| As a method acting coach, I am often asked this | | | | The Method is about recreating the reality of real |
| question. The thing is, there has been so much | | | | life as accurately as possible. It is about capturing |
| reported on the technique, that it can be hard for | | | | humanity in its fullest, most expressive form and |
| the untrained eye to understand what the | | | | turning it into a piece of theatre or a film. |
| approach is all about. | | | | The Method also takes no prisoners. It's not the |
| Many years ago I was discussing this with my old | | | | easiest of techniques, but then again, most things |
| mentor who described it as 'the reality of truth | | | | in life that are worth having don't come easy. |
| brought into performance'. | | | | They generally require hard work, but the |
| Nice quote, but how on earth is this achieved? | | | | rewards are there for those who are willing to |
| Well, in the main, the actor has to do a challenging | | | | commit themselves. |
| acting training which involves acting courses | | | | Method acting classes bring together the inner |
| focused on bringing the authentic 'you' into your | | | | emotions and experiences of characters together |
| work. | | | | with the external elements. By 'external' I mean, |
| Many people think that Method Acting is all about | | | | predominately, how the character walks and talks. |
| being 'natural'. This isn't quite true. It's all about | | | | Some say that The Method is an emotion-only |
| being 'real'. Ellen Burstyn, co-president of the | | | | technique, but that's untrue. This sort of opinion is |
| Actors Studio in New York, described the | | | | usually propagated by people untrained in the |
| difference between being 'natural' and being 'real' | | | | technique who form their own opinion based on |
| as the same as being 'asleep' and being 'awake' | | | | limited knowledge. |
| respectively. | | | | The Method covers all the acting bases and is |
| When aspiring actors go to drama school or acting | | | | about creating full and varied characters which are |
| school in the UK, they are predominately taught a | | | | grounded in reality. |
| technical approach, an approach that is focused on | | | | If you are someone who is obsessed with acting |
| representing the truth rather than recreating it for | | | | excellence, then there is only one technique to |
| real. | | | | consider.. and that's Method Acting. |