Actor or con artist – what’s the difference?
The difference
What’s the difference between a really good actor and a really successful con artist? Both manage to completely convince themselves that they are absolutely who they say they are. This conviction is then transmitted to the actor’s audience or, in the case of the con artist, his or her victim.
Motives
The actor and con artist’s motives are very different. The actor has to believe he or she is someone else in order to entertain you. The con artist has to believe that he or she is someone else in order to defraud you. Actors know that they’re not really the character displayed to you. Part of the interaction between actor and audience is that the audience knows this too.
The magic of drama
Here’s the magic of drama. Once a theater, television or movie audience has been seduced by the way a consummate script-writer has set up the dramatic situation, then the audience is prepared to suspend its disbelief and go along with the story - because everyone loves a story.
The con artist
The con artist’s victim is also seduced by a beautifully constructed story, even if at the outset, there may be doubts about its validity. The victim then, consciously or unconsciously, elects to suspend any disbelief and go along with the story.
Similarities
Viewed objectively and amorally, the actor on stage or screen and the con artist in his contrived situation are equally ‘gifted’, and most importantly, equally able to convince themselves that, for the purpose of the play, or the con, they have become someone else.
How does the magic work?
The actor or con artist use the same techniques, both studying everything about the role they’re going to play – the walk, the talk and the thought. The technique that a con artist uses is the same technique as that used by all the great Hollywood actors like Marlon Brando, Kevin Spacey and Meryl Streep. It’s ‘The Method’ – a way of ‘becoming’ a character, rather than just ‘playing’ at being a character. However, although they both get a really big buzz from their art, the actor gets a special buzz from the open recognition of his or her performance and the con artist gets a special buzz through enjoying the secrecy of his or her performance. So, these two people’s gifts are not dissimilar, the only difference being in motive and result. The actor may one day be in line for an Oscar and the con artist may one day be in line for a long stretch in prison.
Join Today! to find out more about acting on TV
VALENTINE PALMER ON CHANNEL 5 TV
Powerful, Persuasive Presentations; learn to market yourself more effectively – NOW!
STOP PRESS!
Lose Your Fear of Pitching and Presenting - FOREVER!
At the Chandlery, Lambeth
14th & 29th Sept 2010
He's been in Dr Who but who is Valentine Palmer?
Speak the Best Business English!
Are you one of the billion people world wide who currently speak English? However, do you find that, when it comes to doing business in Britain or other English speaking countries, many people have difficulty understanding you? If so, join those from over a dozen nations who have benefited from the Academy of Communication’s course, Speak the Best Business English.
CLICK HERE to find out more about our comprehensive London trainings.