<p>This thread has gone, amusingly, way off topic. Lol</p>
<p>I have met actors like the description above of Mr. Pricklepants. These are the people who try to use snobbery to make up for their lack of talent. It doesn’t work.</p>
<p>You certainly can be a talented actor without any formal training. We can list any number of folks like that. And you can have loads of formal training and just never “get it”, and remain untalented.</p>
<p>Sometimes we think that there is some part of acting that “can’t be taught” and perhaps folks just have to somehow “have it” naturally. But we can’t even agree on what part of acting that is.</p>
<p>dramamom, I disagree! I think we are still on topic, altho it is a slippery slope. We are discussing the symbolism, psychological interactions, and subtext of Toy Story 3 and I am sure we all come from different educational, socioeconomic and professional backgrounds. And I think one could easily make the argument that even though it is an animated (supposed) kids movie, Toy Story 3 has as much of these things as The Crucible or The Piano Lesson. </p>
<p>KevP, that’s the brilliance of Mr. Pricklepants (voiced perfectly by Timothy Dalton, by the way)! Even though he is self-important, he is completely likeable. OK, maybe the lederhosen and funny hat have something to do with that. Also, your last point (for me anyway) is one of the great joys of watching an actor that just floors you. I always wonder where did that come from??? Knowing that there is some element…some part of it that is just borne in them. But what part is it? </p>
<p>Anyway, I’m sure the artistic director in the original post was something of a Mr. Pricklepants.</p>
<p>AustinMT and ActingDad, that’s good advice. Jeez…watching that movie right after dropping a kid off at college would definitely be “Bring your own subtext and psychological interaction night” at the movies. See…we’re still on topic!</p>
<p>Back to the original point though it’s still true that the large regional theaters hire primarily MFA actors. </p>
<p>Toy Story is awesome!</p>