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One Thing That Really Annoys Me About This Show.....

posted 13 years ago by blair-harrington
14 replies | jump to latest

I've never attended a live taping of one of these episodes (and I've heard that the actual in-person interview is longer than what we see on TV). What I find striking (especially after watching the Matt Damon repeat last night) is how the Bravo show pretty much never airs footage of the actor talking about the early days of trying to obtain representation and bad early auditions. Lipton will question the actor about 'early jobs' and skim the surface about early struggles by bringing up crappy living conditions, etc. But almost no time is dedicated on the Bravo show for some really important details. (Did you go through several agents and managers? Were you ever dropped by representation? Have you had bad experiences with casting directors? Directors? Fellow actors?)

For example last night we were told that Damon started to obtain TV and film roles while at Harvard. How exactly? Did he obtain representation pre-Harvard? During? How did he juggle going to school in Cambridge and auditioning (potentially) in Manhattan and LA?

This happens alot on this show. I realize that there are time restraints as to how much ground can be covered during a one hour program, but man do I find it annoying and frustrating.

[–] filmbuff1974 13 years ago

After watching about seven episodes of this show I have come to the conclusion that this is little more than a general chat type vehicle for famous movie stars and an promotional tool for the university.

Not only does this show not cover what you mentioned in your post about beginning struggles, but avoids pointing out that most of the guests never went to college and those that did had not studied acting!

Live Full & Die Empty. Tap Your Potential and Realise Your Dreams!

[–] ActorMan22 12 years ago

Well, as an actor I'd like to know more practical details about how they got agents, how they dealt with bad auditions, as you said. Maybe they believe its just not that interesting to most viewers. As for the criticism that they avoid pointing out that most guests did not study acting; that may be true for the most recent years, where they are running thin on showing any actors who have significant stage experience, but definitely not in the early years where most guests studied acting either in college, or most often, with respected teachers (as with Pacino and Lee Strasberg).

[–] filmbuff1974 12 years ago

A biography I read on Julia Roberts quotes her as just barely securing her high school diploma and having no intention of going to college. She also dropped out of the few acting course she did enroll in.

Is this true? I don't know but it rings true to me. Of course she did have parents who had an acting school. Perhaps she learned what she needed and felt she could make it without being chained to formal acting education anymore.

Just something to consider.

Live Full & Die Empty. Tap Your Potential and Realise Your Dreams!

[–] InsomniacJack 12 years ago

I understand that yes, most of the interviews are multi-hour affairs that are then edited down to fit episode length. Spielberg's apparently lasted for four hours or so, as was Billy Crystal's first appearance. I don't know if that's the typical time allotted, but yes, there is absolutely more filmed than is broadcast. And yes, I'd love to hear more details about guests made their early years work!

Occasionally you will hear guests talk about how they got involved with acting. A number of them took very . . . circuitous routes to get there. While I love hearing old pros like De Niro and Anthony Hopkins talk about their training, it's certainly not something that's necessary to a career. Julia Roberts was mentioned, but Alan Alda has had a long and successful career with (by his own admission) little to no formal training. Ditto Eddie Murphy and, if I'm not mistaken, Sylvester Stallone. There's an argument to made for both sides (training versus pure instinct), but they all have had long and successful careers. I'll listen to any advice they'd have to give, if only because they've been there and done it already.

[–] filmbuff1974 12 years ago

"There's an argument to made for both sides (training versus pure instinct), but they all have had long and successful careers. I'll listen to any advice they'd have to give, if only because they've been there and done it already. "--InsomniacJack

I've watched thousands of movies and one can not help but notice many of the acting contrivances used. There is definitely a difference between the skill levels of actors /actresses. I've also have noticed when usually good actors perform badly by neglecting certain skills. I won't mention some of the actors I've watched who have astonished me with how bad they are despite all the training at prestigious schools (such as Julliard). I will say this, professional training is NOT a guarantee of good acting ability.

Live Full & Die Empty. Tap Your Potential and Realise Your Dreams!

[–] Scott-101 12 years ago

While we're on the topic, I find a lot of things about the show annoying:
-Why only three questions from the audience?
-Why does Lipton start out like an IRS interrogator asking him questions like "what's your father's name" "Where were you born" that he already knows the answer to?
-Does Lipton have any sense of dignity left? It's ok every once in a while to want to do something silly and parody yourself, but he'll do anything to amuse his audience and he does it so often that his whole character is parody at this point.

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[–] Call_Me_Roy 12 years ago

Not to brag, but I attended the taping of the Liam Neeson episode and I can tell you, lots of stuff gets cut.

First of all, the student question session lasted more like an hour than 3 questions.

And as for early career, we spent a lot of time on his early life and his teen years of boxing and then eventually getting involved in local plays.

He pursued that more and more mostly on his own before the director of Excalibur saw him in a play and one thing led to another.

So that's more specific to Mr. Neeson, but the entire session had to have lasted at least 3 and a half hours. It seemed to me that it was more for the students with a TV show on the side.

But I agree that less stuff about early career should be cut.

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[–] InsomniacJack 12 years ago

Lipton has talked about the research that goes into each interview, and it's pretty extensive. So while I imagine that he knows the answers to many of the questions, the audience (both studio and broadcast) presumably does not. He's asking on their behalf.

As far as dignity goes . . . Look, I don't know the man, but I'd imagine part of it is being in his mid-eighties and saying "why not?" If Conan O'Brien wants him to do a beer bong and dance with a manatee, why not? Presumably he's having fun with the whole thing or he wouldn't keep doing it. Lipton trained as an actor first and foremost; I can't find it in my heart to blame the guy for taking an opportunity to perform again now that he's getting offers.

[–] Scott-101 12 years ago

wait, that's not performance. it's making fun of himself. But I can see the point that interviewing is his main job and it's not so much acting.

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[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] stephtastrophe 12 years ago

"-Why does Lipton start out like an IRS interrogator asking him questions like "what's your father's name" "Where were you born" that he already knows the answer to?"

I thought that, I get why he asks that but on the few occasions I've watched the show the way he asks about his parents sorta comes across as rude imo. He sounds kinda hostile when asking.

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[–] WizardsMug 12 years ago

It reminded me somehow of hot-seat sessions where the actor is asked about their character (in oder to get to know their character better)
and thought that by being asked those question about their family background it would maybe bring them emotionally to the place he needed them to be in order to conduct the interview he wants to have with them.
more emotional, more open and not a selling act of their latest product hitting the screen next week.

Plus to me it looks like a ritual too .. rituals can help to give a frame of handling things esp when the people being interviewed are so very different themselves.

Just my 2cts.

And to the OP

It would be actually nice to have 30 min more of the interview to get more information about how they got started, how they dealt with rejection, failure or hardship

I liked the Charlize Theron's interview, it did touch on those points.

[–] d.rust 9 years ago

To answer your extremely ignorant questions:

1. Time.
2. For exposition to the AUDIENCE, you numbskull.
3. You really don't understand the entertainment industry, do you?

[–] Arvin-G-Borkar 9 years ago

Funny thing is, that is one area that many people want to know. How wouldn't we all want to know how to secure an agent, manager, talent agency etc. That is the golden question.

I am starting to think more and more that they have a contract with agencies and representation to NOT give that information out. How do I know this or how can I assume this? Because I have tried it. I, myself, aspiring to be an actor have actually contacted one of the big four talent agencies in terms of seeking representation. You want to hear the bad news? IT IS ULTIMATELY CLOSED SHOP! That's right, closed shop. This means they do not want ANYONE knowing how to contact them because of their no solicitation policies. They want to keep the number of actors to a limited few to only work with the same actors over and over again and the only people that do end up successful (I am talking about the majority) all ready have someone they know in the industry. It may be someone in their family, a friend, neighbor, etc. Point is, they do not want anyone else to know.

Usually, and this is from what I have found, you get an agent from submitting to agencies through open calls, whenever they have them (this is for all of us who do not know anyone in the industry). Additionally, it is up to us to find legit workshops or conferences (I forgot the actual word for the congregation of performing for agents) to be represented. The agents choose you, you do not choose them.

From a middle class struggler of knowing no one, you will spend a lot of time in scams and being led in the wrong direction; however, it is basically just luck. And yes, no one is going to tell you the right way because there is none. They want to keep it closed.

Oh and also to address the other parts of your post, everyone knows everyone in the industry. He would not be able to tell you if he had bad experiences with directors, agents, etc. You spill something like that and people talk, you would be blacklisted in the entertainment industry.

Better watch out, better start crying. Better hurry up, run and hide. Krampus is coming to town! >:)