On meisner Training today (at our studio)
The Actors Space is a home for actors to grow in an environment of trust and support to become the best artist they can be.
And as art is an expression of ones personality we have a holistic approach to acting. Investing into all aspects of being human: body, mind, soul. We believe in commitment, playfulness, courage in your choices and integrity as a foundation for inspiration and creativity. The actors art and craft.
And as art is an expression of ones personality we have a holistic approach to acting. Investing into all aspects of being human: body, mind, soul. We believe in commitment, playfulness, courage in your choices and integrity as a foundation for inspiration and creativity. The actors art and craft.
The Meisner technique is like many others relatively old by now, fifty to seventy years with its pique in the 50s to 90s. Now we have 2020. We cannot pretend we haven’t changed since and we shouldn’t, who would want that. Our awareness has changed, our consciousness has evolved. We allow ourselves much more of our emotional life, our feelings. We are connected differently, our habits have changed, our ideas of gender, behaviour has changed, communication has changed, we are more direct, we are challenging each other more, have a faster pace, higher intensity I believe. We want more truth in our lives, we question our values. No wonder our acting training has to change as well to reflect that. As an acting teacher I see my responsibility in helping to bring forth the truth of the actor because in the end that is what he/ she has to give.
Yes, we call ourselves a Meisner Studio but actually it isn’t anymore. I believe in the foundation he laid out but I allow myself to build on them like every other teacher should build on the techniques he has learned and develops his own signature technique based on his personality. That is my responsibility and joy. I feel myself like an artist working with actors, learning with them. So I am sorry for everyone who says he is teaching “original Meisner” (or any other technique for that matter). I wonder if they are still writing on a type writer and send letters?
I am happy to develop and discover even myself deeper through exploring new ways of teaching, new exercises, to see and feel myself challenged to open myself up to new possibilities, to a new way of training, to new insights. That is my job. And I love my job.
Compare it to soccer. Soccer today is not trained and played as it was in the 50s or 70s or even 2014. We saw how that goes if you believe as a world champion you can continue to play the same way in 2018. And off you go. Soccer in essence stayed the same, there are 22 players, two goals and one ball. But the style and demands change almost every season. Why should it be different for acting? For art in general? That is the fun of it. Creativity. That’s what is so enjoyable about every art form, about being human, being truthful to who you are now and not what you have been yesterday. You have changed (hopefully). Drama in essence hasn’t changed over the last few thousand years. We reflect ourselves through drama. We allow ourselves to see who we are and who we can be. That hasn’t changed. But society has changed, consequently our questions have changed as well, our conflicts and it should go without saying that acting needs to reflect that and of course the acting training/ coaching to help the actor achieve being truthful, being the mirror to the audience.
First we have to find out who you are. The actor. Who are you? And only when that is allowed to be, and you own your truth, understanding your unique perspective on life can you bring that sense of truthfulness to a character. Owning that character truthfully. Doing him/ her justice. How could you play a character truthfully if you are not honest to yourself? It will always be based on your preferences (what you like about yourself will be emphasised and what not will most likely stay hidden). That can only be a fragmented life. That is why the first part of our training is about you. What I am attempting is to find out who you are. And every actor that walks through our studio door is a new challenge. It is a new possibility to work together and explore. That is the reason why I think I will never stop doing that. I don’t think it is job where you retire. The older you get and hopefully the more you can let go of your ego (let it retire) the better observer you become as a teacher, the more you feel intuitively what is going on. It keeps me on my toes, it keeps me alive. So, who are you? What do you want from this wonderful profession and what do you have to give? We live in amazing times. We live in a time and culture where we are given the opportunity to take care of ourselves and be who we want to be - as individuals and together with each other. We had never a time where we were as free to be who we want to be and express ourselves. That is who we have to be in acting. We are the spearhead in art, in theater and movie. We have to demonstrate that possibility. What it means in our times to be human.
If you want it comfortable don’t get into acting. Acting - like life - begins outside the comfort zone but unlike life it is intensified, it is about the moments where we want change or are forced to change, where we are called to be who we can be.
I am astonished by how many actors are not aware of the necessity to live through the moments. They want to play pretend but that doesn’t work. You are not paid to protect yourself - that I can do for myself - but to be vulnerable and live the experience so the audience can identify with you.
I can help you discovering and working with your talent and potential but I can not act or live for you. I cannot experience for you. My experience serves my purpose and you have to open yourself up for yours. Embrace life so you can give of yourself.
The point for acting training is not that you become a famous actor but that you connect with yourself and own yourself wholly with all your qualities and flaws and then, when you own yourself and you still desire and decide to become successful in the outer world - once you have mastered yourself - it very likely will happen.
Ultimately in life as in acting you want to transcend acting into being. Just being is enough - and it takes your full commitment to achieve that state.
André Bolouri
Yes, we call ourselves a Meisner Studio but actually it isn’t anymore. I believe in the foundation he laid out but I allow myself to build on them like every other teacher should build on the techniques he has learned and develops his own signature technique based on his personality. That is my responsibility and joy. I feel myself like an artist working with actors, learning with them. So I am sorry for everyone who says he is teaching “original Meisner” (or any other technique for that matter). I wonder if they are still writing on a type writer and send letters?
I am happy to develop and discover even myself deeper through exploring new ways of teaching, new exercises, to see and feel myself challenged to open myself up to new possibilities, to a new way of training, to new insights. That is my job. And I love my job.
Compare it to soccer. Soccer today is not trained and played as it was in the 50s or 70s or even 2014. We saw how that goes if you believe as a world champion you can continue to play the same way in 2018. And off you go. Soccer in essence stayed the same, there are 22 players, two goals and one ball. But the style and demands change almost every season. Why should it be different for acting? For art in general? That is the fun of it. Creativity. That’s what is so enjoyable about every art form, about being human, being truthful to who you are now and not what you have been yesterday. You have changed (hopefully). Drama in essence hasn’t changed over the last few thousand years. We reflect ourselves through drama. We allow ourselves to see who we are and who we can be. That hasn’t changed. But society has changed, consequently our questions have changed as well, our conflicts and it should go without saying that acting needs to reflect that and of course the acting training/ coaching to help the actor achieve being truthful, being the mirror to the audience.
First we have to find out who you are. The actor. Who are you? And only when that is allowed to be, and you own your truth, understanding your unique perspective on life can you bring that sense of truthfulness to a character. Owning that character truthfully. Doing him/ her justice. How could you play a character truthfully if you are not honest to yourself? It will always be based on your preferences (what you like about yourself will be emphasised and what not will most likely stay hidden). That can only be a fragmented life. That is why the first part of our training is about you. What I am attempting is to find out who you are. And every actor that walks through our studio door is a new challenge. It is a new possibility to work together and explore. That is the reason why I think I will never stop doing that. I don’t think it is job where you retire. The older you get and hopefully the more you can let go of your ego (let it retire) the better observer you become as a teacher, the more you feel intuitively what is going on. It keeps me on my toes, it keeps me alive. So, who are you? What do you want from this wonderful profession and what do you have to give? We live in amazing times. We live in a time and culture where we are given the opportunity to take care of ourselves and be who we want to be - as individuals and together with each other. We had never a time where we were as free to be who we want to be and express ourselves. That is who we have to be in acting. We are the spearhead in art, in theater and movie. We have to demonstrate that possibility. What it means in our times to be human.
If you want it comfortable don’t get into acting. Acting - like life - begins outside the comfort zone but unlike life it is intensified, it is about the moments where we want change or are forced to change, where we are called to be who we can be.
I am astonished by how many actors are not aware of the necessity to live through the moments. They want to play pretend but that doesn’t work. You are not paid to protect yourself - that I can do for myself - but to be vulnerable and live the experience so the audience can identify with you.
I can help you discovering and working with your talent and potential but I can not act or live for you. I cannot experience for you. My experience serves my purpose and you have to open yourself up for yours. Embrace life so you can give of yourself.
The point for acting training is not that you become a famous actor but that you connect with yourself and own yourself wholly with all your qualities and flaws and then, when you own yourself and you still desire and decide to become successful in the outer world - once you have mastered yourself - it very likely will happen.
Ultimately in life as in acting you want to transcend acting into being. Just being is enough - and it takes your full commitment to achieve that state.
André Bolouri