Face It. It's Not About Talent.

By Anthony Abeson
Sunday, June 8, 2008; B02

"A rtists are the antennae of the race," Ezra Pound once said. He was referring to the way that turbulence in the arts -- the rise of dissonance in music or distortion in painting -- has often preceded and presaged major upheavals in society. But today, that dynamic has been reversed. Instead of artists reflecting what's about to befall the people, it's the people who reflect what has already befallen the artists.

As an acting coach, I'm writing specifically about actors, who today are being cast more and more on their looks and less and less on their talent. The continual display of perfect bodies on television and movie screens has contributed not only to an epidemic of eating disorders, but also to spiritual disorders that increasingly lead young people to evaluate all humanity as either "hot" or "not."

A while ago, I had a conversation with a 12-year-old girl about "The Diary of Anne Frank," which she was reading for school. I asked how she liked it, and she replied, "She was a liar." "How can you say that?" I asked. "Because she said that a lot of boys liked her. No way." "Why not?" I probed further. Because, the girl replied disdainfully, "she wasn't hot."

I'm convinced that this extreme fixation on appearance represents one of many canaries fluttering their last breaths in our cultural coal mine, warning us of the toxic atmosphere we're inhaling from television, film and computer screens and all manner of publications: a world of "hotties," wearing hot clothes, riding in hot cars, drinking stuff that makes you look cool (even though you're hot), wearing make-up and jewelry that famous, hot people wear, reading cool magazines that tell you who and what is hot (and what to buy so that you too can be hot), while watching music videos of other hot, cool, glamorous people.

These irresistible images, in high-def and Dolby, are going directly into people's bloodstream and consciousness, clogging our arteries with prurience, arousing rather than inspiring, hardening our hearts and dehumanizing us. This constant bludgeoning of our sensibilities damages our souls and leads us astray, toward the material and ephemeral and away from the eternal.

Surely we can lay much of the responsibility for this on the criteria and values of the entertainment industry. Where once casting seemed to strive for a combination of looks and talent, the equation now appears to have shifted radically toward the former, particularly with regard to film and television aimed at the youth market. Not long ago, I coached a young woman on a screen test for a television project. Afterward, the casting director told me that she had been "hands down the best actress of the bunch" but they had decided to go "another way." "Why?" I asked. "Because the girl we went with is a Victoria's Secret model," he said, as if that were the most obvious explanation imaginable.

Or consider this breakdown, or character description, for a film audition: "Just beneath her ivory snow exterior is a babe-a-licious ready to unleash her inner hottie."

Nor is this limited to young women. Turns out that what a network really wanted to see wasn't the two monologues that a young actor named James and I had prepared, but rather what he looked like with his shirt off, holding an automatic weapon.

This degraded perception of the actor has steadily permeated the acting culture, from the casting director who told a talented young man, upon his arrival in Los Angeles, to "whiten your teeth and bulk up in the gym," to the actors who, getting the message loud and clear, are tempted to exercise their bodies more than their talent.

This takes a terrible toll on young actors, who are led to perceive their looks as the route to success. "Wow," said an actor to one of my students at a screen test for a soap. "You do real acting. When I go back to L.A., I'll be doing the 'pretty-face-six-pack-abs' acting." This sort of self-image condems them to being treated as throwaway rather than renewable. Consider the ever-faster cycle of gobble-'em-up-and-spit-'em-out with which the industry feeds its insatiable hunger. Who can remember all the once-hot stars of "Beverly Hills, 90210" or "Baywatch"? And the cycle is self-perpetuating. The more entertainment options, the greater the need for "hotties" who -- internalizing the industry's confusion of beauty with talent -- try to market their looks right into employment, often without any training at all.

But the dragon eats its tail: Undeveloped talent used is talent used up. Even if an individual achieves some initial "success," whatever personality trait or look seemed to have worked the first time will be milked unceasingly until it gives out and the industry goes looking for a replacement. The discard is then abandoned to the mercies of the marketplace, ill-equipped to repackage itself, because the actor has been fused into a self-portrait that's no longer marketable.

In a recent interview, I was asked this question: "Director Elia Kazan hired Vivien Leigh for 'A Streetcar Named Desire' because of her beauty. So what's wrong with beauty still informing casting decisions today?" I pointed out that while Leigh was indeed beautiful, she was cast just as much, if not more so, for the luminous quality she radiated, the fragility in her eyes and her ability to animate her character with those qualities -- which is talent. And the public responded to that. No one perceived her as merely "hot." Her exterior expressed her interior. As T.S. Eliot said, we are "joined spirit and body,/And therefore must serve as spirit and body/Two worlds, visible and invisible/Meet . . ." in us.

But nowadays, the industry's call to serve involves more of the flesh and less of the spirit. And this is not lost on the young, as that seventh grader can attest. Beauty, in a grotesque distortion of the old saying, has indeed become "its own reward" -- while warping the values, hearts, minds and spirits of our youth.

aabeson@ptd.net

Anthony Abeson is a veteran acting coach and teacher whose students have included Jennifer Aniston and Esai Morales. He is working on a book about acting and its impact on American culture.

Nicely put! Sad, but too often true.

I totally get what this writer is saying.

BUT... for every "Gossip Girl" on tv, there's still a "Sex and the City", "Sopranos" or "The Office" where you'll see people who are immensely talented and not just PERFECT-LOOKING BODIES!

As cynical as Mr. Abeson's assessment was of the current and future state of acting, his message is steeped in reality.

But when you contemplate the full spectrum of our industry -- from soaps, to features, to indies and live theater, you'll find a full spectrum of talent represented, as well.

Sadly, as more and more corporate entities enter an already overcrowded marketplace, you'll notice that COMMERCE is indeed undermining ART. But I prefer to look upon this gentleman's gloomy assessment of our business more as a cautionary tale... if you lament the lack of good projects and solid acting, begin to produce and promote actors and writers that share your own vision. That's why I support independent film making so enthusiastically.

It's an old adage, but even more meaningful today than ever: "Better to light a candle than curse the darkness."

“Whatever works.”

www.robertkim.com
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0453647

What shocks me the MOST is that even waitressing and retail work is based on Y and L (youth and looks). I am a very sexy 31 year old with a hot gym-toned body, a great rack and a heap of personality. Comparisons are Natasha McElhone and Uma Thurman. I worked in Las Vegas as a card dealer and was THE IT GIRL!!!!!I could have worked in any casino I wanted. I have been in LA nearly two years and have been to about 70 job interviews and applied for around 6oo hundred other jobs too. GUESS WHAT???? Still unemployed! I am doing better with the acting than the day job- really!!! I have walked in for jobs and their faces literally fall whan the see my ancient self before them! They have even point-blank asked "How OLD are you?" You know what, I may be 31 but I know how to work it GOOD! Kim Cattrall knows what time it is and so do I. Takes a real man to handle a real woman- just ask my husband! Let's just say he ain't complaining!! 31 RULES and I get sexier every year!So- to anyone who does not agree- kiss my ass! Trust me- you would enjoy it!!!!It is all about the ESSENCE baby!!

Excellent article and sadly true a lot of the time.

MISS STONE: Your post just put a big smile on my face. YOU ROCK!!

Rock on, Miss Stone, rock on.

Piggy backing on Robert Kim's comment, it's up to us as moviegoers and TV viewers to make a change if we want to see change. The reason why this industry constantly brings out such superficial productions with eye candy for actors is because there is a demand for it, but if the majority watches and supports the well-written and brilliantly performed films and TV shows, producers will be stupid not to notice that change in the box office/ Nielson ratings and adjust accordingly.

Why is anyone surprised at this??? It's been going on for decades. Yes, it's more prevalent now, but it has always gone on. Look at Marilyn Monroe... she couldn't act her way out of a paper bag but she was sexy and got what she wanted.

Britney Spears is another fine example. In the heyday of "boy bands" they needed an innocent looking thing that they could slut up, synthesize her voice, teach her some stripper moves, and pimp her out to the public.

Reality shows? Absurd. "girls next door" "kardashians", etc.... it's all about the skank factor. Not about who's truly talented or actually "pretty" or who has something more to offer than plastic boobs or a fat behind.

This stuff makes me crazy, too,guys. But it is what it is.

I will say this....I am a 41 year old playing a hot babe every week in my show. And it's because Lizz Winstead (also over 40, also playing a ht babe) MADE HER OWN WAY and invited me to make her own way with her. We write our own stuff, we bust our own over-forty asses and we get to do a show we love. So, I say....take all of the energy we usually use bitching and moaning about the inequities of the industry and put that anger to use! Make something meaningful that is truly your own. I never thought I could do it. And you may not know that you can until you get off your ass (however old, however saggy) and give it a shot!

Sheesh, I can't get a hot girl, young OR old. Maybe I should start holding auditions. Hmmmmmm

quote:

Originally posted by avidactor:
Sheesh, I can't get a hot girl, young OR old. Maybe I should start holding auditions. Hmmmmmm

Isn't that how Tom Cruise met Katie Holmes???

quote:

Originally posted by Darbi, Everything Acting Podcast:
This stuff makes me crazy, too,guys. But it is what it is.

I will say this....I am a 41 year old playing a hot babe every week in my show. And it's because Lizz Winstead (also over 40, also playing a ht babe) MADE HER OWN WAY and invited me to make her own way with her. We write our own stuff, we bust our own over-forty asses and we get to do a show we love. So, I say....take all of the energy we usually use bitching and moaning about the inequities of the industry and put that anger to use! Make something meaningful that is truly your own. I never thought I could do it. And you may not know that you can until you get off your ass (however old, however saggy) and give it a shot!

My ass will NEVER get saggy- you know why? Because I am never ON it long enough for it to get that way!!

quote:

My ass will NEVER get saggy-

Ah yes. And you'll never need reading glasses either.

quote:

Originally posted by JimChevallier:

quote:

My ass will NEVER get saggy-

Ah yes. And you'll never need reading glasses either.

Touche, Jim! They'll learn.

WOW did you both totally miss the POINT and the joke of my comment! I SAID--
"My ass will NEVER get saggy- you know why? Because I am never ON it long enough for it to get that way!!" Duh!!!!!
Surprised at you, Jim, for choosing to miss the humor and going in for the kill.....and Camille- don't patronize me. I HAVE learned- believe you me. I have learned about bullshit from when I was in 5th grade. Would have been nice to be sheltered a little longer.....

Whoa! And I thought I was just joining in the fun.

Miss Stone, I got your point but I guess you didn't get mine.

ALL OF YOU:

It's not funny if it has to be explained.

I disagree. Meow said the kitty!!!!