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3 Misconceptions About Professional Actor Training
I have found over the last decade and a half training aspiring actors in the Meisner Technique, that most students have big misconceptions about training when they first start exploring their options. There are such an array of classes, workshops, conservatories, and coaches in NYC, that if one does not have a good understanding of what is needed, a great deal of money and time can be thrown away.
The first thing that must occur is true clarity about the type of actor and artist you wish to be. The art of acting has been diminished over the past twenty-years. In our current superficial pop-culture, acting is now primarily an outlet for attention seekers intoxicated with the mirage of fame and celebrity. Much of the so called training in this country has found a way to cater to the idea that craft and technique can be acquired very quickly: come take my weekend audition workshop, learn how to book the job, sign-up for our acclaimed film & tv class, come learn important tips from our working professional casting directors and agents, etc. These misunderstandings lead to some big misconceptions about establishing a serious acting career.
I don’t like theater, I just want to study Film & TV
I hear this all the time. The idea that somehow an actor works on a script differently for theater and film is absolutely false. Certainly, both are completely different mediums, but acting is acting. The ability to truthfully do under an imaginary circumstance is the definition of acting. The fundamentals needed to consistently create the flawless illusion of life: out of your head, on your spontaneous impulses, functioning from an open vulnerable and sensitized body, the ability to craft in a simple, specific and personal way, and comfortable functioning from your rage, heartbreak, joy, silliness, fear, sensuality, embarrassment, and humiliation is the same regardless of the stage or the camera. You will not learn to act in a six-week or one year “Film & TV” class.
I don’t need voice & movement, I just want to learn to act.
Any serious artist masters their instrument. The musician, the sculptor, the dancer, the painter, and even the athlete, all work constantly on the ability to handle the tools of their craft with total command, confidence, and ease. For the actor to be truly transformational, a fully developed physical instrument in necessary. A resonant voice, clear speech, and a pliable body capable of processing rich emotion, is what will make you watchable. Tense and strained actors are not interesting or compelling. All an audience experiences is their tension. It is the sign of an amateur.
I’m too old to commit to two years of training. I’ll miss out on a career. I need to audition now.
If I had a dollar for every actor (of any age, but especially those in their 20’s & 30’s) who shared this unrealistic fear, I’d have a vacation home. What aspiring actors fail to realize, is that it’s the training that will give you credibility. Do you know how many thousands upon thousands of people flock to LA and NYC to pursue a fantasy? No one – casting directors, agents, managers etc. will take you seriously, or risk a chance on you if you have no training. You’re just someone who thinks acting is cool. Real industry professionals have their careers and reputations on the line. They find talent from the top MFA, BFA, and Two-Year Acting Programs in the United States. I would not base a long, successful career on looks and personality.
So take yourself seriously, whatever it is you choose to do in life. If you don’t have a clear vision of the artist you want to be, than you are simply wasting your time.
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“I was placed in the intense reigns of Charlie Sandlan. I became a better artist, actor, friend, sibling and daughter because of the studio. Even now, I crave the studio every day. What I learned is present in my work every day. I truly believe in everything they stand for.”
“Maggie taught me that I could control my work, my acting, and to throw all of the bullshit out that I had in my head about ‘what I should be doing’ and to just listen and respond honestly, in the moment. She gave me a craft. She is, quite simply put, THE BEST.”
“Maggie Flanigan taught me the true meaning of artistry, passion, and professionalism. I am certain that I continue to work as an actress because of my training with Maggie. At every audition and every performance, her guiding voice is with me. It is a gift beyond measure.”
“Maggie Flanigan is uncompromising, her instincts as a teacher are razor sharp. She doesn’t miss a beat”
“Maggie Flanigan has been one of the most important people in my artistic life. I want to work with Maggie trained actors. As an actor myself, she is my first source. I do not say this lightly, if you are serious about acting, and willing to work very hard, then go to Maggie.”
“Maggie helped me find my sense of truth, an actors greatest asset. Maggie is an expert at instilling that vital ingredient, which allows an actor’s potential to become limitless. My work will forever be rooted in the clarity and honesty she helped me develop.”
“After working for ten years, I did the 2 year program, and now feel that I have the tools I need to become the actor I’ve always dreamed of being. Maggie Flanigan instilled in me a clear sense of truth and a standard of perfection. I am a better actor because of this studio.”
“As an actor, the core of what you have to rely on is your sense of truth and humanity. Maggie allowed me to discover and embrace mine. Trusting my sense of humanity and truth has given me the ability to take risks in my work and my career decisions.”
“Maggie Flanigan has the unique ability to get an actor to the essence of what is true in a moment. She creates a safe and caring environment in which to work.”
“Maggie Flanigan introduced me to my own spirit and my own sense of Truth. Her passion for teaching and ability to communicate are rare gifts to any actor looking for a technique to set his or her talent free. Maggie’s voice has been the one constant guide in my career.”