Do you ever wonder how some actors get roles/make it big? - General Discussion Discussion

[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 4 years ago

Far less often than musicians but yes. Probably similar. TPTB pick a candidate and play Idol Maker. Who ever clamored for more Zendaya? They pushed her. I think the latest candidate they are artificially inflating is that kid from SNL with the putty face that dated a few famous girls somehow. Pete sumthin'. No one really likes him but here he comes.

But with the current state of the industry, maybe this will change back to the model in which Hollywood (the business) gives us (the consumer) what we want instead of what they think we should have. heh, probably not. They are so much smarter than us and know best.

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[–] Kowalski (56916) 4 years ago

I LIKE ZENDAYA...PETE DAVDSON IS SOMEONE I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU ON...EXCEPT HE WAS ACTUALLY REALLY GOOD IN THE KING OF STATEN ISLAND....

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[–] Artisan (3464) 4 years ago

Yes for sure, with Hanks, I can see it at least, I can see it with some of the ones who make the leap. But there are so many that just make me wonder what the big deal is all about. I think it is like an ordinary work place, often the ones who become managers and go higher do so only because they push for it and play the politics not because of ability or any special trait that the others lack.

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[–] R_Kane (15828) 4 years ago

I am always comforted when the pushing and string-pulling falls flat on its face, like with Will Smith’s campaign to make his son a star. I also think the public has become a lot less discriminating over the years. How does a bozo or bimbo from a freaking “reality” TV show manage the transition into movies, for goodness sake? Why are there people who idolize serial killers? As H.L. Mencken wrote, “Nobody ever went broke by underestimating the taste of the American public.”

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[–] snepts (11123) 4 years ago

Small minds, small thoughts. That you are talking about this shows you are sucked into the machinery. I would think smart people would see through this charade. JLaw was popular a few short years ago ... now she's not. Who gives a frack?
Enjoy the product and who cares why XandX and thusNso is "big"? Unless you can crack the code and make everything right, what's the point of complaining about things that don't really matter in the first place?

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[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 4 years ago

You've read me perfectly.

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[–] nyctc7 (41135) 4 years ago

https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews

In the early part of an interview, you will probably get a story of their break.

Some of it is luck--I think George Takei is a mediocre actor who got lucky.

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[–] Kowalski (56916) 4 years ago

RODDENBERRY WANTED A MULTI-RACIAL CREW FOR STAR TREK...SO TAKEI DEFINITELY HAD SOME LUCK THERE...AND THE REST OF HIS CAREER HAS ALL BEEN BASED ON BEING SULU...

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[–] Artisan (3464) 4 years ago

Luck does play a part in it. Some actors have that "X Factor". Leo DiCaprio had an early role on Growing Pains and I recall him outshining the regular cast. Same as Clint Eastwood in his early supporting roles, he has a real screen presence.

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[–] Kowalski (56916) 4 years ago

TOM HANKS HAD THAT NEXT LEVEL TALENT FROM THE BEGINNING..HE WAS EXCELLENT IN HIS EARLY 80S FILMS AND ROLES ON SHOWS LIKE FAMILY TIES...REBEL IS GENUINELY FUNNY AND LIKABLE AND HAS AN UNCOMMON LOOK THAT HELPS...RUBY ROSE IS BORDERLINE TALENTED,BORDERLINE BEAUTIFUL AND EXTREMELY LUCKY.

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[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 4 years ago

I listened to an interview with Hanks in which he reveals some techniques he applied to his life and behavior that he attributes his success to. I didn't think he deserved the roles early on but he has proven to be adept at the craft.

Rebel isn't funny. She does the standard fat person falling over or being gross schtick. People like that. Whatever.

Ruby didn't impress me on John Wick 2. That's all I have to go on.

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[–] Kowalski (56916) 4 years ago

I WOULD ONLY ASK HOW MANY REBEL WILDON FILMS YOU HAVE SEEN...WHILE SHE HASNT BEEN A PART OF TOO MANY TOP QUALITY FILMS...WHEN SHE BCKS OFF THE GROSS STUFF...SHE IS VRY FUNNY AND LIKABLE...

RUBY SUCKED IN JOHN WICK 2...HER WHOLE CAREER IS BASED ON TATTOOS,TITS AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION.

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[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 4 years ago

Like three or four Rebel appearances. Last one was that ill-conceived Dirty Rotten Scoundrels remake. Rose Byrne was, as always, the gems of that bogey. Rebel, as always, doing her one note with zero impact on me.

totally agree about Ruby.

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[–] nyctc7 (41135) 4 years ago

I saw Tom Hanks perform stand up comedy around 1987. This may have been it but I won't swear to it. It was definitely at The Comic Strip, and we got lucky I guess because he wasn't on the bill.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=tom+hanks+comic+strip

Anyway, he was good. It was too long ago to remember what he said, but I remember thinking that he did a more than respectable job. This is just by way of saying he is a talented individual.

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[–] Kowalski (56916) 4 years ago

THAT IS VERY COOL.

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[–] ProductionNow (1072) 4 years ago

Please, Peter Scolari, his Busom Buddies co-star, is far more talented with comedy.

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[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 4 years ago

The old days of stand up. Very nice. I attended a bunch of fame-free stand-up performances at local pizza joints and some Hollywood hot-spots like the Ice House. Wish I could have seen Hanks. The most famous person I ever saw doing stand up comedy was Frasier Smith (KMET radio jockey).

Where was it at?

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[–] nyctc7 (41135) 4 years ago

The Comic Strip still exists and is in New York City and if I recall correctly the same location

http://comicstriplive.com/

I can't remember who the headliner was when I went! Besides Hanks I remember a bug-eyed comic named Dennis Wolfberg who was very good but sadly passed away from cancer years ago at he age of 48. Also a very young black kid who I'm sure someone thought would be the next Eddie Murphy but was rude to the audience and not very funny, I can't remember his name but am sure faded into obscurity. There were two or three more and they were good but I don't remember their names.

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[–] Artisan (3464) 4 years ago

I have seen Clint Eastwood in some of his early supporting roles, even when he isn't speaking he just looms in the background like a sleeping dragon. Just has a very strong screen presence.

I am not a fan of Rebel's fat girl humour, she has lost a lot of weight now so will be interesting to see how that affects her roles and approach.

I think you are right about Ruby, just the right gender and sexuality for the Woke ones to get excited about.

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[–] theWatcher74 (186) 4 years ago

I agree. Screen presence is different than acting, too. Like you said, even in a very small role, you tended to notice Eastwood. He didn't really need to speak. Some people just have personalities that come across on screen.

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[–] Artisan (3464) 4 years ago

I love older films and so many actors back then had a presence. I don't notice that so much with actors since the 90's.

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[–] AmeriGirl26 (12189) 4 years ago

Usually it happens in three ways:

1 - an unknown actor (who had been working in the 'biz for a while) gets lucky and their film (or even their tv show) is a huge hit.
2 - the actor makes friends with some powerful people in Tinseltown, and they use their new friendships and networking to land better roles, whether they have talent or not.
3 - [this sort of relates to #2] actor slept their way to the top

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[–] Artisan (3464) 4 years ago

The networking is a major factor. It makes sense when the actor has been around for a while/worked in the industry. It just bemuses me when you have people who seem to fly in (Rebel and Ruby) and get a kick start. Neither one of them are anything special.

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[–] AmeriGirl26 (12189) 4 years ago

The saddest part is, people who don't deserve it often get ahead. There are good, even amazing actors who have worked in the 'biz for years, and nobody ever gave them credit for it, or a chance to try bigger roles; whereas you have some sexy airhead come in, and with almost no talent for anything and they get the part because the producer either got horny, they are using the idiot actor to make a statement to the rest of the Hollywood community.

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[–] Artisan (3464) 4 years ago

Same with the music industry and now it is all about those stupid Got Talent Idol shows. People who have never performed live or anything and they just enter and if they have the right look and sob story they get to record a song. And then in most cases never heard from again.

The casting couch definitely explains a lot. They say Jen Lawrence was one of Weinsten's darlings which kind of adds up as her career has been pretty ordinary since #metoo.

And now it is all about getting "diverse" people just for the sake of it which adds to the problems.

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[–] ProductionNow (1072) 4 years ago

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[–] MonStar (11551) 4 years ago

When Rocky gives the long speech about never having gotten a chance, I knew that every actor in the Academy would vote to give the Best Picture Oscar to Rocky (1976.) Every one of them probably didn't get a role they wanted. They all knew other talented people who were overlooked for career-changing roles.

'...Talkin' about your prime. What about my prime, Mick? At least you had a prime! I didn't have no prime. I didn't have nithin'! Leg's are goin', everything is goin'..."

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[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Orlando Bloom. The talent and charisma of a burst tyre.

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[–] ColumboKate (5306) 4 years ago

Yep. 👁👁 Nicholas cage

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[–] Artisan (3464) 4 years ago

I think he is a clear case of nepotism!

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[–] sslssg (27263) 4 years ago

Mark Wahlberg
Nicolas Cage
As much as I like him, Keanu Reeves
Chuck Norris
Jennifer Lopez
Jessica Alba

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[–] Artisan (3464) 4 years ago

Nick Cage I believe it was family connections - Coppola.
Marky Mark already established himself as a rapper so it was a sideway step, not that he is good or anything at acting or talking over music.
Chuck did the film with Bruce Lee which opened the door to B Grade martial arts/action films.

I don't know how the rest managed to get in the door though.

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[–] jekporkins (1921) 4 years ago

To this day whenever I see Wahlberg in a movie I think of at least ten actors who would do a better job than him. It is fascinating to me how he became so big.

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[–] Artisan (3464) 4 years ago

One of my fave films is Rock Star, it would have been nice with a different actor. At the end of the film he mocks the music that he was just portraying. He is a serious Wigger.

I like Shooter as well and he does ok in it but as you mention others could have done better.

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[–] Theman (1062) 4 years ago

I always thought Halle Berry was not attractive enough to be an actress.

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[–] Sandman3 (1449) 4 years ago

Are you blind?

https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/actress-halle-berry-arrives-for-the-world-premiere-of-john-news-photo-1587136216.jpg?crop=1.00xw:0.302xh;0,0.0541xh&resize=1200:*

And that body:

https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/oscars-2018-halle-berry-1520238897.jpg

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[–] Artisan (3464) 4 years ago

I find her to be an ordinary actress. Looks wise she is ok but no big deal.

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