JANINE Gutierrez. RICHARD REYES
When we direct new talents, we sometimes stump them when we observe that they’re talented and hardworking and all that, but they’re too “nice” for their own good. Some actors get really antsy at that remark because—hey, what’s wrong with being nice?
Our explanation: Niceness is great for people, but not necessarily when they perform, because the objective of acting is not to please people and get on their good side, but to reveal the many aspects, some of them conflicted and contradictory, to the character being played, so the audience can get insights into the complexity of human nature.
Bland, boring
Huh? Acting is supposed to do all that?
Well, yes, and that’s why “nice” performers are ultimately predictable, bland and boring, because they opt to vivify only the more positive aspects of human nature, no confounding contrast or contradictions allowed!
JENNYLYN Mercado
JASMINE Curtis-Smith
So, what’s a basically nice person to do if he wants to become a good actor? He should not be afraid to “displease” his audience by also focusing on the less agreeable aspects of the character he’s assigned to play.
Even if he doesn’t or rarely gets mad in his own life, he has to understand that other people, like the character he’s been assigned to portray, are more conflicted and contradictory, so it’s his obligation to go there, too.
He should remember that the audience is interested, not in him, but in the character he’s playing, so he should “forget” himself and focus on vivifying this other person, for his viewers’ insightful understanding and empathetic enlightenment.
True, it isn’t easy for “nice people who act” to make that key shift, but make it, they must, otherwise directors will hesitate to cast them.
Constructive notes
On the local TV scene, some personalities and performers have evinced this “nice” limitation, which could explain why their hosting or performing careers haven’t taken off as dynamically as they should. Perhaps these “constructive” notes can help:
JULIA Montes
Star athlete Chris Tiu has launched an alternative career as the host of a number of TV shows, and has learned the ropes proficiently enough, reading his spiels as instructed. Despite this proficiency, however, the shows he’s hosted haven’t generated much excitement, because he’s been unable to energize them with his own point of view, inputs and temperament.
To do all that, Chris should realize that hosting a TV show involves greater personal involvement and commitment on his part, so he has to do more than reliably go through the motions.
He should also observe that the most successful TV hosts out there are more individualistic and even idiosyncratic, not afraid to be themselves, even if it means ruffling a few feathers.
Express yourself
Thus, Chris needs to know himself more as a person, not be afraid to express himself more forthrightly, have strong opinions on ticklish issues, etc.
Truth to tell, many young TV hosts share those limitations, which is why they generally do proficient but predictable work, and don’t come off as their own persons on-camera.
JULIA Barretto
For instance, boy-next-door type and hunk Richard Gutierrez, despite his obvious physical attributes, has turned out to be a relatively bland and too laid-back TV program host, despite his best efforts to come across as more dynamic and exciting.
“Sweet” female examples are also in plentiful evidence, like Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Julia Montes, Janine Gutierrez, Julia Barretto and Jennylyn Mercado. They’ve got a blandness and “niceness” problem, too!