When an audition changed cinema forever.

no wonder he is one of the best actors of his generation.
#planetoftheapes #gollum #lordoftherings #andyserkis
The video begins by exploring Serkis's iconic role as Gollum in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, where he revolutionized motion capture technology and brought a beloved literary character to life with unparalleled depth and emotion. We witness the evolution of Serkis's craft through his mesmerizing portrayal of Caesar in the "Planet of the Apes" reboot series, where his motion capture performances garnered critical acclaim and redefined the boundaries of what is possible in acting.
As the narrative unfolds, we journey through Serkis's diverse filmography, from his captivating performance as King Kong to his chilling portrayal of Supreme Leader Snoke in the "Star Wars" sequel trilogy. Each role showcases Serkis's unparalleled versatility and his ability to imbue even the most fantastical characters with humanity and complexity.

[@dane_diliegro]

I was the Predator in the film PREY. This video hit home for me.. great work,

[@lancelloti.]

wow, thank you very much man! I'm really glad to hear that, and congrats on your work!

[@daks8888]

That's awesome! I want to see Imaginary! Prey was a surprise for me actually. Not gonna lie.

[@TheRealValus]

@@lancelloti. You never know who's watching.

[@Caiyde]

PREY was such a fantastic reinvention of the franchise. Congratulations on your part in that!

[@failedartist3994]

omg congrats! What an amazing performance!

[@jameshill2450]

Andy is so good that they created this whole category just so that they could give him an award.

[@sreenivaskamath4243]

The overlooking of motion capture performances by the Academy is baffling. Serkis should have won two Oscars by now for LOTR and Planet of the Apes. The Academy needs to seriously reconsider in including motion capture performances for acting categories.

[@MollyHJohns]

The Academy are just a bunch of Narcs liking looking at their own faces appearing on screen, hearing their own voices and then awarding themselves for it. Oh and each other, who has the same interests and hobbies, wealth and connections. They are into themselves most of the time.

[@ericconrad8854]

@@sreenivaskamath4243 so much of acting is physical it makes so much sense.

[@sreenivaskamath4243]

@@ericconrad8854 motion capture is also physical. It's just that actors have a different tool that captures their performance.

[@thedje4407]

@@sreenivaskamath4243he should get a lifetime achievement award for what he’s done if not we riot

[@TheLyricalWrdsmth]

The industry did a good job of making sure we all know who Serkis is. True pioneer of his craft, really happy he has all the recognition he's gotten.

[@squirrelsinjacket1804]

His performance really elevated Gollum into a main character in the movies

[@Woodsaras]

Um, do you know what "pioneer" is?

[@4nemek]

Dont forget tens of CGI artists and specialists worked on this characters

[@LPyxel]

​@@WoodsarasTo quote the definition off Google: The first develop or be the first to use or apply (a new method, area of knowledge, or activity). That's what Andy Serkis did with his performances of Gollum, King Kong, etc.

[@classicuscomics]

The industry actually did their best to kill his career after lord of the rings, due to him not selling much of his workshop and technology to other studios. He’s even gone on record saying he fully expects never to be recognized by the acadamy as a result

[@DiktatrSquid]

I also want to give praise to Peter Jackson for actually recognizing the potential of mo-capping his entire body performance instead of just recording voices. A true visionary.

[@Banana_Split_Cream_Buns]

It reminds me of his willingness to accept Christopher Lee's advice about reaction to being stabbed in the back. He didn't let his ego get in the way.

[@matthewglenguir7204]

Only PJ could've made the trilogy

[@CragScrambler]

Serkis also did alot of directing on those LOTR movies too,

[@biscuit715]

@@CragScrambler You're thinking of the Hobbit

[@HobGungan]

Ahmed Best and George Lucas walked so that Andy Serkis and Peter Jackson could run. Andy himself will tell you Ahmed as Jar Jar pioneered what he (Andy) later perfected.

[@mandymckk]

Only he could make Gollum simultaneously terrifying, adorable, pitiable, funny, and fearsome.

[@Pieter-ns5nv]

You do realise he played 2 characters apart from eachother: Smeagol and Gollum. He "just" changed so rapidly between them.

[@SirrJDubs]

@@Pieter-ns5nvthis comment is so dumb it’s mind boggling

[@willtricks9432]

Or maybe, Tolkien?

[@dinnwix]

@@willtricks9432 "achtually," headass. of course tolkien imagined gollum, but serkis is one of the few actors that could actually embody the vision tolkien had.

[@saschaberger7201]

@@willtricks9432 oh ye true mb ofc cause a character is witten a certain way u can just put anyone on screen portay it and it will be completely convincing and represent the vision of the writer.... how dumb of me/us to not know

[@ExtoSee]

the fact he had no reference for the character is what’s absolutely unbelievable to me. To take words on a page and translate that to a real life character takes a true artist.

[@joshwarrey3728]

Serkis read the source material, like the real OG actor that he is

[@ExtoSee]

@@joshwarrey3728 yea obviously but they are words on a page

[@ShunyValdez]

​@HotlikeSauce490 and those words sparked the imaginations of Sergis, Peter Jackson, and all of the movie crew. They did have reference, but they also have an artistic take on what will be seen on cinema.

[@Draelyn]

Because books don't count as references XD

[@ShunyValdez]

@@Draelyn why not? it's the source material.

[@jefgirdler7232]

I feel it's totally valid to consider Serkis one of the greatest actors alive. This MONUMENTAL series of films simply would not have had the impact it had without his unique and groundbreaking performance. That physicality was the secret sauce to making it feel real in a time when peoples' opinions of CGI was exclusively artifice.

[@MsSunnyDenise]

Well said!!

[@zerojee1]

Hyperbole much?

[@philliplewis1586]

@@zerojee1 Literally no.

[@bartsullivan4866]

He puts the humanity in the CGI instead of just a fake looking background or character.

[@joebloggs6922]

​@@zerojee1 Not really. Serkis practically invented the motion capture technology. He has perfected the art (see him in planet of the apes and Mowgli as well amount other performances)

[@oyoystein]

"He genuinely grasped Gollum's nature as an addict." Yeah, that's pretty spot on.

[@adamcummings20]

He plays a great addict character in the BBC show Spooks too

[@random22026]

And a soul in torment--that too, is key.

[@clementbr5216]

​@@random22026most addicts are.

[@random22026]

@@clementbr5216 Yes---and alas, not many ask for the assistance they need to lift themselves out of that torment. 😞😞

[@mrydobon]

Andy could be given a lifetime achievement award now and no one would question it.

[@alextrill1746]

Should, not could =)

[@bearbrown2597]

Pioneer achievement for sure

[@Fiyawerx]

He 100% deserves it.

[@thebetterthird6402]

He did receive such a reward at the Bafta a few years ago! Well deserved!

[@reizak8966]

That scene of Ian Mckellen breaking down while filming on a full greenscreen set just breaks my heart.

[@FASynergy]

As a stage actor, its literally fully thebopposite of why he fell in love with acting; to act *alongside others* to bring stories to life. What he had to do for much of The Hobbit was so cold and impersonal, especially when you remember that in LOTR, they did *everything they could* to have the actors acting alongside one another using forced perspectives.

[@danieldelanoche2015]

​@FASynergy so much about the Hobbit movies and the filming process has me so mad even to this day tbh

[@LeoMastroTV]

and the best part is that it is completely fabricated BS by people who do not understand CG and only hate on it because they don't understand it at all.

[@ethanpayne4116]

So depressing, and what an insult to Ian McKellan when he had already expressed so much discomfort with the sterility of greenscreen sets. We can only hope the industry learns its lesson and someday returns to a focus on interactions between live actors.

[@MegaClaymore123]

@@FASynergy the bopposite XD

[@lyledeyounges1276]

Andy Serkis must be any director’s dream - he is so committed and talented

[@jazzx251]

So AI is going to replace actors like Andy Serkis? No it fucking isn't. No way in a million years,

[@wilwhimsey]

Andy Serkis's audiobook versions of The Hobbit and LOTR are possibly the best audiobooks I've ever listened to.

[@valonoob5283]

Do you happen to know what the classical music was from minute 08:30?

[@Ryanoceros06]

I just started the 3rd book and audiobooks will never be the same for me. He kills it.

[@rebeccamcnutt5142]

​@Ryanoceros06 If you get the chance, you gotta listen to the first book. The section with Tom Bombadil alone is worth it!

[@zedas1]

96% great. Tinyyyy issue Andy can't sing worth a damn and he has to do a few songs. The Serkis narrated LotR audiobooks are still 100% worth getting though.

[@lrou511]

The Hobbit by Bluefax and LOTR by Phil Dragash are the best.

[@MummaLlama]

Andy is honestly such a talented actor AND director - his portrayal of Gollum was absolutely, bone chillingly PERFECT in every way. I think if Tolkien had seen it (and the adaptations in general) he would’ve been blown away. Nobody else could ever play that part, it was made for him

[@joncarroll2040]

Andy Serkis deserves all the credit for reinventing the way voice acting is done, but his most memorable moment for me is "I can't swim" from Andor

[@charlie7mason]

Instant dagger to the heart with such a simple line and subtle expression.

[@chinaman1]

To be fair, they could've given him the award via the best actor/supporting actor award. He's not just standing in a recording booth wearing a cardigan or jumper because the booth is too cold and saying lines into a mic. He's actually physically acting just that his costume is added in later via a computer. If anything he deserves to get a best actor or best supporting actor award. He's just as physically there as we're the other actors, and to be honest, his job is harder to make believe.

[@badaboum2]

I feel like that's unfair to voice actors, as well as to the other people who helped make his performance captures come to life.

[@derrickhewitt6171]

He's phenomenal and he is a genius and a pioneer, but I wouldn't say for voice acting in general, just CGI character voice acting.

[@mrb2349]

He single-handedly made Andor watchable.

[@tresa_m]

In 50 years, when we are discussing cinema, Andy Serkis really will be talked about as a pioneer of this period where CGI emerged, and how actors influenced the technology. I hope his story as he's become the 'godfather' shows us in the future that actors are still very relevant and necessary.

[@The_Blue_Otaku]

If you think about it Andy Serkis is like the modern equivalent of the silent film actor Lon Chaney. Hay think of it like instead of emoting and doing a performance through layers of prosthetics and markup Andy Serkis is emoting and doing a performance through layers of digital effects

[@malachistice8111]

I'm having a hard time following the logic As cgi gets better with ai tools we won't need actors anymore, making the irrelevant and unnecessary.

[@tresa_m]

​@@malachistice8111 As I said, I *hope* that in the future we find actors are still relevant. We're still a long way from overcoming the "uncanny valley" - not only in CGI, but with AI as well.

[@obscure.reference]

insane to imagine the future of cinema as just pretending this massive scale of collaboration presenting onscreen via an actor, a human being with an actual lived experience, could be improved with a robot that does what you tell it.

[@sooperalex15]

He truly is the cinematic equivalent of Buster Keaton. While there were many unsung heroes of cinema in their time, he stood head and shoulders above the rest. And so does Serkis. No one has pioneered his specific niche of cinema like him. We will remember Serkis as one of the Mount Rushmore figures of actors who literally carved their place tooth and nail, shaping the way we talk about and experience cinema. And while he might not stand alone, he will be remembered as that guy who made CGI an actual, viable cinematic element.

[@soakedbearrd]

His role as gollum was major contributor to that masterpiece of a trilogy.

[@valonoob5283]

Do you happen to know what the classical music from minute 08:30 is called?

[@soakedbearrd]

Don’t know but it sounds more jazzy easy going than classical

[@crashgordon83]

That trilogy is one of those times where they just managed to get all the right people for everything from casting to crew. There’s a couple movies like that where you know if you replaced a single person the whole thing would fall apart. It’s not that the movie is bad is that you could tell it wouldn’t be nearly as great if even one person was changed because it would have had a ripple effect on everything else. Sometimes it does get to the point where your just like this movie shouldn’t work but it does just because they managed to get the exact right people. They brought something to the role that made it great that you wouldn’t have gotten from anyone else.

[@mohammadmanhar8839]

@@valonoob5283 Ran Raiten - In Doubt hope this helps

[@dannyjonze]

I knew Andy in the late-eighties for a while because my girlfriend, who acted, worked with him. We knew each other socially as well.. He didn't suddenly appear in 1998, he was always astonishingly different in everything he did, he really encompassed a different character and looked completely different in each thing I saw him in. So when he came to prominence I wasn't surprised that he was getting a name. Very pleased for him for all the success he's had, he has worked extremely hard. Well done.

[@marielpare8290]

I remember when Return of the King was nominated in nearly every category, people were furious that both Andy Serkis and Sean Astin were snubbed for best supporting actor. And there were people debating whether or not a CGI character could be considered a full blown acting role, but as the video shows…..it’s all Andy. He just looks different in post. I hope someday they add an Oscar category for CGI/motion capture performance.

[@ParodyKnaveBob]

Reminds me of the original _Tron_ being snubbed for special effects categories because "the computer did all the special effects for them"-never mind the five layers of film with hand-drawn cells and the fact that the CG animators didn't even have *tweening* yet and were *mathematically* rotating every polygon per frame via reprogramming each set of x,y,z coordinates themselves!! That and Mr. Serkis... The Academy seems to have no real idea/appreciation of what revolutionary team techniques actually entail.

[@NormAppleton]

How is Sam Gamgee a supporting role?

[@ParodyKnaveBob]

@@NormAppleton Because Mr. Frodo is going *ALONE.* Sam is just going *with* him! $;^ D (I agree, support gets blurred in such a huge cast of significant characters.)

[@Rogueone162]

Son talent est connu et reconnu de toute façon Prix ou pas la preuve on est là nous Pour lui montrer notre admiration ❤❤❤

[@allykath2801]

honestly tho even if they made a whole category for it, no one else will ever be better than andy.. he really deserved an oscar😭

[@Kusanagikaiser999]

To me is still criminal that Andy Serkis never won a Oscar neither with Gollum or Caesar, both performance in...literally any of the 5 films he was are incredible and some of the biggest snubs in the Academy history as he didn't get a bloody nomination even

[@gyrrakavian]

Agreed!

[@Koozwad]

rigged from the start

[@Ryker150]

It's a category literally for humans being humans on the screen

[@briancrouch7645]

He was a big part of the best picture Oscar, everyone knows it, so although he didn't get the individual nomination, he owns that award as much as anyone else in the cast and crew.

[@dejangegic]

isn't it 6 films?

[@Zaadin19]

"I offered you peace, and you killed my family." Oh man that hits hard.

[@darkknight17]

Free Palestine 🇵🇸🕊️🙏

[@babelbabel2419]

@@darkknight17 Is slaughtering civilians your way of offering peace? That is sick.

[@iwonttellmynametoamachine5422]

@@darkknight17 Maybe they could have been set free, but atacking your neighbor.... dumb idea and now they get what they get....

[@darkknight17]

@@iwonttellmynametoamachine5422 it's an ethnostate colony in the middle east actually...

[@iwonttellmynametoamachine5422]

@@darkknight17 So? I just said it's not gonna happen. Demanding peace after attacking first is such a dumb way to f yourself over in the negotiation. Stupid move is stupid. They fd up.

[@joshmore7175]

He came into this film and made himself undeniable. Truly incredible

[@michaeljackson4958]

CGI is not made to supplant reality, it’s made to enhance reality. That’s why these movies and others like it hold up so well. Jurassic Park holds up to this day and it came out in 92 or 93. CGI didn’t replace Serkis, it enhanced him. Dude is a great actor, they’re very few at his level.

[@jhasuatapia2962]

Precisely. I see it as cooking: each ingredient brings a different flavor or texture to the dish, but it's the mix that elevates all of it. Of course, some ingredients are more important to certain recipes, but without the rest it just wouldn't be the same.

[@alexanderg1935]

Well said.

[@monkeytimestamps4915]

You want "supplant" (friendly reminder) not "supplement". It's a great word choice here and you made your point really well.

[@jhasuatapia2962]

@@monkeytimestamps4915 Yes, though I'd have suggested"replace" since it is more commonly used.

[@Kmmlc]

With the exception that much of Jurassic part wasn't CGI but animatronics.

[@heathencat5236]

Serkis gave Gollum the important impact that Tolkien intended for the character. It was a truly awesome display.

[@monkeytimestamps4915]

Thanks I watched this video on mute and didn't hear that expressed two dozen times already

[@calisongbird]

@@monkeytimestamps4915who pissed in your cornflakes??

[@witrot9730]

Nice job pointing out what a great actor Andy Serkis is, and his massive contribution to modern cinema. I really enjoy your content and what you're doing with the channel. Keep it up.

[@lancelloti.]

Thank you so much!

[@felixdogan6776]

He's a god damn shapeshifter and I'm loving it.

[@matthewturley352]

I met Andy Serkis in Coventry while doing security, honestly one of the most humble quiet men you could ever meet when he's off camera. A true performer. He deserves all the success he has accumulated.

[@wilfredv1930]

thanks for sharing

[@maureenwagg5305]

He can make you cry one minute with sympathy and then terrify you. He's truly amazing.

[@vanessajazp6341]

Andy WAS Gollum! There will never be a better adaptation. Like Heath Ledger's Joker. Some performances simply cannot be outdone.

[@The3rdGunman]

F. Murray Abraham in "Amadeus". Flawless performance.

[@Tmhjr_Baskar]

True, but Heath went to extremes to understand his character. Definitely wasn't the best route with what he was going through already. Amazing performance, but...well, we know how that turned out. Is quite sad. Makes you wonder if people knew what he was doing, what we was going through - but just didn't know how to help him...or if he kept his darkest moments internal and just hoped he could get through till the end. Meh, depressing topic.

[@The3rdGunman]

@@Tmhjr_Baskar The Joker role did not kill Heath Ledger, that is pure myth. It was Debunked by Michael Jai White on VLAD TV and he had gone on and was filming another movie. Despite the rumors, he didn't go to some dark place he didn't return from...

[@Tmhjr_Baskar]

@@The3rdGunman I'm not putting the entire blame on the role. He had been dealing with issues for quite a while, even before A Knight's Tale. I wish I could say I didn't know anyone dealing with depression and drug issues...but I did. One day he disappeared. Hitch hiked...and got word about a year later he overdosed in Georgia. Drugs, depression - it's truly a vicious beast. Some people can accept help, some can't. And for those that did try to help, it affects em. It's been over 20 years since it happened and I can still vividly remembering just trying to be supportive, without judgment...listening and trying to help in any way I could, we could. Bah, now I'm crying. I miss his humor, his friendship. Good guy, but..

[@The3rdGunman]

@@Tmhjr_Baskar Sorry to hear that man. Yeah have a nephew locked up right now for heroine using and selling.I. also lost a friend in the 80's who deleted himself. He literally waited for my family to leave and go on vacation to do it in the garage. My parents still live next door to that house.

[@Pastafari4]

Andy is a absolute legend for all his efforts in how CGI and acting can go hand-in-hand

[@arkblazer1]

He is probably the most underrrated actor of our times

[@thankyoujodi]

Ben foster says hello

[@arkblazer1]

@@thankyoujodi Sorry ben, Andy is better.

[@thankyoujodi]

@@arkblazer1 he's certainly more well known

[@HMMurdock220]

And Gary Oldman.

[@ghostpiratelechuck2259]

@@thankyoujodiWho?

[@JohnHenrySMH]

While praising Serkis for his great performances, please also keep in mind the highly skilled animators that work in conjunction with him to bring these characters to life. While this tech is often portrayed as directly translating an actor's performance into a digital character, the reality is that a huge amount of what you see in the final product has been hand animated by skilled artists who have to walk the fine line between an actor's captured performance, and the unique requirements of the digital character we see on screen. There are many instances where the animators have to create new movements and expressions, or fix the existing ones to better suit the model.

[@manichavok5297]

But this is a video about serkis? Not a video about animators. It's literally about his acting.

[@JohnHenrySMH]

@@manichavok5297 And animators are contributing to his acting. When you watch one of his mo-cap performances, you do not know what parts are purely performance based, or what parts have been augmented or entirely replaced by new animation. I've read several reports from animators who claimed that sometimes entire scenes worth of motion capture data has to be discarded and replaced with traditional keyframe animation. But Serkis still gets the credit because everyone believes that his physical performance is the only thing that goes into these visual creations.

[@PsychonautSaiyan]

⁠​⁠@@JohnHenrySMHWe’ve had plenty of time to see what animators do with mocap. Without actors like Andy Serkis it’s just eye candy with no substance. It’s through acting that brings these cgi characters to life. It’s a great melding of the two.

[@jessicarvalho13]

Honestly I've only ever seen people look down on performance capture actors and say all the work is from the animators. It's interesting to see a different perspective (and on a video praising Andy Serkis work.. I don't believe praising one removes the other. There is a time for both)

[@dylanmaxwell495]

Serkis has been really rude to the people who help him look good. I think we should refuse to ever work on a frame in which he appears. He'll still be a great actor, but he won't be able to take credit for the work of others any more.

[@lindildeev5721]

He's definitely the greatest actor of all times, litteraly turning himself into a character. Can't wait to see The Hunt for Gollum.

[@stellviahohenheim]

Gollum 2 : Gollumed Harder

[@majorjuggler488]

Im personally a bit sceptical to the new movie.

[@happymaskedguy1943]

The greatest actor of all times?? Wow there. He’s great. But not the greatest ever.

[@SlimKhezri]

ALL TIME? That's a NO!

[@pineapplepizza4016]

​@@happymaskedguy1943 The greatest motion capture actor of all times.

[@lanzer22]

It was 1am and hundreds of us we were camping outside for the big Marvel presentations at San Diego Comic-con. I woke up to some commotion and it was Andy Serkis and Lee Pace, just hanging out, greeting us fans, letting us take photos and shaking hands. He's not only extremely talented but also extraordinarily kind.

[@Eskii_NZL]

The movie wouldn’t have been as good as it is without golem. Truely masterclass

[@Actuallysweedish]

I love G O L E M my favorite character G O L E M

[@guibox3]

@@Actuallysweedish The Lord of the Rabbis. Great movie

[@charlie_541]

@@Actuallysweedish pipe down nerd. It's a minor spelling error

[@jac6548]

colon*

[@melodramatic7904]

I mean, golem was an essential part of the book so there is no way they would have cut him from the movie adaptation, but I see what you're saying.

[@Sl0thba11]

That clip of Ian McKellen as Gandalf crying in the green screen room breaks my heart 😢

[@rael1999]

Yeah exactly....CGI sometimes looks so beautiful, but it can suck all the emotion out of a performance when there's nothing to interact with or there is no real depth to the characters in a story and they just become two dimensional and don't illicit any emotion in the audience, let alone those playing opposite them.

[@FiXato]

@@rael1999 "acting is reacting", and you are missing that whole "reacting" part here...

[@rael1999]

@@FiXato ...I'm not sure what you mean, I did say 'it can suck all the emotion out of a performance when there's nothing to interact with '....surely that is saying you need something to react against ? I would also say acting isn't just reacting, there's a whole lot more to it than that, but it can often be the difference between average and excellent.

[@FiXato]

@@rael1999 oh, I didn't mean 'you' as in you personally 😅 I was agreeing with you.

[@rael1999]

@@FiXato lol...oh I got the wrong end of the stick.

[@gyrrakavian]

I am so _so_ glad Serkis got cast as Caesar. His work in that film was absolutely brilliant and the animators captured it so incredibly well.

[@forthefrogs]

The fact that he can embody the movements of several primates so well that there's a distinct difference in the body language that every viewer can understand is insane. It blows my mind to think about time and time again. He played all of the primates, not just the apes.

[@misanthropicservitorofmars2116]

Tbf, that’s our familial groups as animals. Now let’s see him embody a cheetah. Let’s really test his skills.

[@FreeSpirit5150]

Good point!

[@maybussell5099]

The montage of Andy Serkis slowly turning from Smeagol to Golem has some of the best facial acting and makeup I have ever seen.

[@ricardovalderrama7895]

What happened when he was a Graveler?

[@GlobalSouthCommie]

Bro single handedly changed the cinema and gave us more to enjoy. Goat.

[@musicfan189]

I know what goat means. I know it is a compliment. And yet, somehow, I still do a spittake every time I see it done like this, because it doesn't look like an abbreviation, it looks like a word 😂 And, like, it's just so weird before my brain catches up with me, that I'm reading this amazing compliment for someone who really deserves the praise, and suddenly just *goat*, but the animal, which is such a non-contextual insult 😂 And the my brain catches up with itself, and 'oooh! Greatest Of All Time!' 🤣

[@kylacaspersen]

Andy is absolutely brilliant in EVERYTHING he does. He brought Gollum to life.

[@wendybrown500]

This man deserves an Oscar. Period. They need to just vote and say he gets one. His talent and commitment miraculous.

[@markfox1545]

Only idiots say 'period'.

[@NormAppleton]

He did play St. Ian Dury

[@forincognito22]

@@markfox1545 When given the choice to be an idiot or an asshole, MarkFox1545 chose asshole every time

[@indiebuzzed]

This is the perfect reason to have honorary Oscars, for the phenomenal contributions to cinema that don't necessarily fit into a category. He is absolutely groundbreaking and has advanced the Hollywood blockbuster to what it is today. I would argue Doug Jones should receive one as well for the incredible creature acting he's done in his career.

[@jazzx251]

Watch Star Wars: Andor - where he plays as a normal prisoner of The Empire. No CGI or mocap suits. His performance is amazing - leading to one of the greatest Star Wars speeches: "One Way Out!"

[@MonolithStudiosMelbourne]

Andy serkis should be recognized as one of the best actors of our generation

[@quincycharle8150]

He didn't play gollum..... He became him

[@dawsonjarrell]

So true

[@zovalentine7305]

Best comment 🏆

[@MrHadane]

Did he? Take Johnny Depp for example. Any roles he had post Pirates of the Caribbean he had Jack Sparrow bleed in all performances. You could say he became Jack Sparrow. Meanwhile, Andy Serkis can switch it on and off at will and become anyone or anything.

[@bagboimuffin4814]

corny ass comment

[@harrydavey9884]

No, he played him 👍

[@mhm8922]

He is a true master at his craft. Thank you for making this video and honoring what Andy does.

[@richie4951]

I really didnt realize how much effort and skill this actor has. I saw gollum, i saw the ape..... but i never saw the actor behind this charcters. Thanks for this video.... it opend my eyes

[@Graemith]

I feel Sir Ian McKellen's frustration at 11:04 -- "What am I even doing here, acting to a picture in front of a green screen?" Edit: All I am expressing is my empathy for the person. I am not commenting on the nature of acting, which apparently the comment section is keen on debating.

[@2stral]

yeah, that looks like torture. they even went through the effort of making a table and an arch

[@melomateus_m.r]

No he isn't really, you are just taking on board that picture with the text saying something similar to what you said. We may never know what he is feeling here.

[@2stral]

@@melomateus_m.r man what

[@miloshp7399]

Or.. he broke character, lost the line so he has to do it again.

[@MK_2023.]

@@melomateus_m.rhe said this very quote in an interview. He was sad and depressed that he had to perform in front of a green screen without any other actors around. He said he pretty much hated it.

[@michaelsillusion]

Usually titles like this do not back themselves up, but this video crushed. Thank you.

[@Mostbee]

I came in here already expecting a "overstated" fact being sensationalized. But man, Serkis really did not only inspired other CGI-actors to use more than the voice and also be cooperative to "IRL" actors interacting on the scene, but he also changed directors approach on the capture tool, and the production team take on the usage of said tool. I'd even risk to say that his early work as Gollum inspired the investment and development of facial capture system.

[@SantaClaus-kk8zr]

Hidden gems everywhere in the world, just gotta know they exist somewhere eh?

[@TheGrimmy]

Thank you for doing this video. Andy really deserves all the recognition he can get for this. Voice acting became even bigger from this point on in video games as well.

[@sym9266]

"Being brave enough to hold a closeup" was utterly profound

[@supadankiwi420]

1:27 Seeing a human face display caesars desperation there added some significant emotional depth to the scene I was not ready for at all. 😭😭😭😭😭

[@igrojikku2212]

Mr.Serkis deserves an award named after him dedicated to this field he pioneered

[@cedricgist7614]

I can see that happening.

[@aaandSCENE]

YES. The man has won our hearts. Awards are stupid. But this would be awesome.

[@DonovanAenslaed]

All the work behind the character of Cesar and the performance of Serkis bringing it to life has made Cesar the ape one of my favorite heroes of all time!

[@benmiles00]

Andy is an absolute legend. His work deserves multiple accolades.

[@MarcusHalverstram]

He was so good in Andor in a limited role. That speech gave me chills

[@bulbousdude]

Makes me want to rewatch the series all over again.

[@sykessaul123]

Legitimately one of the best moments of a series ever. The funerary march trumps it though, it's such a wonder of cinematography. I've watched the last episode at least a dozen times.

[@beth12svist]

Honestly I was even more captivated by the buildup. The way he outwardly remained the same but you could still see the gears of his focus switching.

[@samgeekman]

A 29k sub channel getting 3.1m views shows you how good this video is. Amazing stuff.

[@nikiTricoteuse]

59.9k subs and 5.7 million views as of today, 😊

[@thatpantransguy]

Andy Serkis is a true icon in cinematic history. I hope they never run out of roles for him because his acting skills are *chef kiss*👌

[@ahmedshakib3883]

This man deserves an oscar for best Actor , when we were kids pretending to be king kong , Godzilla etc .That is acting in its purest form.This man lets his performance do the talking.Most actors are saved by their looks , physical attributes , Andy does not CGI but his performance is what gives soul to the digitally created characters.

[@radicalxg8282]

I think that phrase you said summarize up beautifully "A genius of a thousand faces" truly GOATED actor

[@PeteOliva]

He's a phenomenal actor. He is so good, he brought a soul to the digital.

[@CyberBeep_kenshi]

well put

[@jennifermiller1042]

One man changed movies forever. Such a cool legacy!

[@elijahalbiston]

The man is an absolute legend and incredible actor both in and out of motion capture.

[@oliverholmes-gunning5372]

A really underrated movie of his is The Cottage (2008). Very funny dark comedy/horror film...

[@carastone3473]

I look at Andy Serkis's eyes and I see CAESAR!! He's phenomenal!

[@dustinswarb9190]

Andy Serkis is definitely one of those actors that when I find out or realize he’s in a movie I like I’m always like “Yep that’s why it was good.” And he’s absolutely PHENOMENAL as Caesar. One of my all time favorite performances ever.❤

[@corinnerogersconstable223]

This story of the truly gifted Mr. Serkis was fascinating! I will be watching everything his genius creates! Thank you!

[@bastian8597]

That video of sir Ian McKellen alone in the set broke my heart :( Great video-essay btw!

[@KeenanV]

I feel that Andy Serkis is the epitome of success in acting pretty much every aspect. He not only in some of the best films ever and surely makes great money, he is also considered one of the all time greatest actors by many people AND he often takes roles that mean he doesn't have to become a major celebrity due to his acting skills. Being well known and beloved for your craft without having to suffer the ills of celebrity, is to me the ultimate win in the end-game of any creative field.

[@Fuphyter]

Andy is a genius. Every part he plays, he puts everything into. He's more expressive than silent movie stars. Thank you for this video. It's well deserved.

[@justanothergunnerd8128]

Andy broke new ground for motion capture acting - a true pioneer. And he is a fantastic human being from the little I know. I had the pleasure of meeting him in early 2011 during Hobbit filming. He is a genuinely kind human being who seemed delighted to meet me - a total stranger. He went out of his way to interact with my coworkers as well, even though he didn't have to whatsoever. A true and genuinely decent human - plus a fantastic actor/mo-cap legend.

[@AthinaGK404]

Andy Serkis is a product of their own, honestly. He created an acting need that up until that point, was not known to the industry as something they would want. Innovation at its finest. Also a proof of what happens when you love what you do.

[@Elendrian]

I think credit should go to Jackson for having an open mind as well. He was willing to listen to conflicting opinions, and incorporate that input into the final work. If he had been an iron fisted director, I don't think Lord of the Rings would have turned out nearly as well as it did.

[@archivist17]

In 1987, I was fortunate enough to work with Andy on a number of different shows, and, even in a company of very talented actors, his energy, his versatility and his talent really stood out.

[@wyethleon]

He really goes in character whatever role he plays. His expressive face and his delivery with his lines is truly impressive.

[@christophersims7060]

Andy is extraordinary, and we are lucky to live in his lifetime and experience his gifts!

[@darcyjohnson871]

I could watch a whole hour of this. I'm so enamoured by Andy's work and his passion for his craft.

[@EatSleepEmpire]

We can talk about how great he is, without short changing the contributions of a character like Jar Jar. It’s very popular to hate on him but if you look back and realize how good he looked integrated with live action for 1999, it’s just incredible. Ahmed Best offered voice and physicalization that paved the way for gollum the following years. Even Anthony Daniels performed his way into voicing a character, and he expresses so much without any moving facial features.

[@lov_eli]

But we can recognize the difference between approaches, Jar jar was just comic relief, while Gollum was arguably one of the best things in TLotR.

[@Prophet_of_Colour]

@@lov_eli Gollum quickly becomes comic relief, and Jar Jar quickly becomes important to the narrative as a senator's voice in the Republic. Each do the same things, thematically, to the appropriate degrees befitting the works they are a part of.

[@Rykiz_Vidz]

​@@Prophet_of_ColourThat's not true at all. Throughiut both series of LOTR movies, Gollum can at few times provide comic relief, but he is a constant foreboding presence to our heroes.

[@Prophet_of_Colour]

@@Rykiz_Vidz That's a hyperbolic absolute. Yes, it is true, at all. Gollum/Sméagol and Jar Jar Binks are equally and oppositely serious/narratively useful and comedic relief.

[@joetoaster447]

This is a dreadful take, sorry. Jar Jar could have been replaced in the senate with any other character and the narrative of RoTS wouldn't have changed one bit. His character was sidelined after TPM because of how poorly audiences received it. Gollum was instrumental to the plot and is arguably the most important character in the whole series, only serving as comic relief to better help audiences engage and empathise with him, or to allow some space in the films to breathe.

[@gabewolfmusic]

I feel like it's now well known how historic Andy's performance as Gollum was, but I realize as I watch this that he's been important at every step in the progress of motion capture performances... that's incredible, what an awesome actor!

[@gsmagesh]

The awards earned honours by getting into his hands! Real performer Andy Serkis ❤️

[@michaeldean1934]

Andy Serkis deserves an Oscar. No, he deserves several. The performances he has turned in are worthy, but the barriers in the way of putting that performance on screen and yet he was still able to do so raises what he has done to a new level.

[@andrewday1093]

Dudes a hell of an actor. Even if he didn’t get cast as gollum he woulda broke out in another part. He was destined to be huge one way or another.

[@funcats1999]

thank you for lovingly spotlighting why as a Serkis and LOTR fan we so love these bodies of work, there's just a million pieces, all a labour of immense, near imitable passion and caftsmenship behind them all.

[@darlenedavis8690]

I hope the world truly realizes what a great gift Andy Serkis has given to us all. He's an amazing actor (and director) who pioneered a new way of acting and making movies that will enrich our lives for centuries. As an actor, I'm sure it's frustrating not to "see" yourself on the screen, however, the wonderful amazing gift Andy Serkis has given the viewers will make him one of the most famous actors of all time. I would love nothing better than to see them present Andy Serkis with a lifetime achievement award one day. Thank you, Andy, for making movies so much better for us the viewers.

[@red_ashcroft]

Andy Serkis can do anything. One of the reasons why whenever he's in a movie, I'm buying.

[@namwonglue]

The visceral love I have for this man is unreal. He elevates everything he touches.

[@dictatorinperpetuity]

This is really thoughtful. I think we owe Andy alot more than I originally realized.

[@EmmanQuinones5234]

Agreed! I never even knew he was Kong for Peter Jackon's KK! I really came to know Andy as Caesar in the PotA trilogy and he was awesome in them! He defo deserves so much more praise!

[@dictatorinperpetuity]

@@EmmanQuinones5234 After watching I realized how much he has actually moved forward the way CGI and actors interact. Just think if he never did what he did for LOTR we could have had directors still using CGI as a slapstick or comedy relief instead of actual depth for characters.

[@RCisMe64]

Love these videos that expose the greatness hidden behind the media we all love. The people really deserve the recognition for the number of lives they changed. And YES! I am so glad you mentioned the advancements in technology within Hollywood and how Serkis' implementations were virtually all positive.

[@ForrestCooper-ih1ds]

I don’t know if it’s just me but Serkis to me is just such an underrated actor, many people don’t realize this man’s true talent.. especially in the planet of the apes trilogy.

[@davidhenderson4754]

So he’s literally the reason why we have Micah suits now?!? That’s amazing. Thank you sir

[@ImAfraidBruce]

"an addict, but also a soul in constant suffering" one and the same.

[@JasonKirin]

I was watching this for Serkis for fun but then you went and brought Paul Ekman into this. Thank you! Sincerely. Hollywood could NOT do what they do without his work. Truly a cathedral human. His work has changed the face of this planet.

[@Jirka-j2g]

He's a master of supporting roles, extremely underrated as a regular (non motion capture) actor. His performance in Andor was superb, extremely memorable and he stole the show every time he came on screen (even though the show is full ofgreat performances by great actors). Same for his other roles, such as in The Black Panther, Batman or others.

[@GNCD2099]

This guy pioneered a new way of acting and set the bar for voice acting. Andy is always a joy to watch. Hell, I even enjoyed his work as the Klaw.

[@philsonslament9955]

one of the most under-appreciated actors out. he really is an amazing actor with great depth and emotion. and great timing

[@grimreaper1542]

He's just truly on another level in terms of acting. His facials, his body movement, and his speech all come to together to make a perfect actor

[@Prophet_of_Colour]

11:04 Legitimately, those shots in and out of the cgi are like a two word phrase made from pure genius. Like, just how words simply exist, and genius can be expressed by using them in certain ways, this clip was used to the maximum possible effect in this video. It seriously could be a poem.

[@lancelloti.]

Thanks bro

[@someonetookteampixel2]

11:46 what a distinguished gentleman

[@suhailashifa6734]

he didn't only change cinema. he also invented the modern gaming, animation n so much more technology that we use everyday in our phone camera's facial expression recognition based filters, security lock to so much more science

[@suhailashifa6734]

@DayVid-mo5qo not the technology. i meant the concept. he changed and he initiated the modernization of the process.

[@ray.b.75]

He showed have won an Oscar for that performance. Not just to embody a character completely but to invent a new acting style that was never done before.

[@boogieondown5824]

He was great in Andor too... he knows how to take emotion and turn it into a physical presence better than anyone.

[@fabrisseterbrugghe8567]

I was furious that Serkis wasn't nominated for Best Supporting Actor for _The Two Towers_ He was magnificent.

[@farrex0]

It could have been due to technicalities. The whole process was fully revolutionary, most people did not even understand it. So it sparked a debate whether the animators or the actor where the ones that made the performance. If I remember correctly, Serkis made a comment about how he made the performance, that he deserved the praise instead of the VFX team. And then the animators disclosed, that they basically redid the whole animation using his performance only as reference. So a debate, whether who was the one that made the performance sparked. So maybe they just wanted to stay clear of any controversy and technicality. But nowadays, Serkis has more than proved himself as a talented actor. And performance capture has come so far, that no longer animators have to remake the whole animation. But then, also comes into question, how often artists are the ones that take all the credit, and all the other departments of cinema are often overlooked. So animators getting a bit of praise, for a change, was not a bad thing.

[@arii5136]

Just so happened to bump into Andy the other day in London, a life long dream of mine at the most random and unexpected of moments. Fair to say he's just as amazing in person as you see on film or interviews, such an amazing friendly guy, true master of his craft!

[@kristajeanne572]

I met him in London once, too. I concur; he was super kind.

[@AlikTheChosenOne]

There's no other Andy Serkis just like there's no other Andy Serkis. I love people that bring sn authenticity to art.