Improvization

A good tool for actors when trying to find the truth of a scene is improvisation. In rehearsal take the values of the scene and use your own words instead of the playwright's which would enable you to follow impulses without the restraints of the play. Of coarse you then would include the actual lines but now you can have insight in the possibilities that can be achieved in the scene. There are film directors that encourage actors to improvise a scene because the spontaneity can lead to magic moments that can be captured on film. A good sense of truth is a requirement for good improvisations as selfish actors that try to take over the improve defeat the purpose of finding the truth of a scene and instead bluster and overact trying to dominate the scene. Improvisation is a creative way to write a script. There was a time when the rights to a play that I was doing were pulled when we started rehearsal. Instead of looking for something else to do in 4 weeks, we decided to write and perform a new play in a month. We sat around and discussed the story for a couple of days then we improvised every scene with a tape recorder. We were able to get dynamic exchanges between the characters because of the conflict of different personalities. Only the most gifted of writers can create dialogue as rich as good actors improvising.

The Sad State of American Acting!

Watching old movies, I can't help notice the difference between actors back in the day, Like: Humphrey Bogart, Lee Marvin, Edward G. Robinson, Marlon Brando and Charles Bronson, average looking but masculine actors that were big stars and loved by millions. They shot from the hip and were not afraid to voice their opinions whether left or right. There probably were lively debates on sets about politics, religion or who was the best baseball team. Not anymore.

Now, actors have to be very careful not to say the wrong thing that might offend someone, especially political lefties.This means, to have any kind of career in Hollywood, actors have to behave. Sure they love a free spirit but only if the actor falls within politically correct guidelines.Condemn your country, say you are embarrassed by it, no problem.

But say anything against a PC icon and you are in danger of being blacklisted.

Several years ago, I was cast as a recurring character for a TV series. The series was picked up for a year and I looked forward to helping the series be successful. I already did a couple of episodes that went very well and as a new father, I cherished the thought of having a little financial security for my family.

At that time Bill Clinton was president of the USA. As a US Navy veteran, it bothered me that this proven draft dodger and demonstrator against the Vietnam war, in a foreign country, was now commander in chief of Armed Forces and had the power to send troops into harms way, which he did often.

So, one day on the set during lunch, the female lead went on and on about what a magnificent person Clinton is, his charisma, intelligence and charm. I tried to keep my mouth shut but I couldn't stand it any more and stupid me I blurted out ," Does that make him a good president?"

The reaction from everyone, there were about 20 cast and crew around, was instantaneous. Everyone stopped what they were doing and glowered at me as if I said the N word. One of the flunky ass kissers said " I guess you don't believe in the Holocaust". I was stunned, I didn't know what to say, my remark was innocent, so I thought. But, to show any doubt to the PC agenda puts you in the enemy camp.

The lead male actor and one of the producers said  "you're fired". To his credit, the director came to my aid and told them to leave me alone. I wasn't fired and finished that episode but was not called back to do anymore episodes. This attitude is prevalent through out the industry.

So, how does this affect the quality of acting in America.

The best actors have improvisational skills, their emotions are close to the surface and they trust those emotions. There is no editing of what they are feeling in the moment, they just go with it.This is the magic of good acting. This talent has gotten actors in trouble in the past with many divorces and crazy antics

But now, with political correctness, forces actors to act in real life, they must hide what they really feel. They have to act like they care about this or that cause, as long as the cause is deemed correct. Young actors come in the business with a restraint on their emotions. Good actors are basically truthful and lose out in the long run to liars and hustlers .

So, before they portray a character, the liars already have a barrier inhibiting creativity. What you get are very safe, underplayed performances by superficial posers. 

How many working actors under 60 tears old have done time in the military. I know a few around 65 yrs. who were subject to the draft and served, like myself. But back in the day, actors like Jimmy Stewart, who at the height of his career and one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, went off to fight in World War 2 and was gone from the scene for 4 years.

There were others, Elvis Presley, at the top of the entertainment world, drafted and went into the US Army for 2 years. He didn't have to go. He could have got out of it but he felt it was his duty to do something for his country that made it possible for a poor boy to make it.

So, because of political correctness a certain segment of the male population has slowly been excluded from the casting process, and we are left with either raging liberal activists or cowards and liars.

So, when a part comes around in a big production that requires a greatly skilled masculine actor, it is no surprise that,as the US talent pool is filled by lousy or androgynous actors, the producers use actors from other countries to play American characters.

Acting Secrets Revealed 

Parody of a college professor!

John Del Regno demo reel

Hollywood needs to open the doors to new writng talent

I went to the Directors Guild screening of the new Robert DeNiro film "The Family" in Hollywood last night. It was free, otherwise I would be pissed if I had to spend money to see it. I am not going into any lengthy critique but just that the story and the characters were totally unbelievable. The film makers were trying for some kind of violent Mafia farce. It did not work at all , as the events were silly and it was not funny at all.

As usual with Hollywood films, the photography was great, the acting ok but the script was awful. This has been happening for several years in Hollywood with tired re=treads of old ideas and comic book characters. Why is this happening? In my opinion, Hollywood producers have to get off their high horse and do what pro sports teams do and look for and nurture new talent..

There has to be a radical change. Open the doors and bring in new ideas by having FREE writing contests. Look out there among the masses for unique experiences and characters. You can always bring in hacks to polish up the scripts but it is the characters, the premise , experiences and diamonds in the rough  need to be sought out. I know there is a lot of legal mumbo jumbo involved but I believe this can be solved.

If someone writes a script or story, it is impossible to get any one with authority to look at it. If the writer has not sold a script already, no one takes the writer seriously. This has to change or Hollywood will continue it's decline in making quality films that can live on for decades.

Fast Forward to the present!

I am skipping forward for about 25 years. My acting career has been fairly lucrative, I have been able to raise my daughter to adulthood, I have 25 years vested in SAG which means I have cheap health insurance at 65 for life and a decent pension to go along with Social Security Retirement and still get occasional residuals.

So, while I didn't fail in La, my career never achieved the promise it had when I first arrived in Hollywood. I had my ups and downs, was a series regular on a few pilots that were not picked up, did many top of the show guest spots. {IMDB link at the bottom of this page}. But, just when it looked like I was going to have a breakthrough, like I had in New York, I would suffer a setback. Sometimes due to my own doing, I have a big impulsive mouth which hurt me, being a military veteran, US Navy,  and a political conservative in a sea of liberalism.

Being a new father in a new marriage put pressure on me that I didn't have in New York. Where timing worked for me in NY, it worked against me in Hollywood.While I was able to make a living in LA, it was a struggle to maintain that level without falling into the abyss. It is strange that while my daughter was growing up, I was able to maintain a living as an actor and provide her with health insurance but as soon as she turned 21 is when my career seemed to collapse. I thank God it did not happen when she was very young because I don't know what I would have done. I didn't go to college and have no skills outside of acting.

Now, I am 68 years old, living on Social Security retirement, a Screen Actors pension and a occasional pension. I no longer have an agent that can get me in the room with a phone call. BTW, I auditioned for a good commercial agent last week and received a call today for a call back. I never had the much luck with commercials, I did a few, but I feel that my advanced age may make me more useful for commercials. We shall see.

There has been much good though in spite of the frustrations.My college graduate daughter is grown and supports herself and hopefully will give me grand children someday. I have been able to keep in great physical shape, having a lot of free time gives me the opportunity to work out every day to pass the time. I still have my acting hook in the water, and my acting is as sharp as ever, maybe better as the pressure is off.

I just finished doing a play and it felt great to turn on an audience again. I will always stick with it because I love the act of acting.

IMDB for John Del Regno

Where is the anti-war movement?

Where are all those demonstrators during the Viet Nam war and the Iraq war? Our government is considering getting involved in the Syrian civil war on the side of Islamic extremists , who are more of a threat to US security than the Assad regime.

Those days of America going to the rescue of say: South Vietnam being invaded by North Vietnam or a possible future nuclear attack from Saddam , are over because of you anti-war people.  These anti-war demonstrators ignored all of Saddam's atrocities but are so sad because of Assad's atrocities.

Is it just political for these people? Not much demonstration when Clinton bombed the hell out of Yugoslavia, when they were absolutely no threat to us. But after 9-11, when this country was attacked by Islamic extremists , after over 30 years of  Terrorists attacks by different groups from different countries within the Islamic world, the anti-war people demonstrated vigorously. Where are you now?

The top commander of the US military has subtly stated that this is a impossible mission. Russia, Iran and maybe China will use this opportunity to humiliate the US.

Hollywood is creatively Bankrupt!

Who's running the film business? With one mega budget flop after another, somebody should get fired.This is what happens when hustlers,ass kissers and scumbags rise to the top of the business. And now that they have conned their way to the top, they have no idea what to do. So, they revive and copy what has been done in the past.

With the CGI technology they are able to create huge explosions and giant monsters but at the expense of a good story , interesting characters and good acting.

I recently saw WWZ, with Brad Pitt. As usual, the special effects were the best part of the movie. But as for the story, if you have seen one zombie picture, you have seen them all. As for Mr. Pitt, his performance was similar to what he did in "Money Ball" . This underplay, unemotional persona which passes as real in movies nowadays is boring. In real life people are much more animated.

It seems with some actors when they have success early in life ,  stop growing as an actor. Young actors now will do anything to get a part in film or Tv, except work on their craft. They take acting lessons and maybe do a couple pf plays and think they are ready for the big time.Why not, they see Pitt phoning it in and getting away with it, why not them.

Acting is a skill that has to be practiced and developed . Musicians, athletes, dancers,pool players, golf players, all have to practice. Actors practice by doing theater as much as possible.

Now it seems, if a part requires dynamic acting, the producers have to go to other countries to get accomplished actors doing American accents.

A lesson to be learned!

        The IRS scandal, the AP source scandal, and the Benghazi cover up are all examples of what happens in this political correct, Orwellian control of the government, the news and entertainment and the universities.
All these enlightened people who preach diversity and open mindness, as long as you agree with them. Using old Soviet Union tactics to brainwash and control the people.
          Let this be a lesson, if the government targets you, you have no recourse, unless you are rich,maybe.
Take the IRS scandal: Sure, a few heads will roll, but what about the rest of them.Only like minded get promoted and get jobs in the above mentioned organizations. So, to clean up the mess, you have to fire all of them.
           Of coarse , that won't happen. Our democracy is now a sham, when the people's representatives pass a law, the government picks and chooses what laws to enforce to give a certain political party a majority.
            I should just keep my mouth shut as this may put the final nail in my acting career. But I am 68 years old, a US Navy vet, and I don't give a sh**.