Actors who study the Meisner Technique are likely familiar with the term the actors instrument. Making a comparison between acting and an instrument is helpful in categorizing aspects of the acting craft and what makes a good actor. Audience members are quick to determine whether actors are portraying a new reality well enough to hold their attention. But, can we pinpoint what makes us feel that way? In fact, it is the actors instrument and how well rounded and how well developed it is.
The actors instrument is comprised of six different elements, all important. Those elements include emotional expression, sensory expression, physical expression, empathy and intelligence. Mastering the craft of acting with the Meisner Technique requires that all six aspects of the instrument are well developed. If you run down the categories mentioned, anyone even slightly interested in acting should be able to name successful actors who have mastered several of these aspects of expression. Legendary actors are those that have mastered all six.
Take, for example, Sylvester Stallone who is know for his commanding physical presence and physical expression. Stallone is certainly able to express emotionally, but overall his most powerful tool onscreen is his physical expression. As an actor he expresses emotional in a very physical, often external way. This is why actors must focus on learning about each and every aspect of the instrument, so that they can be as well rounded as possible.
Emotional expression is one of the first things most up and coming actors focus on. Thinking deeply about how a character feels about something and trying to emulate it is a very common thing for up and coming actors to try and master. One of the most important, but certainly not the only tool to master is the emotional expression aspect of the actors instrument. Each of the six aspects need to be studied and mastered so that they can all work together.
Emotional expression gives meaning to the story. Emotional expression is they way that the internal aspects of a character's conflicts, needs, and feelings are expressed. Meisner acting in nyc is very popular, and these actors work hard to develop an emotional composite of a character, which they in turn, figure out how to express using the other aspects of the instrument. In Meisner acting students study emotions diligently, their own and those of others. They work hard to create a foundation of human emotion and way of communicating based on real people and fictional characters. When a specific character needs to be presented, these then delve more deeply and specifically into imagining (another aspect of the instrument) what the character's emotions feel like. Having created a full emotional life and a foundation of behaviors, thoughts and ways of reacting, the actor can then bring the character to life, in the moment, in a spontaneous way.
Vulnerability, for example is an expression of the emotion of insecurity. There are many actors who, with hard work, can learn to differentiate and express this complex emotion. If the actor has also worked hard to develop other aspects of the instrument, such as imagination, sensory expression and intelligence, the complexity of emotions will be there. After all, vulnerability can be expressed through tears, or smashing something to pieces or just walking through a park. There is no predictable, safe way to do this.
The myth is that acting is simply pretending to have an emotion. Simply reciting inflections and gestures that express certain emotions is not acting. Acting is DOING, as master teacher Sanford Meisner always said. In other words acting is being in the moment and allowing any number of emotional reactions well up and take you over and turn you into the actual character. This may feel risky at first. Great actors do not force themselves to cry. What they feel is genuine, and the results can range from crying and screaming to sitting perfectly still to express an emotion. This process requires that an actor develop the capacity to create and feel true sensations, and then express that through all channels of their instrument. Give yourself permission to feel fully and strongly, and express it in ways that are physical, intelligent empathetic and real.
The actors instrument is comprised of six different elements, all important. Those elements include emotional expression, sensory expression, physical expression, empathy and intelligence. Mastering the craft of acting with the Meisner Technique requires that all six aspects of the instrument are well developed. If you run down the categories mentioned, anyone even slightly interested in acting should be able to name successful actors who have mastered several of these aspects of expression. Legendary actors are those that have mastered all six.
Take, for example, Sylvester Stallone who is know for his commanding physical presence and physical expression. Stallone is certainly able to express emotionally, but overall his most powerful tool onscreen is his physical expression. As an actor he expresses emotional in a very physical, often external way. This is why actors must focus on learning about each and every aspect of the instrument, so that they can be as well rounded as possible.
Emotional expression is one of the first things most up and coming actors focus on. Thinking deeply about how a character feels about something and trying to emulate it is a very common thing for up and coming actors to try and master. One of the most important, but certainly not the only tool to master is the emotional expression aspect of the actors instrument. Each of the six aspects need to be studied and mastered so that they can all work together.
Emotional expression gives meaning to the story. Emotional expression is they way that the internal aspects of a character's conflicts, needs, and feelings are expressed. Meisner acting in nyc is very popular, and these actors work hard to develop an emotional composite of a character, which they in turn, figure out how to express using the other aspects of the instrument. In Meisner acting students study emotions diligently, their own and those of others. They work hard to create a foundation of human emotion and way of communicating based on real people and fictional characters. When a specific character needs to be presented, these then delve more deeply and specifically into imagining (another aspect of the instrument) what the character's emotions feel like. Having created a full emotional life and a foundation of behaviors, thoughts and ways of reacting, the actor can then bring the character to life, in the moment, in a spontaneous way.
Vulnerability, for example is an expression of the emotion of insecurity. There are many actors who, with hard work, can learn to differentiate and express this complex emotion. If the actor has also worked hard to develop other aspects of the instrument, such as imagination, sensory expression and intelligence, the complexity of emotions will be there. After all, vulnerability can be expressed through tears, or smashing something to pieces or just walking through a park. There is no predictable, safe way to do this.
The myth is that acting is simply pretending to have an emotion. Simply reciting inflections and gestures that express certain emotions is not acting. Acting is DOING, as master teacher Sanford Meisner always said. In other words acting is being in the moment and allowing any number of emotional reactions well up and take you over and turn you into the actual character. This may feel risky at first. Great actors do not force themselves to cry. What they feel is genuine, and the results can range from crying and screaming to sitting perfectly still to express an emotion. This process requires that an actor develop the capacity to create and feel true sensations, and then express that through all channels of their instrument. Give yourself permission to feel fully and strongly, and express it in ways that are physical, intelligent empathetic and real.
About the Author:
The Maggie Flanigan Studio provides training for serious actors committed to improving their craft. Find out more about meisner acting nyc by reading this article about acting classes by visiting the studio website.
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