Going to an Actors Studio Will Help You Harness Your Talent

The art of acting is almost never acknowledged when people attend a stage performance or go to the movies. This may be because the best actors always appear to effortlessly sink into their roles. Because they are committed to their part, we can suspend our disbelief. However, the ability of any actor or actress to understand and interpret some of our favourite characters is not as easy as it seems. Most of them have learned on the techniques from their specialized training. Different approaches to the craft of acting are taught in an actor’s studio.

The genesis of the “method” style of acting comes from the theory of Constanin Stanislavski. His teachings were eventually adapted by Lee Strasberg and Stella Adler at their own private acting studios. Several teachers from Stanislavski’s own company trained Strasberg during their tour across the United States in the early 20th century. Strasberg eventually passed his knowledge onto students who wanted to excel in the American film industry. For those who aren’t familiar with “the method,” it focuses on developing a character by deeply immersing oneself in the motivations and actions of the part. However, actors use their own personal experience to identify with their role. Depending on the needs of the production, some actors undergo drastic physical changes, such as wearing heavy prosthetics, losing or putting on massive amounts of weight or even altering their appearance to play a different gender. Some popular method actors today include Daniel Day-Lewis, Sean Penn and Kate Winslet.

The famous acting teacher Stella Adler was also trained extensively under Constantin Stanislavski. While she disagreed with Strasberg’s approach that actors let their personal experience inform their character’s motivations, she became a formative instructor in her own right. Imagination is the key to Adler’s method, which still requires the same immersive character building. She emphasized that any actor do heavy research of the character’s motives, setting and personal circumstances. By thinking through the role and creating a personal history of their childhood, adolescence and everything leading up to the moment in the script, actors can make a connection to the role. Hollywood performers like Selma Hayek, Robert De Niro and Melanie Griffith are among the professionals who learned the Adler method and put it on the map. Another additional approach is the Meisner method, which prides itself on inventing realistic responses to circumstances on the moment. One example of a teaching from Meisner's method was to have two people face each other and repeat phrases until they take on different meanings.

By joining an actor’s studio, students can begin to find a definite foundation to their performances. Having strong training can allow any performer to transcend their limitations, preventing common occurrences like “type casting.” The most talented professional actors create a memorable career on the types of roles they choose. By learning the basics of the craft, actors can truly enliven their characters so that they’re more than just the sum of their parts.

If you’re living in Toronto and looking for a way to break into the Canadian film and theatre industry, consider taking some classes at a qualified actor’s studio. These facilities will help you meet other performers, help you break out of your comfort zone and give you specialized training when it comes to auditions and cold readings. The local facility Cindy Tanas Actors Studio offers acting classes for beginners and experts and appeals to a broad range of interests. Whether you’re thinking of getting onstage for the very first time, or are taking a new approach to your professional career, an acting studio could be your way into the industry.