lauryn
Is it hard for professional actors/actress to hear harsh criticism from people who still support them by watching them act?
Whenever I watch a movie with friends which I do often, they tend to judge the actors fort the way they perform on social media's and tag the actors they are talking about to seem cool. For actors reading or hearing about these comments, I wondered if they took it personal or it is just something they are use to hearing. #film-acting
2 answers
Angela Theresa (Collins) Egic
Angela Theresa’s Answer
Many actors do not read reviews, and many are too busy to read all the social media about them. Even if they have an account, it can be read first by an assistant. Or they receive so many comments they cannot really read them, or just sort of scan them.
If they take it too hard, it would be difficult to survive emotionally. It is important for actors to build and have confidence in their talent.
They have to have some confidence if they've gotten that far, too.
Abigail Miller
Abigail’s Answer
Receiving criticism is always difficult. But learning to view it as a gift is one of the most beneficial skills for actors and actresses to have. We're all biased by our own perceptions, and often having those fresh, outside views can help remove subjectivity and add a layer of objectivity into our performances.
However, it's also important to understand that not every opinion is a good or valid opinion. Beyond learning how to gracefully accept criticism, it's also just as important to understand how to identify the critique, feedback, and suggestions that are valuable, and will benefit your performance. Many seasoned actors and actresses have developed this ability to take the meaningful feedback, and discard the rest.
Ultimately, no one enjoys the feeling of rejection. And in some ways, criticism feels like rejection. But in an industry rife with instances of rejection and denial, most actors get to a place where they aren't bothered by the criticism. Nor do they seek out reviews of their own performances. Rather, many rely on feedback from trusted sources.
And those who can't handle feedback usually don't make it in the acting line of work.
Hope this helps!