Acting methods and techniques [From Stanslaveski until Stella Adler ] Part I

Throughout history, the art of acting has developed in many different ways. In ancient Greece, actors used masks and physical gestures to convey emotions and tell stories. In the Middle Ages, actors began to use more naturalistic techniques, such as combining masks and costumes in the acting technique.

In the 19th century, Stanislavski developed the "system" of acting, which focused on the actor's ability to create believable characters through a combination of physical and psychological techniques. In the 20th century, Sanford Meisner and Stella Adler developed their own approaches to acting, which emphasized the use of emotional memory and improvisation.

1. Konstantin Stanislavski (1863-1938)

Konstantin Stanislavski's method was a system of acting developed by the Russian theatre practitioner Konstantin Stanislavski. It is based on the idea that an actor should use their own emotions and feelings to bring a character to life. The method encourages actors to use their imagination and personal experiences to create a believable performance. It also emphasizes the importance of physical and vocal techniques, as well as the use of props and costumes. Stanislavski's method has been adapted and used by many actors and directors in the 20th and 21st centuries. By many actors and actor's trainers stanslaveski is considered the man who came up with 'A' method to train people to become actors. Before him actors would recreate old techniques that were used in religious/ churches theater and medieval/opra techniques which were a type of performing arts but by no means could be considered acting as we know it today. 

Konstantin Stanislavski's acting method, also known as the Stanislavski System, is a technique for training actors to draw believable emotions from their characters. It emphasizes the use of physical and vocal actions to create a character's inner life, as well as the use of improvisation and observation to develop an actor's craft.

The core of Konstantin Stanislavski's acting method is the idea that an actor should strive to create a believable and emotionally honest performance. The method encourages actors to use their imagination, physical actions, and vocal techniques to bring a character to life. It also emphasizes the importance of observation and improvisation in order to develop an actor's craft.

Konstantin stanslaveski's method of acting developed what is called the emotional memory, Which is a term used to describe the ability to recall and re-experience emotions associated with past events. It is an important tool for actors, as it allows them to draw on their own experiences to create believable and emotionally resonant performances.

The three phases of Konstantin Stanislavski's method are:

1. Preparation: This phase involves researching the character, understanding their motivations and objectives, and developing a physical and vocal approach to the role.

2. Performance: This phase involves using the techniques developed in the preparation phase to bring the character to life on stage.

3. Analysis: This phase involves reflecting on the performance and making adjustments to improve it.

Konstantin Stanislavski trained many notable actors, including Vsevolod Meyerhold, Michael Chekhov, and Maria Ouspenskaya. He also taught at the Moscow Art Theatre, where he developed his own system of acting. 

2. Lee Strasberg (1901-1982)

Lee Strasberg was an American actor, director, and acting teacher. He was a major proponent of the Stanislavski system of acting, which he adapted and developed into his own method. 

Lee Strasberg's method of acting was based on the teachings of Konstantin Stanislavski. It focused on the use of emotional memory and sense memory to create a believable performance. Strasberg believed that actors should use their own experiences and emotions to bring a character to life. He also emphasized the importance of physical and vocal techniques, as well as the use of props and costumes. Strasberg's method has been adapted and used by many actors and directors in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Lee Strasberg trained many notable actors, including Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Paul Newman, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, and Meryl Streep. He also taught at the Actors Studio in New York City.

3. Sanford Meisner (1905-1997)

Sanford Meisner was an American actor and acting teacher. He developed the "Meisner Technique," a form of method acting that emphasizes the use of imagination and improvisation to create realistic performances.

Sanford Meisner's technique focuses on the actor's ability to stay in the moment and respond truthfully to their scene partner. This requires the actor to be aware of their own emotions and those of their scene partner, as well as the environment around them. The technique also encourages the actor to use their imagination to create vivid and believable characters.

The Meisner Technique is very useful for actors because it encourages them to stay in the moment and respond truthfully to their scene partner. This helps create realistic performances that are emotionally resonant and believable. The technique also encourages the actor to use their imagination to create vivid and believable characters. Additionally, the technique emphasizes the use of emotional memory but not in a way that let actors 'pretend' but to 'do' by the help of imagination. which allows actors to draw on their own experiences to create more authentic performances.

Sanford Meisner trained many notable actors, including Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Jeff Goldblum, and Joanne Woodward. He also taught at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City, where he trained many other actors, directors, and writers.

4. Michael Chekhov (1891-1955)

Michael Chekhov was a Russian actor, director, and theatre practitioner. He developed his own acting technique, which he called the "Chekhov Technique," which focused on physicality, imagination, and emotion. He also wrote several books on acting, including To the Actor and An Actor Prepares.

Michael Chekhov's acting method was special because it focused on the physicality of the actor, as well as their imagination and emotions. He believed that an actor should use their body to express the character's emotions, rather than relying solely on words. He also emphasized the importance of using the actor's own experiences and emotions to create a believable character.

Michael Chekhov trained many notable actors, including Alfred Hitchcock, Laurence Olivier, and Marilyn Monroe. He also taught acting classes at the Michael Chekhov Studio in New York City.

5. Stella Adler (1901-1992)

Stella Adler was an American actress and acting teacher. She was a student of Sanford Meisner and developed her own approach to acting, which she called the "Adler Technique." This technique focused on the actor's ability to use their imagination to create vivid and believable characters. Adler also wrote several books on acting, including The Art of Acting and Respect for Acting.

The Adler Technique is an approach to acting developed by Stella Adler. It focuses on the actor's ability to use their imagination to create vivid and believable characters. The technique also emphasizes the importance of understanding the character's motivations and objectives, as well as the environment in which the scene takes place. Additionally, the technique encourages the actor to use their emotional memory to create more authentic performances.

Stella Adler's technique was based on the idea that an actor should use their imagination to create a character and bring it to life. She believed that an actor should be able to draw upon their own experiences and emotions to create a believable character. She also emphasized the importance of physicality in acting, believing that an actor should use their body to express the character's emotions. Adler's technique was revolutionary for its time and has been influential in the development of modern acting techniques.

Stella Adler trained many notable actors, including Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Warren Beatty, Harvey Keitel, Martin Sheen, and Benicio Del Toro. She also taught acting classes at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City.