Acting Training

What If...? you want to study acting, you can't just choose classic films or Oscars winners from previous years as your learning materials.

Henry's target was films that had won or been nominated for Oscars Awards for Best Actor, Actress, and Supporting Actor/Actress.

Before the Oscars were tarnished by various PR and smear campaigns, they still held considerable prestige. Otherwise, filmmakers worldwide wouldn't have been so eager to participate in the Oscars as a way to prove their achievements.

Therefore, these films that are nominated for acting awards, or even win awards, must have some brilliant highlights that are worth learning from. Charlize had already learned about certain schools of thought and methods in her previous acting school. Henry didn't want to talk too much about these theoretical things, so he started directly with imitation and learning.

The first film to serve as an example was Misery, adapted from Stephen King's Misery of the same name.

This psychological horror film, released in 1990, earned its lead actress, Casey Beetz, the 63rd Academy Award for Best Actress, as well as the Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress that same year.

This isn't some big female lead or sweet romance movie; it's a horror story about a crazed book fan who, dissatisfied with sending razor blades to the author, imprisons the author when they encounter him in distress and forces him to write stories according to their own wishes.

To be honest, those guys who only talk the talk are really weak. Go and see what they've actually done.

As for the female protagonist, she is first and foremost a fan of the book, and then she develops hatred for the author because the characters' experiences are not as good as she imagined.

When she saw the author in person, she tried to act innocent and show her kind side, attempting to control him.

However, when the author doesn't cooperate, she displays a crazy side, using this to coerce the other party. She even killed a policeman for this purpose, proving that her threats were not just warnings, but actions she would take.

The multifaceted emotional tension of the character, along with Casey Beetz's outstanding performance as a plus-size actress, propelled her to World War I fame that year, beating out rising stars and veteran actresses such as Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Angelica Huston, and Janet Woodward.

She is also the first actress in film history to win Oscars for Best Actress for a horror film. Watching her portray characters with bizarre and ever-changing emotions...

Characters whose emotions are readily apparent are often given close-ups by the camera.

Sometimes gloomy and depressed, sometimes furious, these extreme expressions were all portrayed vividly by the actress. This made the actress, who was starring in her first film, stand out from the main and supporting actors and become the only soul of the entire film.

It's worth noting that James Caan, who co-starred with Casey Bates, played Sonny in * the Godfather *.

Corleone, a veteran actor who received Oscars and Golden Globe Awards nominations for Best Supporting Actor that year, has a 27-year film career.

Even this guy could only tremble under Casey Bates's hammer.

This was the first film she chose to imitate and learn from. To be honest, it was a Hell start for Charlize Theron.

Henry and Charlize watched the movie together once. Then, on their second viewing, Henry would explain the actress's acting techniques during each highlight scene.

Sometimes, it is also necessary to explain the director's ingenuity and cinematography skills in order to create a classic visual language.

Next, a scene from the movie was chosen, and Charlize was asked to memorize her lines, contemplate the emotions, and then perform it in front of Henry's camera. With limited props and an imagined set, she simply did the same things as the female lead in the movie and said the same lines.

Then a live screening.

A certain future Best Actress actress is now wishing she could disappear into a hole, questioning whether she should continue pursuing acting as a career.

Charlize collapsed into Henry's arms. This was her third performance of the same scene, and feeling insecure about the stark differences between the original and her own performance, she found refuge in Henry's embrace and wallowed in self-pity.

Henry smiled and comforted her, "You don't think that Ms. Casey Bates is some sweet girl who can just smile foolishly in front of the camera and flirt to get paid, do you?"

"Look at her, she graduated from Southern Methodist University. That school has an arts college, and its music school is one of the best in the country. Starting in 1969, she moved to New York City and began performing in Off-Broadway theaters."

"She first ventured into the big screen in 1970, but due to her appearance, she primarily worked in theaters. She even..."

She was nominated for Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Drama Series.

"Although she has little experience on the big screen, having acted in fewer than ten films before ' Misery ', playing minor roles, she has accumulated rich acting experience and a very solid theatrical foundation over more than twenty years."

"So she won Best Actress for her first starring role in a movie. What If...? you were a primary school student just learning to play basketball, she might not be a Mike Jordan-level Black Jesus, but she'd at least be a Hall of Fame-caliber star. That's the difference between you two."

Hearing this, Charlize was displeased. She stood up, glancing at herself and rolling her eyes. "So, by comparing her to me, are you implying that I should give up acting?"

"Of course not." Henry placed the videotape box he'd rented from Blockbuster into Charlize Theron's hands, pointing specifically to the large words "Oscars Winner" on the box.

"What I'm trying to tell you is to aim to become an actress as good as her. What If...? all you do is flaunt your charms and show off your breasts to get screen time, what will you do when Hollywood's novelty wears off?"

"Are you willing to pay other prices to continue your acting career? When that red sofa appears before you, what will you choose? Compromise? Climb onto the red sofa, risking your own legs?"

"No, acting skills are everything for an actor. You have to have the acting skills first, be able to handle any role, and then you'll be on the director's and film's list of consideration when needed."

"A wide range of roles means you have more opportunities than others. You can also play different roles at different ages, instead of being abandoned by directors and producers once your youth has faded."

"That's the direction you should be striving for. Even if you can't reach the level of those A-list top stars, you can still establish yourself and gain a foothold in Hollywood."

Charlize Theron isn't one of those celebrity kids born with a silver spoon in her mouth, where her parents pave the way for her if she wants to. Nor is she rich in resources, has powerful backers, or a plethora of film roles at her disposal.

She came to Hollywood not only because of her outstanding looks, but also because she craved success more than acting. She wanted to prove herself and earn enough wealth to improve her mother's and her own life.

These desires, fueled by Henry's stern words, became the kindling for a raging fire. She rose resolutely,

He proudly declared, "Then let's go! The fourth performance!"

"No, no, no, let's change the scene."

Charlize was puzzled by Henry's suggestion. "Why?"

"I want you to study the techniques the actors use in movies, and then use your own acting to portray the same character. But I'm not trying to transform you into her, so don't try the same scene too many times. Let's change to another one. The scene you just saw was the one I chose."

This time it's your turn to choose.

Charlize Theron's eyes darted around, instantly curving into crescent shapes with a smile.

"Then let's act out the scene where the male lead tries to escape, is discovered by the female lead, and has his ankle smashed with a sledgehammer, causing him excruciating pain."

"You're coming to act with me. Get me a hammer."

"Wow, little girl, you're getting revenge."

"Don't say no!"