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Post by smoothie2 on Aug 27, 2005 22:57:13 GMT -5
;DIf this subject has come in before somewhere, then please forgive me, but, I gotta to thinking what Kind of movies or type of actress would Karen be in......you can think of her as being either one of the "classic actresses" such as Katherine Hepburn, or Grace Kelly, or modern day..Diane Keaton, Meg Ryan, or etc.
I surely think, she might even more likely to be in a stage show.
In my mind, I picture her as being in rather light hearted romantic comedies...I know Rick thinks she would like to play a real off-the wall character such as being in a psycho type show.
I think she would like to be in something like Grace Kelly in "Dial M for Murder".
Mostly, I think she would like to fit in the league of Meg Ryan in "You've Got Mail" with T. Hanks or Julia Roberts type like Runaway Bride.
just wondering... 
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Post by Rick Henry on Aug 27, 2005 23:58:29 GMT -5
 I feel that if Karen were to have wanted to take acting serious she could have been a top bill just as she was in music. I feel just as in her vocal versatility she would have been the same in her acting. She probably could have played a convincing psycho such as Kathy Bates in Misery and then turn around and do a feel good romantic drama/comedy like It Could Happen To You (or some of the one's Smoothie mentioned Runaway Bride, You've Got Mail). And then do a legal type drama like A Few Good Men and then maybe a good musical like Grease. I can imagine her being as intense in acting as she was with singing. |
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Post by beaner on Aug 28, 2005 7:23:22 GMT -5
A musical for sure I could have seen Karen in. One that involved kids cause she loved them. Also, she would have done very well in a comedy I think. She loved fun and would have enjoyed doing a show like Reba has, for instance on WB.
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Post by Rick Henry on Aug 28, 2005 9:35:44 GMT -5
I envision Karen being as versatile an actress as Sally Field is.
I see Karen more so a big screen actress than a TV actress. TV just seems to limiting and time committing for Karen. With the way Karen was (her sense of adventure and want for variety and also her desire to be taken serious as an adult - instead of the innocent girl next door) I just don't see her wanting to be stuck in one character for five to ten years. Somehow Karen seems to be much bigger than television.
She's a big screen actress all the way. She had opportunities early on to be in the movies. John Wayne asked her to audition for True Grit and I believe there was talk of her doing Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. and I believe before they even thought of Olivia Newton-John for Grease Karen was a possiblity - though that never went any further than a thought.
p.s. I do love Reba good show. |
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Post by enigma on Aug 28, 2005 15:18:19 GMT -5
Wow you guys and gals are giving Karen alot of credit in the acting department I am impressed to say the least. For me I have not really had an opportunity to see Karen truely act those TV specials reall don't demonstrate anyones acting skill even the seasoned actors that were guests. They were rather poorly written to say the least. I also feel Karen would be best suited for a musical/broadway type movie/show she could demonstrate her dramatic and comedic skills (whatever ones she has) in such a setting and also do what I feel she does best and that is sing. It would be a good balance for Karen in my opinion.   |
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Post by Rick Henry on Aug 28, 2005 20:27:48 GMT -5
Wow you guys and gals are giving Karen alot of credit in the acting department I am impressed to say the least. For me I have not really had an opportunity to see Karen truely act those TV specials reall don't demonstrate anyones acting skill even the seasoned actors that were guests. They were rather poorly written to say the least. I also feel Karen would be best suited for a musical/broadway type movie/show she could demonstrate her dramatic and comedic skills (whatever ones she has) in such a setting and also do what I feel she does best and that is sing. It would be a good balance for Karen in my opinion. As far as acting skills in reality Karen was very limited. But then she never pursued acting or took it seriously. In my earlier comments about Karen possibly being as versatile an actress as Sally Field. I said this only as an "if" she were to have actually taken acting serious and carefully and passionately honed her skill as an actress with lessons and training. Karen had a sense of drama in her overall personality that I can see her very easily unleashing what she had pent up inside. On the surface she was very comical and humorous - though alongside that light and cutsie-pie image there was also a dark and emotional soulful person. The song "Two Sides" really fits in what I'm saying here. |
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Post by smoothie2 on Aug 30, 2005 0:00:29 GMT -5
???Very good thoughts...I do think that if she'd wanted to go into acting...yes, she would have given it her best and taken some lessons and all that... she wanted to do a lot in life altogether whether it was acting or whatever...I think she could have gone for the big screen utimately also... She really had Charisma, Charm, Intelligence and diligence and beauty inside out...and much like a pro. ice skater...singing seemed so natural and was to her..so effortless...though I'm sure it was a lot of time and effort because she was naturally always striving to do better...and did...!  |
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Post by JIM on Sept 2, 2005 23:19:55 GMT -5
Smoothie since there is nothing on film depicting Karen in a role other then herself its hard to say. I do know from my short work as an extra in various soaps and commercials that it is a lot harder than it looks. She would have had to want it very badly. However I feel that comedy could have been a role that she could have made work for herself. Kirstie Alley and Terry Garr come to mind. Its just something we can only guess at but like anyone else I think she could have done anything she set her mind to. I know if I had to choose between acting and singing, I would have gone with singing hands down. I am convinced if she had stayed with us she and Richard would have eventually gone jazz similar to Basia. If you get a chance if you have not already check out Matt Bianco featuring Basia it sounds so much like the Carpenters
Jim
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Post by smoothie2 on Sept 2, 2005 23:46:14 GMT -5
 Smoothie since there is nothing on film depicting Karen in a role other then herself its hard to say. I do know from my short work as an extra in various soaps and commercials that it is a lot harder than it looks. She would have had to want it very badly. However I feel that comedy could have been a role that she could have made work for herself. Kirstie Alley and Terry Garr come to mind. Its just something we can only guess at but like anyone else I think she could have done anything she set her mind to. I know if I had to choose between acting and singing, I would have gone with singing hands down. I am convinced if she had stayed with us she and Richard would have eventually gone jazz similar to Basia. If you get a chance if you have not already check out Matt Bianco featuring Basia it sounds so much like the Carpenters Jim hi Jim...again good thoughts...haven't known you've done some acting...i figure that it is hard work to act...yes, we can only imagine of course about Karen.. it's interesting to read what everybody thinks.... No, I don't know about Matt Bianco and Basia...though they surely have the right sound down if they sound like the C's. ::)Very well stated also Rick..I hadn't thought of Sally Field....wow....a very versatile actress indeed! Drama and comedy galore on her list of roles. I haven't seen the Reba show....i gotta look it up and see when it comes on ...i know on WB... She's such a great talent too. 
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Post by JIM on Sept 4, 2005 13:55:17 GMT -5
Hi Smoothie 2 Matt Bianco is a lite jazz arranger who teamed up with Basia for his album. So if look for it. its under Matt Bianco. The really cool part about the album are the vocal harmonies! They are sooo Carpenteresque! As far as my acting, like I said it was mainly extra work, which involves pretending to eat and talk over and over while the principal actors shoot the scene which can take sometimes 20takes or more. So usually the food you are pretending to eat has nats flying around it by the time your done 10 hrs. This will make you crazy but try watching the extras in a sitcom or soap instead of the main characters. After a while you begin to recognize them. Try prtending to talk and eat for around 15 20 min. its wacky! I may go back to it, if I can find an agency that is laid back. I know for me the pressure to be perfect for an agent was rough. So I can just imagine poor Karen trying to attain the perfection on demand.
Jimmy
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Post by smoothie2 on Sept 4, 2005 22:48:03 GMT -5
Hi Smoothie 2 Matt Bianco is a lite jazz arranger who teamed up with Basia for his album. So if look for it. its under Matt Bianco. The really cool part about the album are the vocal harmonies! They are sooo Carpenteresque! As far as my acting, like I said it was mainly extra work, which involves pretending to eat and talk over and over while the principal actors shoot the scene which can take sometimes 20takes or more. So usually the food you are pretending to eat has nats flying around it by the time your done 10 hrs. This will make you crazy but try watching the extras in a sitcom or soap instead of the main characters. After a while you begin to recognize them. Try prtending to talk and eat for around 15 20 min. its wacky! I may go back to it, if I can find an agency that is laid back. I know for me the pressure to be perfect for an agent was rough. So I can just imagine poor Karen trying to attain the perfection on demand. Jimmy oh my, I have heard that it's rough and I can see that it would be. I like DVD movies, or behind the scenes of a show showing how things are done, and then what the real actors have to say about a certain scene..and etc. I hadn't thought though about scenes with food...yuck...! I watched the show Reservoir Dogs..mainly because Tim Roth was in it...anyway, the director, said that Roth got stuck in the fake blood in a scene...he's shot early in the show...and bleeding to death all through it...he was stuck in that stuff for 6 hrs.! so anyway, ::)I did go to the amazon site and listened to some of the sound clips of Matt Bianco...of course, that's not like hearing the whole song...but, I liked what I heard...I like the easy upbeat sound. Sounds like a good "chillin' out" kind of music. |
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Post by Rob813 on Sept 5, 2005 17:17:01 GMT -5
This is a wonderful topic for us to sort of dream about. I've read that Richard encouraged Karen to try dancing because she picked up the steps so easily. He also encouraged her to try an episode of the old Love Boat series, but she refused both suggestions. It seems to me her focus was on changing her cutie pie image and make a transformation like her friend Olivia Newton-John had made.
Karen did audition for True Grit in 1969 but lost out to Kim Darby. She also auditioned for Kenny Rogers and the First Edition but was not chosen (Thank God)!
The public was in love with the pure/virginal Carpenters so changing their image would have been a huge undertaking. Look at Olivia. After Grease, her career had essentially peaked and she never reached those heights again.
Again, since we're essentially dreaming, I think Karen could have done comedy or drama if she made up her mind to do it. She was a very determined lady in everything she set her mind to.
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Post by smoothie2 on Sept 5, 2005 18:38:24 GMT -5
That's interesting Rob, I did know she tried out for True Grit...and obviously she could sing and dance. I can't see Karen playing the role that Kim Darby did so very well, I mostly just know her as a wonderful singer of course.
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Post by JIM on Sept 5, 2005 19:34:28 GMT -5
 Hey Rob I think I have to agree. Olivia did something very few vocalists can get away with Being a total hit in country, then pop and then turn around and enjoy a second part of that pop career as a sex symbol with music to match with physical and Soul Kiss. I think that Grease was a stroke of luck for her from an acting standpoint and even though I will spend the rest of my life singing the praises of the movie Zanadu, most of the world did not care for it Two of a Kind was a bit better but still most of the world scoffs at movies which involve the supernatural and rock stars. However that is not to say there was not a movie out there tailored made for her very unique and special personality. You just never know. When it comes to Superstars. Smoothie I am so glad that you took the time to check out that album. I know its a bit Mahattan and her voice is no where near Karen status! Its just the style I could picture them doing on some of there post 70's projects. Kinda like how Only the Angels Know sounded on Akikos album Richard produced. You know when I was reading your post, I noticed you are a Beyond Reality Memeber!!! Wow! I didn't even know there was such a title! What a way cool honor. The only other person who lived that was Beyond Reality was Karen Carpenter. Jimmy Mack
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