Pro Acting Coach Reacts to Stephanie Hsu's Audition for 'Everything Everywhere All at Once'

[@littlefurnace]

What I love about this audition is that you can see how fundamentally she understands the character. Jobu is, in my opinion, the best villain in film for decades, *because* she doesn't believe anything matters; she's frightening because she's unmoored and unpredictable, she vacillates wildly between deep rage and violence, and joking around, without any warning. In SH's performance, there is *always* profound pain and sadness underlying everything, but it's only apparent when she's still. It informs us that the reason she's always kinetic and moving is to hide that pain both from others and from herself. SH is frighteningly talented, I can't wait to see more.

[@wwaxwork]

Jobu doesn't believe nothing matters. That's the point. If she actually truly believed it nothing her mother did would could save her. She wants to believe nothing matters because then everything hurts less, but if nothing mattered, why does she track down her mother in every universe? If nothing mattered then her mother doesn't matter.

[@littlefurnace]

@@wwaxwork she tracks Evelyn down because she's *looking* for meaning. And she keeps moving on because no Evelyn ever gives her the meaning she's been looking for. Until *this* Evelyn shows her that the meaning of life is...Joy (thus Jobu's name in this universe). And the only reason she realises that is because of Waymond. So Jobu may hope there is meaning, but so far she's found no proof of that. This movie is about the difference between nihilism and absurdism/existentialism, so you're kind of half getting the point, but you're not quite there.

[@clarbri]

Her agent needs to really nail the next couple of years - I would really hate for this level of talent to be squandered with the wrong projects, like so many others have.

[@RaymondHng]

Have you seen her in _The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel_ ?

[@bigheadrhino]

Joy Ride looks promising

[@grayonthewater]

@@RaymondHng that show is over the comment is about what’s next for her

[@GKFF9872]

The “sucked into a bagel” part ends up being in the movie. One of my favorite moments, the line is completely absurd, but her face showed apathy then devastation with a single tear. Phenomenal acting. She really shoulda won the Oscar over Jamie.

[@BambiLena666]

She was completely amazing in this role. tbh when I heard she was nominated I thought she should win, but probably wont cause shes "too young".

[@brunoalexander1396]

totally agree! Stephanie work was absolutely perfect. The impact and change of pace were everything. She's definetly going to get it next time ;)

[@josephsherby]

What’s so unfair is that Stephanie Hsu and Jamie Lee Curtis were pitted up against each other. They both deserved to win an Oscar in my opinion. Hell, the entire main cast did.

[@ambriaashley3383]

I would’ve picked Angela for the Oscar. But Stephanie is a close second. The range they showed in their performances was heartbreaking and real

[@androkguz]

I agree. Jamie Lee Curtis has a bigger career and deserved the Oscar more if Oscars were given because of careers. But while their performances in this movie were both stellar, Hsu's was just on a different league above JLC's

[@seekittycat]

The face she made when she was in the car holding back tears after talking to her mom sold the whole dynamic. She's just amazing.

[@seonor]

That was the only scene they shot after the test audiences saw the first cut of the movie, without it the audience was surprised that Joy was such a major part of the plot, but just by adding those few seconds it changed audience expectations by a lot.

[@IamNinjaOfNinja]

And the music for that short scene!!!

[@Galactic123]

Stephanie Hsu is almost unfairly talented. She comes from Broadway so her singing chops are there as well, she made this look EASY. They practically HAD to give her this role.

[@josephkim3542]

I LOVE Jamie Lee Curtis..... but I can't help but feel Stephanie actually delivered her role better.

[@ImAlsoMerobiba]

I think it's clear this was a legacy win for Jamie Lee Curtis and her previous roles, and not solely because of her performance in this movie.

[@neilwritesstuff]

They should've just given her an honorary Oscar or something because there was no way she was gonna win against Stephanie if it was actually judged in terms of performance.

[@Omerineee]

Exactly! She played like 8 different characters

[@RLewis123]

Steph Hsu gave the best supporting performance all year. She, more than anyone else in the movie, made moments that sparked laughter, reflection, sadness, relatability. I hope she gets more opportunities for unique roles like this, because she displayed such range here.

[@RLewis123]

@Noname and I disagree with you. Yes, there are moments that Steph Hsu was overacting but her energy she was not one note throughout the film. Her bagel dialogue was piercing and “subtle” and was the moment where the film achieved its first serious moment for me. Everything before then was either exposition, comedy, or action. This was not Jamie Lee Curtis’ best role at all. If anything, she had less moments for “natural or subtle” acting since all her scenes required her to overact (annoying IRS woman, over the top fighting scenes, and absurd dialogue with hotdog fingers…am I forgetting anything?).

[@gilgoh1122]

CHILLS from the AUDITION. How is she not on every casting director's speed dial right now?

[@ImAlsoMerobiba]

How do we know she isn't?

[@gilgoh1122]

@@ImAlsoMerobiba she surely is you’re right

[@Davostoes]

because she's not white

[@zackd2852]

Because she's Asian. Casting Directors like Caucasian females.

[@ringochiu6472]

😂❤❤1

[@peerah]

I think I heard somewhere that Daniels were so impressed and captivated by her audition that they rushed home and put music during the bagel part as they wanted to see how things would have looked and sounded in the actual movie with her as Joy.

[@warrior9694]

Quite frankly, Stephanie deserved to win for her role in EEAAO. Jamie is a great actress, but honestly her scenes paled in comparison to Stephanie’s. Stephanie played so many version flawlessly and brought that realness to each character. Truly underrated and deserving of all the wins in the supporting role!

[@carlosmedrano7005]

We felt the same way. I think the Academy gave Jamie something she’s been overdue. They prob looked as Stephanie like she has a long future ahead to get nominated again.

[@wonderofu230]

@@carlosmedrano7005The thing is, we don’t know WHEN Stephanie will be given a role in something as special as EEAAO

[@katherineheasley6196]

She went into the movie with a bunch of acting heavyweights and not only held her own, but stole scenes right out from under them. I hope all the good things come to her, because she deserves to have her talent recognized.

[@hattorihanzo2814]

She should have EASILY taken the best supporting actress for this role. She had so much complexity and is what makes this movie go next level. She is a superstar.

[@rannierunsfast]

She let's herself get carried away. Such a great actress

[@Rupforce]

This audition alone gave me chills. True talent

[@theCommentDevil]

She blew my mind in the film.She takes charge of the scene in such a captivating way. I hope she can get roles in the future so we can all appreciate her work. Just amazing

[@oh.sorry.dont.mind.meeeee]

she was absolutely amazing. one of my favorite performances of the last 5 years even! phenomenal. I loved her on Marvelous Ms Maisel! so talented. the way she sings the word bagel is perfect!

[@mollykatherine1635]

This is why more theater actors/actresses should be hired for TV and film!

[@drewberriesandcream]

the way she sang "bagel" in the way she did was so perfect for the character

[@carpevinum8645]

She found and embodied her character beautifully.

[@lonnnna]

i’ll give you a bit of context to why music is added on the audition video so Stephanie had went in the room to audition and after the audition when the directors had seen her video they went and put music over the audition video to really get a sense of her character, so that’s why there’s music over the audition

[@lillyimaginator]

The creators were in the room and they loved her audition so much they rushed and edit music for it😂

[@HillyBillySam]

really interesting, she pretty much delivered the lines exactly as they appear in the film, even the singing bagel bit wild

[@frankieji]

it’s awesome because it means her initial acting choices were so good that the director didn’t have to ask her to change anything

[@shashavengesayi6055]

Stephanie deserved that Oscar. The dichotomy of Joy and Jobu Topaky was displayed so well by her. (My opinion tho, not trying to discredit or bring down JLC).

[@adderous]

IMO she and Curtis both executed their characters pretty much flawlessly, it's just that Joy/Jobu had more to her as a character than the various versions of Deirdre.

[@shashavengesayi6055]

@@adderous yeah so basically Stephanie’s character had more range. And I love her comedic cuckoo timing

[@oliviahaus3620]

shes unreal, she deserved this movie and this movie deserved her. she will change this industry like no other.

[@nitsugazemag]

Well, she received an Academy Award nomination, but she’s been great in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and hilarious in Nora from Queens. I hope this opens doors because Hollywood has had a terrible track record with sustained diversity hires 🤞.

[@matdrat]

I think Daniel Sheinert asked Stephanie to sing the line because he knew her Broadway resume. They had already met before on an episode of Nora From Queens.

[@christypassy]

What I love about this audition is the fact that I can’t tell what parts are from the script and what parts she added because she definitely added things. You also can’t tell when she doesn’t remember the lines properly because the character itself has multiple mid sentence pauses and quirks. She was excellent in this!

[@deeplydeepali]

I remembered her from an old MTV show. And she was always a scene stealer. It’s so great seeing that she’s continuing and doing amazing things.

[@hestergnu6627]

Regarding addition of the music, I remember hearing The Daniels say that when they were pitching their film Swiss Army Man, at one point, they started adding background music as they made their pitch. The bgm, created by the composers of Swiss Army Man, was emotive and sounded ethereal and other-worldly. They started getting comments something to the effect of “what you are pitching sounds bonkers but this music is making me feel something”. So they continued to include the bgm when they pitched the film. In light of this, I’m wondering whether they started playing the music to create an atmosphere for that particular scene that Stephanie was doing. Also, I recall Stephanie saying that she started out doing experimental theater, which likely helped her tap into the weirdness of Jobu

[@keikei3301]

YES! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 She got her characters so beautifully, perfectly right. You have to be very tuned in to your humanity and have the rare and perceptive depth to fully understand and engage your characters and translate them to screen, to your cast mates, to your director, to audiences esp in a complex, deeply layered film like EEAO.

[@iberiasciacca]

I like how you explain and offer your thoughts breaking down the audition. Inspiring to watch.

[@JordanDoww]

dangggg she is IN IT

[@laurabaggettLALA]

so inspiring, loved the movie, and thank you for sharing this audition! very cool.

[@urheehoo]

"wouldn't it be funny if i didn't get the part?" -stephanie hsu after this audition, literally

[@NasimAbdulKhaaliq]

you should do more of these I love these videos.

[@ryan_darks]

So glad to see you doing another one of these. Thank you!

[@meia1855]

Maan I wanna see Akwafina's audition. She's a fantastic actress but I dont see her as Joy, she sounds and looks old (even tho she looks more related to Michelle and Ke). Stephanie is great with drama and comedy and really looks like a lost teenager in some instances. She is so youthful with those cheeks.

[@that_orange_hat]

I don't think she auditioned? they wanted her for the role and I don't think they would've made her audition since she's so high-profile, she just wasn't available in the end

[@haveyoucina]

This was awesome to see, she did SUCH an amazing job in that role! Also loved your feedback on her performance! I think you should do a reaction/commentary video on Dom Fishback's performance or audition for SWARM.

[@anah3864]

I’ve loved Stephanie since I discovered her in ‘Be More Chill’. I think she’s absolutely brilliant and this audition reel just adds to that belief. I wish she’d won the Oscar (no offense to Jamie Lee Curtis).

[@rsmith4407]

What I learnt from this is that we are in a cultural moment where due to money and cost and habit, creatives are being cut off from surprising each other in the moment. Don’t we miss being in the room…? …self tape culture is really ruining so much connection between creatives. It’s seriously becoming a question of whether or not actors can make it through a screen or not. You can’t fake human connection like this. Hence why this tape makes people freak out - we are starving for it and don’t even know it.

[@taylorhayes4122]

so so true

[@madiness]

according to the daniels she said "wouldnt it be weird if i *didnt* get the part?" during the audition

[@itssthestars2427]

iirc stephanie hsu got her start in theater and musicals, so it makes sense she could just sing off the top of her head

[@simplysunmoon]

Very educating and helpful content, thank you

[@Studio24inc]

Glad it was helpful!

[@vinodvagadurgi414]

Best audition I have seen She deserves academy more than Jamie lee

[@ladams5148]

I literally just finished watching this and I couldn’t help but think that Stephanie definitely should’ve been nominated and won an Academy award. Her acting was phenomenal in this film.

[@babyshark154]

ITS NOT A SELF TAPE JESUS … The director released her audition

[@hellogoditsmesara3569]

I got to see Stephanie while she was on Broadway, truly a phenomenal actor who deserves all the praise

[@whiteraven562]

I think the music was added after the fact. As in, there was no music in the audition, but someone added the music when they uploaded the video

[@rsbanaszak]

It cannot be said enough. Stephanie Hsu is breathtakingly brilliant. Her talent affirms my belief in God.

[@rogeriosousa9474]

Que atriz incrível nesse filme! Ela simplesmente faz com que todos os holofotes estejam sobre ela. Inesquecível a atuação dela neste filme.

[@dsatt57]

I’ve seen the audition tape without music so I think it’s been added after the fact

[@jabarak1]

I love that audition!

[@saywhat4561]

Why am I crying I was excited when Jamie Lee won the Oscar, but now… While watching the movie, I thought Stephanie was great. After watching this I realize just how AMAZING she was.

[@dacrimsoncurse]

Deserved the oscar over jamie lee

[@MakityBakity]

I can't quite explain it, but something about Stephanie's facial expressions reminds me of Carey Mulligan's acting in Promising Young Woman...

[@kurikong2379]

She should've won the supporting actress in every award shows not JLC

[@heb7970]

She should have won the oscar

[@mareyasunshine5607]

Wasn’t this the music from the movie? I think this might’ve been added to the audition after production so it could add more atmosphere to the scene for the deadline article

[@sagejennings4342]

With the fact that the people seem in the room I would guess that they only added music for when they posted it online

[@zonimacabre]

It's going to be so interesting and awesome to see international films and series in the next few years. I love the creativity that comes from being outside of Hollywood!

[@missfabulous2443]

Please make more videos!

[@esapov]

deserves an oscar!!!

[@waltzawaydreaming1801]

I was so focused on Stephanie that I didn’t hear the music.

[@Praveen-or5ce]

I really don’t understand why she didn’t get the oscar

[@datboyraph2839]

What's the movie called

[@hellogoditsmesara3569]

from my understanding Stephanie is actually very close to the Daniels, this might have been her audition tape with one of both of them (it even sounds like Michelle Yeoh reading opposite of her but I certainly won't go as far as to make any claims)

[@Johnwusah]

I think they probable just added the music in post for audience effect. Because yeah super unorthodox to play music during auditions. At least I've never encountered it.

[@mosaicpaint3223]

Really good

[@arraymac227]

Saw a trailer for _Joy Ride_, can't wait!

[@chelseataylor5244]

Could you review Hugh Laurie’s audition for House MD?

[@alistercheng]

Pro Acting Coach

[@RisenShine22]

this must be so hard when you have to act on someone just reading the lines not acting them

[@virgoleighton]

... into the Bagel ❤

[@blackdragon482]

PLEASE REACT TO COREY MYLCHREESTS ACTING IN QUEEN CHARLOTTE! best. Acting. Ive seen. Ever.

[@Akapulko143]

stephanie 👟

[@vagabanda11]

Kinda is the best

[@jacksonrocks4259]

S 24 watching A 24

[@paulajf4205]

I heard that Awkwafina was originally offered the role and turned it down for some reason. Thank God she did cause Stephanie is clearly an actual, trained actor that owned this part, not a mediocre rapper who got lucky and became a so-so comedic actor. Good for Awkwafina however she got to her success, but Stephanie is so talented.

[@lorpsandorps3729]

I love Jamie Lee Curtis, but Stephanie was robbed

[@Джокер-ш3с]

I don't understand the fact that she didn't get the oscar. Curtis made nothing special in comparison with Stephanie. Even her voice acting is out of this world

[@FernBlackwood1995]

Jamie did well. Stephanie was PHENOMENAL. She truly should have won.

[@ChristianKrogh-Denmark]

I really thought it was a huuuge NO_GO, to put music/sound-effects into your self-taping, as in period :-) Guess not :-)

[@zigster1298]

The music was in the room, live. The Daniels have spoken in interviews of how they themselves played music when pitching EEAAO to investors, because the music helped them convey the emotional heart of their crazy script. I’m certain this music was played in the audition. Given that they also ask her to sing a line, it’s clear music remains key to the Daniels work.

[@ghkdwls360]

stephanie hsu was robbed and I will never let anyone forget it

[@STOPPAKEAKUNGWTOT]

n lost to fawking jamie lee curtis GODDDD i hate the academy

[@MuffinEnjoyer]

I didn't connect with her acting at all. It just looks like she's acting and isn't believable at all

[@swiggydswirl330]

Okay buddy

[@ghost-pk7bf]

Don't get me wrong, I love Steph but in Everything, Everywhere, All At Once; there was a sense of self awareness to her acting that really took me out of the film. Idk. I hope to see more range for her in Joyride. She is so charismatic.

[@captaintogawa9736]

wouldn't her character be this way by design since she's everywhere all at once?

[@BambiLena666]

Im not sure what you mean exactly, but her Jobu Tupaki performance is meant to be self aware, acted and over the top. Shes putting on a performance because she can and everything is meaningless. Her introduction informs this, we are shown that if she really wanted to she coudlve just poofed the police/security dudes, but she chooses to make it a performance. Maybe you meant something else. I found her acting really brilliant personally so Im finding it hard to relate that with her overall performance.

[@cmmiestcat]

Great job @ghost-pk7bf at being the most stupid person on the planet. You're criticized her acting when her character are meant to have high level of self awareness because Jobu Tupaki are above-God level. Like wtf are you on about?

[@BambiLena666]

@Noname Ive engaged with this comment out of honest curiosity on a perspective of her acting in order to understand it more since I had a dramatically opposite experience. The tone your comment is taking, of "well if several people didnt like it then maybe it just wasnt good" provides none of that and can simply be replied with: Well, if the academy, many people and acting coach in the video youre writing under were left with the opinion she delivered an amazing performance, that it was worthy of a nomination then maybe it was just delivered masterfully. And we both successfully yelled empty words into the void, without gaining any further understanding or perspective. Fun times.

[@ghost-pk7bf]

@@BambiLena666 I loved her Jobu. Anytime her jobu persona was on screen I was captivated. I loved how unhinged she was. Its when she's "Joy" that's when the acting gets stiff for me. Thats just my opinion. I love Stephanie tho. Cant wait to see what she does next

[@oop4841]

Im surprised to find that im the only one who finds her acting style way over the top - unnecessarily so.

[@RiamsWorld]

I'd say it was necessarily so. She's playing a character that merged with countless versions of herself and become powerful enough to rewrite reality to an extent, so she's gone sorta crazy and nihilistic and drunk with power. To play that character normally would do a disservice to the role.

[@cmmiestcat]

And you're behind your cheap computer while she's getting millions.... LMAO

[@oop4841]

@@cmmiestcat And?

[@oop4841]

@Antalyan Junction And I can appreciate that - but still, there just was something that didn't connect for me. I wish I could articulate it a little bit better.

[@fredgwynn8933]

too mannered

[@lallyamanteofficial]

what happened to the eye line ? it looks very Broadway theater or declamation ❤ but love her confidence and that made her book the role. The acting is not for me though (what happened to less is more ? ) ❤❤❤🤦🏻‍♀️

[@jckung3914]

Nothing wrong with "less is more" but EEAAO is a maximalism film.

[@QuagmiresDungeon]

@@jckung3914literally watch the movie before commenting stuff like this. Her character is suppose to be ott

[@da.j.9096]

The actors are all great but I absolutely hated this movie. It was pure disorganized chaos, editing jumping all over the place, I had no clue what was going on and so I became disinterested quickly and couldn't finish it. Everybody loves it, I have no idea how I feel like the only one who found this a poorly written hot mess.

[@scorpioigor]

Just because you couldn’t understand a movie, it doesn’t mean it was nonsensical. It actually made perfect sense and it snatched the Oscar for best editing for a reason.

[@NekoWaifu]

Awful annoying character

[@MallettMotion]

We had to stop at the 56 min mark of that movie from the nonsense it presented. There were also a few agendas pushed on to support the cultural belief....like homosexuality. That is a very controversial topic these days, so I hate it when they integrate these notions to show they "support" the general culture, whether they do it indirectly or straight up direct. It's disappointing to see that there can hardly be one Hollywood movie made without some perverted opinion being introduced. Movies are meant to present a certain truth, and when it doesn't do that, it's a waste of time. Hollywood is gross. I am a filmmaker, and am not just passionate about films, but the ones that present beauty in worthwhile plots. I long to be a provider of truth through my films.

[@bwingbwinggwiyomi]

Yet another homophobic

[@luellllla]

How is homosexuality a perverted opinion? Just wondering.

[@taliaasims]

I love A24 movies for the most part but I just couldn’t vibe with this one. It was way too over the top for me and I’m someone who cares about the story too and doesn’t want to go too far off the rails. I don’t care about homosexuality being present in movies but I just want it to be natural and not forced. Nowadays it’s very forced.

[@KCohere33]

How can any creative be so bigoted? I would never see any of your films.

[@allendracabal0819]

I suspect that you are not so much a provider of truth as a provider who has convinced yourself that your preferred perspective is the truth. I would be happy to be proven wrong, though.

[@BlueberrySlurpyPouch]

She should've won best supporting actress. Not Jamie Lee Curtis for her 5 minutes she had in the film.