On Tuesdays, we watch talks and interviews with artists and discuss how to present our work clearly and with confidence. This week we’ll see three clips from an Inside the Actors Studio interview with Scarlett Johansson.
As you watch this interview, consider these questions: Does the actress speak clearly and with confidence? Does she use gestures and intonation to emphasize her points? Does she smile and look at the interviewer? What kind of questions does the interviewer ask? Does the actress answer them well?
First, let’s talk about what she does well and what she can improve in these clips. She speaks clearly and her volume is good. Her speed is also good, and she speaks confidently. She looks at the interviewer, as well as the audience, and she smiles and gestures to emphasize her points. She uses intonation to effectively share her feelings and also uses professional vocabulary. She could improve a couple of things about her speaking though. She uses a lot of filler words and rambles a little when she’s telling her stories. This is natural, but it makes her seem a little unprepared and difficult to follow.
Next, let’s talk about the kind of questions that were asked. First, the interviewer asks Johansson about her first role as an actress. He asks about the other actors and the director for the film, as well as her feelings about the experience. In the next clip, the interviewer asks her about whether acting has helped her understand herself better. In the last clip, he asks about what it was like to work with Robert Redford as a director. She talks about how much Redford’s understanding of the acting process helped her.
The questions the interviewer asked in these clips are fairly typical, and an actor should be ready for them. Even people who are used to being on tv or film can get nervous in an interview, so it’s a good idea to prepare by thinking about the questions that might be asked. One good way to practice for a talk or interview is to record yourself and watch the video to see what you do well and what you can improve.
What do you think of this interview? Do you agree with my comments? Do you have questions about the vocabulary? Do you want to suggest a talk or interview for me to discuss next week? Leave a comment below!
I’ve chosen 5 words or phrases for you to focus on today. They are in bold. If you don’t know them, look up the meaning, synonyms, antonyms, and other forms of these words. You can find links to Merriam-Webster dictionary sites at the bottom of this page.
To watch the entire interview on Bravo TV from June 22, 2017, click the link below:
http://www.bravotv.com/inside-the-actors-studio/season-22/ep-5-scarlett-johansson