Method Studio drama classes
Thu, 24 Apr 2003, 12:08 amStevelee7 posts in thread
Method Studio drama classes
Thu, 24 Apr 2003, 12:08 amPlaces are still availbale on the Method Studio drama courses. Anyone who is interested in either the acting Through Improvisation or Advanced Scene/Shakespeare courses should get in touch a.s.a.p. as this next set of classes begin on May 3rd.
Full details available under The Method Studio or in the Auditions section.
Full details available under The Method Studio or in the Auditions section.
Re: Teaching Method
Mon, 28 Apr 2003, 01:08 pmHi Everyone,
This "those who can do..." comment I also find very annoying. It seems to suggest that acting teachers are a kind of lesser-talented sub species of "real" actors. In fact they are quite a different beast altogether. Teaching, acting, and directing too, are all very different and specialised skills. Quite often cross-over occurs, but it is by no means universal. I saw Beryl Reid (an extremely talented and wonderfully funny comic actress) give a Masterclass on Comic Acting. Just about everything she said seemed to me to be wrong, or ill-thought out. Instinctively, she is brilliant, when she comes to analyse her art, it all falls apart.
So why, the question seems to be, should an actor analyse at all? Why not go solely on instinct? The problem is, that there will come a time, or a part, when instinct fails, and that is when the actor should be able to examine the reasons for this, and work on them. The more an actor advances, the more challenging the roles he or she plays, the MORE that they are likely to need this kind of skill. If all you do is drive around town, you may never need to look under the bonnet of your car. Drive across Australia however, and not to have some mechanical understanding would be foolish.
Good teachers, like good directors, should be found and cherished. I have been acting for nearly thirty years and I am still learning. I think of some of the people who taught and inspired me: Alfred Emmett at Questors...a truly incredible man of the theatre, with a razor-sharp mind; Cecil Hayter, who added the heart to Alfred's intellect and taught me how to feel as well as think; or Jimmy Chin, whose passion and enthusiasm inspired me as a young man. I agree heartily with Craig and Kerri (whom I have also seen be wonderfully inspiring) here: these people are not just failed actors or time serving wannabees....they are in a class of their own (excuse pun) and should be judged so.
This "those who can do..." comment I also find very annoying. It seems to suggest that acting teachers are a kind of lesser-talented sub species of "real" actors. In fact they are quite a different beast altogether. Teaching, acting, and directing too, are all very different and specialised skills. Quite often cross-over occurs, but it is by no means universal. I saw Beryl Reid (an extremely talented and wonderfully funny comic actress) give a Masterclass on Comic Acting. Just about everything she said seemed to me to be wrong, or ill-thought out. Instinctively, she is brilliant, when she comes to analyse her art, it all falls apart.
So why, the question seems to be, should an actor analyse at all? Why not go solely on instinct? The problem is, that there will come a time, or a part, when instinct fails, and that is when the actor should be able to examine the reasons for this, and work on them. The more an actor advances, the more challenging the roles he or she plays, the MORE that they are likely to need this kind of skill. If all you do is drive around town, you may never need to look under the bonnet of your car. Drive across Australia however, and not to have some mechanical understanding would be foolish.
Good teachers, like good directors, should be found and cherished. I have been acting for nearly thirty years and I am still learning. I think of some of the people who taught and inspired me: Alfred Emmett at Questors...a truly incredible man of the theatre, with a razor-sharp mind; Cecil Hayter, who added the heart to Alfred's intellect and taught me how to feel as well as think; or Jimmy Chin, whose passion and enthusiasm inspired me as a young man. I agree heartily with Craig and Kerri (whom I have also seen be wonderfully inspiring) here: these people are not just failed actors or time serving wannabees....they are in a class of their own (excuse pun) and should be judged so.