Shia LaBeouf once said that, as an actor, he was a "lonely dude" but there is little evidence that many other actors share this feeling. This statement implies that his career forces him to make sacrifices. In 2006, he told The Washington Post that a true actor must be "brokenhearted". More likely than not, there were many actors who took offense to his assertion. However, due to the popularized concept of the "suffering artist", there were probably others who took his statement to heart.
As any commercial acting workshop that provides quality commercial acting techniques will teach you, it is impossible to be a good actor and to not be in tune with the plight of the human condition. However, there is no reason for an actor to himself suffer in order to be able to succeed in an audition. Is there a way for an actor to truly embrace and succeed in a role without becoming overly invested in the emotional turmoil involved?
When discussing identity and stereotypes, the term that must be discussed is distortion. Regardless of whether the actor is learning commercial acting techniques or methods for other types of acting, distortion is a necessary talent. Every performance, from film to reality shows, requires that actors distort the truth. If a distortion of the truth is done particularly well, it can actually make the actor see himself more clearly. Essentially, this is the whole purpose of acting.
The Meisner technique teaches that stereotypes are personalities that have been distorted. They are, in fact, essential to creating characters. Despite this, actors have to ensure that they do not allow the stereotype to dominate the character. Even a seemingly "cartoon-like" character who appears to be the definition of a stereotype must have layers of personality that add complexity. The most successful actors are able to create personalities that are opposites in many ways such as a comical character who has a tragic past.
Utilizing a character stereotype, particularly at the beginning of a performance, can allow your viewer to get a handle on the type of character that you are presenting. Later on, the character must be given complexity or the audience will become disenchanted and bored. Occasionally, the writer will use stereotypical characters as a device which means that the character must be carefully illustrated.
Many actors are known for their sensitivity to the human condition. Actors are people just like everyone else and can suffer just like we can. It becomes dangerous, however, when an actor believes that suffering is essential for true success. In order to succeed, instead, an actor must remain focused, stay passionate, and continually improve on his skills.
As any commercial acting workshop that provides quality commercial acting techniques will teach you, it is impossible to be a good actor and to not be in tune with the plight of the human condition. However, there is no reason for an actor to himself suffer in order to be able to succeed in an audition. Is there a way for an actor to truly embrace and succeed in a role without becoming overly invested in the emotional turmoil involved?
When discussing identity and stereotypes, the term that must be discussed is distortion. Regardless of whether the actor is learning commercial acting techniques or methods for other types of acting, distortion is a necessary talent. Every performance, from film to reality shows, requires that actors distort the truth. If a distortion of the truth is done particularly well, it can actually make the actor see himself more clearly. Essentially, this is the whole purpose of acting.
The Meisner technique teaches that stereotypes are personalities that have been distorted. They are, in fact, essential to creating characters. Despite this, actors have to ensure that they do not allow the stereotype to dominate the character. Even a seemingly "cartoon-like" character who appears to be the definition of a stereotype must have layers of personality that add complexity. The most successful actors are able to create personalities that are opposites in many ways such as a comical character who has a tragic past.
Utilizing a character stereotype, particularly at the beginning of a performance, can allow your viewer to get a handle on the type of character that you are presenting. Later on, the character must be given complexity or the audience will become disenchanted and bored. Occasionally, the writer will use stereotypical characters as a device which means that the character must be carefully illustrated.
Many actors are known for their sensitivity to the human condition. Actors are people just like everyone else and can suffer just like we can. It becomes dangerous, however, when an actor believes that suffering is essential for true success. In order to succeed, instead, an actor must remain focused, stay passionate, and continually improve on his skills.
About the Author:
The Maggie Flanigan Studio provides quality meisner instruction. Find out more about commercial acting classes by visiting the studio website.
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