The Actors Instrument and Physical Expression

Master The Craft Of Acting - The Actors Instrument and Physical Expression

The actors instrument is something actors may have heard before, especially if they study the Meisner acting technique. While directors and actors are sometimes at odds due to creative differences, the truth is actors are the instruments, the components, that make up a successful production with a director as a conductor. Directors and actors may sometimes see things differently and while the director is the conductor, actors are the most important instruments used to tell the story. The actors instrument is what the actor uses to channel the vision of the writer and director, creating the most artful, interesting character they can to make the vision a reality. It's good for directors to remain open to the actors instrument and be aware of allowing the special nuances an actor brings to the vision to enrich the story.

Making beautiful sounds is the instrument's created purpose, while actors use not only sound but physical characteristics and other very subtle forms of expression that are uniquely human. Actors use the Meisner technique to develop as many of these forms of expression as they can, which working together make up "the instrument" an actor uses. If broken down into definable aspects, the actors instrument involves the development of Imagination, Sensory expressions, Empathy, Intelligence, and Physical expression. By mastering as many of these aspects as possible, and working hard at developing all of them, an actor has the ability to take on any role. Most successful actors working today have done an outstanding job of mastering many, if not all of these skills.

Every actor has their own unique physical way of expressing themselves and an awareness of the physical space around them. Physical expression and habits of physical movement is an aspect of acting that Meisner acting in nyc looks to examine and use to create character. Movements onstage in a theatre piece are very different than movements that are right for the camera. As an actor you must have studied physical expressions in depth to be able to adjust for new situations and roles.

Of course, personality actors can become top actors who are hired again and again, even though they express themselves physically in similar ways for every role. There are easily ten or fifteen actors who fall into this category that you can list without thinking too hard. Certainly, a charismatic personality is an extremely important aspect of the actors instrument, whether it is external, internal or both. There are many legendary actors who use physical expression as an art form to literally create a fictional, yet very real person. The list of actors that have mastered this would include Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Daniel Day Lewis, just to name a few.

There are actors who use their physicality to great effect, from Stallone and Schwarzenegger to Jim Carrey. These are just a few of the actors that have an ability to develop a strong and unique physical aspects to their characters. Going one step deeper as an actor means learning how to alter how they move and express themselves truthfully in a physical way to portray character.

This is not to say that tricks like limping or changing a facial expression to show a mood is all that is required. You must inhabit the created physical world of the production in a physical way that is truthful and be able to do it before there are physical crutches like sets, props, costumes and make up. Physical space, physical expression must be mastered and then used to develop all other aspects of the instrument. The most versatile actors have worked hard to develop this. Being attractive and/or charismatic is certainly going to get you noticed, but it won't give you a career into your sixties or seventies. Master physical expression, and the use of physical space to tell a story and enrich the other aspects of your actors instrument and you will be on your way to becoming great.

The Maggie Flanigan Studio provides acting classes in NYC for serious actors. Find out more about meisner acting at the studio website or read this article about acting instrument.
Maggie Flanigan Studio
153 West 27th Street Suite 803
New York, NY 10001
(917) 606-0982