A One Year Intensive/Certification Program for Theatre, Film & Television Actors
The Meisner Technique:
What it is and what it isn’t
Think of actors who make acting look effortless. Think of performers whose work is compelling and smart. On television, think of Allison Janney (West Wing), Dylan McDermott (The Practice), Paul Sorvino (Law and Order); in film,
think of Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Ashley Judd, Jeff Goldblum, Jon
Voight, Halle Barry. Believability and intensity define their work -
you don’t “see” them work. Their acting draws on training developed by
actor/director/teacher Sanford Meisner.
His technique gives you a way of working, a process you can rely on to attack any role – film, television, theatre – even commercial.
Step-by-step exercises lead you to:
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Truthful expressive behavior
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Harness the power of instinct
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Discover your emotional truth
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Real connection to your scene partner
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Listening, sharing, responding & living
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IN THE MOMENT!
The
Meisner Technique is not in opposition to any other technique, but
leads actors to deeper and more specific work - and - you will learn a
system of “what-to-do” the moment you are handed a script!
It isn’t for beginners.
Sorry, but Beginning Actors who have not worked on a play, scene study,
or taken classes equivalent to our Fundamental Series are rarely
successful at this technique. Until they experience working on text,
they don’t recognize what is missing when the emotional life isn’t
truthful - or isn’t there at all. Some experience or training is
required to study the Meisner Technique at Act One.
It isn’t quick.
A single term of Meisner training
is almost useless. At the end of the first nine-week term the actor
will have gained some insight into his/her emotional blocks, but will
have not yet gained tools to use in the job of being an actor. An
effective Meisner program require minimum commitment of a years of
training.
Yes, it takes a year,
BUT OH, WHAT A YEAR !
“It Takes 20 Years To Become An Actor,”
is what Sanford Meisner said. Well, you’re not going to be in class all
that time, but your best work needs to be growing, deepening and
evolving. The challenge of Meisner Training is worth a year of your
time because the two part process:
Works on the actor
- Break old patterns and blocks
- Discover and activate emotions
Works on the text
- Stop demonstrating how the role is “supposed” to be played
- Stop trying to create “effects.”
- Use personal truth to bring scripts to life
- Create your own unique performance
The results – free and honest acting!