I'll be the first to admit, soaps are cheesy. I can tolerate about 5 minutes worth on a case-by-case basis. But if you put aside the corny music, the amateur angles, and the cyclical storylines, what makes the typical soap actor so bad?
Generally speaking, what makes the popular film star so much better? Examples being George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Mel Gibson (pre-2000). These are actors who generally don't change much about themselves for roles they take on.
I'm asking this because I simply do not know. Thank you
2007-10-16 03:36:27 · 8 answers · asked by Brad 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Theater & Acting
To begin with "soap" actors don't act. They take on a role, make it themselves and behave naturally. This is the nature of the genre. While in a feature films, the person is totally out of themselves and must act as the script demands. There is no difference in in the ability of the two types of actors, just the demands differ. Many superb actors are on soaps. It is an easy gig that keeps them before the camera and pays very well. They can actually have a life! Studio at six, home by five.
As for the scripts, feature films are better written because you only get the one shot. If you want to keep writing for them, It had better be you best because there is a loooong line of writers just waiting for your job. Soaps, on the other hand, have to have a script every day, day-in-day-out. Simple story lines get dragged out for months and a lot of filler garbage thrown in. Again, it is the nature of the genre.
To summarize, the actor must act around the script in feature films. While in soaps, the script is written around them, usually by bored, mediocre writers who are just looking for a paycheck. To some extent, this can be said of some of the actors.
2007-10-16 04:04:44 · answer #1 · answered by Sophist 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Generally speaking, you wouldn't know good acting if it hit you in the teeth. Where did you get this prejudice against soap actors? So you don't like the soaps. OK. That doesn't make the actors bad. All actors do exactly the same thing when they are acting, soap actors, film actors, stage actors. There are vey fine actors in all media, and there are not so hot ones as well. The popular film star is not necessarily a better actor than an unknown actor. He is probably just luckier. Some of the best actors I have known were amateurs. Each actor has to be evaluated in each role to determine whether he is effective (good as you call it). So I would say the real answer to your question regarding popular film actors and soap actors is "your prejudice." The answer to your first question might be improv skills as suggested above, but the soap actor works under far more difficult conditions than the film actor.
2007-10-16 16:07:08 · answer #2 · answered by Theatre Doc 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of course, film stars have a hell of a lot more time to learn their characters. Soap actors often have about 30minutes before a scene is filmed to get off book, and the directors and producers are more concerned with pushing out a product as cheaply and quickly as possible, rather than spending the time and money it takes to properly master a scene. An additional complication is the writing. No actor, no matter how talented, can take a crappy script and make it look beautiful.
2007-10-16 16:04:56 · answer #3 · answered by Daniel C 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'd have to go with the fact that they can act but with more of a power to what their acting.
TV actors really have to become the character while soaps have to put on a show.
2007-10-16 10:39:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Their ability to improvise when it comes to their lines...And they are able to take their character to another calaberating show...Young and the Restlless and Bold and the Beautiful are two shows that go back and fourth between themselves with the characters...Sometimes you will see a character on another show with the same story line or one that falls into one of their stories...I hope that this makes sense...
2007-10-16 10:49:33 · answer #5 · answered by bollinger74 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
acting skills...plain & simple. george, brad and mel are great actors; can take on any role and they get into it. soap actors on the other hand just arent as good. in my opinion soap actors just lack some of the acting "skills" that movie actors possess.
2007-10-16 10:41:01 · answer #6 · answered by §eeker 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
first, brad pitt probably has one of the biggest ranges in charactors than anyone.
the answer is acting ability, how many soap stars go onto films? not many, but some do.
2007-10-16 10:45:18 · answer #7 · answered by rooster_nugget 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
the fact that they can play so many differetn characters Allison Sweeney (Sammy Brady Days) is AMAZING but she has played the same caracter for over 20 years so idk
2007-10-16 10:52:11 · answer #8 · answered by Andria W 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋