If you were an actor, would you watch your own work for recreation?

What features? ;)

if i were an actor or actress of some sort i would of course watch my own movies although it would have to be a good movie.

I think Jennifer Aniston once said she can’t stand watching her own films (I think it was her).

Anyways, I don’t know if I would. I’m my worst critic. I would probably scrutinize myself to the point that I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the film. And if there is a sex scene, forget about it!

Besides catering (cookies and cola) for my little brother’s short movie, i also was an extra.
I was standing at the busstop, when the main character was running past.
I was visible for a mere 0.300 second, but man, did i watch that 0.300 second many times.
So, my answer would be yes.
I guess.

Johnny depp has never seen his movies, i think its kinda silly, i mean when an artist finishes sculpting he can get inspired to do something else, i feel as an actor its good to look at your work and grow from it

I would think that it’s not unusual to not watch your own performance, as the tendency would be critique your performance. You would be your own harshest critic.

When I cook an elaborate meal or throw a dinner party, I cannot eat my own cooking. I have too much of myself invested in the preparation.

I only watched the things I was in when they aired—and even then, it’s really strange. There’s been a few things I’ve never seen, as well.

It’s sort of like a cross between an out of body experience and watching a car crash.

As it is I think every work of art I have ever created falls short of my potential. When I look at a painting I see nothing but the flaws and the gap in what I have learned since completing the work of art.

Not sure if other artists and actors feel the same or if it is a proud moment for them to see the finished product. I would not want to see it though.

Perhaps though- given movies and tv are created by a team, director, production, post-production, actors etc then it would be easier to watch?

I would think they’d want to see what the editing had done to their work, but I can also see being done with the project and feeling you’re truly done and over it.

What kind of strange, ego masturbation is that?

For recreation? Never.
I actually watched a movie I play in last night. But that’s because I met my best friend after a long time and he hadn’t seen that movie, so we watched it together. I’ve seen it 3–4 times like that, with friends. I’d never watch it alone, unless if I were trying to look out for mistakes and correct them, or I was editing (which I don’t do) or uploading it online or something. It’s the same with my music. I have NEVER listened to one of my CDs for recreation, any more than an accountant would solve a sudoku for fun (well, maybe they do, I wouldn’t know…point is I don’t listen to my music).

If I ever became an actor (which is almost impossible) I would always watch my work. It would have to be one I enjoyed making.

I seriously doubt it. I never read anything I’ve ever written, so why would I change and watch a movie I’d acted in?

Actually, “never” is a bit strong. Sometimes I’ll go back and read something if someone says it spoke to them in some way. I read it for two reasons—first to find out what I said (I never remember anything), and second, to find out if there is any way I can see what they saw in those words. So far, lightning hasn’t struck.

By the time it makes it to film and all the work has been done I wonder how much of it feels like their work.

I act (Very-Much-A-Fledgling Division) and I do not watch my work after the one “premiere”. I most likely wouldn’t pull up my work and watch it just on account of because.

@Bri_L I only act for fun (both cinema and theatre), but as a professional singer for many years I can tell you about CDs. By the time a CD reaches the shops, I must have heard each song 1000 times, in 20 different versions. I’ve heard it without the piano, with the drums really high, with voice, without voice, with two or three voices, and with a voice that has been so electronically mutated that I don’t recognise it anymore. I’ve heard each song on a variety of different CD players, walkmans, in mp3 format and in my car stereo (which is supposed to be the “ultimate test”).

So as you can imagine, I’m sick and tired of it. When the CD comes out, I’ll make sure not to listen to it for at least a year, maybe longer. I only started listening to my 2003 again in 2007. By which time I could be more objective about it, and try to imagine that it wasn’t mine and judge whether I would have bought something like that. It’s always hard to do that, but after such a long time I think maybe I can do it.

Funnily enough, looking back now makes me a lot stricter and I wish I hadn’t allowed some of the things I did to be published like that. Back then I thought they were “good enough” but now I’d rather go for quality than quantity.

I just think about some of my illustrations or creative for companies and how little they seem to resemble the original by the time they are “worked over” in the process. Or manhandled by the client.

Many a good idea dies on the way to mass exposure thanks to clients or art or creative directors trying to validate their worth.

The few times I have ended up watching something I was in it was like @andrew described, sort of like a cross between an out of body experience and watching a car crash.

I usually see nothing but errors in my work. I hate portfolios. But all the stuff I would present was successful. I look at it now and blech.

yes, I like to watch…..

Having some theatre experience, I can say that most actors don’t like to watch their own performances. They are their own worst critics and they never see the performance for what it is; they only see where they “went wrong.” They can’t watch objectively.

@Shegrin – I would watching your own work would not only be exauhsting but disrupt the show.

@Bri_L: Sure. You can sometimes tell the ones who do. Their style changes drastically, but not necessarily well.

@Shegrin – hehe. lurve. You probably have to be an actor like yourself to spot them. Hehe.

No I would not. I always feel embarassed seeing myself on a screen.