This post was inspired by a comment from reader Faisal who asked about how method acting techniques could be used for more formal presentations:
“I am curious to know if you have any recommendations on how to use the Meisner technique in a formal presentation where people are not aware that you are using these techniques? Also, I am an engineer, so I guess my audience is mostly very educated people with a technical background. On one hand, I have such a huge respect for them and think they are just awesome, but on the other hand I feel like they might think I am kidding around. Any thoughts on this? Thanks!”
This is certainly not the first time that I have been asked this question and it came up again recently when I was giving a talk at the World Domination Summit in Portland.
First of all, it’s important to know that there are many different acting techniques out there and each acting school has their own approach. The Meisner technique is a great tool for learning how to communicate with power, passion and authenticity and it’s great for learning how to connect with others and tell compelling stories. However, Meisner does not focus on delivering formal presentations in front of large audiences.
The good news is that you don’t need to be an
You know that feeling when you are about to give a speech and your stomach is tied in knots, your heart is racing, your mouth is dry and you have that feeling of wanting to throw up?
What if I told you there’s a way to use this energy and nervousness to your advantage? What if I could teach you a technique that will help you communicate with power and authority?
The method acting technique called Meisner repetition will do just that.
Let’s start at the beginning…
When I was a young teacher at The Neighborhood Playhouse, Sanford Meisner used to tell me “Never give your students a technique because they will only be able to do the technique and not the acting.” This is so true, I have seen it proven over and over.
The same is true of presentations or public speaking. If you teach people “presentation techniques” they will be able to do the techniques but not communicate with power and authority.
I am sure you have seen this time and time again. A speaker who uses every trick in the book, sings, dances, tells jokes, uses props, wears hats and yet he doesn’t connect with his audience. This person has learned hundreds of “tips and tricks” from reading books, going to seminars and watching TED talks on how to make a great presentation.
Why? Because he has learned “presentation techniques” but doesn’t know how to communicate simply as a human being in front of an audience.
Method actors take the art of acting to a whole new level, going beyond just memorizing lines and learning how to speak with power and authority. The method acting technique is as much about self-discovery as it is about becoming someone else.
In my last blog post, I wrote about how physical actions can enhance your sense memory for any character you are trying to play. In this blog post I want to talk more about the Meisner technique, which is one of the two fundamental acting techniques that I teach in my classes (the other being the Stanislavski system).
The Meisner technique is all about repetition. It’s named after Sanford Meisner who developed this technique at the Group Theatre in New York City in 1940s. Here’s how it works: One actor will say a line of dialogue and another actor will repeat back the same line of dialogue in response. The first actor then repeats back their line again and the process continues until one of the actors makes an adjustment or changes their response in some way.
Method acting is a range of training and rehearsal techniques that seek to encourage sincere and emotionally expressive performances, as formulated by a number of different theatre practitioners. Although Stanislavski’s “system” is generally considered the foundation for most of the 20th century’s major drama schools and approaches to acting, there are many different variations on his system, including those created by his successors at the Moscow Art Theatre, such as Michael Chekhov, Constantin Stanislavski (his son) and Yevgeny Vakhtangov.
Many well-known actors have espoused its use during their careers, among them Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Glenn Close, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jake Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, Montgomery Clift, Anthony Hopkins, Marilyn Monroe, Frances McDormand, Paul Newman and Al Pacino.[1]
Method acting may be used in conjunction with other acting methods or techniques.[2] Most proponents of method acting claim it is a deeply personal process and that it is only possible to achieve the emotional truthfulness it aims to produce if one has experienced similar emotions oneself.
The Meisner acting technique is a popular and highly regarded acting method based on the teachings of Lee Strasberg. This book is a practical and hands on guide that aims to teach the essential elements of the Meisner Technique.
Book Features:
– The book is divided into two parts, Part I lays out the theoretical groundwork for the technique, while part II provides practical tools that actors can use in rehearsal and on stage.
– Through the use of photographs, quotations from Sanford Meisner’s personal writings, and exercises from his personal experience as an actor and teacher, this book will help you develop your acting ability to its fullest potential.
– The author includes examples from his own life to illustrate his points and show how you can apply them to your own life.
– Author Bio: Richard A. Bloch has appeared in numerous television shows including “The Sopranos”, “CSI Miami”, “Law & Order SVU”, “The Office” (HBO), and many others. He has been nominated for several awards including an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
“What do you want?” is the fundamental question of acting and human relationships. The answer to this question is the key to manifesting your desires in life.” What do you want?” is the fundamental question of acting and human relationships. The answer to this question is the key to manifesting your desires in life.
The Meisner technique is a form of repetitive exercise that focuses on listening and responding honestly to your scene partner.
Like most acting techniques, it was developed by a stage actor who wanted to make acting more realistic for himself, but also for his audience. Sanford Meisner was a member of the Group Theatre, an ensemble of actors who worked together from 1931 until 1941. In 1934, they produced Clifford Odets’ Waiting for Lefty, which became a sensation on Broadway and initiated the Federal Theatre Project. His experience working with Stella Adler and Lee Strasberg led him to create his own method of training actors, which he called “The Meisner Technique.”
