Waiting for the Whole Package

I went to see The Social Network last evening. Second-run theater. From the trailer it didn't seem to rate seeing it at a first-run theater, but the trailer didn't do it justice. It's a terrific movie. Aaron Sorkin's screenplay is brilliant in conveying the irony in Mark Zuckerberg's character. A sad, complex person. Highly intelligent, incredibly immature. Acting out feelings of anger and envy by sniping from cover. A man who connected millions of "friends" with each other around the world, but has only one friend - and manages to sabotage even that friendship.

I loved the closing scene. The young woman who has rejected Zuckerberg and dismissed his work on Facebook as "video games," now has a Facebook page - and he still can't connect with her. You don't envy his success and all his billions because it hasn't changed his life. But in an odd way you like him and you do feel a sense of hope that he'll come out alright. The lawyer nailed it: he's not an asshole, he's just trying very hard to look like one.

Hope is a nice place to end a film. Of course, how much of that is Zuckerberg's life and how much is creative license we don't know. Was there really a lost love? I remember the old bio-pic of composer George Gershwin where the lady love was pure invention. (Gershwin was reportedly rather asexual and his closest relationship was with his brother Ira.) No matter. The Social Network is a film I'd watch again and again and study closely. I've added it to my list of favorites.

Having now seen both The Social Network and The King's Speech, I have to pick the former for the Academy Awards. I looked forward to seeing The King's Speech because I gravitate toward small films and this one had gotten rave reviews. I liked it, but I never got a strong sense of the King as a man - and, yes, it did have that standard British, drawing-room drama feel to it. It wasn't as complex a tale as The Social Network. Also, Colin Firth has played a stammerer before in A Month in the Country.

The Social Network brought to the surface some other issues as I sat there in the dark watching it. I was thinking what great performances these young actors were turning in - so natural, so exactly right.

Drama coaches put a lot of emphasis on acting technique, as though it's the be-all, end-all of conveying a character. I think that's true for theatre for the most part. You can certainly put on a satisfying play outdoors and with minimal sets.

But it isn't just acting that makes a great film role. It's a terrific script and great direction. It's wonderful lighting, costuming, scoring, locations, make up. It's people who are monetarily and emotionally invested in creating something wonderful.

One of the most frustrating things for actors starting out in film is that you experience only rarely those professional and technical assists.  Lighting?  "Nah, we don't need lights. The indoor shot will look more natural without it."  Make up?  "I've got this great lipgloss I'm using on everyone - Night of Passion. You're gonna love it!"  Costuming?  "Just wear something pink. Whatever you've got." Location? "Jack's gonna let us use his place. He'll move some of his stuff into a corner." Directing? Script? I won't even go there.

The thing with indies and student films is that your writer, director and crew are often learning as they go too. You put up with conditions that are less than optimal, because actors have a visceral need to act. But it means that you can turn in a good performance, even a great performance, and - shot wide with poor lighting - you still look like hell and end up with nothing you can show on your demo reel.

Still, you hang in there because for you it's the only option and gradually the scripts improve. You begin to feel like you know what you're doing, and you get directors who know what they're doing. You have crews made up of professionals experienced in film (and what a difference that makes.) One day, with any luck, you see yourself on screen - with beautifully lit closeups and skillful editing - and you think, "Wow!"

That's why there's such a long list of people to thank when an actor accepts an award. It's the whole package. And waiting for the whole package - for everything to come together - can be hard indeed.