01 Jun Different Acting Methods: Method vs. Meisner
As you are developing your craft as an actor, you are likely exploring different acting methods. Good for you! There are many approaches that you can explore, and we recommend that you learn about many different acting methods before finding what works best for you.
It could be that a single acting method in its entirety really speaks to you; it also could be – as it is for many actors – that you incorporate aspects of a few different acting methods into your unique approach to acting!
In this video, our wonderful master teacher at 3-2-1 Acting Studio in Los Angeles, John Walcutt, is discussing some distinctions of Method Acting and the Meisner Technique. Of course, we cannot cover the entirety of these two different acting methods in a single blog post! But we can certainly help you to get started in your exploration of some different acting methods:
Method Acting
If you’ve been studying acting for a few years now, you have likely heard of Method Acting. Daniel Day Lewis and Jared Leto, for example, are both notorious method actors who have accomplished great feats!
Method Acting was developed by Lee Strasburg, who derived some of its tenets from Stanislavski’s “system.” Method actors rely on their own life experiences as fuel for their characters. As John mentions in the video, method actors draw on deep emotions by tapping into specific personal experiences while getting into character. Likewise, Method actors may stay “in character” while navigating aspects of their own personal lives. In short, the line between life and art can become blurry – and, at times, non-existent. Method actors are notorious for staying in character for the duration of a film project – between takes, and even off set. Method actors employ emotional recall and sense memory techniques, drawing on their internal experiences to develop their characters.
Meisner Technique
Unlike method actors, Meisner actors work externally – connecting with the outside world and reacting to, say, the nuances of their scene partner’s moment-to-moment expression. The Meisner Technique was developed by Sanford Meisner, who actually worked with Lee Strasberg at the Group Theatre. As John mentions in the video, the Meisner technique was essentially developed in contrast to method acting. Actors are encouraged to focus on their external environment – to make eye contact with their scene partner and to focus entirely on observing what is going on with the other person in the scene. Students learning the Meisner technique engage in a series of repetition exercises, during which they form a connection with a scene partner, repeating a specific phrase while reacting to the subtlety of their scene partner’s inflections and expressions.
Some famous Meisner-trained actors include Allison Janney, Tom Cruise, and Diane Keaton!
For more information about the Meisner technique, you can check out the artistic “home” of the technique: The Neighborhood Playhouse in NYC.
Which method should you choose?
As you explore different acting methods, know that Method Acting and the Meisner Technique are just two lenses through which you can approach your craft. Enjoy the process of learning and growing as an actor! At 3-2-1 Acting Studios in Los Angeles, we offer both online and in-person acting classes. GEt in touch if you are interested in taking a class with us. We are wishing you the very best with your acting training and career!
