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Friday, July 16, 2010

Typecasting

I'm more than a little trepidatious about sending this query out into the internet world. But I have a few projects going on, and I've stumbled upon a question I think I could use some outside opinions on. So really, please tell me what you think.

There's a lovely thing in the acting world referred to as Type. I'm pretty sure that's all the description this concept needs. I'm trying to nail down, specifically, my type. Physically, characteristically, acting style. What cookie cutter mold can I easily be inserted into? If an agent were to ask me, 'Where do you see yourself? What type of roles can we market you for?' I would like to answer with a specific, relatable example. One whose response will be 'Hm, yeah, I can see that.' with firm nodding of the head. So I've come up with some ideas, and I'd like your response. (You can click on each other the actress's names for a reminder of who they are/what they've done.) I'd also love any other ideas you have to throw my way.

Elisabeth Moss (though who doesn't want to be Christina Hendricks right now?)
Samantha Morton circa In America
Alison Pill (Milk, Dan in Real Life, various Broadway)
Maggie Gyllenhaal circa Stranger than Fiction
Early Kate Winslet, circa Hideous Kinky or Sense and Sensibility

Other ideas are: Melanie Lynskey (not well known enough yet?), Rachel Griffiths (though too old), Toni Collette (though too old), Natalia Tena (I don't think she's had enough exposure yet, she's not well known enough, more her theatre career), Lauren Ambrose...

Oh yes, and if you need a reminder of what I'm looking like these days, (though Type is a little more than just what you look like), this was taken a couple of weeks ago...

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hmmmm...I guess I have a hard time seeing why it would be good to define yourself by what someone else does/says/was/seems like. It seems very limiting. If you were talking to a casting director, wouldn't they already have an idea about your type based on their experience of you?

A Jew and an Ex-Mo Go To South America said...

I don't think it's necessarily 'good', I just know that that's how the industry works. Yes, a lucky few don't have to play by industry rules, but in all likelihood I'll have more success if I learn how to. So. In order to successfully market myself, I feel that I need to understand where I can fit in. And though yes, I would just like to rely on my talent, which I'm completely confident in, that is just not the reality out there. Marketing is a huge percentage (like maybe even 70%) of my job right now. So I need to know how to market myself. And instead of leaving that up to other people's imaginations, why not cut out the work for them (which they most likely won't want to do, seeing countless actors every day), and supply them with an idea of what I can do. I would be beyond lucky to have any of these actress's careers. The question is, based on my appearance, energy, acting, persona, can I? Is it 100% believable?

sumcat said...

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q66/summertymee/KK-350.jpg

existential heroine said...

The tricky thing about you is that you have this commanding voice and aggressive acting style combined with an ingenue's gorgeous face. That combination can be too complicated for modern Hollywood. I think the Kate Winslet in S&S is a good comparison. Maggie Gyllenhall for personality 'type' is also great. For film I would play up your smart-girl, indie vibe and for theater I would emphasize your training in the classics.

Nikki said...

Just to throw my two pence in -

I liked what existential heroine said. You have these amazing life experiences to draw on for any character you play, plus you're absolutely beautiful, and that combination makes for a refreshing, unique new sort of 'type'. I more closely saw you in a Maggie Gyllenhall-type role than the others. I'd like to see you in films like Garden State and Eternal Sunshine - films that got to be known and loved for really good acting and storylines as opposed to big blockbuster cookie-cutter projects.

Sylvia said...

Alison Pill for sure. BTW, do you remember seeing Eddie Redmayne in The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? that we saw on my birthday in 2004. Call me later and we can hash out more career administration.

Unknown said...

Maggie Gyllenhaal... you're unique, interesting and beautiful and more than a little mysterious. Not overly emotional on the outside - very logical upon first meeting. Makes me think that there's a sea of absolute feelings on the inside.

Amy-Alisa said...

Alison Pill seems the best. Although you may resemble Kate Winslet the most, she is a little too fond of nudity, ya know?