Choosing "natural" actors for a film

[Inarius]

Although all the actors have already been chosen, we do consider some new, if they prove to be very good to their role. So I have a question.

A few month ago I took a security course for a football security job. There was a part where we were doing immitations of random extreme situations between the security and the people who come in. There was someone who imitated a criminal who had to abuse and distract the security "imitator". And he did it very good and realistic.

We have just the same character in our film, but we had an actor already. Now that actor wants a different role, so I consider giving him another role, and taking on that guy from the course. My question is how close are such "imitations" to film acting? If someone is good at imitating a certain behavior, can I be sure he will do it in front of cameras? Or is that different?

 

[sfoster]

if he can do it live in front of a group of people he can do it with a camera there.

 

[harmonica44]

I dunno, I think of the movie Bowfinger, when they got that cop to play a cop, but he couldn't even act as a cop in front of the camera. But that was just a goofy movie, and it could very well work in real life! Just test it and see?

 

[shortboy]

If the person has never acted in front of the camera before, the only problem that you'll run into is that the person may not be camera aware. Or hell, they may even be more aware. It's like stage acting vs on screen acting. It's the same yet you have to tone down for the camera because the audience (camera) is right in front of you instead of being far away.

 

[ItDonnedOnMe]

I'd definitely have him do an 'audition' where you bring a camera and have him run a scene with another actor. I've run into quite a few people who are comfortable in front of groups and very natural who suddenly stiffen up once you get them on camera and they have to run lines (as opposed to improvising, which I assume he was doing in the demo scenario).

 

[Will Vincent]

I'd definitely have him do an 'audition' where you bring a camera and have him run a scene with another actor. I've run into quite a few people who are comfortable in front of groups and very natural who suddenly stiffen up once you get them on camera and they have to run lines (as opposed to improvising, which I assume he was doing in the demo scenario).

Yes. That.

If you're interested.. do a camera test or two and see if the chemistry is right and he doesn't come across too 'stagey' or freeze up on camera.

 

[Inarius]

Seeing people act when they are first time on camera... Does that mean something? People might be nervous, excited, discomforted. It's their first time. It doesn't mean they are bad actors. They only solution I see is to audition each of them 3-4 times.