While planning my next method acting video, I began to think about which method acting
techniques we could apply to our own everyday lives as actors. Techniques that will result in
success, happiness and untold wealth. I can't guarantee that last one. First off, a common
theme in method acting is extensive research: in our case we can research by reading plays.
Plays are great for sourcing audition monologues of course
but reading plays can inform your choices: what you like, what you don't like and whet your
appetite for more works from the playwrights you've discovered. And as a bonus you can find a
lot of second-hand copies online for mere pennies. Then all you've got to do is wait for the postman.
You see, while not wealthy at least I'm saving you some money. Method actors show us this next
one all the time: mastering new skills. There are tons of actors groups and courses available to you
be in your area or even online. Not everyone is lucky enough to live in London or be able
to attend the Actors' Centre but there are always opportunities to brush up on your skills or learn
new ones. A wide range of skills is going to make you a more versatile actor, more attractive
to casting directors and ultimately more bankable. How do you know how to act if you're not immersing
yourself in the art? Watching what turns you on? Finding the performances that turn you off?
Go and see some acting. Go to the theatre, treat yourself to a night out of the movies,
soak it up. In method acting we interact truthfully with our environment,
right? Well why not apply that approach to our day-to-day life as actors? Makes sense doesn't
it? You don't live in a bubble. Talk to the other actors you know. Find out what they are doing,
experiencing. What are they learning? How are they furthering their own career? Next: people watch.
Not in a creepy way. You big pervert. A big part of the method is physicalisation - how
a character moves, their tempo, their gait, how they travel from A to B. Get yourself out there:
into town, on the street. Look at the people around you, look at their physicality, make
note of the quirks that are unique to them. How do they move in ways that are different to you? This
observation and analysis of physical attributes is a great exercise to practice at any time
as you'll store it into your mind bank for later use. You want method?! Then go back to the source.
Read An Actor Prepares, read Building a Character, read Creating a Role. Don't
just take the information second-hand from me or anyone else on the internet. Don't be afraid to
expand your own knowledge. Read Stan the man and use what works for you. Auditions. Preparation.
Are you prepared? Have you worked hard to be on top form and to bring your a-game to an audition?
Method acting is about hard work. Commitment. As soon as you step into an audition and you're
showing a monologue piece you should be off book so the lines come easily and without a
struggle. If it's a screen test and you've been given scenes to read you should have worked out
your line delivery and any reactions you're going to give when responding to the other characters.
You should also be damn sure you know who that character is you're about to read for.
How about this: we all know method acting is about learning and watching. Well, what about
all those actors who've come before? How did De Niro do it? How about Pacino? Brando? Dean?
Day-Lewis? Oldman? Bale? The list goes on. Each of these actors were influenced by what came before
so soak up your influences. Steal from the best. Finally, if method acting can teach us one thing
in our everyday lives it's that we need to act. If we're ever going to experience, to tap into the
mindset of characters, to play a range, to live truthfully and experience organic emotion we have
to get out there and act. Find your work and live the part. Oh look! Videos. And a subscribe button.