Sanford Meisner - Theater's Best Kept Secret (Part 1 of 7)

[slimblack47]

sandy, I love you and miss you. I was so lucky to have studied in Bequia and your master class in New York City @ The Neighborhood Playhouse...............i'll never forget to listen........................­.

love, Farah

John Ruskin, thank you for saving my life 90 feet down while diving...........that was a moment.................

[slimblack47]

sandy, I love you and miss you. I was so lucky to have studied in Bequia and your master class in New York City @ The Neighborhood Playhouse...............i'll never forget to listen........................­.

love, Farah

[Luvie1980]

Watch my monologue and please give me advice. I am welcome to all comments accept stupid ones.

[DADorACTOR]

Hey! Am I the next Patrick Swayze? Come watch my monologue to find out!

[joecash5bucks]

My current instructor here in Toronto is Meisner trained, he was in the same graduating class from the Playhouse as Diane Keaton

[rbacgroup]

I wrote a rap song about Sandy. It's called Look Like Meisner.

/watch?v=1cKhZ01LMqo

[Luvie1980]

What did happen to Sandy's voice?

[johnnydramaable]

@Luvie1980

hi. his voice? he had throat cancer, and much of vocal chords removed. needed battery powered device/amplifier to be heard. he was amazing.

[bdas15]

i like his insight, but it's hard to listen to his voice for too long

[greenrate]

Oh, puh-lease.

This kind of purposeless personal adulation should make anyone with even a half-good opinion of Meisner . . . cringe on Meisner's behalf.

That aside . . . the one thing about Meisner's teaching that is in fact especially noteworthy is something that most of his students don't actually take the consequences of very seriously: his insistence that it takes 20 years to make an actor.

[trueblue4321]

Great great stuff. I knew a student that died recently and he gave me all his well written journals of his time in Meisner's class recently. I'm going through them now.

[LemonadeLaura]

@trueblue4321 - I envy you that. I am lucky to have a few teachers that were in Mr. Meisner's class, but anything connected to his class is pure gold to me.

[trueblue4321]

Truly a fascinating man. I've really enjoyed watching all the clips

[skysnet]

how can you possibly sit through a lecture with his voice like this.

[steve6548867]

@skysnet Because what he has to say is pure gold. I'm currently 3 years into a Meisner program and I personally know how important the beginning acting classes are. What he's discussing in this video is the very root of the technique.

[spadge321]

by concentrating you ignorant cunt !!

[sylicone221]

Hey I wanted to ask, this should be taught to kids, not for acting but for real life. Lets say they dont enjoy the outdoors, so what they can learn to do is pretend they are indoors, and that way they can look like they are enjoying something outside.....should this be done. I wish I learned this technique when I was a kid...what u all think?

[Chameleonardodavinci]

God I wish you could see him performing...

[tenor529]

I'm studying at Playhouse West right now. The stuff he thought up is brilliant. Make sure you check out James Franco on Inside the Actor's Studio on the 7th. He's gonna talk a lot about Playhouse West (where he studied) and Meisner technique.

[LemonadeLaura]

@tenor529 - Me too :) Go Playhouse!

[myepiphany86]

Brilliant.

"Shut up. You talk too much." haha!

[maysaatriz]

Realmente muito bom!

[zenpuntozero]

peccato non si capisca un cazzo...

[Actortube1]

I really enjoyed watching this video. Very inspirational coming from other actors. This is what actors need to be exposed to in order to truly develop their talent.

Actortube

[ruzickaw]

what a pity to have so stupid students

[johnbourbon]

thanks for posting this - there are so many videos on youtube espousing meisner technique that are just total abominations.

[Luckilius]

@johnbourbon Why don't you go back to the farm in Pennsyltucky where you came from to study acting, you yupster clown. Brooklyn doesn't want you.

[johnbourbon]

@Luckilius wow you're pretty obsessed with me huh?

[dlmorrow11]

He's the only one who got Stanislavski right!

[NOX133]

@dlmorrow11

what about stella adler

[legatofancier]

@dlmorrow11 - Having studied for years with Sandy, I really loved him and I'm grateful for what I learned from him. However, he was quick to say that he learned a lot from Stella Adler & Harold Clurman. Later in life he credited Lee Strasbeg with being a great influence, in spite of their differences. Read STANISLAVKI & THE ART OF THE STAGE, translated and introduced by David Magershack. It's a collection of transcripts of Stanislavski's sessions with the Bolshoi Opera Studio.

[legatofancier]

@legatofancier - Stanislavski is teaching young opera singers to act. Everything is off the cuuf and it's wonderfully consistent! Reading those transcripts is a lot like being in class with Sandy. I told him about it and it seemed to please him. Absolutely remarkable man!

[VeeBee81]

My Dad had his palate scraped.... Mr Meisner had a Laryngectomy... they both sounded alike. Meisner slightly worse than my Dad, but alike. Its hard to listen to him because he needs help to be heard,,, but if you're interested in Acting and you know his history... you'll get used to it!!! Or go somewhere else...

[dAtxMiiXdxChiCk]

This really needs subtitles. I mean, come on.

[zoeysboy]

lol jesus how can anyone take direction from was essentially is burping...

[yac311]

all have to say, after reading all of his books, and this being said by a 16 year old. I have been thrown around emotionaly and mentaly,but I have learned so much from them.

[Mazumune]

@yac311 fag

[Coniwoman]

REPEATS OR EITHER LOVE EM OR HATE EM.

[r32adt3db]

Is that Charlize Theron at 6:05?

[Thriller94]

this man is the yoda of the acting world.. it's really incredible insights, every acting student needs to be exposed to this at one point in their lives; even as a human being, looking at this method, it makes you realize the 'character' you walk around with every day..

'white colour elitist'..

'high school student'..

'actor'..

etc.

it's really quite fascinating..

[AtLastOnTheGround]

It IS fascinating. Every human being is a prism of all these different characters -- We are arrogant know-it-alls. Loud, silly, and immature school-children. Soft-spoken, eye-rolling cynics. Consoling optimists. Pedantic geeks.

Instead of illustrating a stereotype of one of the above, Meisner teaches to USE that side of you so that it is realistic and familiar. Excellent approach.

[cubbins1]

he had cancer of the larynx and had 2 operations on it.

i think due to smoking.

[chuobio]

Is all of that from smoking ..... what the hell happened to him?

[eladbari]

i dont get it. did meisner told them at the end part, with "your hair is shining" part- to say it in a variety? or not with variety? i didnt get where it is also going from there.. :\

[indymitcho]

Meisner wants them to get out of their heads. He wants them to respond spontaneously. Meisner said "You're making readings in order to create variety. DON'T." He wants them not to think so much about what they're doing (such as approximating line readings) and instead, to do it as a response. When they don't actively listen/respond to one another, he says: "It's empty. It's inhuman. Right? But it has something in it. It has connection." Connect by listening! "It has no human quality, YET."

[eladbari]

thank u for this input :]

[wunderbeast]

I'm not sure what "the object" is in the context of what he was saying but essentially he's saying that at first, the actors were imposing behavior on top of what's really there for the sake of variety, or "being interesting", and if you think about those things, you're in your head and not really listening to what the other actor is giving you, behavior that is. the second time he cut in, he's saying that it's coming from a place where the actors free themselves of the obligation to add variety

[wunderbeast]

but this time his criticism is that it's empty because the ability to truly react from moment to moment takes time to incubate. that's why he says "yet". it takes practice to get out of your head. i'm not saying there are no naturals out there who might have an innate facility to pick up things (and NOT intellectually, but viscerally) faster than someone else. but the commonplace notion that serious actor training is not useful is one i disagree with.

[legatofancier]

When I studied with Sandy, he had his voice. One night in his private class, he had a coughing fit. It was a cough such as I have never heard before or since. It made you feel that something was seriously wrong. I went out and got him some hot tea. Then we urged him to see the doctor. Later, when the news broke that he had had surgery for throat cancer, I was not surprised. It was tough to visit him after the surgery and listen to him speak. However, I was very glad to see him.

[slowpoke96Z28]

sandy looks like he is always eating a peppermint or something.

[theflorgeormix]

Against the head...interesting...I took acting classes as a hobby and learned a lot about communication...nerve racking though

[improvmum]

Is that Kevin Spacey in the last 2 Minutes or so?

[Scorpncap]

no thats not kevin spacey

[CENATIEMPO]

Descubriendo a un gran maestro de actuación!!

[NiceCar2008]

i was taught sanfor meisner tecnique. it was awsome.

[jakethewoz]

where were you taught? they didn't even teach you to spell his name?

[NiceCar2008]

i know...... hahahaha

[jpseica]

Beschizza Rules!!!

[sanjuliadiego]

I agree, Mr. Howlett ;)

[mrhowlett]

He's good. But he's no John Beschizza.

[NiceCar2008]

who is John Beschizza

[deported]

yay for Meisner!!!

[bgoodell]

meisner technique changed my life forever... love it!

[LukeLegere]

have you studied meisner technique, how was it? im currently studying strasburg technique but im not liking it to tell the truth.

[natejames325]

Meisner is great. What city are you in?

[Benz2533]

If you have information on Meisner could you give a good site to find out infor on him in high detail.

[natejames325]

Read the book, Meisner on Acting. Ah-maze-ing

[Benz2533]

I can't fiind the book in my country. If you have any other things such as web and profile on internet about him that can be trust then plz send me some link. Thank you.

[Coolcatsaborn]

Did you find anything. I too would like something?

[Benz2533]

I find nothng at all. I only know that he is famust but I dont know that well of what is the way he is teaching in detail.

[bgoodell]

Read Bill Esper's book too called "The Actor's Art and Craft." I read it after I'd done three years of Meisner study and wished I'd read it before I started. Esper is the premiere Meisner teacher in NYC and an amazing person. I met him in January and he taught my professor who taught me. I don't know much about Strasburg technique, just Chekhov, Stanislavski, and Meisner.

[loachendormi]

genius with an alien voice

[lekristajo]

Hey jus wondering, these documentaries are they from SANFORD MEISNER MASTER CLASS DVD?

[lep1113]

I went through a 2 year Meisner intensive program at my University and it was amazing

[fazehead]

His Book is Great too.

[JohnnyValo]

Is this guy the Steven Hawking of acting?

[johnsullivan57]

Meisner Video 1.

[marialenatsioli]

i'm greek.i study in a drama scool and i have a teacher,who's teaching us meisner technic!i'm lucky because meisner gave a lot and i had the chance to lern from his excersises!everithing he said are so into the point!the documents you have uploaded are treasure for me!

[PetrosMichaelides]

In conclusion there are some final touches to the role:

Accent and physicality

[PetrosMichaelides]

1) Listening (really listen what the other person says) 2) watch the other person (to interpret the emotion) 3) be responsive (Respond to what you get from your partner)

4) Really do what is that you do (Whether be it to prepare a cake for your nephew that just had an accidents and his birthday is tomorrow, really prepare the cake)

5) Do nothing unless something to makes you do it.6) being able to emotionally prepare for what just happened.

[PetrosMichaelides]

Definition of Acting:  Acting is living truthfully under imaginary circumstances. You can achieve that by developing certain skills to be able to stay in the moment:

[KainTheDragoon]

He's a great inspiration. It's sad what happened to his voice. I am inspired by his determination to never give up no matter what happened. May he be an example for everyone in strength, determination, and acting.

Even without his voice, he's still a great actor, and when you see him teach in the later parts, you can see his genius at work.

5/5 to him.

[JCnena]

Wow you're really sensitive. I hope to God nothing like that ever happens to you.

[chcknpie04]

Me too. Listen, it's nothing against him as a person, or his teachings, but on a purely aesthetic level, his voice grates on me. There's not much I can do about it.

[JCnena]

He went through hell and back. If you watch the whole thing you'll see a point where he gets teary because of it. He's actually an inspiration bc he didn't sucumb to not being able to speak. He fought and figured out a way to speak without vocal chords!

[Benz2533]

Do you have any fix information on him that is on the web that I could use? I can't find much information about him because there no book about him in my country.

[JCnena]

So, that being said I think, that you lack sensitivity. Most people do. The good thing is it's not terminal or permanent. You have to visualize yourself in the other person's shoes. You can learn to be more compassionate. I don't mean that in an offensive way but trust me it will help your acting. (If you are an actor)

[JCnena]

Real classy pal. you're the one making stupid comments. Deal.

[chcknpie04]

ARE YOU FUCKING INSANE???

So, I make an offhand observation of myself as far as Meisner's voice is concerned, and you, knowing absolutely NOTHING about me, attack me, then proceed to lecture me with this self-rightious attitude...wow. How pathetic is it being you? Maybe YOU should not be so judgemental, eh?

Deal.

[JCnena]

You're manifesting what you are for the world to see. Too bad we can't see who you are.

[MKD825]

I'm not coming down on you man, but try to understand. My grandmother had a laryngectomy. I remember the apprehensive look in her eye when she was about to speak to "new" people for the first time, just as I remember the odd looks on their faces. Being misunderstood, hung up on, FEARED while trying to communicate is extremely frustrating and heartbreaking for laryngectomees.  You would've gotten used to Meisner's voice, meanwhile he'd be getting used to the hole in his neck.

[chcknpie04]

I think my comment was taken a little out of context, or just misinterpeted. I have all the empathy in the world for somebody who's lost their voice. I'm a classical singer, and am ridiculously protective of my voice, and so the prospect of something like that is frightening.

I will admit that my original comment was tactless and mean, but I meant it jokingly. It definitely didn't sound that way, but my main point is, being a voice snob, it would be really hard to take lessons from Sandy.

[GmoUnit]

your right i would rather have another teacher thats really good and teaches the meisner technique than meisner himself because i wouldnt want to watch him and hear his voice

[jwctkd28]

That'd just make you a crummier actor than you probably are anyway. If you can't look past his problems, and see his genius, you can't look outside the box, which is what acting consists of, most of the time.

[Denisehealthnut]

It's funny seing David Mamet in this I read his book True and False and he completely rejects method, guess this is evidence he didn't always feel this way.

The question is which man is correct, young or older Mamet?

[Fordsonjoe]

It is what is true to each person. I do not think that you can have a correct universal answer.

[hooray4hollywood]

Meisner was a genius. There's no other word for it.

[marycorona]

Hi,

I'm taking a meisner class this summer and this video was sp helpful for me . thank you so much for posting it it really was what I was looking for this morning. The meisner technique takes alot of rehearsal and practice in doing and so I was looking for a video that showed how it is done. thank you.

[more2090]

Not too convinced. Sorry. Mayb i neeed to listen to it more. But interesting. I was taught the English way but often reject the pompas crap i was taught. This I see is a similar way i adopt. Guess you have to play or become the part. Until you become the part the part can not become you.

[alexlinian]

I also want to thank this MeisnerActing channel for putting this up. I am curretly studying Meisner in Leonardo Torres Vilar's Acting Conservatory in Peru and it is great to get to actually see Mr. Meisner lecture (I was just doing the repetition exercise!!!)... My deepest gratitude

[tpludow]

i feel kinda silly

I just bought the master class dvd it was 60 bucks...

but its 8 hours...foolish?

[andressafurletti]

Thank you SO MUCH fo this videos!!!! He is fantastic!

[michaeljester]

thanks so much for this!!!! i'm doing research on meisner right now and this helps tremendously.

[voteforguy]

I've been looking for this for the longest time and couldn't find it! Awesome.