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Question:

If you can’t help but to create something different, then you do not choose to do so, and have not committed an act of creation, it has acted through you, but you did not cause it to happen.

So then according to you,  there must be a conscious choice to create?

Response:

Even if you are simply mimicing wouldn’t you be creating? You cannot exactly reproduce something – you have to create something different from the original. Just my opinion.

Absolutely.  I agree. Wayne LeGette Actor – SAG/AEA http://www.gate.net/~wlegette (Remove "SPAM" in e-mail address to respond.)

Response:

Man, I pushed Senor Jahn’s buttons didn’t I?  Hey Chris, the pun on ignorance was an almost acceptible reply.  Was that your idea?  Put it in your sense memory book.   And relax, it’s just an idea.  Nothing to fear. The pointlessness of the arguement over "art’ or ‘ not art’, is an excellent point. You’re right, It really doesn’t matter.  I just get annoyed when actors hide behind art instead of gettin’ out there! I admit Creating is a weird term to use.  Are you creating a cake when you bake?  Do you create light when you plug in the switch? Do you create a new human when you act? Surely nuances and interpretations will differ from show to show, even performance to performance, as we all have found out to our chagrin and delight.  But the characters are not created by the actor, they live through us, but that is far different than creating anything. The actor is the last step. the crucible where all the work of every Theater Artist in a production places their hopes and the trust that the actor will faithfully interpret the part.   You cannot exactly reproduce something – you have to create something different from the original.

If you can’t help but to create something different, then you do not choose to do so, and have not committed an act of creation, it has acted through you, but you did not cause it to happen.   On the art or not toart question, what would you all say is the difference, if any,  between performing and acting?   John W. Poole

Response:

Who cares whether if it’s art anyway?  Acting a learned craft and creating is inherent.  One can’t act and NOT create unless one is simply mimicking.  And I haven’t seen Samuel French issue videotapes of original productions when they send out their plays.

Even if you are simply mimicing wouldn’t you be creating? You cannot exactly reproduce something – you have to create something different from the original. Just my opinion. Amy

Response:

Wow!  I never thought actors could be so profficient in self delusional

fantasy! You must not know too many actors <g  If actors are proficient in one thing it’s fantasies of all kinds. Ok. here’s a thought for you to ignore, all of us are wrong, or soon will be.

Who are "us" and why will you all be wrong "soon"?   What the theater is about and what acting is about changes from age to age and

play to play.  All of you are seeking some permanant answer to the questions of ‘What is Theater’ and all of you will fail. Why will we fail?  I contend that art hasn’t really improved at all since time began, it’s only changed.  The newest film is doing the same thing the caveman did after the hunt…telling an entertaing tale of the ordeal.  The question "What is Theatre" is very answerable with concrete terms, while the question"What is Hamlet"? or "What does acting mean to you"? can garner a variety of answers.   I loved it when one of you asked who the other’s teachers were.  That cracked

me up. Why’s that funny?  Specifically. Ultimately, all of you are desperatly trying to make Acting into a seperate

art form or philosophical quest to rationalize your existence.

I’m not.  I do see acting as a seperate art form and it can involve a philosophical quest, but my identity isn’t in question; neither is my existence.  Do you question if you exist?  Or just why you exist?  Ultimately, this sounds like a desparate attempt to seperate yourself from the rest of "us" by sounding uninformed and arrogant. People like yourselves have been doing this for quite some time, and the result is the Modern Entertainment Industry.  Congatulations.

What’s wrong with the Modern Entertainment Industry?   I’m kind of  looking forward to the new fall season, especially when shows get cancelled and you wait and see what the cancelled actor will do next to get through.  I love the Entertainment Industry! You have created a million rationalizations for the miilion travesties you

have inflicted uponthe public, and the further rationalizations that you will come up with fill me with anticipation.   Sorry to be so arrogant as to take this personally, but what the hell did I ever do to the public that they didn’t want to pay for?!  Or anybody else for that matter?  Name names, please.  And if you want anticipation, how much money do YOU have on the Niners/Redskins game next monday night?  Now that’s reason for anxiety!      I do hope the best for all of you.  I hope you get grants to pour

chocoalte on yourselves, .   Thanks for the idea!  It’ll put new meaning to the word "yummy". Seriously, though, wouldn’t fudge stick better than chocolate (which is very runny)?  Just askin’ because my wife still can’t find who you think is gonna pay us to do this…We’ll get back to you on that. , to prove that emotions exist or at the very least to provethat actors exist.

 I sure hope we do!  If we don’t my plans for thenext couple days are ruined.

What are you doing in the next couple of days, specifically? In the meantime, please do me a favor?  Oh please?  Pretty please?  With

Stanislavsky on top?  I knew that would get you. Stay out of the way.

You are blips on my moniter.  How could I be in your way?  Unless you’re one of the idiot drivers in LA that can’t figure out how to drive, I don’t see how we’re in each other’s way.   Many actors, directors and writers are coming to a unified realization about

the theater in spite of the Goliath Institution of the Theatre.

Which is?? You have a lot to do, figuring out your place in society.  So leave those of

us who have a place the hell alone Let me try this one on you…We are all free and willing participants in an overly abundant Universe that desires to give each of us more good things than we can possibly know…  Like it?  I stole it from Julia Cameron’s VEIN OF GOLD.  You should read her.  It may help you with some of your creative blocks. and let us try to make art free of Philosophers and artists(I define these noble professions by your own defintions, as I find both titltes redundant).  T

So you want art that’s not touched by, not created by, and not influenced by philosophers or artists.  Art without artists.  ??? Thank you and good bye. John W. Poole

As Ricky Ricardo used to say when his wife got herself into a good one, "Lucy, you got some ’splainin’ to do!"  Bring it on, Poole. Yours, Lollar

Response:

Study distorts the thing studied. I applaud your defense of the artist in Theater. The need to be an artist is a tough one, and I recommend some of the fine painting, sculpting or modern dance movements so you can create freely, BUT, an Actor never creates- An actor has a script, a costume, makeup, lights a set, and a director, all of which may envlove some form of artistic expression.  The actor is a medium of all these arts, not the art or artist itself.  The moment an actor starts to create something ‘new’, then that actor has ceased acting.  I fail to understand why so many actors get upset at the idea of acting not being an art,  I have found the idea incredibly freeing. I’m glad you liked the idea of pouring chocolate on yourself, however Karen Finley has a patten on the technique.  Have you heard of her?  If you havn’t please inform yourself of her ‘ourvre’, even Carrot-Top knows what Finley has done. I’m also delighted that you are looking forward to the new fall season.  I have grown a little tired of " professionals " giving people what they want, instead of trying to give people what they need( I know that’s a can o’ worms-need- and I would love some insight on the type of entertainment that might do some good, honestly).    Who are "us" and why will you all be wrong "soon"?   Everyone’s will be wrong eventually, with the passage of time. in the arts. The greatest actors of the Ninteenth Century would be laughed of the stage if they performed for a modern audience .began, it’s only changed.  The newest film is doing the same thing the caveman did after the hunt…telling an entertaing tale of the ordeal.  The question

Get real.  The world of the caveman was surrounded by the spiritual.  Today the world is a mix of secular and spiritual.  Acting can be spiritual and acting can be secular.  Are you honestly saying that art has remained the same after Wagner turned the lights down on the audience?  When Moliere closed down the salons of Paris?  When Thespis showed the greek audiences what dialogue was? this sounds like a desparate attempt to seperate yourself from the rest of "us" by sounding uninformed and arrogant.

I find this comment laughable in the light of your own ignorance of the history of our species. I loved it when one of you asked who the other’s teachers were.  That cracked me up. Why’s that funny?  Specifically.

Why does it matter who taught?  Because your beliefs are based on the thoughts of others, on schools of technique, and the belief that if someones has earned x million of dollars to act or teach, then the ymust be good.  Is Demi Moore the best actress in Hollywood?  Would Brando have been a bad actor if he had never met Strasberg?  Hardly.   Please forgive the huge answer, I’ll stop now since this quote vs. quote thing is a little annoying.  I don’t think we’ll ever be in agreement on these issues.  My life has provided me with the opportunity to do what theater  I like, while I can make money doing anything.  I know how lucky I am to be in such a position, but I still find it a tad reprehensible when Theater-folk dip into the slop bucket of academia to make themselves feel better about the things they have to do to make money in the Perfroming arts.  Lies and rationalizations will not increase your self respect.  And yes, I have worked for " the Man " quite a few times so I am not speaking out of ignorence?  How do you spell ignorance anyway? John W. Poole

Response:

How do you spell ignorance anyway? John W. Poole

Nice of you to answer your own question! — ** NOTE: address is spamblocked – }:-)       Christopher Jahn

{:-(         Dionysian Reveler "It’s fun, isn’t it?"                     Charles Nelson Reilly

Response:

movements so you can create freely, BUT, an Actor never creates- The moment an actor starts to create something ‘new’, then that actor has ceased acting.  

I can’t believe what I just read.  Are you for real?   I have not read any previous posts on this subject, but anyone who thinks an actor doesn’t create has obviously never attended a professional theatre rehearsal in his/her life. Who cares whether if it’s art anyway?  Acting a learned craft and creating is inherent.  One can’t act and NOT create unless one is simply mimicking.  And I haven’t seen Samuel French issue videotapes of original productions when they send out their plays.   The words are simply the words.  The ideas, meaning the choices the actor makes when he says the lines, come from the actor.  They are created by the actor’s brain and are translated in the actor’s voice and body.   I truly can’t believe anyone would have to explain what I’ve just explained. Wayne LeGette Actor – SAG/AEA http://www.gate.net/~wlegette (Remove "SPAM" in e-mail address to respond.)

Response:

Wow!  I never thought actors could be so profficient in self delusional fantasy!   Ok. here’s a thought for you to ignore, all of us are wrong, or soon will be.  What the theater is about and what acting is about changes from age to age and play to play.  All of you are seeking some permanant answer to the questions of ‘What is Theater’ and all of you will fail.       I loved it when one of you asked who the other’s teachers were.  That cracked me up.  Ultimately, all of you are desperatly trying to make Acting into a seperate art form or philosophical quest to rationalize your existence. People like yourselves have been doing this for quite some time, and the result is the Modern Entertainment Industry.  Congatulations.  You have created a million rationalizations for the miilion travesties you have inflicted upon the public, and the further rationalizations that you will come up with fill me with anticipation.         I do hope the best for all of you.  I hope you get grants to pour chocoalte on yourselves, to prove that emotions exist or at the very least to provethat actors exist.  I sure hope we do!  If we don’t my plans for the next couple days are ruined. In the meantime, please do me a favor?  Oh please?  Pretty please?  With Stanislavsky on top?  I knew that would get you.        Stay out of the way.  Many actors, directors and writers are coming to a unified realization about the theater in spite of the Goliath Institution of the Theatre.  You have a lot to do, figuring out your place in society.  So leave those of us who have a place the hell alone, and let us try to make art free of Philosophers and artists(I define these noble professions by your own defintions, as I find both titltes redundant).  Thank you and good bye. John W. Poole

Response:

You can always tell the real actors by the way they spell Theatre.  Maybe you’re the one that’s self-delusional.  From someone who didn’t make it on the stage, but produces, directs and still "deludes" themselves in the craft.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Wow!  I never thought actors could be so profficient in self delusional fantasy!   Ok. here’s a thought for you to ignore, all of us are wrong, or soon will be.  What the theater is about and what acting is about changes from age to age and play to play.  All of you are seeking some permanant answer to the questions of ‘What is Theater’ and all of you will fail.      I loved it when one of you asked who the other’s teachers were.  That cracked me up.  Ultimately, all of you are desperatly trying to make Acting into a seperate art form or philosophical quest to rationalize your existence. People like yourselves have been doing this for quite some time, and the result is the Modern Entertainment Industry.  Congatulations.  You have created a million rationalizations for the miilion travesties you have inflicted upon the public, and the further rationalizations that you will come up with fill me with anticipation.      I do hope the best for all of you.  I hope you get grants to pour chocoalte on yourselves, to prove that emotions exist or at the very least to provethat actors exist.  I sure hope we do!  If we don’t my plans for the next couple days are ruined. In the meantime, please do me a favor?  Oh please?  Pretty please?  With Stanislavsky on top?  I knew that would get you.       Stay out of the way.  Many actors, directors and writers are coming to a unified realization about the theater in spite of the Goliath Institution of the Theatre.  You have a lot to do, figuring out your place in society.  So leave those of us who have a place the hell alone, and let us try to make art free of Philosophers and artists(I define these noble professions by your own defintions, as I find both titltes redundant).  Thank you and good bye. John W. Poole

Response:

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