Ways Of Finding The Best Technique For You
Acting techniques are becoming popular know, but how do you know which is the best acting technique for you? The following are the quick pointer to help actors choose their best acting class according to their training.
The Stanislavski System
First, we should note that all acting methods taught in USA acting schools are based on the work of Constantin Stanislavski, who was a Russian actor and director. He developed an acting method to assist actors to be real on stage.
Method and Meisner
Method acting and Meisner acting are other acting techniques taught in acting schools. Both techniques were inspired by Stanislavski, and they usually help the actor to create real thoughts and also emotions on imaginary circumstances, but they normally do it very differently.
Method Acting calls on the focus inward. The actor here learns to use the five senses (sight, taste, touch, hearing, smell) to recall objects, experiences, and emotional memories. These sense memory exercises allow actors to draw from their own experiences to create the character and connect with the play.
Meisner Acting calls on the focus outward. Actors train to shift focus from themselves to their acting partners so they can react truthfully to what is happening at the moment. Actor relies on their imagination rather than their memories to prepare for a scene. (Stella Adler, another student of Stanislavski, stresses the importance of imagination in her acting technique.)
Other Acting Techniques
Stanislavski, "The Method", Meisner, Stella Adler... the above are the most heard acting techniques, but if you've already explored these acting methods and want to try something new, there are plenty of acting classes that teach lesser known techniques like Anne Bogart's Viewpoints method, Viola Spolin's improvisation technique or Tadashi Suzuki's physical training for the actor, to name a few.
Which technique to choose
Is there no method that is superior to the others? Each one of the major acting techniques have been studied and used by great actors, so one should know which one works best for him or her but not which acting technique is the best. One should be able to know what he or she will be doing in class. If are you more interested in doing a lot of solo exercises or do you respond more to improvisation and scene study? Also, consider the kind of acting you want to do.
