Ask A Genius 1192: Hollywood Life
Author(s): Rick Rosner and Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Ask A Genius
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2024/11/13
*Interview conducted in November, 2024.*
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What is your advice for Hollywood life?
Rick Rosner: One piece of advice is act less. Don’t move your arms around a lot. Don’t show an excessive amount of emotion. Say your lines with just a hint of the emotion you think is appropriate or what the director envisions in that scene. This approach tends to work well because overacting marks an amateur, making them look unconvincing.
So, rule one is to underact. Rule two is if you want to appear as though you’re genuinely listening to someone, look at their face, but let your eyes wander over their entire face. Don’t let your eyes leave their face, but allow them to move across it. When someone is speaking and it’s significant to you, this small action creates the illusion of deep engagement. This technique is useful for conveying investment in what the other person is saying.
Picking up these small tricks, combined with understanding the business side of Hollywood, is crucial, as it’s a place where people can be ruthlessly competitive. Being smart is a huge advantage. In entertainment, intelligence complements talent or can sometimes compensate for a lack of it. If you ask intelligent questions, you can be the interviewer who engages celebrities in a way that highlights their intellect. Many celebrities have time to learn new things, either out of personal interest between projects or with the help of assistants who research and brief them on topics.
Take, for example, George Clooney or Leonardo DiCaprio—they’re known for their knowledge and interests.
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