The actors instrument is something actors may have heard before, especially if they study the Meisner acting technique. While directors and actors are sometimes at odds due to creative differences, the truth is actors are the instruments, the components, that make up a successful production with a director as a conductor. Actors are the most important element of the overall "symphony" known as The Story, the instruments directors use to effectively tell that story. The job actors have is that of vision casting, taking the ideas and vision of the writer and director and making it into something believable and real using their actors instrument. Actors who have worked hard to develop their actors instrument are the ones who most often enrich a story, by bringing complex, interesting characters to the vision.
Making beautiful sounds is the instrument's created purpose, while actors use not only sound but physical characteristics and other very subtle forms of expression that are uniquely human. Internal and external expressions are necessary, and actors that study the Meisner technique know how to integrate them all in a fascinating way to create their "instrument." The aspects of the actors instrument can be grouped into six general categories known as Sensory expression, Imagination, Intelligence, Physical expression, Empathy and emotion. By mastering as many of these aspects as possible, and working hard at developing all of them, an actor has the ability to take on any role. Some of the most successful, award winning actors have mastered all six of these forms of expression.
Actors need to be aware of their unique physical nature and the physical nature of characters and not confuse the two. Actors who study Meisner in nyc learn how to explore their physical expressions, habits and non verbal behavior and subvert of convert that into good performances. Acting onstage requires a different movement technique and physical expressions than when you act for film. An actor needs to adjust for any situation and have a huge repertoire of physical expressions techniques memorized.
Personality actors can be very successful, translating a personality they have developed into many characters over the course of their careers. Give it some quick thought and a list of 10 or 15 actors who fall into this category will quickly come to mind. Certainly, a charismatic personality is an extremely important aspect of the actors instrument, whether it is external, internal or both. Many great actors have mastered going beyond that to layer onto that charismatic personality many physical characteristics that completely alter their movement, posture, arm gestures facial expressions--they literally become the character. Think of award winners Meryl Streep, Daniel Day Lewis or Johnny Depp.
Many actors in the history of stage and film have been strong physical actors, such as Stallone, John Wayne and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Actors that have an ability to develop and project strong physical characteristics to express character can handle any role. Going one step deeper as an actor means learning how to alter how they move and express themselves truthfully in a physical way to portray character.
It is not simply a matter of walking differently or changing a facial expression to portray a feeling. The art of becoming a character in a physical way is an incredible challenge, but it also means existing in a physical way in a newly created physical space. Physical space, physical expression must be mastered and then used to develop all other aspects of the instrument. The most versatile actors have worked hard to develop this. Being attractive and/or charismatic is certainly going to get you noticed, but it won't give you a career into your sixties or seventies. Learning to create the physical aspects of a character, and using it to enrich the other elements of the actors instrument, will get you the work you desire.
Making beautiful sounds is the instrument's created purpose, while actors use not only sound but physical characteristics and other very subtle forms of expression that are uniquely human. Internal and external expressions are necessary, and actors that study the Meisner technique know how to integrate them all in a fascinating way to create their "instrument." The aspects of the actors instrument can be grouped into six general categories known as Sensory expression, Imagination, Intelligence, Physical expression, Empathy and emotion. By mastering as many of these aspects as possible, and working hard at developing all of them, an actor has the ability to take on any role. Some of the most successful, award winning actors have mastered all six of these forms of expression.
Actors need to be aware of their unique physical nature and the physical nature of characters and not confuse the two. Actors who study Meisner in nyc learn how to explore their physical expressions, habits and non verbal behavior and subvert of convert that into good performances. Acting onstage requires a different movement technique and physical expressions than when you act for film. An actor needs to adjust for any situation and have a huge repertoire of physical expressions techniques memorized.
Personality actors can be very successful, translating a personality they have developed into many characters over the course of their careers. Give it some quick thought and a list of 10 or 15 actors who fall into this category will quickly come to mind. Certainly, a charismatic personality is an extremely important aspect of the actors instrument, whether it is external, internal or both. Many great actors have mastered going beyond that to layer onto that charismatic personality many physical characteristics that completely alter their movement, posture, arm gestures facial expressions--they literally become the character. Think of award winners Meryl Streep, Daniel Day Lewis or Johnny Depp.
Many actors in the history of stage and film have been strong physical actors, such as Stallone, John Wayne and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Actors that have an ability to develop and project strong physical characteristics to express character can handle any role. Going one step deeper as an actor means learning how to alter how they move and express themselves truthfully in a physical way to portray character.
It is not simply a matter of walking differently or changing a facial expression to portray a feeling. The art of becoming a character in a physical way is an incredible challenge, but it also means existing in a physical way in a newly created physical space. Physical space, physical expression must be mastered and then used to develop all other aspects of the instrument. The most versatile actors have worked hard to develop this. Being attractive and/or charismatic is certainly going to get you noticed, but it won't give you a career into your sixties or seventies. Learning to create the physical aspects of a character, and using it to enrich the other elements of the actors instrument, will get you the work you desire.
About the Author:
The Maggie Flanigan Studio provides acting classes in NYC for serious actors. Find out more about meisner acting nyc at the studio website or read this article about emotional preparation.
No comments:
Post a Comment