Kirk Douglas had a great time going off script with the Academy Awards audience Sunday night. For a legendary actor, and one who has had health difficulties as well as his son Michael Douglas, it was forgivable and entertaining, but should actors go with a script at these award shows or does winging it make it much more entertaining (i.e. Melissa Leo accidently dropping the F bomb)?
From personal experience (not winning an Academy Award of course) with public speaking, I know that having a list of talking points without an actual script is the best way to convey realism and a more engaging way in which to speak about your topic at hand. Following a script means you are more focused on memorization than feeding off the energy in the room and working with the audience. Which is why I was amused in the manner in which Kirk Douglas toyed with his audience. They were captive and he is still pretty sharp for 94!
I don't know about you, but I prefer awards shows where the presenters are more impromptu and the winners simply forget the speech and elicit raw emotion. There is something so very honest about it.
What do you think, whether public speaking or actors at awards shows--follow the script or ditch it and play off the audience?
*Photo Source: Dallas Observer Blogs
Posted by Shannon Nelson on February 28, 2011 2:10 PM
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