Spotting potential acting talent an an early age is one of the most crucial processes in launching an acting career–on stage or screen.
And this is the reason for aspiring actors need and want to get exposure.
Exposure takes various forms and can occur in various media platforms, such as getting a photo on the cover of prominent magazines, or getting a walk-on part in a play, or serving as understudy for an established performer, hoping to actually replace that actor one night.
Some actors were spotted while appearing in a popular radio program, or being guests on a TV talk show.
However, spotting can also happen in non-performing contexts.
Jack Albertson, future Oscar winner, was spotted by an agent, while he was trading tap steps with other dancers outside of the Palace Theater in New York. This subsequently led to Albertson getting his first acting job in showbusiness.
Candice Bergen was spotted after she appeared on the cover of glossy magazine (like Lauren Bacall before her).on
For example, five time Oscar nominee Irene Dunne was discovered by the legendary showman Florenz Ziegfeld, when he stood next to her in an office building. Struck by her beauty and poise, he then offered her an opportunity to audition for the musical, Showboat, a part that she landed and later played with great success in the movie version.
Dustin Hoffman was spotted by director Mike Nichols, when he was performing in the Off Off Broadway play, Journey of the Fifth Horse, in 1967. That play closed in three weeks, but Hoffman was summoned to Hollywood for a screen test to play the lead in The Graduate, which he successfully landed.
Lee Marvin was spotted was spotted by director Henry Hathaway when he appeared in a TV show and cast him in the film, You’re in the Navy Now, in 1951, And while Marvin was doing another TV show, he was spotted by producer Stanley Kramer, who cast him in a supporting role in The Wild One, in 1954, opposite Marlon Brando.
Barbara Stanwyck was spotted by Joseph Schenk, then head of Universal, who had seen her on Broadway in burlesque; she began her career as a dancer
Oscar Actors: Spotting, Detecting, Discovering Talent
Research in Progress: April 19, 2021
Acting Profession: Spotting
Spotting potential acting talent an an early age is one of the most crucial processes in launching an acting career–on stage or screen.
And this is the reason for aspiring actors need and want to get exposure.
Exposure takes various forms and can occur in various media platforms, such as getting a photo on the cover of prominent magazines, or getting a walk-on part in a play, or serving as understudy for an established performer, hoping to actually replace that actor one night.
Some actors were spotted while appearing in a popular radio program, or being guests on a TV talk show.
However, spotting can also happen in non-performing contexts.
Jack Albertson, future Oscar winner, was spotted by an agent, while he was trading tap steps with other dancers outside of the Palace Theater in New York. This subsequently led to Albertson getting his first acting job in showbusiness.
Candice Bergen was spotted after she appeared on the cover of glossy magazine (like Lauren Bacall before her).on
For example, five time Oscar nominee Irene Dunne was discovered by the legendary showman Florenz Ziegfeld, when he stood next to her in an office building. Struck by her beauty and poise, he then offered her an opportunity to audition for the musical, Showboat, a part that she landed and later played with great success in the movie version.
Dustin Hoffman was spotted by director Mike Nichols, when he was performing in the Off Off Broadway play, Journey of the Fifth Horse, in 1967. That play closed in three weeks, but Hoffman was summoned to Hollywood for a screen test to play the lead in The Graduate, which he successfully landed.
Lee Marvin was spotted was spotted by director Henry Hathaway when he appeared in a TV show and cast him in the film, You’re in the Navy Now, in 1951, And while Marvin was doing another TV show, he was spotted by producer Stanley Kramer, who cast him in a supporting role in The Wild One, in 1954, opposite Marlon Brando.
Barbara Stanwyck was spotted by Joseph Schenk, then head of Universal, who had seen her on Broadway in burlesque; she began her career as a dancer
Actors Profiled:
Albertson, Jack
Dunne, Irene
Hoffman, Dustin
Marvin, Lee
Stanwyck, Barbara