Today I shall be attending a training session at a studio I first studied at some six years ago, the Actors Temple in London. My first experience of this venue was a nine-day 'Intensive' introduction to the Meisner Technique. 'Intensive' hardly does it justice. It was by far the most challenging course I have undertaken since I came into the world of acting; a kind of SAS Special Forces training for would be Thespians! I remember sobbing my heart out in a exercise on the final day, and yet felt I had released a part of my soul that had hitherto lain dormant all my life.
The course was lead by Simon Furness-Gibbon, whose style was sometimes confrontational, but always very challenging and thought-provoking; and it was something that Simon said that has remained with me ever since.
During an exercise I was taking part in, I commented to him about my family, saying: "out there, in real life...",
Simon immediately said: "This is real life in here, Clark"...
Of course, he was right. And his words lie at the very foundation of Sanford Meisner's wonderful technique. Actors do not pretend. They behave truthfully under imaginary circumstances.
I am looking forward to some 'Real Life' later today...
The course was lead by Simon Furness-Gibbon, whose style was sometimes confrontational, but always very challenging and thought-provoking; and it was something that Simon said that has remained with me ever since.
During an exercise I was taking part in, I commented to him about my family, saying: "out there, in real life...",
Simon immediately said: "This is real life in here, Clark"...
Of course, he was right. And his words lie at the very foundation of Sanford Meisner's wonderful technique. Actors do not pretend. They behave truthfully under imaginary circumstances.
I am looking forward to some 'Real Life' later today...
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