The six-week Meisner Summer Intensive training program at the Maggie Flanigan Studio is a professional actor training program that introduces actors to the Sanford Meisner technique. In this video a student talks about her experience in the program.
What did you think acting training was before you started the Meisner summer intensive?
A: I had no idea what an acting training program meant at all, and really how I got to Maggie Flanigan Studio was because I took an acting and film course with a teacher of mine and towards the end, he asked me “well, what do you think of the course? What is it that you want?” And I told him, “I feel like I don’t have a foundation and when he gave me a script, I didn’t know where to start. I didn’t know what he meant. Like: “Really listen”.
I had no idea what he meant when he mentioned those things in class. And he told me, “Well, if you really want to know, you know, have a foundation for acting, then you have to go to the Maggie Flanigan Studio. Because there you are going to learn what acting is and what it takes and if this is something you really want to do for the rest of your life.”
And what happened to you specifically during the Meisner Summer Intensive that changed your perspective on acting and training?
A: Well, I realized that I had no idea what acting was whatsoever or even acting classes. I’ve taken so many random classes and all they give you is lines and “work on this, work on that”. Really I had no foundation. I didn’t know where to begin, I didn’t know how to approach it, I didn’t know what I was supposed to do, feel, Where do I get these emotions from and all that stuff, and really what I learned was that the most important thing is to really listen to the other person. That it’s not just about saying lines, but actually taking in what someone is telling you, being truthful in your response and when I saw that I thought, “Okay. I need to learn how to do that (Laughs)
And what did you learn about yourself during the Meisner Summer Intensive that surprised you or changed you?
A: I learned a lot. A lot. A lot! One of the things that just sticks out the most is that I learned about being vulnerable. And I learned that, you have to open up and you have to be willing to be seen. All parts of you. Not just this one part. And I also understood that in order for me to learn behavior, I needed to understand myself. What do I do when I’m in certain circumstances. And that way I be able to understand me and what triggers me, and that way I’ll be able to respond truthfully.
So why did you decide to enroll in the two year Meisner Conservatory program after the summer intensive?
A: I saw that I had to. There was no other choice. It wasn’t a question in my mind. I decided I was doing it two weeks into the program. I was like, “I need this”. I really want to be a good actor. I really want to be truthful when I work and I realized that I needed training. I had no training whatsoever and the Meisner program is really comprehensive. It entails everything. You work on so many different sides and that’s something I need as an actor.
Apply Today for the Meisner Summer Intensive
For more information about how you can apply for admission to the Meisner Summer Intensive, contact the studio directly by calling (917) 794-3878.
You can also read the interview with Victoria Dmitriev about the Meisner Summer Intensive.
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