Up until her role as Liam Neeson’s daughter in the epic action/adventure film Taken (2008), she was mostly unknown by the public- with only a few jobs in mostly unknown films. However, with one lucky break she was able to exponentially grow her career, giving her opportunities in other major motion pictures (i.e. the Twilight Saga). Her career is still up to grabs at this moment, but she has been given a boost that may help her get a foothold in the A-list. All it takes is for her to pick her films carefully for the ones that challenge her the most.
Alan Arkin has been termed a modern “renaissance man” by many critics and fans worldwide (IMDB.com, 2012). Given his impressive artistic resume in addition to his wonderfully diverse acting career, that is definitely not far from the truth. In addition to being in such ground breaking films as Glengarry Glen Ross (1992), Gattaca (1997) and Little Miss Sunshine (2006); Arkin is also a triumphant musician who co-created the original version of the “Banana Boat” song which has worldwide recognition. Needless to say, Arkin has truly turned his artistic passions into his work. Unlike many actors who ebb and flow with the changing tides of stardom, Arkin has consistently found work and made a name for himself as one of the most well-received actors of this generation. The key to his success is truly a mystery but it may have something to do with the way he approaches his acting. Arkin was quoted saying-
“It’s not enough for me to just be a personality and go up there and say lines nicely. I want to tell a story with a character.”
Alan Arkin, IMDB.com
The key element of this statement is not in what he is saying, but the message we get from what he isn’t saying. By saying that he wants to tell a story with a character, he is defining his own purpose versus what the public or investors want from him. Instead of making his art about meeting other people’s expectations, Arkin has chosen to meet his own expectations instead (which are profoundly higher than what anyone else can expect from him). By doing this, he has won. His constant self-evaluation has created an even better actor than anyone could have possibly shaped him into. For screenwriters, keep in mind that the best actors will be attracted to the most attractive scripts that help them grow and challenge themselves. Be sure to put your heart into your work so you can attract actors who put their hearts into it as well.
Liam Neeson, star of the new epic action/adventure film Taken 2 (2012) is sure to be considered A-list royalty for years to come. He has been able to wear many hats throughout his career, from bad guy to good guy, angel to demon, father-type to sex icon. No matter what role Neeson takes on, he grabs his audiences’ attention with his good looks, charm and devastatingly honest demeanor. In short, he’s the guy who you can trust to take care of your kids, give you advice or to save you from any predicament. And that is what the world loves to see in their leading men. Films
(2012) Taken 2
(2012) The Dark Knight Rises
(2012) Battleship
(2012) Wrath of the Titans
(2011) The Grey
(2011) Unknown
(2010) The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Tyler Perry is among many everyday Americans who have come from poverty to wealthy entrepreneurs thanks to their talent and good ol’ capitalism. Perry came from a poor family background and began writing as a way to relieve himself from depression and stress. Lo and behold, it turned out that Perry was actually a very talented writer and he began his journey to creating scripts that ended up becoming very popular films. The Madea franchise has consistently made a profit while some of his more daring projects (i.e. Colored Girls (2010)) have become critically acclaimed hits. By taking his own life experiences into his stories, Perry was able to find an audience of hundreds of thousands of people who appreciated his style and perhaps, recognized similarities between their own childhood and his. His style of comedy infused with some drama have made him a very compelling director that can also be lighthearted. Writing is a personal journey that can take you to many places. By utilizing journals or your computer word processor, you can relieve stress and ease depression; while some of us may create the next new blockbuster hit.
