What motivates some Hollywood stars

[Telstra]

to get really skinny or really fat or really fit for their movie rolls ?

I don't think it is the money. So what motivates them?
Just curious ...

 

[IamNoah]

Art? They are artists...Hmmm...This is actually a good question. I bet it doesn't turn into much discussionwise though.

 

[Telstra]

I think maybe they want to be respected as a "great actor" but not sure.

 

[G-Lexington]

I did an event not that long ago. I spent hours working on the poster for it. I lay in bed at night wondering about the set-up, the set design, the presentation. I wouldn't say I agonized over any of this, or "stressed" about it - I just liked mulling all the aspects over, and wanting to get it "right". All this for an event that maybe 25 people showed up to. So I can understand.

Lex

 

[Telstra]

So wanting to "get it right" is the motivation?
mmmmm i need evidence Starving yourself to near death just for wanting "to get it right" ?

 

[G-Lexington]

Upon further review, the word "right" doesn't seem...well, right. It's not like there's one "correct way" and I'm trying to find it. It's more that I'm enjoying the entire process. "Oh, it'd be cool to do it this way...and if I added this....and if I threw that in there..." I'm guessing they're actors in part because they enjoy that process, as well.

Lex

 

[Taralen]

Most of it is fake. Nothing in Hollywood is real. This includes body image. Babies and animals are now CGI, and I wouldn't be surprised if eventually actors would eventually become CGI and robots.

Also movies take months and years to produce and put together. That is plenty of time for someone to lose and gain weight.

In the Christmas story, the teacher is not fat. The director originally casted a heavier set actress to play the role and was satisfied, however the character was later recasted to a skinnier slender woman. The director wrote for the teacher to be fat, so he asked her to put on a fat suit and she agreed. So it gave the illusion that she was bigger than she was.

In certain ways this hits home, as the porn industry is almost fucking identical. Everything in porn is fake. Even amateur porn. It probably takes them three hours to do a twenty minute scene. Not to mention the other ten people in the room with lights and cameras.

 

[Cormac135]

Money, ask them to do it for free and the "art" nonsense becomes clear.

 

[G-Lexington]

Money, ask them to do it for free and the "art" nonsense becomes clear.

I sure as hell am not making much money on MY stuff. And I know a lot of people in the "arts" locally who do similar things to this, just because it's what they love doing.

I wouldn't say a big paycheck isn't sometimes the motivating factor. But it's not what makes actors do stuff like what Telstra suggested in the original post. Adrien Brody could've just mimed playing the piano, and "acted" like a loner in The Pianist, but instead, he forced himself into something of a box, stopped interacting with people, and forced himself to learn to play piano. Daniel Day-Lewis decided he needed to be locked up in solitary confinement for awhile to prepare for one of his roles - I'm sure most directors would've been fine with somebody simply pretending like they had been in prison at some point. Clearly, with some of these people, it's not just about the money.

Lex

 

[Cormac135]

Money, ask them to do it for free and the "art" nonsense becomes clear.

I sure as hell am not making much money on MY stuff. And I know a lot of people in the "arts" locally who do similar things to this, just because it's what they love doing.

I wouldn't say a big paycheck isn't sometimes the motivating factor. But it's not what makes actors do stuff like what Telstra suggested in the original post. Adrien Brody could've just mimed playing the piano, and "acted" like a loner in The Pianist, but instead, he forced himself into something of a box, stopped interacting with people, and forced himself to learn to play piano. Daniel Day-Lewis decided he needed to be locked up in solitary confinement for awhile to prepare for one of his roles - I'm sure most directors would've been fine with somebody simply pretending like they had been in prison at some point. Clearly, with some of these people, it's not just about the money.

Lex

Forgot to add glory hunting.

 

[luckynumbah7]

Money, ask them to do it for free and the "art" nonsense becomes clear.

When ppl know you do art for free the lines stretch blocks away and frankly, no one needs to deal with that kind of 'they all want a piece of me' greed.

You sound bitter, -did someone not draw you a pretty picture? Me, I got damn tired of people asking for free shit when the materials cost money and I, too, need to eat. Not to say some things I don't do for free, depending on birthdays, holidays, baby showers, and small children. But you expect to much if you want a -constant- supply of others working while paying their own money to do it.

-m'not an actor, but the point stands as well for other artistic endeavors.

 

[G-Lexington]

Forgot to add glory hunting.

Is that why I do it, then? The glory? The adulation of the semi-interested 25 patrons? It may be that you're projecting your own motivators onto everybody else.

Lex

 

[Cormac135]

Is that why I do it, then? The glory? The adulation of the semi-interested 25 patrons?

Lex

No one mentioned you, you ain't a Hollywood star.

 

[JerryPic]

No one mentioned you, you ain't a Hollywood star.

 

[G-Lexington]

No one mentioned you, you ain't a Hollywood star.

So you feel their motivations aren't the same as mine? Or the same as other non-Hollywood star types, who often go above and beyond in their artistic endeavors? They're a breed apart?

Lex

 

[luckynumbah7]

I suspect he thinks people go into acting to make millions when that's not what occurs for at least 99% of actors out there. I figure acting is much like other art - Mostly no world recognition, if any, until after you're dead - and if you do manage recognition you'd better buy some armour with those millions because people have this funny idea that the people attached to those household names actually belong to the public and they'll tear you apart to prove it.

Not that I think anything is actually worth millions, art or no - some people do get paid too much - but that's not why people go into the work. For every 'success' there's hundreds upon hundreds of 'failures' going "eh, I still enjoy the work".

 

[Cormac135]

So you feel their motivations aren't the same as mine? Or the same as other non-Hollywood star types, who often go above and beyond in their artistic endeavors? They're a breed apart?

Lex

No i feel they're pretentious gits, i think it was Michael Caine who put it best about acting, Turn up on time, remember your lines and try not to bump into the furniture.

 

[JerryPic]

No i feel they're pretentious gits, i think it was Michael Caine who put it best about acting, Turn up on time, remember your lines and try not to bump into the furniture.

This thread, especially along with the Lex´s comments, starts to feel like this movie....

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

dunno
_keep nappy warm?_
yea like lot oda professioans

tinkyou

 

[G-Lexington]

No i feel they're pretentious gits, i think it was Michael Caine who put it best about acting, Turn up on time, remember your lines and try not to bump into the furniture.

...would he be exempt from the "pretentious git" label, then?

I wouldn't argue anybody who felt the uppercrust Hollywood actors were overpaid and overfed. But having done some really simple filming (for youtube-type things), I've come to realize how not-very-good most people are at acting...and how utterly terrible some people are at it.

And I'll stand by my answer to the OP's question. It's them getting really into their job. Most of us should be lucky to have a job that allows us to do so.

Lex