Basic Relaxation

At the Actors Studio, it was understood that the amount of expectation in the actor would lead to a result fixation, or the desire to be "good", which in turn deepens tension.

Physical and mental tension (Stage Fright) was recognized by Stanislavski as the biggest barrier to an actor's creativity. Lee Strasberg developed the exercise of Basic Relaxation as the foundation on which all work at the Actors Studio was built. This specific exercise focuses on the release of both forms of tension, mental & physical, relaxing you to take on whatever task is presented to you.

Sensory Work

From a state of relaxation the actor can now focus on truthful experiences to channel into the structure of the character. The development of sense memory was to maintain and deepen the actor's sense of truth beyond the desire to succeed, or their fear of failure.

Starting with personal sensory exercises the work expands to the component of improvisation, which develops the use of expression and revelation through voice (Sound/Text/ Speaking out), and physical action. Acting upon thoughts, impulses and emotions, stimulated by your sensory tools, in this active inspired state you develop the skill of channeling these truthful experiences creatively.

These tools nurture The Creative State of Being. Anyone can read a script, but as the job of an actor is to reveal how and why a character takes an action. Without this creative life, a play or film becomes a physical reading, leaving the work of an actor stiff and unbelievable. When only 10% of communication is words, an actor can't act - without real life creatively channeled into the imaginary circumstances.

Expanding from working with your instrument (the term used by Stanislavski to define the actor) we bring in Text, Character and the imaginary given circumstances of the Script. In scene class you start to apply the tools learnt in technique, as well as utilizing what you are already bringing to your work - working on how you, the actor, make the bridge to the character and how do you enter into the moment creatively.

As you come to acting with your individual history, you will bring to the craft your own assets and habits. Scene class is where such habits are addressed and your assets enhanced. As your choices and actions set up the results, each action taken in your current creative process is up for examination. We examine how you see, approach, and execute the task of acting.

This unfolding interaction develops both your understanding of the craft and industry of acting as well as empowering you with a conscious ability to access your true potential on cue, making your creative ideas a living reality. Working from your current ideas you develop and evolve an affective and creative execution, which expands from the instinctive to a full rounded and empowered methodology