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Meisner technique

{{Short description|System to train actors}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}

The Meisner technique is an approach to acting developed by American theatre practitioner Sanford Meisner.{{cite book |last1=Foster |first1=Hirsch |url=http://universitypublishingonline.org/cambridge/chapter.jsf?bid=CBO9781139053761&cid=CBO9781139053761A011 |title=Actors and Acting |date=2000 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-66959-7 |edition=Hardcover |access-date=September 17, 2015}}

The goal of the Meisner approach is for the actor to not focus on themselves and instead concentrate on the other actors in the immediate environment. To this end, some exercises for the Meisner technique are rooted in repetition so that the words are deemed insignificant compared to the underlying emotion. In the Meisner technique, there is a greater focus on the other actor as opposed to one's internal thoughts or feelings associated with the character.

The Meisner technique is different from method acting taught by Lee Strasberg, although both developed from the early teachings of Konstantin Stanislavski.

Components

Meisner training is an interdependent series of training exercises that build on one another. The more complex work supports a command of dramatic text. Students work on a series of progressively complex exercises to develop an ability to first improvise, then to access an emotional life, and finally to bring the spontaneity of improvisation and the richness of personal response to textual work.{{cite web |title=Méthode Meisner |url=https://en.cie-azot.com/methode-meisner/ |access-date=November 28, 2018 |website=Compagnie AZOT |language=fr}} The techniques developed the behavioral strand of Stanislavski's. The technique is used to develop improvisation skills as well as "interpreting a script, and creating the specific physical characteristics of each character the actor played".{{cite web|title=About the Meisner Acting Technique|url=http://www.completeactorstraining.com/about.html|work=Robert Epstein's Acting Studio|publisher=Robert Epstein and the Complete Meisner-Based Actor's Training|access-date=September 18, 2015}}

An example of a technique Meisner invented to train actors' responses is called the Repetition Exercise:

In this exercise, two actors sit across from each other and respond to each other through a repeated phrase. Initially, the phrase refers to an external physical characteristic such as "You're wearing a red shirt." As the exercise progresses, it becomes more about each other's behavior, and reflects what is going on between them in the moment, such as "You look unhappy with me right now." The way this phrase is said as it is repeated changes in meaning, tone and intensity to correspond with the behavior that each actor produces towards the other. Through this device, the actor stops thinking of what to say and do, and responds more freely and spontaneously, both physically and vocally. The exercise also eliminates line readings, since the way the actor speaks becomes coordinated with his behavioral response.

About Meisner

Sanford Meisner began developing his acting technique while working with the Group Theatre alongside Lee Strasberg and Stella Adler.{{Cite journal |last=Dilekli |first=Burçak |date=2020 |title=Comperative Evaluation of Approaches of Meisner and Adler in the Context of Actor’s Perception of Reality on Stage |url=http://iupress.istanbul.edu.tr/en/journal/cons/article/meisner-ve-adlerin-oyuncunun-sahne-uzerindeki-gerceklik-algisina-yaklasimlarinin-degerlendirmesi |journal=Conservatorium |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=25–40 |doi=10.26650/CONS2020-0003}}{{Cite web |title=What is the Meisner Technique |url=https://www.theactorspulse.com.au/acting-techniques/what-is-the-meisner-technique/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=TheActors}} Over the following fifty years, he refined his approach as head of the acting program at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City and in private instruction. Throughout his career, Meisner continually revised his methodology, discarding less effective exercises and introducing new ones aimed at addressing practical challenges in actor training.{{Quote box|align=right|width=35%|quote=To be an interesting actor, you must be authentic. For you to ever be authentic, you must embrace who you really are. Do you have any idea how liberating it is to not care what people think about you? Well, that's what we're here to do. |author=Sanford Meisner, Meisner Technique Studio{{cite web|last1=Jarrett|first1=Jim|title=The Meisner Technique|url=https://themeisnertechniquestudio.com/meisner-technique/|website=Meisner Technique Studio|access-date=August 19, 2023}}}}

In 1935, Sanford Meisner, one of the founding members of The Group Theatre (along with Stella Adler, Bobby Lewis, Harold Clurman, and Lee Strasberg), joined the faculty of The Neighborhood Playhouse. Over the years, he developed and refined what is now known as the Meisner Technique, a step-by-step procedure of self-investigation for the actor now globally recognized and among the foremost of modern acting techniques.{{cite web|title=About Us|url=http://neighborhoodplayhouse.org/about/our-history|website=Neighborhood Playhouse|publisher=Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre|access-date=September 18, 2015}}

Meisner believed that the study of the actor's craft was rooted in acquiring a solid organic acting technique. It was a cornerstone of his teaching that this learning process occur not in a theoretical, abstract manner, but in the practical give and take of the classroom, where as he once said, "the students struggled to learn what I struggled to teach." Through that struggle the gifted student, over time gradually begins to emerge solidly in his or her work.

In 1980, a group of his alumni got together to preserve his teachings for future generations. Sydney Pollack directed a master class taught by Sanford Meisner. It was transferred to digital film in 2006.{{Cite web |title=Watch the Master himself… |url=https://www.themeisnercenter.com/video.html |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=The Sanford Meisner Center |language=en}}

Meisner set out his approach to actor training in a co-authored book that offers a fly-on-the-wall view of his teaching practice, Sanford Meisner: On Acting (1987).{{cite book |last1=Meisner |first1=Sanford |last2=Longwell |first2=Dennis |title=Sanford Meisner: On Acting |date=1987 |publisher=Vintage |location=New York}} More recent historical research documents his early career as a classical pianist, studying at the precursor to the Juilliard School.{{cite journal |last1=Davidson |first1=Andrew |title=The listening actor: intersections between the musicality of Meisner Technique and ear training in Dalcroze Eurhythmics |journal=Theatre, Dance and Performance Training |date=2 January 2023 |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=5–23 |doi=10.1080/19443927.2022.2152483|doi-access=free }} Several sources suggest that his musical training led Meisner to emphasise listening as the guiding principle for an actor throughout Meisner Technique.{{cite book |last1=Adair |first1=Aaron |title=Analyzing and Applying the Sanford Meisner Approach to Acting |date=2005 |publisher=University of Texas}} A biography published in 2017 offers insight into Meisner's later life with his partner James Carville and their adopted son Boolu.{{cite book |last1=Carville |first1=James |last2=Trost |first2=Scott Tilma |title=De Tree a We: The Remarkable Lives of Sanford Meisner, James Carville and Boolu |publisher=GR8 Books |location=New York}}

Practitioners

The Neighborhood Playhouse was originally founded as an off-Broadway theatre by philanthropists Alice and Irene Lewisohn in 1915. After closing in 1927, it re-opened the following year as the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, with the addition of Rita Wallach Morgenthau. Sanford Meisner, who was one of the founding members of the Group Theatre (along with Stella Adler, Bobby Lewis, Harold Clurman, and Lee Strasberg), joined the faculty of the Neighborhood Playhouse in 1935. Over the years, he developed and refined what is now known as the Meisner Technique. On October 18, 2018, the New York City Council officially recognized the 90th anniversary of the Neighborhood Playhouse, and Meisner's contributions to the school, with an official Proclamation.{{cite web|title=CM Kallos Awards Proclamation to the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre|url=https://kallos.nyc/video/cm-kallos-awards-proclamation-neighborhood-playhouse-school-theatre|date=October 18, 2018|website=Kallos.nyc|publisher=NY for Kallos|access-date=July 13, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524192825/https://kallos.nyc/video/cm-kallos-awards-proclamation-neighborhood-playhouse-school-theatre}}

The William Esper Studio was founded in 1965 as a school for the performing arts in Manhattan, New York. Its founder, William "Bill" Esper (1932–2019), is occasionally referred to as the best-known of Meisner's first generation teachers.{{cite journal |last1=Susan Coromel |year=2009 |title=The Actor's Art and Craft (review) |url=http://muse.jhu.edu/login?auth=0&type=summary&url=/journals/theatre_topics/v019/19.1.coromel.pdf |journal=Theatre Topics |publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press |volume=19 |pages=109–110 |doi=10.1353/tt.0.0058 |s2cid=191606935 |access-date=September 19, 2015}}

List of Meisner-trained actors

Actors who have trained in the Meisner technique include:

{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|

  • Alex Essoe{{Citation |title=Alex Essoe - Burning Down the Overlook |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2RNwc57mE8 |language=en |access-date=2023-08-22}}
  • Alexandra Daddario{{cite web|last=Wallace|first=Chris|title=Alexandra Daddario|url=http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/alexandra-daddario|access-date=March 3, 2015|website=Interview|date=June 2014}}
  • Amanda Setton{{cite web|url=http://www.cbs.com/shows/the-crazy-ones/video/917E956B-D492-9A11-DFCA-EF7B3B6C99F7/between-takes-at-cbs-amanda-setton|title=Between Takes at CBS — Amanda Setton |publisher=CBS |access-date=October 29, 2013}}
  • Amy Schumer{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/amy-schumer/bio/289032|title=Amy Schumer Biography |publisher=TV Guide |access-date=April 15, 2014}}
  • Carrie-Anne Moss{{cite news|first1=Gina|last1=McIntyre|access-date=2021-12-22|title=Carrie-Anne Moss on the 'Matrix' Movies and Playing an Action Hero in Her 50s|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/22/movies/carrie-anne-moss-matrix-resurrections.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=22 December 2021|issn=0362-4331|via=NYTimes.com|quote=It happened in an acting class with a teacher, Sandy Marshall — she teaches Meisner.}}
  • Chad Willett{{cite web|url=https://www.filmbug.com/db/345403|title=Chad Willett - Filmbug}}
  • Chadwick Boseman{{cite episode |title=The Graham Norton Show |series=The Graham Norton Show |date=November 8, 2019 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000b272 |network=BBC One |series-no=26 |number=07 |last=Norton |first=Graham (host)}}
  • Christoph Waltz{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVBMiwxDUKI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/tVBMiwxDUKI |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Christoph Waltz — Dill Pickle |publisher=YouTube |access-date=August 19, 2013}}
  • Christopher Meloni{{cite web|url=https://www.goldderby.com/feature/christopher-meloni-law-and-order-organized-crime-nbc-video-interview-1204293114/|title=Interview with Christopher Meloni by GoldDerby|date=June 10, 2021}}
  • Diane Keaton{{cite web |title=MEISNER TECHNIQUE {{!}} The Wayne Dvorak Acting Studio {{!}} United States |url=https://www.waynedvorak.com/meisner |website=www.waynedvorak.com |last=Dvorak |first=Wayne |access-date=May 2, 2020}}
  • Ed Speleers{{cite web|url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=x_3sMtavcUQ&t=2771 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/x_3sMtavcUQ |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|publisher=Act on This|title=Mastering Your Emotions With Actor Ed Speleers!}}{{cbignore}}
  • Grace Kelly
  • Griffin Dunne{{cite web|title=Episode 813 - Griffin Dunne / Bill Burr — WTF with Marc Maron Podcast|url=http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episode-813-griffin-dunne-bill-burr}}
  • James Gandolfini{{cite news|last=Itzkoff|first=Dave|title=James Gandolfini Is Dead at 51; a Complex Mob Boss in 'Sopranos'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/20/arts/television/james-gandolfini-sopranos-star-dies-at-51.html?pagewanted=2&ref=general&src=mv|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=June 19, 2013|page=2|date=June 19, 2013}}"Mr. Gandolfini, who had studied the Meisner technique of acting for two years, said that he used it to focus his anger and incorporate it into his performances."
  • Jeff Kober
  • Jeff Goldblum
  • Joakim Nätterqvist{{cite web |url=http://elden-roros.no/portfolio_page/joakim-natterqvist/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331025637/http://elden-roros.no/portfolio_page/joakim-natterqvist/ |archive-date=March 31, 2017 |title=Joakim Nätterqvist / "Niklas" - Elden}}
  • Jon Voight
  • Karl Urban{{cite web|last1=Urban|first1=Karl|title=Actor Biography|url=http://johnsonlaird.com/assets/documents/1569/1569_actor_biography.pdf|website=Johnson & Laird|access-date=September 17, 2015}}
  • Keiko Agena{{cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/gilmore-guys/gilmore-guys-a-gilmore-51|title= Gilmore Guys: A Gilmore Girls Podcast — Gilmore Gabs — Keiko Agena}}{{cite web|title=Keiko Agena|url=http://www.buddytv.com/info/keiko-agena-info.aspx|website=Buddy TV|publisher=Buddy TV|access-date=May 16, 2016|ref=She is also a member of the Meisner-based ITC ensemble and the acting company called "hereandnow" which tours around the country staging original pieces}}
  • Maria PitilloResume: Pitillo, Maria — Innovative Artists
  • Mark Rydell
  • Mary Steenburgen
  • Michael Paré{{cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/hdtgm/origin-stories-bonus-michael|title= How Did This Get Made? - Origin Stories Bonus: Michael Paré}}
  • Michelle Meyrink{{cite web|url=http://actorium.ca/meet-us/|title=Actorium — Meet Us|website=Actorium|access-date=May 31, 2016}}
  • Milo McCabe {{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2013/milo_mccabe/ |title=Milo McCabe — Schiz|access-date=December 18, 2023}}
  • Naomi Watts{{cite web|url= https://www.theactorspulse.com.au/getting-into-acting/getting-into-acting-naomi-watts/ |title=Getting Into Acting – Naomi Watts |date=November 6, 2021 |access-date=June 23, 2024 |website=The Actors Pulse}}
  • Natasha Negovanlis{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfY6Y7tB6-k |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/nfY6Y7tB6-k |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Elise Bauman / Natasha Negovanlis - 'Heard Well' radio interview|publisher=YouTube |access-date=November 28, 2017}}
  • Nawazuddin Siddiqui{{cite AV media |date=February 6, 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shlFV7PpqAI |title=Nawazuddin Siddiqui Talks About Method Acting |publisher=The Scholars' Avenue |via=YouTube |access-date=February 18, 2022}}
  • Pankit Thakker
  • Néstor Carbonell{{cite web|url=http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/n/nestorcarb691894.html|title=Nestor Carbonell Quotes|access-date=October 23, 2016}}
  • Robert Duvall
  • Sam Rockwell{{cite web|url= https://the-talks.com/interview/sam-rockwell/|title=Sam Rockwell: "It's just being there for the first time."|publisher= The Talks|access-date=May 20, 2020}}
  • Sandra Peabody{{Cite web|url=https://www.lakewood-center.org/pages/lakewood-news-class-instructors|title=Sandra Peabody — Acting, TV/Film|website=Lakewood Center of the Arts|access-date=June 18, 2016}}
  • Sebastian Stan{{cite web|url=http://www.topactingclassesnyc.com/rutgers/ |title=Top Acting Classes NYC • Rutgers University |access-date=October 19, 2017}}
  • Shaun Benson{{cite web|url=https://www.sailfinproductions.com/shaun-benson-meisner-technique-and-life-as-an-actor/ |title=Shaun Benson: Meisner Technique & Life as an Actor |last=Butler |first=Hayley |website=sailfinproductions.com |date=February 3, 2020 |access-date=June 23, 2024}}
  • Stephen Colbert{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKAXyGEslyg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/JKAXyGEslyg |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Stephen Colbert shmoozes about family deaths |publisher=YouTube |access-date=August 19, 2013|time=0:28 seconds}}{{cbignore}}
  • Sydney Pollack
  • Tatiana Maslany{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvotOU-Z4eg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/dvotOU-Z4eg |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Conversations with Tatiana Maslany of ORPHAN BLACK |publisher=YouTube |access-date=May 11, 2014}}{{cbignore}}
  • Tom Cruise
  • Wil Wheaton{{cite web|last1=Wheaton|first1=Wil|title=in which i remember to keep it simple|url=http://wilwheaton.net/2013/11/in-which-i-remember-to-keep-it-simple/|website=Wil Wheaton dot Net|date=November 8, 2013|access-date=September 17, 2015}}

}}

See also

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

General references

  • Banham, Martin, ed. 1998. The Cambridge Guide to Theatre. Cambridge: Cambridge UP. {{ISBN|0-521-43437-8}}.
  • Courtney, C. C. 2000. "The Neighborhood Playhouse." In Krasner (2000b, 291-295).
  • Hirsch, Foster. 2000. "Actors and Acting." In Wilmeth and Bigsby (2000, 490-513).
  • Hodge, Alison, ed. 2000. Twentieth Century Actor Training. London and New York: Routledge. {{ISBN|0-415-19452-0}}.
  • Kraner, David. 2000a. "Strasberg, Adler and Meisner: Method Acting." In Hodge (2000, 129-150).
  • ---, ed. 2000b. Method Acting Reconsidered: Theory, Practice, Future. New York: St. Martin's P. {{ISBN|978-0-312-22309-0}}.
  • Longwell, Dennis, and Sanford Meisner. 1987. Sanford Meisner on Acting. New York: Random House. {{ISBN|978-0-394-75059-0}}.
  • Postlewait, Thomas. 1998. "Meisner, Sanford." In Banham (1998, 719).
  • Wilmeth, Don B, and Christopher Bigsby, eds. 2000. The Cambridge History of American Theatre. Vol 3. Cambridge and New York: Cambridge UP. {{ISBN|978-0-521-66959-7}}.

External links

  • {{IMDb name|id=0577073|name=Sanford Meisner}}
  • [https://www.themeisnercenter.com/ The Sanford Meisner Center]

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Category:Acting techniques