Those actors interested in the Meisner acting technique may have heard of the actors instrument. 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. Directors and actors may sometimes see things differently and while the director is the conductor, actors are the most important instruments used to tell the story. The actors instrument is what the actor uses to channel the vision of the writer and director, creating the most artful, interesting character they can to make the vision a reality. 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.
Instruments are made to create beautiful sound, while actors must express uniquely human characteristics using many different forms of expression. 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. Studying of each of these aspects of acting and working hard to develop them all equally is what creates the stand out actor who can handle any role. Some of the most successful, award winning actors have mastered all six of these forms of expression.
Physical expression is extremely important and controlling that and using the physical space around them well is also key to great performances. Meisner acting in nyc helps actors to fully explore their habits of physical expression and movement, and how that differs from that of a character and how that can be used to improve your versatility in any performance setting. Acting onstage requires a different movement technique and physical expressions than when you act for film. As an actor you must have studied physical expressions in depth to be able to adjust for new situations and roles.
Personality actors can be very successful, translating a personality they have developed into many characters over the course of their careers. There are easily ten or fifteen actors who fall into this category that you can list without thinking too hard. An actor can become extremely successful by learning how to create and channel a charismatic personality, by using both internal and external components of the instrument. 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. A list that would include Johnny Depp, Meryl Streep or Daniel Day Lewis.
Many actors in the history of stage and film have been strong physical actors, such as Stallone, John Wayne and Arnold Schwarzenegger. These are just a few of the actors that have an ability to develop a strong and unique physical aspects to their characters. Actors who know how to move and express themselves physically in many different ways to create different characters has gone even deeper into their craft.
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. The greatest actors use physical space and physical expression to enhance and express all other aspects of the instrument. Working hard to develop strong physical abilities will make you more timeless as an actor and more versatile. 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. By mastering physical expression and integrating it with the other aspects of the actors instrument an actor will find themselves working at more and more challenging roles.
Instruments are made to create beautiful sound, while actors must express uniquely human characteristics using many different forms of expression. 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. Studying of each of these aspects of acting and working hard to develop them all equally is what creates the stand out actor who can handle any role. Some of the most successful, award winning actors have mastered all six of these forms of expression.
Physical expression is extremely important and controlling that and using the physical space around them well is also key to great performances. Meisner acting in nyc helps actors to fully explore their habits of physical expression and movement, and how that differs from that of a character and how that can be used to improve your versatility in any performance setting. Acting onstage requires a different movement technique and physical expressions than when you act for film. As an actor you must have studied physical expressions in depth to be able to adjust for new situations and roles.
Personality actors can be very successful, translating a personality they have developed into many characters over the course of their careers. There are easily ten or fifteen actors who fall into this category that you can list without thinking too hard. An actor can become extremely successful by learning how to create and channel a charismatic personality, by using both internal and external components of the instrument. 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. A list that would include Johnny Depp, Meryl Streep or Daniel Day Lewis.
Many actors in the history of stage and film have been strong physical actors, such as Stallone, John Wayne and Arnold Schwarzenegger. These are just a few of the actors that have an ability to develop a strong and unique physical aspects to their characters. Actors who know how to move and express themselves physically in many different ways to create different characters has gone even deeper into their craft.
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. The greatest actors use physical space and physical expression to enhance and express all other aspects of the instrument. Working hard to develop strong physical abilities will make you more timeless as an actor and more versatile. 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. By mastering physical expression and integrating it with the other aspects of the actors instrument an actor will find themselves working at more and more challenging roles.
About the Author:
The Maggie Flanigan Studio provides acting classes in NYC for serious actors. Find out more about meisner acting at the studio website or read this article about emotional memory.
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