The biggest impression I was left with after reading the screenplay of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" was my amazement at how well the feelings of the highs were conveyed. This whole movie really is meant to be like one long drug trip, and all of the associated feelings, ideas, actions, and of course, consequences.
Though there is a story going on within the script, a lot of the focus is on the drugs and the affects they have on the characters. The descriptions of the things the characters see when they are tripping are a very crucial part of reading the lines and understanding the characters of this movie. Special attention was paid to how the trips go and how they affect the thoughts and actions of the characters. Rather than simply acting disoriented and high, it's important for the characters to thoroughly read these descriptions of the crazy things that the drugs are doing to their minds, and act accordingly. There's a big difference in how you can portray a generic drug trip, and between how you act as someone who is seeing giant insects right in front of their very eyes while everything appears normal to everyone else they are with.
Also, even from the beginning, it's apparent that the hitchhiker running away evokes a definite sense of panic in the lead characters. This panic is only heightened by the two trying to cover up reality with their psychoactives. Drugs generally make the user paranoid, which should definitely be a key consideration when acting the parts of these characters.
Both of the main characters of very eccentric and unique people. Their parts are definitely ones that should be played accurately, but also should be experimented with to get their eccentricity and spontaneity out of it. An actor should not be afraid to get very deep into the mindset of these drug trips and go a little bit wild with their interpretations of them.
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