I wanted to write this blog post because Green Shirt is starting to offer a more diverse range of classes delving into a variety of acting techniques, on-camera work, the acting industry, etc., and it’s easy to forget how the Meisner technique feeds into everything else. Meisner is often seen as a foundational technique, since it strips away all the artifice of theater or film and narrows the lens of acting down to a few key concepts - namely, “living truthfully under imaginary circumstances.”  Many of us had a Meisner component during our 100-level college theater classes, and never revisited it again.

But because something is foundational, does that make it basic?  I would argue that no it does not! For example, let’s look at acting for the camera.  Screen acting is absolutely a craft; film actors have to stay mindful of precise marks, camera angles, boom mics, and crew members operating equipment around them all while staying present and full for multiple takes.  It’s easy to get lost in the sauce while trying to pay attention to so many things!  

A Meisner trained actor, however, has tools and a process for staying emotionally grounded, present, and in relationship with their scene partner.  Accepting the given circumstances as true and reacting to what is happening now can be a lifeline in a shoot that feels overwhelming in every other way. For those of you who started your acting training with our core Meisner program: if you look at our specialized class offerings and think “I could never do a physical theater method” or “I couldn’t work professionally in Chicago,” I encourage you to think again.  You have the tools you need to be present and vulnerable, and you’re ready to tackle a new technique or audition with confidence.

For those of you who found us because of a specialized class or workshop: welcome!  As you become involved in our community, I encourage you to jump into one of our Meisner classes.  We get asked all the time if you can skip Level 1 if you’re already an actor or have taken classes elsewhere; sometimes it makes sense, but I often recommend starting at the beginning.  Repetition can unlock something for even the most experienced actor, and as we grow and change as humans it’s essential to strip everything away from time to time and see who we are underneath.