# Talk slow to be a good actor **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 4, 2015, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-slow-to-be-a-good-actor/716763 "2015-04-04T00:17:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Dodgy_Dude)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2015, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-slow-to-be-a-good-actor/716763/1 "2015-04-04T00:17:19Z")
When I’m watching a favorite movie or TV show and I’m saying the dialogue along with the actor, I always end up delivering the line well before the actor. And that made me wonder why actors take those long pauses. Watching the clip below taught me a lesson: things sound more dramatic when take your time and talk slow. The speech just doesn’t have the same kick when you deliver it the way a non-actor would. [http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/6479266/v60085883](http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/6479266/v60085883) ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-slow-to-be-a-good-actor/716763/2 "2015-04-04T17:12:01Z")
Michael Caine has talked about his habit of doing this several times. But I think it only works for certain people. E.g., someone whose speech speeds up when nervous needs to really get in the habit of slowing it down in front of cameras. In particular, for Caine, it helps “elevate” his speech from his original lower class accent. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2015, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-slow-to-be-a-good-actor/716763/3 "2015-04-04T20:19:27Z")
“Forbidden Broadway” had a song about how Michael Crawford (from the Phantom of the Opera) got his acclaim by “simply singing slow…ly.” Lends gravitas, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2015, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-slow-to-be-a-good-actor/716763/4 "2015-04-05T02:17:41Z")
It’s quite common for people to speak more quickly when they’re nervous. This includes actors during a scene. It can be surprisingly tricky to speak slowly without seeming lethargic. I’ve found that it helps to think of pushing a boulder up a hill; it’s slow going, but one is completely engaged. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2015, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-slow-to-be-a-good-actor/716763/5 "2015-04-05T05:07:08Z")
IIRC, William Shatner’s . . . _pauses_ . . . not only let him _emphasize_ a key word or two, but also . . . _ensure_ . . . that the . . . _CAMERA! STAYS! on HIM!_ You got two lines bracketing his one shorter line? He gets halfway through his, lingering here and there to make a point, before looking off to the side to purse his lips as if considering a new idea for the first time, and then he gets back to slowly nearing the end of the sentence, stopping in time to break into a grin at the punchline he’s about to deliver – and, _bam,_ right there he just got triple your face-time. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-slow-to-be-a-good-actor/716763/6 "2015-04-06T16:44:00Z")
Not always true. When you are an actor, you have to earn a pause. (Notice that this speech comes at the end of the movie.) Pausing too often, too soon, or too long are usually deadly to acting. It shows that you are acting and you should never look like you are acting. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-slow-to-be-a-good-actor/716763/7 "2015-04-06T17:00:10Z")
It all depends on who the character is. How he would respond in that situation. Characters talk differently than the actor portraying them. One of my teachers (in college) exercises was interviewing us in character. Not following a script. Just to see if we understood who we were playing. What their reactions would be. One of my classmates had been assigned this really arrogant character. He was twitching and impatient as he answered a few questions and finally says, "_fuck this shit, I got things to do" and walks out._ :eek: You could have heard a pin drop. Then the teacher started clapping. It was the right reaction. Lucky for him she wasn’t offended. I never would have had the guts to do that unscripted. That was a fun class. She taught from Misner’s _on Acting_ book. A lot of really good exercises. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-slow-to-be-a-good-actor/716763/8 "2015-04-06T22:59:49Z")
There is a big difference between speaking slowly and taking pauses. Maybe the worst combination is zippy speech - pause - zippy speech - pause. I’ve never acted, but I have taken speaking classes and the number one thing I had to learn is to slow down. People may not process speech as quickly as you can utter it, so slowness is to match their speed of comprehension. Too slow and you are boring, too fast and you are not understandable. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-slow-to-be-a-good-actor/716763/9 "2015-04-06T23:22:31Z")
Moved to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-slow-to-be-a-good-actor/716763/10 "2015-04-06T23:30:02Z")
You wouldn’t like Gilmore Girls then. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-slow-to-be-a-good-actor/716763/11 "2015-04-07T01:54:52Z")
Or anything by Aaron Sorkin. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-slow-to-be-a-good-actor/716763/12 "2015-04-07T02:07:30Z")
Also, never dial. Just pick up the phone and start talking. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-slow-to-be-a-good-actor/716763/13 "2015-04-08T15:17:01Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > IIRC, William Shatner’s . . . _pauses_ . . . not only let him _emphasize_ a key word or two, but also . . . _ensure_ . . . that the . . . _CAMERA! STAYS! on HIM!_ > > You got two lines bracketing his one shorter line? He gets halfway through his, lingering here and there to make a point, before looking off to the side to purse his lips as if considering a new idea for the first time, and then he gets back to slowly nearing the end of the sentence, stopping in time to break into a grin at the punchline he’s about to deliver – and, _bam,_ right there he just got triple your face-time. Kevin Pollack Does a great Shatner impression, complete with an explanation of the style. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-slow-to-be-a-good-actor/716763/14 "2015-04-08T15:41:02Z")
Do you have any examples that aren’t speeches that are being slowed down for profundity? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-slow-to-be-a-good-actor/716763/15 "2015-04-08T15:59:40Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Or anything by Aaron Sorkin. Or the best screwball comedies - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1CQ8TAds04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1CQ8TAds04) ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-slow-to-be-a-good-actor/716763/16 "2015-04-08T17:03:37Z")
A lot depends on the genre you are working in. If you’re doing Eugne O’Neil, then sure, take your time. Comedy, (double for farce), most anything on television today, talk fast. There is a David Mamet guideline for writers, the line I remember most is “the director is there to remind the actors to talk fast”. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-slow-to-be-a-good-actor/716763/17 "2015-04-08T17:47:03Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > Comedy, (double for farce), most anything on television today, talk fast. Not always 🙂 [https://youtu.be/pvn-tBeLpCk?t=248](https://youtu.be/pvn-tBeLpCk?t=248) ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-slow-to-be-a-good-actor/716763/18 "2015-04-08T18:28:27Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Not always 🙂 [https://youtu.be/pvn-tBeLpCk?t=248](https://youtu.be/pvn-tBeLpCk?t=248) And that’s what? Thirty years old now? (geez I’m old)