was even a major plot device in Mission Impossible.

by Retra 7y ago

syllogism 7y ago

> Are they though? Emphatically yes? There's a pretty big gulf between low-budget/amateur stuff and more professional acting. > It's hard to say someone is good at acting if they are put into roles where they basically play themselves. That's definitely true, but like, even if Keanu Reeves only plays one character, that character just happens to be someone who's fun to see in a particular sort of movie. You still can't achieve the same thing by getting a random person to be themselves, and face-swapping their performance with Keanu Reeves.

Retra 7y ago
Yes, but... the difference between low-budget/amateur stuff is more than just acting. It's hard to know that it is even primarily acting. I just don't believe that successful actors are so necessarily due to their acting talents (not that there's anything wrong with that) and also that broadening the kinds of material their visage appears in doesn't necessarily detract from their reputation or the film quality in general. It might if they've only appeared in the greatest material and only if they are the very best acting talents. What if you wanted to shoot a scene where someone is hobnobbing with the rich and famous? You might need dialog, but do you need authentic dialog? What if you want to shoot a scene where somebody is stealing Keanu Reeves' boat, and he is just acting like a normal dude in a weird situation? You don't need his acting talent for that. What if you're shooting an alternative history film and want to present situations that conform to historical accuracy, yet defer from people's memories? Etc.

EliRivers 7y ago

It certainly does feel that Tom Cruise simply plays the exact same person in almost every movie he's in. But that just makes it worse, surely? Tom Cruise is amazing at being Tom Cruise; my low-budget actor who's going to have Tom Cruise's face plastered over him in post-production is probably going to be atrocious at being Tom Cruise. Maybe even creepily so; I'll spend the whole movie wondering what's wrong with him.

Retra 7y ago
While that's all true, it doesn't necessarily inhibit a film. You wondering what's wrong with him could very well be the entire point of the role he's being played into. Body snatchers, shape-shifters, crazy people, etc. This was even a major plot device in Mission Impossible.