To any fellow actors?

Question

In your opinion, what is the best 'school' of acting to learn? The Method, Meisner, Stella Adler, I know there all kind of from the same 'branch...' Anyway, what acting techniques do you all find most useful? Thanks!!

Answer 1

I'm sure I'll be accused of being a heretic, but my advice is to not subscribe to any single technique. A "school" is merely what worked for its creator. I think a single technique would be limiting -- I'm terribly sorry, but though Dustin Hoffman is a Method actor, he always looks to me like he's acting.

Study other actors -- the good ones. Analyze what they do. When possible, talk to them about what they do. By the way, you can use superb films as study aids.

Analyze your text. The author just wrote words -- if he/she didn't specify things like hidden meanings, you need to discover/decide them for yourself, such as if the character perhaps says one thing but means another. When characters are arguing or discussing something, each is generally trying to sway the other person -- just like in real life. So basically, everything you speak needs to have some sort of meaning or intention or impetus.

Work on truly listening, not only to react to other characters but also to stay engaged in the scene when you're not speaking. The old saying about acting being mostly about REacting is utterly true -- always remember that your character does NOT know what another character is going to say, so detailing reactions/responses is very important.

I could write much more, but I won't. I've taken some classes in Stanislavski [oy vey] and Meisner [a bit confusing], and read a lot of books. I've heard wonderful things about Stella Adler, but that was from colleagues who actually were taught BY her, but since she's gone I haven't a clue what the current teachers are like. I highly recommend getting books by her, Uta Hagen, and above all Michael Shurtleff's book "Audition."

Oh, and work on yourself daily without fail. Even if you're flat on your back with the flu, at least read a script. After 25 years as a professional actor, I still do hand refinement work daily -- I'm one of those people who have to constantly work to make my hand/arm movements natural and correct.

Answer 2

The one that works for you. Not every actor resonates with Meisner, Stella Adler, or other acting teachers.

Answer 3

I've had the best luck by mixing Meisner and Adler techniques, but I agree that not one single "school" will work for everyone. Gotta find your own style.

Good luck!

Answer 4

For me, Stanislavsky is probably the most useful, although I've read an employed others' styles. It's like I've always told others that you should learn as much as you can so that you have a lot to draw from. Use what you can use and save the rest for a later role. It will ALL come in handy sooner or later. Best of luck to you!!!

Answer 5

Method acting is not the best route but try The School for the Performing Arts in New York. Great schools are everywhere. I enjoy playing around with charictor e.g. walk, talk, manerisims.

Answer 6

Stanislavski, he is what alot of the people base out of. Micheal Checkov has taken a modern take on all the acting methods, but if you want to make it so peolpe are not concious of themselves when acting Viola Spolin is wonderful in that department.

Answer 7

Study everything you can. Learn to improve yourself wherever. What helped me alot were Michael Shurtleff's Discovery and Motivation Guideposts. They really help you discover a lot about a monologue and work well with a soliloquy.