The Meisner acting technique often refers to something known as 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. Actors are the most important element of the overall "symphony" known as The Story, the instruments directors use to effectively tell that 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.
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. Actors use the Meisner technique to develop as many of these forms of expression as they can, which working together make up "the instrument" an actor uses. If broken down into definable aspects, the actors instrument involves the development of Imagination, Sensory expressions, Empathy, Intelligence, and Physical expression. 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.
Every actor has their own unique physical way of expressing themselves and an awareness of the physical space around them. 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. Movements onstage in a theatre piece are very different than movements that are right for the camera. Actors who stand out are those who can call up various forms of physical expression and alter them to create a character.
If you think about it, the world is full of actors who use a certain personality to create their roles, always using similar physical expressions to create characters. There are easily ten or fifteen actors who fall into this category that you can list without thinking too hard. Developing a charismatic personality, one that intrigues an audience is an important aspect 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. Think of award winners Meryl Streep, Daniel Day Lewis or Johnny Depp.
Physical expression, when mastered, has given us the likes of Jim Carrey, John Wayne and Jodie Foster. These are just some of the actors that have learned how to project characters physically, as well as emotionally. Going deeper into the craft of acting requires learning the ways you can express characters physically in subtle ways.
Expressing emotions physically is a complex thing and goes far beyond facial expression or developing a way of walking, for example. You must inhabit the created physical world of the production in a physical way that is truthful and be able to do it before there are physical crutches like sets, props, costumes and make up. A great actor is one who has not only mastered the art of physical space and expression but can use it to reflect 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. Actors use the Meisner technique to develop as many of these forms of expression as they can, which working together make up "the instrument" an actor uses. If broken down into definable aspects, the actors instrument involves the development of Imagination, Sensory expressions, Empathy, Intelligence, and Physical expression. 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.
Every actor has their own unique physical way of expressing themselves and an awareness of the physical space around them. 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. Movements onstage in a theatre piece are very different than movements that are right for the camera. Actors who stand out are those who can call up various forms of physical expression and alter them to create a character.
If you think about it, the world is full of actors who use a certain personality to create their roles, always using similar physical expressions to create characters. There are easily ten or fifteen actors who fall into this category that you can list without thinking too hard. Developing a charismatic personality, one that intrigues an audience is an important aspect 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. Think of award winners Meryl Streep, Daniel Day Lewis or Johnny Depp.
Physical expression, when mastered, has given us the likes of Jim Carrey, John Wayne and Jodie Foster. These are just some of the actors that have learned how to project characters physically, as well as emotionally. Going deeper into the craft of acting requires learning the ways you can express characters physically in subtle ways.
Expressing emotions physically is a complex thing and goes far beyond facial expression or developing a way of walking, for example. You must inhabit the created physical world of the production in a physical way that is truthful and be able to do it before there are physical crutches like sets, props, costumes and make up. A great actor is one who has not only mastered the art of physical space and expression but can use it to reflect 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 at the studio website or read this article about acting instrument.
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