On-Camera Scenes w/ Meisner Technique; Dramatic Naturalism & Realism

Sanford Meisner said “Acting is about what you get off the other guy.” Most actors think they will control the direction of the scene. This is backwards. They must remain vulnerable and unsure, allowing their scene partner to influence them. If you anticipate or know the next moment, you’ve failed as an actor.

We’re always curious as to how young actors prepares for a scene. Most run to memorize and try to get a good feel as to how they think the scene should go. In most cases, the scene will never go the way you think it should go. Let’s let go of that thought right now. An actor’s focus is simple. There’s something you need from your scene partner in every scene. You must focus on that alone, and go for it. There’s no need to focus on volume, pacing or choices ahead of time. Let’s understand our given circumstances in each scene, and fill in the blanks where we need to in order to get a full understanding of the scene.

In this class, ATNY’s Top coaches will help the young actor focus and learn how to prepare and understand copy, so when you get an audition, you’ll have the tools to move forward, analyze and attack the material in the right way. We’ll explore an actor’s objective, the conflict in each scene, and interesting ways of getting what you need in a scene. In addition, our focus will be on the other guy, as actor’s learn to not control the scene; rather, to allow the scene on unfold in a spontaneous moment to moment way. Actor’s typically begins acting in ‘performance mode.’ We will not. We will begin with mere ‘presence’ and we learn to lose control, and react to what’s affecting us. Thank you Sanford Meisner. By the end of this class, all actors will be at the very least, a step or two beyond where they are now, and will a fuller understanding of good acting.

ATNY will use dramatic and comedic scene copy to explore components of both genre’s. If you’re a bit nervous and vulnerable when you come into class, that’s exactly where we want you. We’ll learn to observe and explore together, to create more natural and realistic scene choices.