I have to act to live. ~ Laurence Olivier 2007 updates - 1 * 2 * 3 * 4 * 5 Acting One Fundamentals : BioMethod

Method Acting for Directors, 2007

I do not teach this class anymore and 2007 is the web-year, major updates for my decade online. AA

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How to Use This Site

Take notes in class (use your journal, keep it with you all the time). If you don't understand some terminology, go to Glossary. Also, each topic on this syllabus is connected with the appropriate page, but the pages are designed for all levels of acting and directing. If you miss the class, you won't know how much you should know and you will read it all. Don't miss classes.

If you have a legitimate reason for not being in class, you call in, leave a message or email me.

The Master-File with monologues and scenes is in the Library on reserve (select the pages, copy them and put back).

If you don't show up for rehearsals with your partners, they drop you -- they get the grade, you don't.

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For Homework and Journal keeping instructions go to the THR221 and Journals pages.

If you want to see a sample of the test on Acting Theory, please, go to Forms & Samples page.

HOW TO WORK with Yourself

You can print out the entire site and use it as a textbook, or mark the selections you need and print them only. Follow the links in each class and read the pages related to the topics. If you need more information, use the outside links on my pages, or search the Net. The text for monologues and scenes are not posted, but in the library on reserve. You can use the monologues and scenes I have on my site, they’re copyright free (that’s why I can post them). Don’t waste your time on search for a perfect-for-you monologue/scene. Go with the instinct, do the cold reading in class; you can change your mind later, when you’ll get the feedback from the class. Don’t memorize the lines, not till you went through some analysis, dramatic breakdown and develop your idea about the character and movement (floor plan). Don’t go through useless read-through in class; we are here to work on your piece, even for cold reading you should have some ideas about the role. Throw them at us, try and test your design!

If you can’t make your mind, I’ll select the text for you. We want to have a good performance, not a great literature presented. (Usually they are together, but if a monologue is above your head, go for something you understand and feel for).

Do you have somebody at home or dorm to perform for? Torture them -- tape-recorder is good, but humans are better. Use them to feed you lines, this way you’ll get rid of the papers in your hands sooner.

No-no Things: Nobody needs to know that you forgot your line. We don’t care for words, we are into acting. Don’t stop. Don’t apologize, don’t curse yourself out loud. Do it later at home.

No-no: Don’t get into this “talent stuff” -- am I talented, I am no good, bad, do I have a potential, I suck, stink and etc. The class is not an academy award, you’re here to get as much as you can out of yourself. Let the others judge you.

Do it: If you don’t like somebody’s performance in class, speak up your mind. You don’t have to butcher your classmates; imagine yourself doing their material -- how would you have done it? That’s a constructive criticism for you! Besides, if you don’t speak in class, you do disservice to all, including yourself. You don’t learn how to articulate your ideas.

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Now, go to YOUR CLASS PAGE Summer Acting 1998 to see who is in class, assignments, how you're doing and etc.

On your first day in class all of you have "A"s! Try to keep up good grades!

see t-blog (new 2007)

acting.vtheatre.net = stanislavky.vtheatre.net = method.vtheatre.net

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