What is Method Acting:
What is “Method Acting”? If one listens to either its critics or supporters it is a form of acting where the actor mystically “becomes” the character or tries to somehow literally live the character in life. Like all clichés, both explanations are false.
The secret to moving the passions in others is to be moved oneself
The actor is capable of doing this by bringing to mind “visions” [sensory images] of experiences in life which are no longer present.
In previous centuries, what we now know as “Method Acting” was called “feeling the role”, “Romantic acting”, “emotional acting”, “divine inspiration”, “the muses”, etc. These poetic terms attempted to describe the organic process of creativity the talented actor follows when the goal of all good acting is achieved: (re)experiencing the fiction of the story as if it were true and happening now.
In short, good acting is when the actor’s work ultimately leads to organic (re)experiencing on stage or before the camera and bad acting is when the actor’s efforts seek or resign themselves to merely physically indicating the thoughts, feelings, desires and behavior of the character.
For my students:
I hope you enjoy what I call "food for thought".
love,
Jackie
