Thursday, November 3, 2011

Two Year Acting Conservatory - Finding the Right Trusting Environment

11:37 AM
By Maggie Flanigan


Two year acting programs are commonly known as the conservatory approach. These two year programs are targeted towards professional actors who recognize their need for continual study and improvement. The tradition of a master training an apprentice has been in practice for centuries. In NYC, student actors who are looking to improve themselves in their craft should certainly consider a two year program.

Learning never ends for true actors. When an actor appears to act without trying, it is a sure bet that they have spent years training. There is no doubt that it takes a great deal of strength to dedicate a significant period of time to studying your craft. However, when it comes to being an actor in New York, taking the time to study is what will make the difference between hobby and career.

Meisner training is an essential component to two year acting programs. This method is a sequential one, meaning that the students first learn basics and then build their skill sets from there. Similar to military training, Meisner training can feel like boot camp. Students have to face the stripping and rebuilding of their identities and beliefs.

Similar to actors, soldiers are required to reform their identity when they join the military during their training period. Long-term programs in New York that teach Meisner require student actors to learn more about themselves. Doing so allows actors to become more emotionally controlled, freeing them to focus on the character they need to portray.

There is no such thing as a person who is not at least partly controlled by compulsions, emotions, and desires. These qualities can be both an advantage as well as a disadvantage to actors. Being aware of these personal characteristics is essential to being an successful actor.

Unfortunately, actors are prone to falling into poor habits. These habits can partially be addressed in short-term classes. There is no question, however, that two year programs are far more effective at correcting these problems. This whole process is certainly not an easy one as students are required to strip away their exterior and reveal their more vulnerable sides. A two year acting program challenges students to bare their vulnerabilities and put themselves under the microscope all in an effort to make them more capable of creating lifelike characters for the audience. If an actor finds himself suffering from less-than-desirable habits, two year programs are a great way to correct these issues with the result being a professional actor secure in himself and behaviors and ready for any sort of role.




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