Industrial Film Talent

Actor Robert Prosky’s observations about his profession (“An Inventor of Historic Character,” July 20) brings to mind a personal experience that might be of value to the many actors who peruse your pages.

Some years ago I spent a month in Washington, D.C., directing a series of “industrial” films for the Navy. Though most industry people regard this field with disdain if not outright contempt, dramatized industrials often call for a level of performance exceeding that of TV or movies. It’s one thing to play a doctor or a cop for a general audience; it’s another to play a doctor or a cop for a target audience of doctors or cops, and make them believe you. Think about it.

I approached casting with some trepidation, and was surprised and pleased to discover an impressive pool of local talent. The problem wasn’t finding good actors; it was choosing from so many good actors. My conclusion was that in “centers of the profession,” especially Hollywood actors, tend to be actors first, and people second. Move away from those centers and they tend to be people first, and actors second. And people tend to make the best actors.

DAVID BOWEN

Monrovia