When I first started doing sketch comedy, I promised myself that if I were ever to have any success in this business, I wouldn't hold back. Why get there and play it safe?
Will FerrellRead
When a dramatic actor does a funny film, people are like, 'Wonderful! I didn't know he was funny!' But when it flips, people can get really thrown by it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
People are often surprised when an actor known for serious roles showcases their comedic talent, and vice versa.
This quote by Will Ferrell highlights the expectations audiences place on actors based on their established roles. It points out the duality of talent and the preconceived notions that can influence people's perceptions; a serious actor doing comedy can be celebrated, while a comedian attempting drama might be met with skepticism or surprise.
Themes
ActorComedyDramaAudiencePerception
In practice
Example use cases
During a film festival, when discussing the roles actors take, you could quote this to highlight audience expectations.
More from Will Ferrell
All quotes βMolly Shannon and I used to always talk about that we really felt strongly that we were comedic actors, that we weren't comedians. You just played things real and the comedy came out of the context.
Will FerrellRead
I always just forced myself to do crazy things in public. In college I would push an overhead projector across campus with my pants just low enough to show my butt. Then my friend would incite the crowd to be like, 'Look at that idiot!' That's how I got over being shy.
Will FerrellRead
When I was ten, I wrote an essay on what I would be when I grew up and said I would be a professional soccer player and a comedian in off season.
Will FerrellRead
Saturday Night Live is such a comedy boot camp in a way, because you get to work with so many different people who come in to host the show and you get thrown into so many situations and learn how to think on your feet, so filmmaking actually feels slow, in a good way.
Will FerrellRead
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