It is a system; a method of working to create real, human characters. You work from the inside out to develop a full psychological understanding of the character.
Lee Strasberg, Stella Adler, Bobby Lewis, Uta Hagen, Susan Batson are all regarded as masters of modern Acting, Stella herself as the Mother, basing their work upon the Stanislavski System.
Each had a unique focus or belief which defined each teacher's approach, leading to the development of specific exercises for specific uses.
“Growth as an Actor and as a Human Being is synonymous”
Stella Adler
For example, Stella favoured a sociological approach, script analysis and the use of imagination to bring truth into acting. Her exercises enlarge the actor and their senses; challenges the individual to grow and lift yourself into the character’s life and out of your own; to grasp the ‘Big Idea’.
Whereas Lee Strasberg, whilst also believing imagination is the most important thing an actor can have, he believed in a more psychological approach – opening up the actor to free expression using Sense Memory. He insisted upon using specific exercises to use the Actors own truth to bring them into the Character.
At the Actor’s Craft, we combine the strongest exercises from each Method Practitioner to form a unique method course like no other.
As you move through the levels, you will have specific exercises tailored to:
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work on blocks and resistances as you encounter them
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to enhance your senses and imagination
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the opening up of the actor to achieve deeper levels of truth
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Script Analysis
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Understanding of Character
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The Big Idea of writers
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focus, concentration and relaxation
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erasing of bad habits.
Suggested Reading:
There are many books you can read to gain a deeper understanding of Method Acting. We suggest:
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'The Intent to live' - Larry moss
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'The art of acting' - Stella Adler
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'An Actor prepares' - stanislavski
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'Respect for acting' - Uta Hagen
“Acting is not about being someone different. It’s finding the similarity in what is apparently different, then finding myself in there.”
Meryl Streep
Method Acting
The Course is transformational - the key is to use the Truth of Yourself to be able to transform totally into another human being. EG -
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Aileen Wuornos _ Charlize Theron
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Heath Ledger – Broke Back / Joker
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De Niro – Raging Bull
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Sean Penn – I Am Sam
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Nicole Kidman – The Hours.
What the course aims to achieve for the student:
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A robust, multifaceted technique which will develop the student as an instinctive, free, empathetic and detailed actor able to master any scene or character
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To help you become an independent and unique artist
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To develop a Powerful imagination
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To learn the importance of action, not feeling
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Script Analysis and interpretation
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The development of the self and one’s humanity
Students are invited to choose their own scenes and monologues through out the levels
Finding the Actor's Blocks and Resistances
Introduction to Various Method Exercises - Sense Memory, Song and Dance, Personalisation Exercises, Object Exercises, 4th Wall - How to be private.
Looking at Text - learning how to break it down.
Scenes and monologues to challenge the actor to overcome their individual blocks and resistances.
Inner Imagery.
Develop your imagination.
the 'Big Idea' of the Writer.
Opening the Actor's instrument.
Combining the exercises with text work to produce truthful, impulsive performances.
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Level 2
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Building Character
Sense Memory and Opening exercises deepen and become more advanced
Emotional Triggers.
Private Moments
Character Object Exercise
Advanced Script Analysis and the master playwrights.
Transforming into the Character and the Physical Life.
How to carry out detailed Research.
Making Everything Real.
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All the exercises learned in Level 1 are taken further and the student will learn how to use all the techniques to a higher level.
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Level 3
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This Level is where the student will bring everything they have learned together. The opening of the sensoric and the imaginative self.
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More advanced and Intense Method Exercises.
Character Private Moments.
Character Relationship Exercises
Psychological and Physical building of the Character.
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Taking on the whole Role: the students will now take on, over a period of time, various scenes from the same script learning how to build the whole life and journey of a Character.
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