5 Acting Techniques Every Actor Should Know

5 Acting Techniques Every Actor Should Know

It appears effortless when you watch your favourite actors and actresses in films or on television, right? But, in reality, the process – and education – involves a great deal of effort. After all, charisma is only good for so long. Here are some popular acting techniques you'll learn if you or your child wants to explore a career as an artist. 

1. Stanislavski Method

Konstantin Stanislavski developed this systematic training technique. The idea is to bring a sense of realism to your performance by breaking down the role based on the character’s circumstance:

• Who Am I?
• Where Am I?
• When Is It?
• What Do I Want? And Why?
• How Will I Get It?
• What Do I Need to Overcome?

2. Method Acting Technique

The Stanislavski method inspired the Method Acting technique developed by Lee Strasberg, and it’s one of the most popular today. Again, the idea is for the performance to be as emotionally realistic as possible. Actors are taught how to use their own experiences to recall a strong emotion from their past.

3. Meisner Technique

Sandford Meisner, a colleague of Lee Strasberg, developed this acting technique, so it’s also influenced by the Stanislavski method. The goal is to rid yourself of any predispositions and go on instinct instead so that you can be more present and in the moment on stage. The Meisner technique focuses heavily on improvisation exercises and the use of imagination to evoke emotion versus memory.

4. Chekhov Technique

While Michael Chekhov was originally trained by Stanislavski, his acting technique taps more into the subconscious mind and shows more physicality. For example, you might physicalize an internal need into a gesture and by repeating the gesture then internalize the emotion and use it in the performance.

5. Practical Aesthetics Acting Technique

This acting technique was created by playwright and film director, David Mamet, and combines teachings from Stanislavski, Meisner and the philosopher Epictetus. Here, actors use a four-step analysis to break down a scene:

• The literal
• The want
• The essential action
• The “as if”

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