4 acting techniques your aspiring actor should know about

Acting has always been hailed as a glorious career, especially in a country like India where actors have massive influence on the general public. The ability to emote, communicate, mark stage presence and deliver dialogues in a way that truly captivates all senses of an individual is a rare, unique ability. Although it may come more naturally to some, it is undeniable that it is a skill which must be delivered and honed mindfully in order to be a natural, convincing actor. If your child is passionate about becoming an actor, then it is important to acquaint her with some of the necessary technical skills in order to transform her dream into reality. Here are some acting techniques that your budding actor should know.  

Classical technique 
This technique is also known as Stanislavski’s acting technique, developed by Constantin Stanislavski. It has a systematic approach which demands an actor to use his emotional memory. It focusses on voice, physicality, emotion, memory and observation, and calls for the actor to use his memory to mould the character he is portraying. Essentially, the actor would put himself into the shoes of the character and imagine his own reactions to the situation his character is faced with. 

Meisner technique 
This technique was developed by Sanford Meisner, and hence takes this name. The Meisner technique fundamentally relies on the concept of truthful acting. In adopting this technique, the actor must truthfully acquire the dispositions and feelings of the character and thus, seek to portray an honest, believable representation of it. The actor must dive into the character and become it. This technique places a lot of emphasis on improvisation and imagination instead of memory. 

Lee Strasberg’s technique 
This technique calls for the actor to replicate and reflect the character’s experiences in the context of her own real life. This means that the actor would be adding aspects of the character into her day-to-day life in order to develop a richer connection with the character. Doing so will ensure that the actor has a more detailed understanding of how her character would think, act, react, its likes and dislikes, etc. This technique basically removes the character from the realm of fiction.  

Chekhov technique 
The developer of this technique, Michael Chekhov, was originally trained by Stanislavski. However, Chekhov developed his own technique which is more concerned with the subconscious mind and physicality. This would mean trying to portray an internal emotion physically by using certain gestures repeatedly. This technique aims at a more exaggerated, heightened portrayal of reality.