Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Meisner Acting - The Foundation for Serious Actors

By Maggie Flanigan


Acting involves the development of many skills, one of which is auditioning, a skill you can develop in some acting classes in NYC. Gaining acting experience on stage, film or television is an important way to develop acting skills, but that won't happen if you don't audition well. Developing auditioning skills may be up to you as some acting classes NYC don't cover this thoroughly. Being prepared, with a deep set of auditioning skills is necessary if you expect to exploit every opportunity to audition that comes your way. Meisner acting classes in NYC that teach the Meisner technique are known for producing disciplined actors. Meisner acting techniques are suitable for improving your auditioning ability also.

There are several ways you are guaranteed to fail when auditioning. The first is to be overconfident. At the same time you cannot allow yourself to be overly nervous or insecure, unless the role calls for it. Directors and producers are used to seeing overly confident or insecure actors and this is not what will count against you. The real problem is when you are nervous, and you attempt to hide it, an attempt which in turn makes you wonder if you are showing it, and before long you are completely shut down emotionally.

This is a very bad acting habit, being too closed off and too rehearsed and it's a poor auditioning technique as well. If you are over thinking it, you jeopardize the chance for something unexpected or thrilling to happen in the moment. The character can't emerge and deliver that great audition.

The slate, as it is called, may not seem important at first. But, as you state your name into the camera for the auditors to keep track of your tape, you are already communicating a lot about who you are. What may seem to have little importance, in fact may be the very thing that keeps you from being seen. The bad news is this. There is no guarantee ever that a producer or director will watch a tape past the slate. Actors must think about how many hundreds of other actors are also turning in tapes our auditions. When wading through these tapes, anything that helps them to more quickly find the best of the best is necessary. So, a quick dismissal of someone who doesn't slate well gets them closer to their goal.

This is challenging for the actor, but challenging is what spurs growth. Whether it seems fair or not, the fact remains you had better learn how to slate well. Some acting classes teach excellent auditioning skills knowing how important they are. A good resource for learning about slates are often acting classes in NYC. Acting classes in NYC in some institutions, may ask for a slate and audition tape for entry into their program. Like any other skill, practicing slates makes perfect. Enlist a friend to help record your efforts on tape and you will instantly see how well you are doing. Practicing slates isn't easy. Communicating to a "presence" or person rather than the camera is important. This is something you can record, playback and assess. Feedback from people you trust is also important, the slate should communicate who you are.

As for the information they want, it's most often limited to your name and the agency that represents you. First impressions should be short and sweet. When auditioning for commercials a hint of character might be okay. You will have to assume what they are looking for in a character and you may not be right. The goal of the slate is to present yourself as an actor and a person, not as the character. Then, give them what they want and deserve, a brilliant, fresh take on the part you are aiming to get. Creating character, building spontaneity into a performance and other essential auditioning skills can be learned by studying Meisner acting NYC.




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