The Method: Acting
Through out the span of our lives, we have watched countless hours of television, hundreds of movies, and maybe even seen a few plays as well. Here is the question. Out of all that time spent, has there ever been a performance that truly spoke to you? One that seemed so real that you actually felt for the character, missed, loved the character?
When celebrities are asked how they achieve such acting prowess and mastery of a role, most will say, "It's all in the script", or "I worked off of the actors", this isn't completely true. Though through character development the character becomes a person to other actors, really its the empathetic relationship between actor and character that makes the part so real.
You can thank a man named Stanislavsky for this amazing concept of becoming your character through relating your past to theirs. The style is know as Method Acting, or more commonly, The Method.
Actors work on this method tirelessly and try and apply themselves to the part totally.
First, remember that each of these approaches begins with Stanislavsky's fundamental idea that all acting must be motivated. No one today disagrees with that. That's why these different techniques have many similarities. Today we're just dealing with the key differences.
Method actors believe that you can transcend mere lines and stage direction with a background or underlying feeling, one that makes the lines mean more then ink on paper. The actual method for achieving the transcendence is rather complicated, but here is a simple example exercise that can help wrap your head around it.
The Breakfast Drink - Recall what you drink first thing in the morning in intricate detail. Close your eyes and recreate in your mind's eye the room that you have the drink in - really see it, smell it, touch it, hear it. Then bring your attention to the drink and slowly start to drink, really concentrating on the senses. Try this for 15-20 minutes. Then choose a monologue you have learned by heart and start to say the lines whilst thinking about the drink. The drink is the main focus of concentration the lines are secondary. You must ensure that you are truly focused on the drink. Test this by continually asking sense questions internally to yourself, such as ‘How hot or cold is it? What is the cup made of? How does it taste?', whilst saying the lines at the same time. Tricky I know, but it will have a significant effect on the believability of the lines. The reason for this is that the experience of the drink is real to you - you believe in the drink. This belief starts to transcend into the words of the character.
Now when you are really acting, you pick something that relates to the material that you are playing, and hopefully it will show through somehow. This is an extremely complicated idea with many subsets and branched off ideas, so going really in depth is almost impossible. Just remember next time you are watching the Dark Knight how Ledger must have had to relate to his character, and how hard it was for him to essentially become The Joker
Comments
I wan to be a actor
Dear Andrew:
I am interested in your post, “The Method: Acting” because like you say that when the actor are acting we love the movies. When that movie or show ends we feel sad when it’s time to leave and we really liked the movie or show.
One sentence that you wrote that stands out for me is, “Though through character development the character becomes a person to other actors, really it’s the empathetic relationship between actor and character that makes the part so real” I agree because if the character doesn’t give the personality that is needed then the movie will be kind of fake. The people will say that the movie is not good so I think that acting is not for all people because it needs a lot of patience to be an actor, and you most show passion for the movie.
Another sentence is, “Actors work on this method tirelessly and try, and apply themselves to the part totally.” I agree with you because, if the actor doesn’t follow the rules they cannot act.
Your post remind me of myself because I want to be a actor and to be in TV, and show to the people that they can be actors too. I love acting and I am taking acting classes,and if you know some agency just tell me in my profile please.
Thank for your post that gave me a lot of fortitude, and to go for what I want to be in the future. If you know somebody to help me to be an actor I will appreciate. Please help me to be an actor .