Onset Bloopers: Do Good Actors Exist?

The old days of movies and television were about serious acting- emoting, facial expressions, and body language. Lots of focus was placed on being able to carry a scene without fancy sets, or special effects, and, in the early days of film, without dialogue. Now, as more of the movies made move away from originality, in favor of remakes or being based on books, the quality of acting has changed as well.

With the changing times, a new phenomenon came about: the blooper reel. Once something reserved only for comedy shows, the mistakes of actors in films are now a commodity. Instead of destroying the botched footage during the editing process, film makers actually add the blooper reel to the DVD release, calling it a "special feature" or "bonus content." While there is some valid entertainment value for viewers who want to see the actors goof up, the blooper reel may be encouraging actors to give a little less than their best.

Are Current Actors Worse Than Those of Yesteryear?

It's likely that the actors of today are at least as good as the one of bygone eras. With acting schools such as Anthony Meindl acting studio in Los Angeles in abundant supply, there's really no reason why today's actors shouldn't have the skills required to give amazing performances and wow the audience. The film making and television industries on the whole have also improved vastly over the years, in terms of available technology, equipment, and methods. All these advances, in general produce a better overall product, at least in terms of visual and sound quality. Whether or not the actual plot lines have improved is an issue that is still up for debate.

Why Blooper Reels Are Money Makers

Any time the consumer is presented with the idea of added value, it's easier to make the sale. This is the case with many things, and movie ticket and DVD sales are no exception. Moviegoers, visiting theaters to see the latest releases, remain in their seats long after the credits begin to roll, expecting an "Easter Egg" at the very end. Special features and extra content on DVDs is now the standard expectation of the movie viewing public, and among those features, blooper reels are likely the most popular.

In addition, people like the idea that actors can make mistakes. In our society, actors are given celebrity status, with their every move photographed by paparazzi, and chronicled by magazines. Whole networks are devoted to reporting on their glamorous lifestyles, palatial homes, perfect figures, and mind-blowing salaries. The average person will never experience such a charmed life, so they find some comfort in knowing that actors are not as perfect as they may appear, no matter what the media says.

So put on your favorite DVD, and watch the blooper reels. You'll get a good laugh, as well as some proof that even the most beautiful, celebrated, and talented among us are human, and capable of making mistakes. Enjoy their hilarious humanity.