No Pay, Nudity [Blu-ray]

Nobody knows what the life of an actor really entails like Lee Wilkof. An actor in his own right--he was the original Seymour in "Little Shop of Horrors" and has gone on to depict hundreds of characters on stage and film--Wilkof also brought this interesting, original tale about a group of New York actors to brilliant life. "No Pay, Nudity" underscores the gnawing indignities and undimmable hopes associated with establishing and maintaining an acting career in New York City. Wilkof scored himself an amazing cast for this production, including Nathan Lane, Gabriel Byrne and Frances Conroy, all top practitioners of their craft and all bringing the truth to what this kind of life entails. Taking place mostly in the Actor's Equity Lounge on Times Square, "No Pay, Nudity" takes you inside the day-to-day life (predictable, sometimes dull, occasionally hopeless) as well as the successes (infrequent but overwhelmingly necessary and wonderful) that actors of every stripe must experience if they really want to live life as an actor. Byrne plays a former soap opera star who is attempting a comeback of sorts and lands one playing the part of The Fool in a Dayton, OH production of "King Lear." Meanwhile, a friend of his scores a surprise role in a movie, another friend scores great notices in a play, and a newcomer similarly gets cast in that same production. One senses the petty jealousies, the self-inflicted pressure to succeed, and the bitterness, but this is NOT a depressing movie! Rather, it's necessary and real, a character study with gentle teeth. You won't watch any movie, play, or TV show the same way again, knowing what kind of effort is necessary to even land a role in the first place. There's a scene where Byrne's character auditions for a couple of casting directors that has more truth in it than the whole of an inside showbiz movie like "La La Land." Conroy and Lane play characters who might have given up on the dream but not the life, providing a unique take that you don't often see depicted. I also loved the supporting cast, including the actresses playing Byrne's daughter and girlfriend, and my perennial favorite Ellen Foley even shows up in a small part. In total, "No Pay, Nudity" provides a careful, yet entertaining meditation on showbiz life, warts and all, with a dollop of love for its characters and its milieu.

A thoughtful portrait of a not-particularly likable actor who discovers that he has to work through his envy and disappointment in order to keep doing what he was born to do. As he develops into a more mature, personally responsible, and reliable human being, he finds that he makes his own opportunities and gets by with the input and support of his community of fellow actors. Everyone in it is quite good.

The dialog of Woody Allen meets the humor of Seinfeld and the behind the scenes realism of The Larry Sanders Show in director Lee Wilkof’s and writer Ethan Sandler’s “No Pay, Nudity.” I like this film because it makes an important statement about professionalism. It’s a story about “between projects” New York City actors hanging out in the Actor’s Equity lounge, looking for auditions and trading banter. The main character, Lester (Gabriel Byrne) becomes bitter, self-pitied, and envious of other actors’ successes. Herschel (Nathan Lane) confronts him about it. But redemption does not occur until Lester learns the meaning of self-fulfillment from a heartland piano teacher. Lee’s direction and Byne’s acting create an empathic character in Lester that draws you in, he takes on an “Everyman” persona. Now it’s not just about actors and their professional rivalries, but by extension any occupation. The music is very pleasing, mostly classical and much of it original, and it is well-synced to the nuances of the story. By the way, there is some strong language but no nudity. The title comes from an employment notice that attracts the attention of a newbie actor who is admonished by Herschel not to respond to it. Teina and I have relatively few DVDs in our collection, but this one we will keep. This is not a suspense thriller so I hope I didn’t give too much away! The enjoyment is in the watching.

Lovely to see all these fine, seasoned actors in a very, true NY theater story!Knowing people in this situation , though not an actor myself, I wish the film highlighted more of the funny and unique acting gigs older actors engage in.Or how they come to an acceptance, as did Lester, of staying engaged and creative, even knowing they'll probably never make it big.Would have made the film more upbeat and hopeful - along the lines of a "senior version" on a movie I love, "Don't Think Twice".

A themed recommendation for Tony week...I don't think you have to be a New York theatre actor to appreciate the film but if you are, it's a must-see. It's not really a story so much as a...contemplation of a certain lifestyle and a...rumination of everything it entails.I will say that it hurt my heart a bit to watch an all-star cast in a film about hard-working skilled actors who can't catch a break, but, like...I get it. Funding and all that. The fact that they even touch on the Need for Names within the narrative makes it both better and worse...?It's been a few days and moments from the film keep coming back to me again and again. Each character is sort of an archetype, voicing different aspects of our art, our industry and ourselves.It really is a bittersweet, simple, thoughtful film.

For anyone who's ever been an artist or ever dreamed of being an artist, this charming film shows the no-frills reality of a life in the theatre. It is the most true-to-life portrayal of the life of a New York actor that I have ever seen. Gabriel Byrne is amazing as the fool who plays the Fool. I always think of him as the tough guy from "The Usual Suspects." Here, he is wonderfully vulnerable and open-hearted. The rest of the cast is also wonderful including such great actors as Nathan Lane, Boyd Gaines, and Valarie Mahaffey. The writer, Ethan Sandler, and the director, Lee Wilkof, clearly know this world and bring it to life in an entirely believable, but artistic way.

Depressing with no levity.Gabriel Byrne is terrific but it is a total downer.