The meisner technique focuses on vulnerability in acting to help actors truly shine on stage

For any actor who is serious about acting, there is hardly anything more important than the art of crafting and Meisner technique. The basics of acting need to become instinct. Along with this, however, comes the importance of actor vulnerability. Vulnerability in acting is far more important than most people seem to think. A renowned social scientist, Brenee Brown truly believes that creativity and vulnerability must go hand in hand. In other words, creativity cannot exist without vulnerability. How is this reflected in acting training?



Most actors will not receive any professional Meisner training throughout their careers. Most will simply take a bunch of disjointed courses in improv and on-camera filming and call it a day. Not to mention that trained actors themselves very rarely exhibit the characteristics of vulnerability and openness. There's no denying that an acting coach can help you to improve your skills, develop good body movement, and improve your speech and voice. However, vulnerability is just as crucial, and that is something that the actor must cultivate. This is why I'm such a firm believer in receiving comprehensive Meisner training under the tutelage of an acting teacher. During the first few months of Meisner training, the actor will be expected to repeat certain exercises in order to accomplish a few set goals. The first step is to assist the actor in becoming more impulsive and less prone to overthinking. Second, the actor is trained to listen intently, absorb the environment, and respond to it in the appropriate manner. Acting is almost all about the subtext, and this method helps the actor to understand and respond to it. This is the first step to creating a vulnerable actor.

Proper parenting as well as healthy socialization and education are all aspects of a well-adjusted adult. This process of growth often coincides with finding methods of shielding our emotions and vulnerability from others. To become an actor, however, it's necessary to go back to the child you once were. In a famous quote by Picasso, he speaks about the many artistic talents of children and how hard it is to hold on to those artistic abilities as an adult. All children are born to be playful, curious, and open. We were only concerned with the present. Shame and fear are largely foreign to the mind of the a child. I believe that returning to this childlike innocence is crucial in order to become a dynamic actor. The repetitive nature of the Meisner technique allows the actor to learn once again how to live in the moment. This un-training will not be immediate. It often takes several months. In order to become a vulnerable actor, it take a lot of work.

To accomplish this, the actor must learn to take risks. Mastering vulnerability is not an optional task, especially if your dream is to one day land a complex, significant role. You must be able to let all of the tension and cares of the world slip away in order to be able to give yourself utterly and completely to the role and the present moment. You need to take your acting craft and treat it with love, commitment, and dedication. Portraying the human condition with all of its vibrant realism and vulnerability is the hallmark of a great actor. To accomplish this worthy goal, many actors have sought the help of the Meisner technique.

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