The Craft

The Root of Good Acting (Pt. 4)

The first common mistake that will lead you down a very bad path is judging the character.  To me, the root of all prejudice stems from our inability to see ourselves in other people.

The Root of Good Acting (Pt. 3)

What are you doing when you act on the line?  You read the script and think, "This is what the line is telling me to do."

The Root of Good Acting (Pt. 2)

If you are emotionally blocked, please be aware that such blockage is not your natural emotional state.  The natural state of every human being is the way the baby is in the crib.

Stop Acting and Live the Life

When I first meet actors at my studio, I notice one thing they have in common: a disease I call "classitis."

The Root of Good Acting

Personalization is the foundation upon which the house built. Step number one of my eight steps is phrased, "Who am I?"—think of that "I" as standing for identification.

Technology and Imagination in the Acting Process

At first it was subtle, a few students expressing their frustration at not being able to come up with a new idea in acting class. Then the dissatisfaction of some became more open.

The Technique of Process

What inspires you? What blocks you? What rocks you? What delights and repels you?

Crying on Cue

12 techniques to help you explore other ways to release your character's pent-up emotion.

Playing Drunk

Playing drunk is a very difficult thing to pull off. Even though you may be eager to conduct some firsthand research on this project, I'm afraid that it requires a clear head and great skill.

Playing Farce in the 21st Century

Have the excesses of reality TV and the distractions of the digital age upped the ante for farce, a time-honored type of comedy usually characterized by slamming doors, mistaken identities, broad characterizations, and physical mayhem?