Here are the four major differences between bad acting and good acting.
Have you ever wanted to know the difference between good and bad acting? You would assume it would be hours upon hours of acting classes, workshops, and private acting lessons. But, according to one director, it’s the little things that count.
In a story written nearly two years ago and published on Slate, Marcus Geduld discussed the details on what makes an actor stand out. According to Geduld, Kristen Stewart is the epitome of a bad actress. “It’s almost painful to watch her. She looks like she’d rather be anywhere else besides in front of a camera. She is (or seems) very self-conscious.” But, actors like the late Philip Seymour Hoffman were great actors. “If you watch him closely when he’s not speaking, you’ll see he always listened to his co-stars closely. What they say affected him deeply, and his reactions grew organically out of whatever they had previously said or done to him. ”
But, there’s differences between good actors and bad actors. Here are the 4 major differences.
If an actor seems to be faking it, he’s not doing his job.
Here’s what he had to say.
An actor has to come off authentic:
First, for me, an actor is good if he makes me believe he’s actually going through whatever his character is going through. I’m talking somewhat about physical stuff (“He really is getting shot!” “He really is jumping off a moving train!”) but mostly about psychological stuff (“He really is scared!” “He really is in love!”). If an actor seems to be faking it, he’s not doing his job.
The second thing that makes an actor talented, is that the actor must “surprise” the audience.
Seeming real is a requirement, but a second requirement is that I can’t predict their every reaction before they have them. Think of how someone might react if his or her significant other ends the relationship. There are many, manytruthful ways—ways that would seem like a human being reacting and not like a space alien behaving in some bizarre, unbelievable way.
Otherwise, the actor becomes boring and predictable.
You can see whatever is being said to them physically affecting them, as if the words are slapping them across the face.
The next thing is that an good actor is also a good listener.
It’s fascinating to watch actors when they’re not speaking. Some are too caught up in ego or technicalities (e.g., trying to remember the next line) to totally focus on whomever it is they’re acting with. Others seem to register everything they hear. You can see whatever is being said to them physically affecting them, as if the words are slapping them across the face.
You can read the full and amazing story here.
