Acting: Classical vs. Methodical
Ed Thiede Period 6
Giordano Theater
9/29/13
Classical v. Method
Life's like a play: it's not the length, but the excellence of the acting that matters. -Lucius Annaeus Seneca Technical and method acting are the two types of acting that we have discussed in class. Technical acting focus on an actor's ability to play a part, while method acting is when the actor literally plays the part until the movie is over; even if the camera has stopped rolling. Both forms are considered to be acting, and both forms have created many masterpieces, such as James Stewart in “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” for classical acting, and Daniel Day-Lewis in “Lincoln” for method acting.
Classical acting is the original form of acting in movies and plays that was originally an acting system created by Russian actor and director Constantin Stanislavski during the late 1800s, and was very popular in the early to middle 1900s. The system that he created consisted of both script analysis and personal exploration in order to find “the truth” of a prat, or what would be considered truthful with the actor when playing the part either onstage or on the air (tv show/ movie). The system was based on expressing and responding the actor’s body to detailed character portrayal, as well as addressing the creation of an inner life. Mr. Stanislavski’s guide to acting and his ideas and beliefs on how to become a great method actor were published in a book in 1936 called An Actor Prepares. It included certain steps such as, “an emphasis on physical acting, or physical actions. Imagination as a way to find character and relate to other actors. The super-objective and ‘through line of actions’ in analyzing the script, including the main essence. Exploring subtext. Personalizing through affective memory--from real-life and imagined experiences.” He also included a couple of “games” for the actors to prpeare before rehearsal or auditioning, such as doing improvisation in certain situations, and having
Giordano Theater
9/29/13
Classical v. Method
Life's like a play: it's not the length, but the excellence of the acting that matters. -Lucius Annaeus Seneca Technical and method acting are the two types of acting that we have discussed in class. Technical acting focus on an actor's ability to play a part, while method acting is when the actor literally plays the part until the movie is over; even if the camera has stopped rolling. Both forms are considered to be acting, and both forms have created many masterpieces, such as James Stewart in “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” for classical acting, and Daniel Day-Lewis in “Lincoln” for method acting.
Classical acting is the original form of acting in movies and plays that was originally an acting system created by Russian actor and director Constantin Stanislavski during the late 1800s, and was very popular in the early to middle 1900s. The system that he created consisted of both script analysis and personal exploration in order to find “the truth” of a prat, or what would be considered truthful with the actor when playing the part either onstage or on the air (tv show/ movie). The system was based on expressing and responding the actor’s body to detailed character portrayal, as well as addressing the creation of an inner life. Mr. Stanislavski’s guide to acting and his ideas and beliefs on how to become a great method actor were published in a book in 1936 called An Actor Prepares. It included certain steps such as, “an emphasis on physical acting, or physical actions. Imagination as a way to find character and relate to other actors. The super-objective and ‘through line of actions’ in analyzing the script, including the main essence. Exploring subtext. Personalizing through affective memory--from real-life and imagined experiences.” He also included a couple of “games” for the actors to prpeare before rehearsal or auditioning, such as doing improvisation in certain situations, and having