Amelie

Sep. 5th, 2004 11:34 pm
[personal profile] rm
Okay, okay, I liked it. That said, it's the sort of film that I just can't decide matters, you know... despite being grogeous, despite being able to identify with it (I am no one's little weasel, certainly). And why I should say this because it's on the light side -- I mean... does Vanity Fair matter? Probably not, but I suppose I'm a fan of the weighty and ponderous. At any rate, I am quite glad I saw it, and redeemed itself from what could have annoyed me by the way that even in the end Amelie looed into the camera as if still observing her own life from afar.

On a seperate note. Save me from the [livejournal.com profile] actors forum. I try to be nice and hang out and answer questions, but yes, this is my impolitic rant:
- I hate that people use it to request free copies of specific monologues. If you cannot afford to purchase the play in question, at least go to the bookstore and copy it out by hand like the rest of us.
- I hate that people post things like "my school is doing [whatever play here] -- what do you think of it?" What the hell does that question mean? Do we like it, do we think it's enjoyable for actors, a good learning experience? What are you looking for? Be specific.
- I hate that people spend most of their time there being unspecific about their self esteem. I'd venture to say all actors at all levels of success have self esteem issues, because let's face it, _everyone_ has self-esteem issues because at the end of the day what we are, is what our business is. That said, I don't know what "I'm not pretty enough" means. Or "maybe I'm too shy." Or "my body is not good enough." I don't know what these things mean! I really don't. This is a field that involves both a lot of blind faith and self analysis -- finish your sentences, make the shape of your fears whole! You have to want to do this more than anything in the world. _This_... not, want to have someone like you enough, finally... a lot... _this_ damn you. _This_ has to keep you awake at night, not whether you're pretty enough. You must impose the force of who you are on this world, no matter what you've chosen to do. This doesn't mean get over your shit (ah, if I could), but commit to yourself unreservedly. Be your own advocate, because who the hell else will be? Think about the ways you could be better, not the ways in which you believe you'll never be good enough.
- Will you use Google before you ask us... being resourceful means knowing how to still find answers when you're all alone. Because if you do this, sometimes you will be. Maybe a lot.

Date: 2004-09-05 08:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lanthinel.livejournal.com
Oh yes, the old "I'm too lazy to google for information, but I'll type up a LJ entry and get people to do it for me or something." Feh.

Hmmm

Date: 2004-09-05 09:23 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] haya.livejournal.com
On the actors list, most seem to be very young and very new to acting.
I don't mind giving a highschooler basic instructions, but I don't do the work for them.
The rest of it, you have to work with.
Brava!

Re: Hmmm

Date: 2004-09-06 07:11 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rm.livejournal.com
Most of the shit they do has nothing to do with being inexperienced actors, and while a lot of it can be attritubuted to being young, I give absolutely no credence to youth equating to a lack of common sense. I expect teenagers/college students to stay out all night partying and not be prepared for classes or auditions. I don't expect them to be incapable of thinking for themselves though -- isn't that the whole point of being young?

Blerg.

Date: 2004-09-06 07:24 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] don-negro.livejournal.com
I think a lot of Amelie's impact on me came from the fact that I was completely blindsided by it. There is no geometry in which you can draw a line from Delicatessen through City of Lost Children to Amelie. It just doesn't work.

You perhaps had people telling you how wonderful it was for years so there a different set of expectations and maybe a kernel of doubt that anything could be a spectacular as it was being made to be. I know that I've been guilty of such rants, and I'm sure that somewhere in New York, someone else is as well.

Date: 2004-09-06 11:07 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nnp.livejournal.com
god love you... i think that what you've said about actors forum is in many of our minds. though, i actually had a whole conversation about many of these issues with a student today. so it's not just an internet thing - real people in real life behave the exact same way they post on that driviling forum.

excellent rant. i approve & second everything you've said!
-kate

February 2021

S M T W T F S
 123456
789 10111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28      

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Jan. 26th, 2026 02:43 am
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios