tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177899598425985108.post5778715309355795578..comments2024-02-23T04:19:46.127-05:00Comments on The Seeing Place Theater - Blog : The Basics of Acting Technique: Part SixErin Cronicanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15913894629937435170noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177899598425985108.post-80765076076370046622012-06-02T01:39:29.674-04:002012-06-02T01:39:29.674-04:00Thank you so much, Ben! I just left my thoughts fo...Thank you so much, Ben! I just left my thoughts for you on the blog. I hope everyone gets a chance to stop by! :)Erin Cronicanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15913894629937435170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177899598425985108.post-89695505159924858532012-06-01T23:48:59.355-04:002012-06-01T23:48:59.355-04:00I feel the same way about relaxation. There were t...I feel the same way about relaxation. There were times when we were doing CLOSER that I'd be sitting alone in my scene on stage in the last scene of Act I (it's the split scene with Anna/Larry & Alice/Dan.) Larry would be off stage and I'd be alone in my thoughts, even though there were other characters living through their circumstances on the other side of the stage. Staying within my own reality was hard, particularly because my character was at the height of crisis. There were some nights when I was having trouble keeping my focus on my work. But every time, without fail, if I relaxed my body it allowed what I was feeling to be fully expressed, and by the time the actor playing Larry reentered the scene, I was fully in my reality. Relaxation was everything for me.Erin Cronicanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15913894629937435170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177899598425985108.post-11788532663110586042012-06-01T23:45:23.763-04:002012-06-01T23:45:23.763-04:00This is amazing! Can't wait to read it.This is amazing! Can't wait to read it.Erin Cronicanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15913894629937435170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177899598425985108.post-43420481100828194642012-06-01T23:44:36.437-04:002012-06-01T23:44:36.437-04:00So glad you enjoyed it- thanks for commenting!So glad you enjoyed it- thanks for commenting!Erin Cronicanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15913894629937435170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177899598425985108.post-89547285791099972882012-06-01T23:44:12.739-04:002012-06-01T23:44:12.739-04:00For me, I think that technique is something that w...For me, I think that technique is something that we anchor to when we need it, but still have the freedom to explore and expand when needed. I think that a solid foundation in one technique gives us the ability to feel free while still giving us the needed structure. <br /><br />And... I also had a hard time with An Actor Prepares. :-/Erin Cronicanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15913894629937435170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177899598425985108.post-73339732584308383542012-06-01T23:42:17.027-04:002012-06-01T23:42:17.027-04:00Thanks for your thoughts, Bruce! It's great to...Thanks for your thoughts, Bruce! It's great to hear your perspective - thanks for bringing your training and experience into the conversation!Erin Cronicanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15913894629937435170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177899598425985108.post-79084069122021820902012-05-31T21:34:51.160-04:002012-05-31T21:34:51.160-04:00My full response to this well-timed blog series ca...My full response to this well-timed blog series can be found here: http://benhodgestudios.blogspot.com/2012/05/acting-theory-sidetrack-i.html<br /> Thanks to Erin and Brandon for starting the conversation! Cheers.Ben Hodgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15370453516735877645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177899598425985108.post-4191292310260477762012-05-31T16:16:23.840-04:002012-05-31T16:16:23.840-04:00Wow, Stanislavski is (was) the man! I still refer...Wow, Stanislavski is (was) the man! I still reference my battered 'An Actor Prepares' when breaking down scripts and navigating through objectives. However, I always have to be careful not to get too analytical...it is easy to find mucho objectives and then my brain becomes clogged and instead of being human onstage, I'm a puppet in the hands of my own pre-meditation. The objective work really is great for me and how I approach my work, but now I try to keep my guideposts to a minimum, and remember that many objectives are actually subconscious, and to acknowledge those briefly, then hope that they will remain once identified.<br /><br />It seems like a major thread through the blogs has been RELAXATION. When we're relaxed, that's when the subconscious can play! And if we've done our homework during rehearsals (but not too much!) our subconscious will have a foundation from which to build. Brandon, what are relaxation exercises that work for you?Ariel Francoeurnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177899598425985108.post-37922643805869121382012-05-31T15:21:00.312-04:002012-05-31T15:21:00.312-04:00What a well-thought out series! I am working on a...What a well-thought out series! I am working on a more detailed response as I started responding only to find that I was composing a mini-blog myself. So much to talk about with this and I value you starting the discussion! I'll let you know when my full response is ready. Cheers!Ben Hodgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15370453516735877645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177899598425985108.post-597489122052945152012-05-31T15:19:40.125-04:002012-05-31T15:19:40.125-04:00Thanks for the great series on acting techniques. ...Thanks for the great series on acting techniques. It makes me want to learn more about the various approaches that have been developed. Having studied primarily at HB Studio, I am most familiar with Hagen’s work and use it the most. However, for good or bad, as I am introduced to them I find myself picking up bits and pieces of other techniques that I think are useful to me. The thing that I have noticed most are the similarities between many of these techniques, often using different terms for similar concepts and placing emphasis on different aspects of training. <br />I once told a non-actor friend that the reason I love acting is because it engages me totally – intellectually, emotionally, spiritually and physically. The overview presented through this series touches on all these aspects of human existence.Michael Claynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177899598425985108.post-32665895466624698962012-05-30T19:08:36.126-04:002012-05-30T19:08:36.126-04:00I loved these replies. Yes I agree erin you have t...I loved these replies. Yes I agree erin you have to find yourself. I once spoke to a broadway actress who had just come off a national tour and she told me (she was also a meisner trained actor as I am) that technique from different schools help but sooner or later you have to come up with your own technique or you will not thrive.Mr nicholls is absolutely right craft should set one free and why should one get caught up in a guru mentallity. Anybody who can quote aristotle has got my attention. And thanks for describing your challenges with stanislavski because I tried reading an actor prepares and it was quite a challenge for me. But after reading your 5th piece I am inspired to give it the old fashioned college try one more time.ned lynchnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177899598425985108.post-44146224259878036792012-05-30T18:25:49.117-04:002012-05-30T18:25:49.117-04:00...so, i guess..the answer, as w/ most things, is ......so, i guess..the answer, as w/ most things, is be socratic, even w/ socrates, as in my aphorism/axiom,<br /> "the more man knows,<br />the more man knows,<br />man doesn't know".<br />..manifest in a conflation of that most socratic character, the afore-mentioned messr hamlet, "by thinking too finely upon th' point, we lose th' name of action"..k, i'll stop now (says he to voices in head" :))Bruce Nichollsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177899598425985108.post-3826221666524898942012-05-30T18:15:49.533-04:002012-05-30T18:15:49.533-04:00...although, an interesting addendum to mr. hamlet......although, an interesting addendum to mr. hamlets advise, "um, nice advise, sir,..but, ah..in regard to th' speakin' trippingly on th' tongue....your advise is rendered in prose, how does/would manifest in verse?.." <<<cheeky bugger! :=/Bruce Nichollsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177899598425985108.post-5730779250070132792012-05-30T18:09:38.583-04:002012-05-30T18:09:38.583-04:00.....'course there's many acting aphorism&........'course there's many acting aphorism's that apply....poss. best "bridge" 'tween s/lavsky 'n strasberg, was the formers protege, vaktangov, "acting is turning psychology into behaviour", this also marries meisner's "living truthfully under imaginary circumstances"..but either way, avoid the danger of dogma, 'n turnin' mere people into guru's..ultimately, craft should set one free, being the predicate for flight, as'twere..this, ultimately, is one's own, not another's borrowed learning...also, remember s/lavski's precurser, hamlet, 'n advice to players.."speak the speech..." all this me humble opinion.. :=/Bruce Nichollsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177899598425985108.post-32314083494610823132012-05-30T17:38:42.994-04:002012-05-30T17:38:42.994-04:00I agree that we need to have explored ourselves an...I agree that we need to have explored ourselves and the craft in order to determine what actually works for us. I'm excited to read the conclusion to the series.Erin Cronicanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15913894629937435170noreply@blogger.com