When Acting Is An Art

The Stanislavski System

WHEN ACTING IS AN ART Name: ________________________________

The goal of Stanislavski’s training is for the actor to “live through the life of the character in each moment.” Stanislavski found that all novice actors—those at the beginning of their training, such as yourselves—fit into one or more of the following categories:

IMITATION •

mimicry of a person or another performer

•

copying the vocal and physical traits

MECHANICAL •

no real feelings

•

lifelessness

•

use of gestures, movement, and vocal patterns that the performer has pre-planned to represent how the character might behave.

OVERACTING

EXHIBITIONISM

(BAKED VIRGINIA, BABY!) •

exaggerating

•

disregard for the inner life of the character; this in time will evolve to the worst kind of mechanical acting imaginable.

•

complete disregard for inner life of character

•

performer wants attention, praise, and/or affirmation of beauty or sense of humor.

In the space provided below, assess yourself. Where—as you are in the beginning stages of your training—do you fit? What are your personal goals? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ OVER 

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