# Can you act? Theatrically, I mean **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [October 17, 2024, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-act-theatrically-i-mean/1008919 "2024-10-17T14:06:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-act-theatrically-i-mean/1008919/41 "2024-10-18T13:57:42Z")
I’m sure that I could be a movie star if I could get out of this place. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-act-theatrically-i-mean/1008919/42 "2024-10-18T15:21:53Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Getting noticed by a casting director seems to be the more relevant obstacle than actual talent, and the hypothetical says we’ve already got that, so… I know you’re speaking a little tongue in cheek, but I’d argue that the baseline for talent is generally slightly higher. And, behind the visible skills, there are others like: “can memorize lines quickly and reliably” “can take notes” “doesn’t waste people’s time or impede production” that are skills applied to the process not the product, and we don’t see that skill set on stage or screen. I think another unappreciated skill is “is able to not worry too much about how to use one’s hands or stand there looking human.” ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-act-theatrically-i-mean/1008919/43 "2024-10-18T16:18:40Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > I have seen company executives do a roadshow (I was one of the support staff vetting numbers they were quoting and verifying that any information provided would not constitute insider information if traded upon) where they went to a dozen regional offices and gave the identical talk, and each time it looked and sounded absolutely fresh, sincere and unrehearsed, even though every word was scripted, and vetted by legal, finance and investor relations. I have done that exact thing - an executive roadshow in many cities & offices - but for me at least that feels a bit different from acting, because I liked being up there talking directly to an audience & pulling them along with me. I was still being me, even if a ton of work and guidance went into my word choices. others’ mileage may vary I guess. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-act-theatrically-i-mean/1008919/44 "2024-10-18T17:56:02Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > And, behind the visible skills, there are others like: “can memorize lines quickly and reliably” In one of my college productions we had acting students from other schools participating, besides us amateurs from our school. My part had a LOT of long speeches supposedly being read off of papers. But I memorized them pretty quickly and it amazed a lot of these guys that I was reciting rather than simply reading them. So…I can memorize lines quickly, at least. ---
**Author:** ![GailForce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@GailForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GailForce)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-act-theatrically-i-mean/1008919/45 "2024-10-18T17:58:10Z")
I was pretty good in amateur shows when I was a teenager, and then in college I gave it a whirl. In the last few years, I had occasion to do a reading with professional actors, and I was surprised by how much better they were than I was. The chief difference was that I was reading my lines off the script, but they were doing that and also listening intently to me (and other actors) when we read our lines. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-act-theatrically-i-mean/1008919/46 "2024-10-18T18:08:16Z")
My stage experience was pretty much “Tabard?” “Check.” “Helmet?” “Check.” “Spear?” “Check.” Know your mark?" “Check.” Step, step, step. Stand. Exit behind the leads stage right. Then get back on the lights. I’m much more comfortable running tech, but the director/teacher always thought we needed experience on both sides of the production. ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-act-theatrically-i-mean/1008919/47 "2024-10-18T20:28:22Z")
I’ve done tons of theatre. (and one crappy local slasher film…but my Degrees of Kevin Bacon is three thanks to that.) my reaction would be “Cool. Tell me where to be and when.” ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-act-theatrically-i-mean/1008919/48 "2024-10-18T20:28:51Z")
As im sure you know being a stage manager is VERY important. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-act-theatrically-i-mean/1008919/49 "2024-10-18T20:46:45Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > Acting is easy. Good acting is hard. Most people cannot do it well. Yeah. I have acted- in small parts, and I was told the fans liked me. That is my limit, but at least I know I have that limit. I even have an IMDB credit or so. So, put in in for a line or two, and I will do a decent job. > [@Jophiel](#): > > Aside from a couple minor roles in elementary school, the best I have to offer is years of playing Dungeons & Dragons and similar roleplaying games. I think better. > [@silenus](#): > > My stage experience was pretty much “Tabard?” “Check.” “Helmet?” “Check.” “Spear?” “Check.” Know your mark?" “Check.” Step, step, step. Stand. Exit behind the leads stage right. I was literally a spear carrier in Antony and Cleopatra on stage. One small line. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-act-theatrically-i-mean/1008919/50 "2024-10-18T23:30:19Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Getting noticed by a casting director seems to be the more relevant obstacle than actual talent … “These pretzels are making me thirsty!” ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2024, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-act-theatrically-i-mean/1008919/51 "2024-10-19T01:42:48Z")
It didn’t hurt that he was drunk all the time If Rio Bravo we’re done today……and we did that crazy casting it would be: Kevin Costner Harry Connick Jr And Billie Eilish I’d watch that ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2024, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-act-theatrically-i-mean/1008919/52 "2024-10-19T12:35:59Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > I know you’re speaking a little tongue in cheek, but I’d argue that the baseline for talent is generally slightly higher. > > And, behind the visible skills, there are others like: “can memorize lines quickly and reliably” “can take notes” “doesn’t waste people’s time or impede production” that are skills applied to the process not the product, and we don’t see that skill set on stage or screen. Well, slightly tongue-in-cheek, since Hollywood actors where literally I could do a better job are quite rare (though they exist). But I’ve also seen plenty of amateur, local actors who were better than plenty of Hollywood actors. Why weren’t those local actors in movies? Because they’d never been noticed. Memorizing lines well is certainly a valuable skill on the stage (and in at least one case where I was cast, it was specifically that skill that got me the role), but I’m not sure how important it is for a movie, where you only need to memorize one clip’s worth of lines at a time. And “don’t be a jerk” is an important skill for any job, but one that most people have an adequate mastery of. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2024, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-act-theatrically-i-mean/1008919/53 "2024-10-19T13:54:07Z")
I can’t remember if it was Hitchcock or Noel Coward who said acting simply meant “Know your lines and don’t bump into the furniture” ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2024, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-act-theatrically-i-mean/1008919/54 "2024-10-19T14:20:59Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > “Know your lines and don’t bump into the furniture” I’m pretty good at memorizing, but that other part has become a challenge of late… ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2024, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-act-theatrically-i-mean/1008919/55 "2024-10-19T14:31:49Z")
On one hand you have people who have went to school for this and trained for many years making me think it’s a mix of talent, training, and years of practice that I definitely don’t have. On the other hand I see people making the transition to acting from stand-up comedians, singers, athletes, etc. practically overnight and winning awards doing so making me think I could jump in just as easily? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2024, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-act-theatrically-i-mean/1008919/56 "2024-10-19T18:09:08Z")
Comedians and singers still have a lot of skills/talents in common with actors, and all three amount to “be entertaining”. It’s not too surprising that someone who’s good at entertaining in one way would also be good in others. Athletes mostly don’t have that same skillset, but I’m also having a hard time thinking of athletes who went on to become actually good actors. Usually athletes in movies are either playing themselves, or playing roles that mostly just involve standing there and being very large and physically imposing. And no, I’m not counting pro wrestlers. They were actors right from the start, albeit a sort of actor who needs considerable athletic ability. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2024, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-act-theatrically-i-mean/1008919/57 "2024-10-19T18:30:04Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Athletes mostly don’t have that same skillset, but I’m also having a hard time thinking of athletes who went on to become actually good actors. Maybe Randall “Tex” Cobb? He started as a professional boxer, and ended up as a pretty good character actor. If nothing else, his performance as Leonard Smalls in _Raising Arizona_ is pretty great. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2024, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-act-theatrically-i-mean/1008919/58 "2024-10-19T19:28:54Z")
> [@Pavelb1](#): > > Kevin Costner > Harry Connick Jr > And Billie Eilish > > I’d watch that I have given up on Costner. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2024, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-act-theatrically-i-mean/1008919/59 "2024-10-19T21:19:53Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I’m much more comfortable running tech, but the director/teacher always thought we needed experience on both sides of the production. This was the philosophy of the head of the theater department at my college. Regardless of what a student’s plans were for their theatrical future, they were expected at some point during their studies to get involved in as many aspects of putting on a play as possible. Which was interesting for me, as I was trying to complete a four-year program in only two years. In addition to acting in several plays, I also stage-managed one play, ran sound for another, and assisted other students with various aspects of their projects. About the only thing I didn’t do was costuming. This was in addition to my class work, which included having to design sets and direct scenes. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-act-theatrically-i-mean/1008919/60 "2024-10-20T00:43:14Z")
Absolutely not. I’m a terrible public speaker, motormouth, anxiety-riddled _squirrel_ of a person and acting in any way is way beyond anything I can manage. I have taught specialized training as an expert, but that’s with a lot of preparation, practice, applied knowledge and definitely no sleep the night before out of general concern for being _visible_ and convinced I’ll humiliate myself. I’ve been told my training sessions are really good, but no part of my brain actually belies it. I don’t think there’s any reasonable amount of money or convincing that could get me to even try to act in a TV show or movie (I say reasonable, because yeah, sure, I’ll do it for a billion dollars I guess). Even if I did try, I don’t think I could bring myself to ever watch it! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-act-theatrically-i-mean/1008919.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-act-theatrically-i-mean/1008919.md?page=4)