What is acting Is it real or is it phony The ability to create complete reality while on stage Function of the Actor Take the character created by the playwright and turn him into a living breathing human being ID: 524476
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Slide1
Introduction to ActingSlide2
What is acting?
Is it real or is it phony?
The ability to create complete reality while on stage.Slide3
Function of the Actor
Take the character created by the playwright and turn him into a living breathing human being
The
Actor
is the
artist
Character
is the work of art Slide4
Two Approaches to Acting
External: Create the character through
external signs: gestures, posture, body language.
Internal: The character grows from
within the actor Slide5
Delsarte
System
Created by Francois
Delsarte
(1811-1871)
He
believed a character’s emotions could be projected by a formal set of gestures, postures and physical attitudes
Popular
in the late 19th century
Used
by the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and Emerson’s School of Oratory Slide6
Constantin
Stanislavski
(1863
-
1938)
Russian
Actor
Director
of the
Moscow
Art Theatre
Developer of “The Method” approach to actor training
Author of four books on acting Slide7
Lee Strasberg
(
1901
-
1982)
The Actor’s Studio
was founded in 1947
by
Elia
Kazan
Master Teacher: Lee Strasburg
First major Broadway production to use “The Method:” A Streetcar Named Desire
Directed by
Elia
Kazan
Stared Marlon Brando, the Actor Studio’s first major “star” Slide8
The
Stanislavskian
Method
Trained body
and voice
Know stage technique
Skilled observer of life
Analyze the script
Emotionally involved with the character
Concentrate on the character
Continually work on your art Slide9
Trained Body and Voice
Body must be able to respond to the demands of the character
Actor must be able to project to the back of the house
Acting should appear to be “effortless”
Actor takes voice lessons
Actor takes fencing lessons
Slide10
Stage Technique
Adapting everyday life to the conventions of the theatre
Opening a door
Pointing (
gesture)
Making a turn
Talking on the phone
Sitting in a chair
Firing a gun Slide11
Skilled Observer of Life
An actor watches people
Observation
is one of his primary research tools
He
builds his character (external) from these observations Slide12
Play Analysis
Text: The lines written by the playwright
Sub-text: The meaning behind those lines
Spine: The character’s major goal
Motivation (Verb): What is the character attempting to achieve with each line of dialogue.
Active verbs: To belittle, To challenge, To avoid... Slide13
Emotional Involvement
Emotional recall: Recalling an experience
from
your
past.
The
“Magical If”: Asking yourself, “If I was the character, what would I do” Slide14
Concentration
An actor must concentrate on the character he is creating
He
must ignore everything else that is happening around him
An
actor must continually work on his art Slide15
An Actor’s Greatest Challenge
Make each performance new and fresh
Make
the audience believe that this is the first time this event has occurred
How
? By listening and responding honestly