MEISNER TECHNIQUE VS. MEISNER TECHNIQUE

Anthony Montes explains what he learned with Sandy Meisner and how he continues to apply the technique he learned and why. // Directed & Produced by Blake Worrell
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[@sammuniz5360]

A basic principle of Meisner: Don't do anything until something happens to make you do it.

[@liquidbraino]

Exactly. That's what the "pinch and the ouch" is all about.

[@earlb3]

Thank you, sir. Finally read Meisner and was finishing the book as I was shooting a TV show. Mentioned it to one of my cast mates and he said "Oh yeah-let's do the repetition.." and so I was game-it was an off day and we were out having fun. "Sure, let's go!" and after about 7 times on the same phrase, my friend was still waiting patiently for something to happen. Not me - I was starting to manufacture anger. He (gently) called me on it. He's a great actor so I didn't argue, but I really didn't understand what he was trying to say. NOW I DO. Again, Thank you. It takes more than a book. I need a class!!!

[@anthonymontes]

You’re welcome

[@storlach]

I totally agree! I did the repetition with my (rather unexperienced) students, and almost all of them "fled" into yelling and being unpolite. It's seems to bee the go-to-emotion when you feel exposed and unsafe. And there's not truth in that. Well put, Mr. Montes!

[@jonathanblake6130]

That’s true. It’s very common in improv as well. People go to conflict, confrontation and aggression

[@liquidbraino]

​@@jonathanblake6130 It's because that's what was already there to begin with. What you suppress in life comes out naturally during repetition and on stage. Angry people will get angry during reps even though there's nothing to get angry about until you start doing doors and activities.

[@liquidbraino]

I like the way you're teaching it and completely agree with you on the people who push too hard and try to ACT angry when the feeling isn't really there. That's exactly why the exercises *should* start out simple so that there's no reason for them to be faking or getting angry. The whole point is to eliminate any false and theatricalized behavior early on. Any anger during the first week is someone *trying* to feel and trying to control the direction of the reps instead of just letting it hit them however it hits them and giving control over to your scene partner. The quality of your acting depends not upon you but upon what the other fellow does *to* you and for that to happen you have to be open and receptive; not closed off and trying to force it into any direction.

[@intelligenceressentie9277]

First time that I heard about the Meisner technique with such accuracy...Thank You M. Montes 🙏🏻

[@dalemason5970]

Thankyou. I just wrote all the technique down. Very clearcut👍💫💥💫

[@dannyisthenewdaddy]

*ANTHONY MONTES*

[@liquidbraino]

​@@dalemason5970 There's a lot more to it than what's discussed in this video. You can't describe an entire two year training program in a short video and you can't learn acting by watching videos, you need to take a class. He didn't even talk about changing pronouns, adding POV, independent activities, the three moment game, the three knocks, doors AND activities combined, emotional preparation, home alone exercise, spoon river etc etc etc. Repetition is only the beginning, it's the foundation upon which the next two years of training will be supported but in most Meisner schools you're only doing basic repetition for the first week or two. Trying to learn acting by watching videos is like trying to learn how to ride a bike by reading about it. You're never going to learn balance by reading or watching videos.

[@morningcoffee1111]

I’m so glad I happened to see this. I watched the long intro class he did in Paris, it landed with me. Especially when he got up and demonstrated. Then I watched a different video also on miesner and it played really inauthentic to me. I was confused. Then I saw this and I agree “right or wrong” this is the way for me.

[@tbonetones]

Thank you very much. I love hearing this point of view of this work.

[@FelinoDollosoActor]

Thank you

[@enriquenietojr5452]

Hello; When a person isn't ready to understand that their ego is not to be accepted is telling you, that person is stuck with issues that need to be addressed. That acting is not something they can take interest in because of anger issues.

[@liquidbraino]

Not true.

[@shannon2424]

I liked this dude's POV in the first couple minutes. This aligns with the teachings of the few actual Sandy Meisner clips I've seen. Repetition and acting is not about manufacturing anything. If you have to say "blue jeans" 100 times before something organically happens, so be it! Chill and listen closely. #worldclasstraining

[@airofmystery6549]

This really help me understand day 1 thank you.

[@sammuniz5360]

Meisner Olympics. I like that.

[@sammuniz5360]

I came back to this video and still love the "Olympics" moment. The gist of this exercise is that you have to really focus on your partner, be completely open to everything that hits you in the moment. This is very difficult but worth it because the work evolves into a very sophisticated form of improvisation.

[@mathosborne]

It's a problem when actors are not in control of their emotions. Emotions should be let out like toothpaste. Going to extremes should only be encouraged when an understanding of the acting technique has been reached. There is no one authentic response though. The reaction you have depends upon your imagination. Going to extremes is good for stretching your range but there are many more behaviours and colours that can be explored. You are right that just getting angry is stressful and may not be fun to watch or tell an interesting story.

[@liquidbraino]

The problem with the blue jeans guy is that he was *trying* to act instead of just doing the exercise; placing all of his attention on the other fellow. An actors desire to be "great" can be their own worst enemy and can really hold you back. It's really a balancing act because there's a fine line between not forcing but also not holding back. And the other actor should have caught the anger and called it out.

[@clintcalvert9250]

Seems you’re repeating everything! I beg you to put in your own words.