"Respect for Acting" follows the compelling journey of Philip, a former childhood movie star from the early '90s who has faded into obscurity. When his manager, Maxwell, presents him with a role that could resurrect his career, Philip is pushed to extreme lengths in method acting. Locked in his apartment for weeks at a time, Philip grapples with the character of a recovering heroin addict, guided by his younger self, a reminder of the fame he once had. As the days pass, Philip's mental and physical well-being deteriorate, mirroring the intensity of his commitment to the role. A revelation from Maxwell unveils that Philip's isolation was self-inflicted, driven by his determination to save his career. The film climaxes with one year and one Oscar later, as Philip reclaims his fame but at the cost of an addiction to this perilous form of method acting.