We Can't Stop Crying Either... - H3 After Dark #18
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖David, a cast member, won an 'H3 Crybaby' award for his emotional monologue, demonstrating a method for crying on command.
- ❖Early acting careers for cast members David and Dan involved non-union commercials with minimal pay and no residuals, contrasting sharply with union benefits.
- ❖Mormon youth engage in 'loopholes' like 'soaking' (sex without penetration), 'curbing' (soaking while driving on a curb), and temporary marriages for premarital sex followed by annulment.
- ❖A debate over Waterburger vs. In-N-Out highlighted regional fast-food loyalties and the perceived quality differences.
- ❖The hosts played a 'Would You Rather' game, discussing scenarios like having a perfect memory vs. forgetting at will, and fighting 500 ostriches vs. one T-Rex.
Insights
1The Financial Reality of Non-Union Acting
David and Dan's experiences in early commercials for brands like Wingstop and Disney's 'Infinity' game reveal that non-union gigs offer significantly lower pay (e.g., $400 for two days for Disney) with no residuals. This contrasts sharply with SAG union commercials, which can pay nearly $1,000 for an eight-hour day plus substantial monthly residuals, highlighting a major disparity in the acting industry.
David mentions his Disney commercial paid $400 for two days with no buyout, while a Proactiv union commercial paid $4,000-$5,000 monthly in residuals. Dan's Mega Man commercial was an unpaid gig.
2Bizarre Mormon 'Loopholes' and Interpretations
The discussion on Mormon internet culture reveals practices like 'soaking' (sex without penetration) and 'curbing' (soaking while driving on a curb to simulate movement, avoiding 'actual' sex). Other 'loopholes' include using fake IDs to 'technically' drink at 21 and getting married for sex before seeking an annulment, showcasing extreme interpretations of religious rules.
Hosts discuss 'soaking' and 'curbing' as ways to avoid premarital sex rules. A super chat mentions couples going to Vegas for marriage, sex, and annulments.
3The 'Cry-Off' and Acting Techniques
David, the 'H3 Crybaby' award winner, shares acting advice for monologues, emphasizing the importance of grounding the performance, understanding who the character is speaking to (treating it as a two-person scene), and building emotional intensity gradually rather than starting at peak sadness.
David advises, 'Who are you telling this to? You should think of a monologue as a two-person scene, but only one person is talking.' He also suggests building emotion slowly.
4The Phenomenon of Crying on Airplanes
Harley notes that he cries more easily when watching movies on airplanes, even for 'Marvel slop.' This is explained as a known phenomenon, with Time magazine citing a mix of psychological factors, altitude, and a perceived loss of control contributing to emotional breakdowns in the air.
Harley states, 'If I'm watching a movie on the airplane, I could be watching like Marvel… I'm crying.' Jarvis (AI) quotes Time magazine on psychological factors, altitude, and perceived loss of control.
5Waterburger Manager's Violent Defense of Staff
A viral video shows a Texas Waterburger manager using a trash can to subdue an unruly, drunk customer who had allegedly berated staff and attacked an employee. The incident, which also involved another worker hitting the suspect with a fry basket, highlights a 'stand your ground' culture.
An article details a Texas Waterburger manager smashing a customer with a trash can after the suspect, Anthony William Nuis, attacked an employee. Nuis was also hit with a wire fry basket.
Bottom Line
The discussion about the declining prevalence of union commercials (now 80% non-union) suggests a significant shift in the entertainment industry's labor landscape, potentially leading to reduced worker protections and compensation for many actors.
This trend implies a broader erosion of union power and benefits across industries, impacting the financial stability and career longevity of creative professionals.
Advocacy groups or new collective bargaining models could emerge to address the challenges faced by non-union actors, potentially leveraging digital platforms for fair compensation and residuals.
The hosts' observation that Ari Aster's 'Midsommar' acts as an 'excellent pH test' for misogyny, based on audience reactions to the film's ending, suggests that cultural products can inadvertently reveal underlying societal biases.
This highlights the power of art to provoke self-reflection and expose uncomfortable truths about an audience's values, even if unintended by the creators.
Filmmakers and content creators could intentionally design narratives that serve as 'pH tests' for various biases, fostering critical engagement and social dialogue around sensitive topics.
Opportunities
Time Travel Tour Guide Service
A business concept for a tour guide from the future who specializes in taking wealthy tourists back to specific past eras (e.g., 1980s, 1990s) for immersive, curated vacations. The service would teach tourists how to 'blend in' and enjoy the period.
Lessons
- When preparing a monologue, focus on who you are speaking to and why, treating it as a two-person scene to ground the performance.
- Be aware of the significant financial differences between union and non-union acting jobs; union membership can provide much greater compensation and residuals.
- If you're an introvert, plan for downtime after intense social periods to avoid exhaustion, as shared by Kate after a 'party week'.
Notable Moments
David wins the 'H3 Crybaby' award after a 'cry-off' competition.
This segment showcases David's acting skills and provides humorous, yet practical, insights into emotional performance techniques.
The hosts discover and react to David and Dan's old commercials for Wingstop, Disney, and Mega Man.
It offers a nostalgic and often humorous look at the cast's past, while also providing concrete examples of the financial realities of early acting careers.
Discussion of Mormon 'loopholes' like 'soaking' and 'curbing' shocks and amuses the hosts.
This segment exposes a unique and often misunderstood subculture, highlighting extreme interpretations of religious rules and the mental gymnastics involved.
Harley reveals he summoned a demon (King Paimon) for success and money when he needed a job.
This personal anecdote adds a surprising and darkly humorous element to the show, reflecting a desperate, unconventional approach to career advancement.
Quotes
"You should think of a monologue as a two-person scene, but only one person is talking."
"It's not actually not drinking underage because it says I'm of age on my on my license."
"I'm not saying it's bad. It's just mid. It's just food."
"If I'm watching a movie on the airplane, I could be watching like Marvel... I'm crying."
"Would you rather get skinned alive by every person you've ever loved while they all sing Imagine Dragons together or be Ellen Degenerous?"
Q&A
Recent Questions
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