ON CAMERA 18” DEEPER

What is the difference between your eyes and your heart?

18 inches.

Constantin Stanislavski's system proposed that a series of physical actions arranged in sequential order would trigger the necessary emotions in an actor's performance.
Stella Adler suggests that actors use real observations to fuel their imagination and create three-dimensional characters. Lee Strasberg’s method requires actors to go beyond emotional memory and use a technique called “Substitution” to temporarily become the characters they are portraying. Sanford Meisner’s Meisner approach focuses on helping actors to "get out of their head" by behaving instinctively to the surrounding environment.

One of the tools I noticed over the last decade and a half working and teaching from Michael Shurtleff’s 12 Guideposts, that is seldom spoken of and rarely used, is the value of love in our quest to perfect our skill. In his GUIDEPOST ONE: RELATIONSHIP he discusses love. “Find the love in the scene”. For example, the presence of love, the absence of love, betrayal of love etc. Ask the question: What do I love about this person? What do I hate about this person? The problem in the relationship is always with other person. The “I’m Okay, You’re Screwed Up” approach. Shurtleff then moves on to the remaining guideposts.

Where I’ve found great success in acting, and teaching acting, is teaching the art in your heart. You have something to say. You can’t put your finger on it but you know in your heart there’s a burning passion to address it. Reveal it. Let it out. And the only way to do that is to travel the 18 inches from your eyes to your heart. This ten week class will change your life and expand your artistry.