The Spark! Podcast - Host - Erika - Season 1 - Episode 7 – Sanford Meisner’s Acting Exercises
Hello, this is Erika, your host and welcome back to The Spark! Podcast! Today’s episode is Season 1 episode 7 titled “Sanford Meisner’s Acting Exercises.”
It is March 19th, 2024, and today we’re going talk about Sanford Meisner’s Acting technique and his acting exercises. Let’s dive right in!
Who is Sanford Meisner and why is his acting technique important?
Sanford Meisner, Brooklyn, New York native studied with Lee Strassberg, the creator of the acting method (loosely inspired off of Stanislovsky’s acting method). It was through his acting training with Strassberg that he developed the Meisner Acting Technique. However, his technique differs from his predecessors since it does not use affective or emotional memory.
His acting technique has inspired other acting methods and it is still practiced today on stage and film and in studios and classrooms across the country.
Meisner was an acting teacher for over 64 years and created several Meisner acting schools to teach his method to.
Some of the actors who utilize the Meisner Technique include:
- Alec Baldwin
- Alexandra Daddario
- Allison Janney
- Anthony Hopkins
- Christopher Lloyd
- Christoph Waltz
- Diane Keaton
- Grace Kelly
- Gregory Peck
- Jack Nicholson
- James Franco
- James Gandolfini
- Jeff Bridges
- Jeff Goldblum
- Joan Fontaine
- Jon Voight
- Kathy Bates
- Lee Grant
- Mary Steenburgen
- Maureen Stapleton
- Michelle Pheiffer
- Naomi Watts
- Peter Falk
- Tina Fey
- Tom Cruise
Meisner Acting Technique Guidelines
Meisner’s technique’s mantra is to “live truthfully under imaginary circumstances.”
His acting approach is based on emotional preparation, repetition, and improvisation. His intention was for actors to think less, trust their authentic instincts, and be present and fully alive with their scene partner instead of primarily depending on rehearsal and memory. He desired for his students to improvise and be flexible in their performance and not make any choices until something or someone provoked them to. This would result in scene partners connecting more fully so they do not miss vital nonverbal cues. This is one of the many highlights of Meisner’s approach, it allows acting partners to emotionally connect more quickly based on being attuned to them through various observational repetition and improv exercises.
The Main Meisner Repetition Partner Exercise & Other Variations
The Repetition Exercise
1. In this exercise two actors, A and B, face each other either standing or sitting on chairs. 2. A makes a truthful observation about B, ideally the first thing A recognises, e.g. “You have brown hair”. 3. B’s task is to listen attentively and then repeat exactly what they heard 4. A then repeats backs what they heard, and so on…
To master this exercise, keep your undivided attention on your partner before you respond without anticipating their next line. If you do, start again with a new observation. If you are not being affected by your scene partner, slow down and start again. The speed should be slow enough to hear the words, but not so slow that you have time to overanalyse or think your response. The intensity and emotional energy will and should change. If one of you makes a mistake, repeat the last stated words, mistakes and all. Listening is important. This is an emotional exercise, not an intellectual one.
Partner A makes an observation: You have brown hair.
Partner B responds with the line: I have brown hair.
Partner A makes observation: You have brown hair.
Partner B responds with the line: I have brown hair.
Partner B makes an observation: You have brown hair.
Partner B makes an observation: You are smiling.
Partner A responds: I am smiling.
Partner B makes an observation: You are smiling.
Partner A responds: I am smiling.
And so on.
The Repetition Exercise Variation 1
This time the exercise will be repeated, except this time it will have a specific point of view. The key is to be truthful.
Actor A: You are wearing a necklace
Actor B: I am wearing a necklace
Actor A: You are wearing a necklace
Actor B: I am wearing a necklace
Actor A: Your eyebrows went up
Actor B: My eyebrows went up
Etc…
The Repetition Exercise Variation 2
Actor A will perform a task that takes all their concentration and Actor B after about a minute or so will come in and make an observational statement. This could be a literal activity or imaginary using pantomime. Remember to justify why you are doing this activity right now.
Your motivations could be in one of the four categories, the motivations listed are by no means complete:
Status based:
you got promoted
got elected
won award
won a contest
won a role in a movie
received a title
Your reputation is ruined
Money
Losing life savings
Got hired
Winning a bet/contest
You got a raise
Love
Getting the guy/girl
Losing the guy/girl
Keeping the guy/girl
Winning the parent’s approval
You got fan mail
Security
Losing money or possessions
Protecting self or family
Losing a job
Losing approval
Losing a relationship
Losing freedom
Losing shelter/home
Here are some activity examples that would require focus:
Learning to juggle
Opening a coconut without proper tools
Untangling jewelry
Peeling an orange trying to keep the peel in one piece
Writing a letter
Learning to knit
Decorating a cake
Solving a Rubik’s cube
Gluing a vase back together
Making balloon animals
Sorting tiny beads by color
Ironing an extremely wrinkly shirt
Putting together a difficult puzzle
Writing a poem
Cutting out shapes perfectly (be careful with this one)
Disarming a bomb
Deciphering a secret code
Giving yourself a manicure
Making something out of clay
Untying a knotted rope
Packing a suitcase for a month-long trip
Hiding something in your backpack so it cannot be found
Putting together a lego figure following instructions
You get the idea!
An example:
Actor A is on stage trying to open something.
Actor B comes in and makes an observation.
Actor B: You’re trying to open a jar of pickles.
Actor A: I’m trying to open a jar of pickles.
Actor A: You’re here with me!
Actor B: I’m here with you.
Actor B: You’re stressed.
Actor B: I’m stressed.
And continue.
This is where we will stop for now.
With these exercises, actors cultivate A profound level of connection and rapport with their scene partners, fostering dynamic and emotionally resonant performances on stage or screen. It's a powerful tool for developing the spontaneity, emotional depth, and authenticity that are central to the Meisner Acting Method.
Thank you for tuning into the Spark! Podcast! Disclaimer: everything mentioned in this podcast is for educational purposes only. Everything stated is opinion and based on Sanford Meisner’s book, “Sanford Meisner on Acting” as well as a Backstage article written by Alex Utes and the information therein. Until next time, spark on!