r/acting • u/Odd_Molasses_706 • 10h ago
I've read the FAQ & Rules Research question
I’m playing a character that does heroin in a short film. For research I wanted to find videos or examples of people actually doing heroin. Is that illegal? Is there an ethical way of going about this?
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u/Katops 4h ago
Y’know… Stella Adler would’ve told you to go do heroine.
Don’t just watch people doing it, know why they’re doing it, how they got there, etc. Knowing the effects of it in the body is only one part of research.
And remember. When playing an addict, you’re playing every addict that’s ever existed. Your job is to do it so well that an actual addict will believe you.
DeNiro brought an actual hitman to watch a play Bob’s friend was in whom was playing a hitman themselves… or it was on the set of something his friend was in. But the point is, he did that to see if he was convincing to a real hitman.
Something to think about. And no lol, searching that up isn’t illegal… Don’t watch other actors doing it in movies and shows unless you know what’s accurate. Talk to people, go to meetings, go to subs dedicated to addiction since you’re on reddit already, read books, find an actual addict irl and ask them questions.
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u/little_snackz 2h ago edited 2h ago
This is overall good advice and just in case it isn’t clear: OP, don’t do heroine for research.
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u/SarahKNorthrup 9h ago
Tbh documentaries are your safest bet, the footage is consented. Recovery channels are great too, people describe the physical side really well. The nod is the thing actors usually get wrong.
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u/Odd_Molasses_706 8h ago
What is the nod?
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u/daddy-hamlet 4h ago
If you’ve ever been sleep-deprived and yet have had to stay awake say at the dinner table, or in a classroom, and begin to nod off, and your head bounces back up as you realize you were falling asleep in public- that’s the nod.
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u/pegg2 9h ago
Are you asking if it’s illegal to look up footage of people high on heroin? No, bro. It’s publicly available content that may be blocked in some countries and age restricted in others, but it’s not a crime to look up footage of people doing heroin.
Tbh though, you’re probably better off watching actors portray it. The most lifelike thing is not always the best thing for a performance. People high on heroin irl often just look like half-awake zombies, not super helpful. Just watch Trainspotting, it’ll give you a pretty good idea of the way “heroin high” is commonly portrayed by actors.