Auditions come in many different forms. Ultimately, they aim to discover certain traits within the actor that resonate with the character, exploring potential through various methods. There's no strict way to do this, so the possibilities during an actor's audition scene are endless.
What Anson and Rachel just did was an improvised and uncertain type of audition.
To be precise, Anson merely extracted certain traits from the character and tossed them to Rachel to see how she would instinctively react.
Neither Rachel nor Anson were seasoned actors with extensive experience. Much of their acting was based on their personal life experiences, which made the sparks from their spontaneous reactions the most authentic.
In fact, the script of The Butterfly Effect operates in a similar way. The powerful tension in the storyline often overshadows the subtle details of the actors' performances. The dramatic ups and downs perfectly fit the style of a soap opera. But if the actors approached it with a soap-opera mindset, the movie's quality would feel cheap—over-the-top and melodramatic.
Thus, an emotional interpretation based on instinct and a grounded state of being is what truly aligns with the script.
Sometimes, actors need to strip themselves away and enter an entirely different role; other times, they need to return to their true selves.
Some believe that directors, even with different stories and styles, spend their entire lives making the same movie, repeatedly expressing themselves. Similarly, many actors are ultimately unable to escape their own identity.
So...
Anson didn't strictly follow the script. He selected fragments and scenes to test, searching for the emotional memories buried deep within him.
At least, for now, Rachel had passed with flying colors.
Despite her sweet appearance, Rachel had her own experiences and stories, unexpectedly giving a fresh interpretation of Keller.
However, Marcia wasn't overjoyed. She had her concerns. "Anson, what style are the two directors?"
Anson was confused.
Marcia clarified, "Rachel's performance isn't something that naturally shines through. The director needs to capture and dig into it with the camera."
"In other words, if the director treats her like a vase, she'll come across as a vase. But if the director sees her as a muse or an artistic goddess, she'll appear as a goddess."
Some performances are external, naturally present before the camera, while others are internal, requiring the camera's attention to capture them.
So, what style do the directors have?
Anson thought about it seriously. In his previous life, The Butterfly Effect starred Ashton Kutcher and Amy Smart.
Amy Smart was more active on television, appearing in shows like Shameless, Justified, and Scrubs. Strictly speaking, she was more of a TV actress than a movie star.
Before streaming blurred the lines between TV and film, the distinction between TV actors and film actors was quite significant. One of the most apparent differences was that TV actors often tended to overact.
There were two reasons for this:
First, TV directors didn't take the time to capture the nuances of actors' performances the way film directors did, so actors had to be more direct and obvious in their delivery.
Second, TV shows prioritize the script's tension and character development. The actors' performances are more like a platform for showcasing the story.
Because of this, for a long time, there was a clear wall between TV and film. Movie actors disdained appearing on television, while TV actors dreamed of making it to the big screen but rarely succeeded. The differences in acting style and production made it hard for actors to transition between the two mediums.
Anson had never realized this because he had slowly worked his way up from TV to film, and Friends and The Princess Diaries didn't have much of a stylistic barrier. The shift in acting style wasn't very obvious.
But now, Marcia's professional insight brought a new perspective.
Anson recalled the movie The Whale, in which Samantha Morton played an important role.
Samantha, a once-prominent actor in films like Sweet and Lowdown, In America, Minority Report, and Her, was widely considered a genius, earning two Oscar nominations. However, after years of primarily working in television, her performance in The Whale came across as exaggerated, stiff, and out of sync with the other actors—a disaster.
These differences, whether acknowledged or not, objectively exist.
In the original Butterfly Effect, both Ashton and Amy had these issues.
Simply put, like a melodramatic soap opera, both actors presented their roles in an over-the-top, exaggerated way, making their performances seem childish.
Clearly, Eric and Mackie, the two directors from a screenwriting background, faced a similar issue.
As screenwriters, they focused on plot and were used to telling stories with words. But film requires using visuals and sound to convey a story, so they weren't sure how to approach it. Inevitably, they filmed with the mindset of a screenwriter or a TV director, leading to exaggerated performances.
Besides, both Ashton and Amy were accustomed to TV-style acting.
Marcia, with her expertise, had hit the nail on the head.
If Rachel were cast as Keller, the interaction between the actress and the directors could be problematic. This was something the producer had to consider.
And Anson didn't have directing experience either. How could he guide the two new directors?
Tom Hanks once said, "Trust the professionals." But in this case, neither the directors nor producers were professionals. Who were they supposed to trust?
Anson had a headache.
But with a smile, he shrugged, "Looks like we have a problem."
Marcia was speechless and just stared at Anson.
Nicholas, sitting nearby, snickered quietly.
Knock, knock.
Just then, the door opened again, and their Chinese takeout arrived.
Anson joked, "At least it didn't interrupt the audition this time."
Marcia: ...
She couldn't help but laugh.
Thinking about it, Marcia found it absurd. "Working with those overly strict producers is a headache. But working with such laid-back producers is just as challenging."
Anson nodded seriously, "Have you ever considered that maybe you're the problem?"
Marcia: ???
Anson ignored her and calmly stood up. "Lunch. It's lunch time."
Marcia turned and saw Nicholas struggling to hold back laughter. Noticing her gaze, Nicholas exaggeratedly stretched, "Time to eat!"
Marcia glared at Nicholas. "Ha! With acting like yours, you should be grateful to be sitting on this side of the table."