Question for actors: when you watch TV or movies, do you clearly perceive that what you're watching is acting?

Question

I think that most people do not clearly perceive this when they watch TV or movies. Intellectually they are aware of it, of course, but in terms of their moment-to-moment perceptual awareness, they think it's real. In other words, they are not conscious of the dialogue and action as scripted; they react as if this is real life.

I frequently become aware that I'm doing this myself and I try to become conscious of its reality. What I want to know is if this is natural for actors because you have spent so much time in the reality of it (as acting, as a drama)--you've been inside it, creating it, not just watching it on the TV or movie screen where there is no frame of reference.

Answer 1

sometimes when the actor hasnt researched his/her character..

Answer 2

If a person can become so engrossed in someones acting that they forget its fake, thats good acting. If the audience are unable to suspend their disbelief they have difficulty getting involved in the action, and the whole show suffers.

From the perspective of being an actor, I still see this as the best thing. Granted I can recognise something as acting, but to really get into a show you need to suspend that intuition. Only a really good actor can make you that,

Answer 3

sometimes i do think about it. but only when it looks like an actor was cast in the wrong role. Watching Adam Sandler in happy gilmore is easy... watching Adam Sandler in punch drunk love is not. Some actors tend to live there role and other actors are the same in every movie...like Jack Black. I guess it just depends on the actor and the genre for me.