Actors that study the Meisner acting technique might be heard referring to the actors instrument. 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. Using the actors instrument it is the job of the actor to take the directors vision and contribute the most beautiful, profound, interesting, engaging character they can to help tell the story. Directors also need to understand the actors instrument, and remain open to the input of actors and all that they are bringing to the project.

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While an instrument is built to make sound, actors must express themselves in many different ways…physical and facial expressions, voice, body movement, personality, and other uniquely human characteristics. Meisner technique actors work hard to develop all aspects of human expression, both internal and external. All of these together make up what actors refer to as “the instrument.” The actors instrument can be broken down into six parts, Physical, Intelligence, Imagination, Emotion, Sensory expression and Empathy. Being aware of these aspects of expression and where you fall in terms of development for each of them can increase your potential as an actor. The key for the most successful actor is mastering the ability to develop and control all six.

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Each actor possesses a unique physical nature. However, every actor also has various levels of awareness of their physical space and the degree to which the express themselves in it. This is something Meisner acting can help actors to explore, learning how to develop and control physical expression and movement in a way that increases your versatility as an actor. For instance, movement onstage is very different than the movement required for film or television. Can you easily adjust for each situation?

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Actors who are strong “personality” actors often express themselves physically much the same way, whatever the role. Off the top of your head you could probably think of ten or fifteen actors right away who do this. They are successful because they have developed this internal aspects of their instrument, a charismatic personality. At the same time, it’s easy to name actors who have the ability to transform themselves physically and change their movements, posture, arm gestures and facial expressions to express things the way a character would. Daniel Day Lewis, Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp all have a heightened sense of how to express their characters physically.