Thursday, November 3, 2011

A Safe Place for Vulnerability - Two Year Acting Program in NYC A Safe Place for Vulnerability - Two Year Acting Programs

By Maggie Flanigan


Two year acting programs are commonly known as the conservatory approach. These programs are highly sought after by professionals who recognize that being a successful actor requires continuous improvement through study. The tradition of a master training an apprentice has been in practice for centuries. Aspiring as well as professional actors seek out this type of program to improve their skills and set themselves apart from the competition.

Learning never ends for true actors. When an actor appears to act without trying, it is a sure bet that they have spent years training. Great strength and dedication is required of actors who decide to focus years of their lives solely to improving in their art. In order for professional actors to separate themselves from the hobbyists, two year acting programs are a must.

The Meisner technique fits in quite nicely to two year acting programs. This method is a sequential one, meaning that the students first learn basics and then build their skill sets from there. Meisner training can have almost a boot camp feel. Students have to face the stripping and rebuilding of their identities and beliefs.

The goal of military training is to repurpose the soldier's identity around the military. These programs draw actors out of themselves so that they are better able to analyze their thoughts and beliefs. This allows actors to become one with their characters instead of allowing their own emotions to hinder their performance.

There is no such thing as a person who is not at least partly controlled by compulsions, emotions, and desires. These qualities can be both an advantage as well as a disadvantage to actors. Being aware of these personal characteristics is essential to being an successful actor.

Unfortunately, actors are prone to falling into poor habits. These habits can partially be addressed in short-term classes. There is no question, however, that two year programs are far more effective at correcting these problems. This whole process is certainly not an easy one as students are required to strip away their exterior and reveal their more vulnerable sides. A two year acting program challenges students to bare their vulnerabilities and put themselves under the microscope all in an effort to make them more capable of creating lifelike characters for the audience. If an actor finds himself suffering from less-than-desirable habits, two year programs are a great way to correct these issues with the result being a professional actor secure in himself and behaviors and ready for any sort of role.




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