An actor really is a kind of intermediary between an audience and the piece, whether it's a play or movie.
Interpretation
An actor serves as a bridge connecting the audience with the story being told.
In this quote, Christopher Walken emphasizes the unique role of an actor in storytelling, highlighting that they do not just perform but also create a connection between the audience and the narrative, be it in cinema or theater. This intermediary role is crucial as it allows the audience to engage with and feel the emotions conveyed through the performance, making the experience of art more personal and impactful.
In practice
This quote can be used to inspire young actors in a drama class discussing the importance of audience connection.
I have this theory about words. There's a thousand ways to say "Pass the salt". It could mean, you know, "Can I have some salt?" or it could mean, "I love you.". It could mean, "I'm very annoyed with you". Really, the list could go on and on. Words are little bombs, and they have a lot of energy inside them.
People think that my favorite roles to do are villains, but I find comedy to be the most challenging and rewarding.
Can I confess something? I tell you this as an artist, I think you'll understand. Sometimes when I'm driving on the road at night I see two headlights coming toward me. Fast. I have this sudden impulse to turn the wheel quickly, head-on into the oncoming car. I can anticipate the explosion. The sound of shattering glass. The flames rising out of the flowing gasoline.
I've made movies that I thought were good. I've made movies that I thought were okay, but then I was very good. And sometimes you're in a movie and you think, I wish more people saw that - because you're good. And it just works out that the movie gets lost. But that's show business.
I've made movies that I thought were okay, but then I was very good. And sometimes you're in a movie and you think, 'I wish more people saw that' - because you're good. And it just works out that the movie gets lost. But that's show business.
I'm in a place in my life where I get offered parts that I didn't get offered before - fathers and uncles and grandfathers and so on. And it took me a long time to get to that place, but I'm glad because it opens up new territory.
Anxious, inexperienced writers obey rules. Rebellious, unschooled writers break rules. Artists master the form.
I'm gonna keep making music that hopefully I think is good, and whatever comes out of that, that will be fine with me.
If you just love movies enough, you can make a good one.
An artist must be free to choose what he does, certainly, but he must also never be afraid to do what he might choose.
Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.
It seems to me it's a painter's duty to try to put an idea into his work.
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