“... as a convention, you get up and walk to the window to make the audience believe that you're looking out. It's for the audience, not for you! And what it means to you is something emotional [...] If you went to the Actors Studio you'd spend six months seeing the snow before you could say, 'Look at the snow.' This takes a terrible burden away from the actor, who thinks he's got to see the woods and the snow. 'Give me my gun! I see a rabbit! Give me my gun!' " Meisner sounds thrilled at the possibility of a hunt. "That happens when you're still sitting there reading. Then when they put in the scenery you move to the window. Isn't that simple? How simple it is to solve the problem of seeing things when you know that it's all in you emotionally, and that walking to the window is only a convention.”
Quote by Sanford Meisner
Work
This book delves into the principles and exercises of the Meisner technique, offering insights into how actors can achieve a natural and authentic portrayal of characters. It includes anecdotes and exercises from Meisner's own teaching, providing a unique perspective on the development of this influential acting approach. more
Author
Sanford Meisner (August 31, 1905 – February 2, 1997) was an American actor and drama educator, best known for developing the Meisner Acting Technique. He was a key figure in the American Method acting movement, alongside Lee Strasberg and Stella Adler. Meisner emphasized spontaneous, truthful reactions in performance, using exercises like the 'repetition exercise' to train actors to respond authentically in the moment. He taught for decades at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City, influencing generations of actors, including Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, and Gregory Peck. His approach remains a cornerstone of modern acting education worldwide. more
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