Having "It"

In the movie business, there is something called "it." That thing where when they walk in the room, you know they belong in movies. And it's not being "on" which a TON of actors do. That is, being obnoxiously loud to get attention. Or are overly dramatic, or sullen or whatever Method actory shit you do. But it's inherent in the person. I've been around people who were plucked to have some fame, Danny Glover, Cary Elwes, Steven Seagal to name a few. Something inherent in them seemed to stick out. None are the attention seeking loud person. Even Seagal, in his ridiculous over the top career, seemed more at ease in his demands than being...difficult out loud. Mel Gibson, though overtly excitable, seemed to command a room (saw him at work) and Johnny Depp, quietly moves around, adorned with Gucci and fashionably loud, but when you walk in a room and your back is turned, you still know someone is in the room.
Most of you don't have that and will never get it regardless of what you do. Enviable to have, to say the least' I once shook the massive hand of director Delbert Mann who directed Rita Hayworth. At the time (in college) this was all so distant and foreign and lacked the historical relevance then. However, I never could forget his presence in giving me advice on working in movies. He had a presence and he stood out. Never mind he was about 6'7" and had the hand of a baseball glove. The guy was on God level. Much like I'd imagine Victor Fleming, or Billy Wilder or John Ford. These guys loom over people to command respect and...you can imagine how young ingenues could be smitten over them. Because they were bigger than life (no one is like these names anymore. Legends are no longer mysterious, they're pinatas for us to swipe at).
People like Marilyn Monroe, for instance. There were plenty of drop dead beautiful blondes. Before and after her. And yet, Marilyn is still the gold standard. VERY rare and thus went through life with horrible behavior on set. Most tolerated her to work with her. Because it wasn't just attempting to exploit her sex appeal, it was also that ULTRA rare factor that she had that made her a star. I have an actress friend who spends hours to get ready all the time...to the public. She doesn't and won't ever have "it." That "it" factor is also towards men. And it isn't always looks. Interesting men had screen presence. Like Peter Lorre but were also dashing like Errol Flynn. In (sort of contemporary terms) Roger Moore couldn't be denied. He's debonair with a tint of self-effacing humor about himself (as was Marilyn). Actors these days are serious and don't have the courage to look the fool. Think about how well curated their careers are that cut off their abilities. Brad Pitt desperately, and constantly, wanted to do oddball comedies to get out of that box ("Johnny Suede" or "Burn After Reading").

If describing "It" is hard, try finding "It." It's near impossible.
Because sometimes people work on camera and sometimes they don't. Plenty of audition tapes you can look through online to see how many people are deluded to thinking they have something. Most people don't know what that is, or can even articulate it. But, it doesn't walk in often. A lot of people think they can see it, and is quite disappointing when someone looks great but can't act. But can act but doesn't translate on film. Or that the "chemistry" between two people don't look right. I think that's what a lot of us filmmaker are looking for. I think Orson Welles most definitely fought to find that blend. Though he used reparatory cast, he already had them on the ready. To me, that is the thrill of making movies is watching it just...pop. And you see it. You see things pop on screen. And that's where the excitement comes in.
Just trying to find "It" and still searching.