All of us have seen actors lose themselves completely in the roles in a movie. They get so deeply connected to the character and transported to a different place and time.
Some of us love these roles played by our favorite actors, but it takes a lot to get immersed in such a role.
But how do these actors do it? Well, everything is possible in method acting. Wait! What is method acting? It is a technique that an actor uses to bring out the right emotions that suit the character.
Still did not get it? Don’t worry! Our post explores what method acting technique is, how to practice it, examples, and how it drives the actors to life-altering performances. Moreover, we also answer all your method-acting-related questions that you are seeking.
Origins Of Method Acting: What IsThe History?
When we think about method acting, a question always comes to our mind. And that is, “Who Invented Method Acting?” or “What does the ‘Method’ word mean in the method acting?”
Well, word, Method Acting was developed in the 1930s and 40s in New York by members of The Group Theater, including Lee Strasberg, Stella Adler, and Sanford Meisner. It was based on Konstantin Stanislavski’s system developed by himself, to train actors.
His style was focused on the ‘art of experiencing.’ This style was on the rise and gained more popularity in that era. Various actors portrayed different roles on the stage of Hollywood.
There are many institutions like the Actors’ Studio in New York City, which are associated with famous actors like Dustin Hoffman, Marlon Brando, James Dean, and many other classic film actors. These actors used the method in numerous hit films.
Today, many actors want to learn the art of method acting. But the system is extremely different today than it was when it was developed. As the generation changed, this method evolved in several directions.
If we take a look at today’s acting industry, many actors use a little part of method acting to embody what is going on. Developing the actor’s instrument, impulses, life experiences, voice, and body is greatly emphasized.
They are also informed about how they need to create and act as per the character. But numerous actors take this as a serious job and do extreme things to give the best performance.
Know What Is Method Acting Technique
There are various types of acting and among them is the method acting technique. It requires more work and time than the other acting styles.
What kind of style and work, you ask? Well, the preparations behind the most astounding acting performances require method and technique.
Back then, when Konstantin Stanislavski, a Russian actor and theater director invented the method acting technique, he did not name it method acting. But his ideas helped to create a model to help other actors to build strong and believable characters.
Stanislavski used a style of method acting to encourage actors to dig out past memories and personal experiences to garner real emotions. He also asked the actors to use this approach to connect with the characters.
At that time, this stood in stark contrast to more classical, theatrical, and traditional acting.
4 Key Elements Of Method Acting
Listed below are the key elements of the method acting technique:
- Relieving tension: The first thing an actor must do is remove all the unwanted thoughts and free themselves from any tension by practicing meditation.
- Focus and deliberateness: They need to see the world from a different perspective and focus on their senses.
- Using sense memory: Once they are connected to all their senses, they will enter their sense memory.
- Identification and Replication: The actor must learn to identify and replicate the actions, emotions, and responses of a particular character.
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Main Types of Method Acting Exercises
There are various forms of exercises one needs to do before transforming into their character and they are:
- Exercise your animal instincts by watching wildlife documentaries.
- Use the affective memory technique.
- Try a coffee cup game to improve all your senses like smell, touch, taste, and smell.
- Spend some alone time and do things in front of people that you do in private.
Benefits And Drawbacks Of The Method Acting
| Benefits | |
| 1. | The upside of method acting is that it helps the actors to fully disappear into their roles. |
| 2. | It also helps to create unexpected and nuanced performances. |
| 3. | Makes the audience emotional. |
| 4. | Helps to give realistic performances. |
| Drawbacks | |
| 1. | The downside of the method is that it requires well-written roles. |
| 2. | This technique demands a lot of inner reflection, the actors may sometimes feel aloof, difficult, or demanding. |
| 3. | It undermines the director’s control of the film, play, or show. |
| 4. | Actors put themselves into physical stress or harm themselves. |
| 5. | Affects physical and mental behavior. |
Method Acting vs. Other Techniques
By now, you already know what method acting is, so let’s understand other techniques and how they are different from method acting.
1. Classical Acting
Based on Shakespearean acting techniques, classical acting needs the actors to read the scripts carefully, find personal connections with the character, and explore the depth of the character.
2. Stanislavski’s System (AKA “Modern Acting”)
To avoid the performances from looking too big, this approach teaches the actors to use both classical and improvisational techniques to reach their subconscious minds and give a natural performance.
3. Chekhov Acting Technique
Michael Chekhov created a method that is a “psycho-physical” approach, where the actor’s internal impulses and feelings get integrated with external movements and gestures.
4. Spolin Method
Viola Spolin introduced this method that allows the actors to make choices and use improvisations to create engaging and original performances.
5. Meisner Technique
Sanford Meisner introduced this technique that encourages the person to use their natural instincts to respond to the stimuli.
6. Practical Aesthetics Method
Developed by William H. Macy and David Mamet, this method allows the actors to capture the elements of themselves in the character and make it their character.
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What Is The Method Actor?
According to Google, a method actor means, “a method actor well known for staying in character during the entire filming period.”
In simple terms, while using the method acting technique, the actor aspires to complete emotional identification with a part. This type is an emotional-oriented technique, where actors dive deep into the role of the character.
And the most common examples of the method acting technique are putting on weight, losing weight, as well as lifestyle transformation.
Why Study Method Acting?
The main motive of learning method acting is to get involved in the character so that you don’t have any other thoughts while you are performing. For instance, the actor gets so engrossed in the character in real life and thinks he starts to believe that he is that person.
To study this technique some actors even read the biographies of the character to give oscar-worthy performances. It trains the actors to use their emotional, mental, as well as physical selves to create the character.
Method acting truly brings the character to life and the viewers feel these actors are not portraying a role but living a real life. With this technique, comes realism, expression, and authenticity of sincere emotions.
Is Method Acting Dangerous?
Well, yes, the method of the acting technique used by the actors is dangerous in some way. As the actor brings back their past memories or bottled emotions to the surface, it will help them to create a strong character.
But these unresolved emotions or raw emotions will lead to or result in various side effects such as:
- Sleep deprivation
- Anger
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Cyclical nature
- Impaired function
- Acute episodes of psychosis
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does a method actor do?
The method actor uses a type or a technique to encourage emotionally and sincerely expressive performances by fully getting into character. Instead of classical acting, the method actor uses this emotionally-oriented technique to influence the viewers.
2. What is an example of method acting?
There are numerous examples of method acting where actors have to follow a specific method. In some cases, the actor spends his nights locked in confined places, does not take showers for days, eats a particular food to gain weight, or does intermittent fasting to lose weight.
Various actors have done method acting in films such as Robert De Niro (Raging Bull), Christian Bale (The Machinist), Daniel Day Lewis (The Last of The Mohicans), Marlon Brando (The Men), Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight), Daniel Day Lewis (My Left Foot), Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland), as well as Montgomery Clift (A Place in the Sun).
3. What is wrong with method acting?
Today method acting is not considered the right way to get involved in a particular role because it comes from two facets of the emotional acting technique. Many have noticed that actors sometimes face difficulty separating from the character because they have driven deep into the psyche of the character.
Thus, they are unable to differentiate between the real world and the reel world. And sometimes, the actors are given a task to reflect on past events that might have impacted them emotionally. When such emotions are dug up again, they give rise to several emotions like love, fear, pain, anger, resentment, and much more.
And sadly, there is no counselor or therapist to help them to come out of those negative reactions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, episodic anger, depression, situational anxiety or fear, as well as generalized anxiety, among others. So that is why method acting is mostly avoided but still, some actors follow this type to this day.
4. What is the difference between acting and method acting?
acting is a normal type of character acting where the actor acts in stylized, dramatic, and eccentric roles. On the other hand, method acting is realism which is based on preparing the actors emotionally in any role of the character.
5. Who is the best method actor in the world?
There are many best method actors and it would be wrong to give credit to only one actor. And as the roles are vast and the genre of the films differ as well, it would be unjust to leave out another handful of actors.
So the best method actors to date are Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Daniel Day-Lewis, Al Pacino, Angelina Jolie, Christian Bale, Jim Carey, Hilary Swank, Forest Whitaker, as well as Charlize Theron.
6. Why is method acting hated?
There are many reasons why people dislike method acting. The first reason is that the best method actors are either dead or stop using it. Just take a look at Al Pacino as his career has gone down the rabbit hole.
The second reason why it is most hated is that it requires months or years of learning. You have to learn a few exercises which have no use while performing. So now many actors have stopped using it or use other easy ways instead of method acting.
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