Neutral: A Tool for Actors
Neutral is a term that gets thrown around a lot in acting circles, particularly during training. The neutral body, or the neutral voice is used a lot to describe a certain state of being, but...
Acting Methodologies
Arguably the most academic category of StageMilk.com – this is where we delve deep into all the various acting methodologies out there. This is a resource you can visit time and time again, if you need some inspiration, looking for a new technique to try or stuck on a particular block in your acting. Slowly but surely, we’ll have covered every single acting method that’s out there. So stay tuned!
The Outside In Acting Technique
Before we start try this: breathe as if you are panicked. Do it accurately. Breath high in your chest and fast for 30 seconds. See how you started panicking for real or started feeling stressed?...
10 Acting Techniques Every Actor Should Explore
Acting is a very broad church. There are a myriad of different approaches to performing and different people will recommend different things. Although the journey and the specifics of each school of thought may vary,...
5 Benefits of the Meisner Repetition Exercise (That May Surprise You)
Meisner-trained actors Allison Janney and Sam Rockwell practice the Meisner repetition exercise (start at 1:28) Watching two actors repeating the same line back and forth may have you wondering, “What exactly is the point of...
‘The Actor and the Target’: My Practical Application
Let’s conduct an acting EXPERIMENT. Disclaimer: I am not a scientist. Maths and STEM subjects were NEVER my strong suit in school, and analytic thinking is not my forte. That being said, right now I feel...
Using Keywords in Your Acting
In reality, we usually choose our words (and the way we say them) deliberately, particularly in delicate or high stakes situations. As much care must be taken by the actor in attempting to understand the...
Method or Madness?: The Dangerous Reputation of Method Acting
Method acting refers to systems of dramatic training that stem from the work of Russian theatre practitioner Konstantin Stanislavski (1863 -1968). While these systems can differ significantly from one another—containing varied philosophies, exercises and techniques...
What Is Good Acting?
We’re all across what acting is, right? The Oxford dictionary tell us it’s, “the art or occupation of performing fictional roles in plays, films, or television.” Great; that sounds pretty straight forward. However, between the clarity...
Plotting Actions for Objectives
Actions, like objectives, intentions and motivations, are the kind of dramatic concepts we can so easily step over and forget to utilise. Some actors tie them to drama school exercises—the kind of thing you grow...
How to Act Chekhov
There are not many playwrights in this world that warrant having their own ‘style’ but Chekhov is one of them. Now I’m not a hard and fast advocate for playing ‘style’ but I am a...