There are so many acting techniques out there. How do you know which acting technique is right for you? Here are some quick tips to make it all make sense and to help actors choose an acting class based on the type of acting training they want.

1) The Stanislavski System

First of all, keep in mind that all of the major acting techniques currently taught in American acting schools are based on the work of Constantin Stanislavski, a Russian actor and director who developed an acting method to help actors understand Be real on stage. Here are some highlights of the Stanislavsky system that you’ll want to be familiar with as an actor:

  • To believe in him Given the circumstances of the play, Stanislavsky’s actors use the magic yes: “What if this was really happening to me?”
  • The actors divide the script into goals (what the character wants to achieve) and actions (what the character can do to try to achieve his goal). Each action is an active verb (help, hurt, convince) that helps the actor to concentrate on doing instead of feeling.
  • Actors learn to relax their muscles and practice concentration in order to focus on the given circumstances of the play and deal with stage fright.
  • Actors access their own memories to invoke the emotions necessary to play certain scenes and acting roles.

2) Method and Meisner

The other two main acting techniques taught in acting schools are acting method (also known as “The Method”) and the technical meisner. Both acting techniques were inspired by Stanislavski and both help the actor create real thoughts and emotions in imaginary circumstances, but they do so in very different ways.

Method Acting turns the focus inward. Actors learn to use their five senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell) to recall objects, experiences, and emotional memories. These sensory memory exercises allow actors to draw on their own experiences to create character and connect with the play.

Meisner Acting turns the focus outwards. Actors are trained to shift the focus from themselves to their acting partners so that they can react honestly to what is happening in the moment. They rely on their imagination rather than their memories to prepare for a scene. (stela adleranother student of Stanislavski’s, highlights the importance of imagination in her acting technique.)

3) Other acting techniques

Stanislavski, “The Method”, Meisner, Stella Adler… These are the acting techniques most actors have heard of, but if you’ve already explored these acting methods and want to try something new, there are many kinds. of acting they teach. Lesser-known techniques such as Anne Bogart’s Viewpoints method, Viola Spolin’s improvisation technique or Tadashi Suzuki’s physical training for an actor, to name a few.

4) Which technique to choose

Is there any method that is superior to the others? Each of the major acting techniques has been studied and used by great actors, so the point is not which acting technique is best, but which one works for you.

Think about what you will do in class. Are you more interested in doing a lot of solo exercises or do you respond more to improvisation and scene study? Also consider the type of acting you want to do. For example, The Method works great for film acting, while a class from Spolin is a great option if he’s primarily interested in theater and improv.

Also think about your strengths and weaknesses as an actor when deciding what to study next. For example, a Viewpoints or Suzuki acting class is a good option if you need to work on your stage presence or want to become more comfortable in front of an audience.

While it is important to try to choose the acting technique that appeals to you the most right now, remember that acting school is not the end of your acting journey, but rather the beginning. As his career grows, he will adapt his acting training to different acting jobs and eventually develop his own method, a unique way of rehearsing, creating a character and finding the truth in a scene.