Acting Sad :: Not About Crying-On-Cue, It’s About Authenticity Of Emotion
In my own, private, acting-stash folder, I’ve been saving these photos of well-known actors:
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- Willem Dafoe
- Daniel Craig
- Ed Harris
- Forrest Whitaker
- Gabriel Byrne
- Michael Madsen
- Paul Newman
- Tim Roth
- Ryan Gosling
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I think these photos are an homage to the beauty of emotional truth. To real, authentic emotional acting. To these male actors’ craft. Each still photo provides, in a glimpse, the beauty that is the art of acting. The depth of great acting.
I look at them, myself, from time to time. These photos honor my craft. They remind me of why I committed myself, so passionately, so assiduously, for a very long time…to developing a masterful acting craft.
Sometimes, these photos renew my faith in the industry; when I’m feeling skeptical, or think it’s all about money, marketing, beauty, comics… These guys are well-known professional actors with longevity, and it is clearly not accidental. This special group is famous for a reason.
Thanks to artist, Sam Taylor-Wood for these photos ©2004
Great post. I love these pictures.They are from the book Crying Men, by Sam Taylor-Wood, done in 2004. From the website for the book: “Crying Men is a series of photographic portraits of famous film actors. Taylor-Wood makes portraits of her subjects as actors; she shoots them in role, asking each to perform and cry for the camera and demands the actor’s investment in the process. These are no passive sitters.” It is an amazing work. She has also made several films and is an intriguing artist with an obvious interest in the intersection between acting and art.
Auchh. You know, I write these posts and think I get everything in them when they get published, and it doesn’t always get in my proof-read-radar, when stuff doesn’t make it in, that was intended to be. Thank you so much for commenting with accreditation to the artist/photographer filmmaker who took these photos. Am adding it immediately to the post. Thanks again. Gratitude, respect, and awe for Sam Taylor-Wood.
A beautiful post, love the pictures, show just how easily these wonderful men can dip into that wellspring of emotion!