Hi
I've recently been told not to touch the method with a bargepole.
Interested to hear of anyone's experience with it as a tool or in training.
Thanks
Im sorry to say but any acting that is real and comes from an authentic place is what the method means for me. A lot of method actors can get stuck in their emotions and not engage with other actors whilst their going through their thing and yes that is a definate pain.
I just think if you can access real feelings as opposed to fake ones than you are going to end up a much better more convincing actor. I mean you dont 'FAKE' emotions in real life so why do it with your acting. That is just my opinion. To me acting from the heart is a much more fulfilling experience.
All the techniques used by Sandy Meisner, Stella Adler, Lee Strasberg, if taught to you in the right way are extremely valuable for strengthening your imagaination and getting in touch with your feelings/senses. I am not saying im an expert at all (it can take up to 20 years to fully master this stuff) but its the most amazing direction for me and I wouldnt want to learn any other way.
I have recently tried to read SANFORD MEISNER ON ACTING recentoy, agian- with a hopefully more open mind tahn before... and I have the same conclusions.
The "Method" - as it were- is open to so many interpretations that no one person is actually right. I found that Meisner in this book was constantly evelvating how amazing he was and in my opinion- behaved like he was the messiah of acting training- he slagged off Strasberg by name etc.. and basically intimated that his was the only way. That type of egomania instinctually causes me to distrust the training to a degree. he has good points and I agree with some stuff he says, but I cannot bear the arrogance different teachers use when they assume they have the "answer" and no one else is correct.
A very experienced actreess who has worked on Broadway and the West End gave me a piece of advice that I found invaluable- dont let others tell you theirs is the only way.
If someone tries to intimidate you or say that they are using a better technique than some one else etc, then stay away from them. We are all individuals and different things work for different people.
My training, was probably more Strasberg as well and it has its benefits as well as negative points, but again, its what works for whoever- many things in method acting do work for me, but then agin, there are things that domt... Strasberg works for you and to a larger degree, for me... but someone else does find meisner more for them, or Stella Adlers interpretation etc etc..
I just do see a lot of these people slagging each camp off etc and that for me is when I begn to laugh about how luduicrous it gets.
You must login as a candidate to participate in the forum.
Please note:Messages written in the forum do not represent the views of The Mandy Network, nor have they been vetted by The Mandy Network staff.
If you read something which you believe to be offensive or defamatory, please contact us and we will take the appropriate action.
