The authentic actor | Michael Laskin | TEDxChapmanU

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Michael Laskin highlights the importance of authenticity as the deciding factor for success not only in show business but in every facet of life.
Michael Laskin has been a professional actor for 35 years, and an acting teacher and coach for the last five, since founding The Michael Laskin Studio. His film and television credits include dozens of feature films and guest-starring roles ranging from "Seinfeld" to "Eight Men Out." Michael's theatre career is highlighted by starring roles off-Broadway, in London, Canada, and at many of our leading regional theatres including The Guthrie Theatre and The Geffen Playhouse. Michael won a Fringe First Award at The Edinburgh Festival, and a Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Minnesota's College of Liberal Arts, where he earned his M.A. degree. Michael has been a corporate consultant on creativity for The Right Brain Studio, and his new book on acting, The Authentic Actor, will be published by Michael Wiese Books in 2015.
About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@rongeuduschek7230]

You want to know why authenticity is the primary factor? Because who else can you be but yourself. You can only be you, and let the world adjust to your uniqueness. Be brave and live your life. You're entitled to it. Make sure you grab the opportunity with all your might and become one with you. Peace.

[@darksquid11]

Thanks to this Ted Talk, I like to think I have a better understanding of the difference between method acting and character acting. I'm JUST getting into studying and gathering my own understanding of what acting is and how to go about studying the craft. It's fascinating!

[@crystalbrooks2684]

This was an awesome TED talk, loved his delivery and he really gave us something to think about.

[@shreyashelat755]

So very true about classes in acting that it becomes about pleasing the guru rather than learning and growing authentically into the artist that that particular person is to become...that's the reason I hate taking acting classes there is inhibition that arises and your focus is split between learning and pleasing I'm not a multitasker...so very true!!!

[@paulcervenka]

That was really great. So grateful to have stumbled upon this gem.

[@uriszardealdaca]

Excellent. Thanks for the speech.

[@OfficialAlexandria_]

this was awesome!!!

[@sapainteractingvideosforco9702]

YES. THANK YOU.

[@lizascholtz7462]

It's not luck, it's alignment.

[@therevolutionaryrevolution]

omg!!! I'm taking an acting class and reading Uta Hagen and it's so dense and I was getting overwhelmed and then I found this TED Talk and I feel so much better 💖

[@sovietninja6865]

The Revolutionary Revolution what book are you reading? Challenge for the actor? Respect for acting isn’t a dense read.

[@therevolutionaryrevolution]

@@sovietninja6865 it was challenge for the actor

[@sovietninja6865]

The Revolutionary Revolution I recommend picking up respect for acting. She gets to the point in her chapters.

[@AndresGarcia-kj3jq]

Hey there! I was definitely in the same boat as you are now a few months back (: Now I'm not advocating for anything different just giving some advice that helped me, but I really recommend reading the book The Practical Handbook for The Actor. It's a neat little book that really gets to the heart of acting in a doable way

[@sovietninja6865]

Andres Garcia That is such a good book, we are using that for my acting 2 class.

[@AR-qo1eo]

I'd be intimidated if this guy were my teacher.

[@CharlesMatheny]

Lee Strasberg did not "found" the Actors Studio. Elia Kazan and Robert Lewis did.

[@lightup360]

Thankq

[@howardkoor2796]

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@jacobcroy755]

I like the video but I fail to understand the point behind the presentation. What does authenticity have to do with acting and how do we become authentic?

[@aBlueMoon91]

Jacob Croy authentic means believable , relatable , true . It's not a facade .it's not what YOU THINK people want to see . it's who are you when nobody is in the room , it's vulnerability . once you know who you are in your personal life journey and ask your self the hard questions . Who am I ? Why am I really doing this ? What is my passion ? What's my drive ? What makes me cry ? What makes me laugh ? Why and how ? . you bring that truth in yourself to your characters and share it with everyone .

[@GeorgeAyvazyan]

Just like Sanford Meisner once said, "Acting is *behaving truthfully* in imaginary circumstances."

[@sovietninja6865]

The best way to act is not to act all.

[@GeorgeAyvazyan]

@@sovietninja6865 That's very true also

[@greenebeane7]

I’d be cool if we valued an industry that is better suited to be impactful. Not sure when an art degree became more important than a science degree but it feels that way in America and it sucks.

[@NishGurjara]

only part i understood and liked was he asking prospective student to do what they are good at and understand their level of thinking by asking them to write.... Rest of the stuff was vague and over the head.....

[@jamiececilielange5249]

I found this speech to be kind of vague and unspecific. I'm not sure whether I learned what he was trying to teach. I also think I'm already my authentic self. I can not see myself be different unless I change, which I always do, a little bit at a time.

[@dt8427]

take your hand out of your pocket

[@harrijones6843]

why

[@ainguyenhoang1734]

@@harrijones6843 he saw it as the sign of arrogance, I presume.

[@zeribeiro6846]

Fail to understand the point of this talk, authenticity doesn't exist, you behave differently in various occasions due to various reasons, there for is impossible to find "the perfect" way or state for doing things. If you want to be good work on your body conscience, get healthy habits, work your part and go to rehearsals ready for work.

[@MGB-wz3jz]

Authenticity does exist. The funny thing is that the core of authenticity lies in your argument: we do things different in (different) situations. It is HOW we do things different that define who we are, that give us al our own 'identity'. So authenticity isn't having the same behaviour in every situation, it's being YOU in every situation. For example: you chose those words to write your comment but you might as well could have chosen other ones, it is in these (small) choices that we find our own unique identity and authenticity. This Ted talks points out that the level of being yourself in a role is an important factor in becoming successful.

[@THEVOICEANARCHY]

SO BORING, IT EVEN LOOKS BORING, HENCE BORING -