The benefits of a movement class for a Meisner trained actor cannot be emphasized enough. Serious actors looking to improve their physical technique find movement acting classes very important to the process. Movement classes are important to serious actors. These classes help actors improve their physical performance technique. Actors are physical beings, whose movement technique, and sense of physical space need to be expanded, softened and heightened if they are to perform well.
Meisner work is intense and a movement class can go a long way to help support an actor's full immersion into imaginary yet, truthful circumstances, which is what the Meisner technique is about. Often, actor's tense up while performing, thinking too hard about their lines and a movement class helps them soften and open up more to the performance. As a physical artist, a tight, closed off body and face affects the quality of the emotional responses of the actor. No serious actor can afford to allow themselves to be closed off to all that is happening around them, especially physically.
It can be unusual to find an actor who is keyed into their physical surroundings to such a degree that they remain open to all that is going on in their environment. Meisner actors are intent on reaching a state of full physical openness to their physical surroundings a technique of the movement class. We all develop physical habits as we relate to others, physical habits often borne out of our emotional state. Actor's that tense up, find that anxiety has affected their body and their movement. A movement habit, such as this, impacts the emotional depth of our interactions. This can be highly constricting for a Meisner trained actor as they try to develop their craft. Benefiting greatly from a movement class, the Meisner actor can break old existing physical habits, which creates room for the physical habits of the character they are creating.
It is important not to define the phrase movement training in too narrow a sense. Movement cannot be preconceived. Initially, movement technique should be about developing an awareness of how one moves physically as they relate to other people and the space around them.
Another misconception is that physical movement for an actor relates only to the body. In fact, movement relates to the body, to facial expression, body language and perhaps most importantly an awareness of sound. An actor moving around a space, the voices of other actor's, your sound as you inhabit a space can also contribute to a great performance. Listening fully, being completely aware of the voice, relating to the voices of the other actors is also part of movement training.
A constricted physical condition affects the voice. An expanded voice quality may not be the best thing for a performance and physical constriction can help produce the correct voice. Actor's that understand the finer points of movement and its relation to the emotional quality of a performance will become an exceptional actor. Actors trained to use their physical selves with movement training can enhance their emotional performances, making them more human and authentic. Developing an awareness of movement and its affect on the authenticity of a performance, makes for a more human actor and a great one.
Meisner work is intense and a movement class can go a long way to help support an actor's full immersion into imaginary yet, truthful circumstances, which is what the Meisner technique is about. Often, actor's tense up while performing, thinking too hard about their lines and a movement class helps them soften and open up more to the performance. As a physical artist, a tight, closed off body and face affects the quality of the emotional responses of the actor. No serious actor can afford to allow themselves to be closed off to all that is happening around them, especially physically.
It can be unusual to find an actor who is keyed into their physical surroundings to such a degree that they remain open to all that is going on in their environment. Meisner actors are intent on reaching a state of full physical openness to their physical surroundings a technique of the movement class. We all develop physical habits as we relate to others, physical habits often borne out of our emotional state. Actor's that tense up, find that anxiety has affected their body and their movement. A movement habit, such as this, impacts the emotional depth of our interactions. This can be highly constricting for a Meisner trained actor as they try to develop their craft. Benefiting greatly from a movement class, the Meisner actor can break old existing physical habits, which creates room for the physical habits of the character they are creating.
It is important not to define the phrase movement training in too narrow a sense. Movement cannot be preconceived. Initially, movement technique should be about developing an awareness of how one moves physically as they relate to other people and the space around them.
Another misconception is that physical movement for an actor relates only to the body. In fact, movement relates to the body, to facial expression, body language and perhaps most importantly an awareness of sound. An actor moving around a space, the voices of other actor's, your sound as you inhabit a space can also contribute to a great performance. Listening fully, being completely aware of the voice, relating to the voices of the other actors is also part of movement training.
A constricted physical condition affects the voice. An expanded voice quality may not be the best thing for a performance and physical constriction can help produce the correct voice. Actor's that understand the finer points of movement and its relation to the emotional quality of a performance will become an exceptional actor. Actors trained to use their physical selves with movement training can enhance their emotional performances, making them more human and authentic. Developing an awareness of movement and its affect on the authenticity of a performance, makes for a more human actor and a great one.
About the Author:
Maggie Flanigan Studio provides movement training for serious actors. To learn more about how you can improve your auditions with movement training you can watch this short video: movement technique- improving your auditions.
