Richard Boleslavsky Acting: the First Six Lessons (February 4, 1889
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Transcript Richard Boleslavsky Acting: the First Six Lessons (February 4, 1889
Presented By: Evelyn Forsyth, Megan Rodriguez, Mimi
Rife, and Ana Schuler
Life of Boleslavsky
Megan
Polish actor and director
Member of the Moscow Art Theatre
and director of it’s first studio
Moved to NY 1920’s- first teacher of
the Stanislavski system
Later directed Broadway plays &
Hollywood films in the 1930-40’s
The First Lesson: Concentration
Ana
Actor's concentration: The human soul.
First Period: The Searching
Second Period: The constructive
The five senses are the key to creation
Three parts of education
Body
Culture and intellectual concepts
Training of the soul
Exercise #1
all
Education of the body
Gymnastics: Stretching and Roll Down
Dancing: Interpretive
Breathing Exercises: Sizzling 3 times on “S” and “Z”,
Filling up lungs
Voice: Counting
Diction: To Sit in Solemn Silence on a Dull Dark Dock,
New York
The Second Lesson: Memory of
Emotion
Ana
Unconscious Reactions
Example: Cucumber story
“To imitate is wrong. To
create is right.”
Use of personal
experiences
Abstract connections
Murderer – bug killing
Exercise #2
Megan
Pick a partner; A and B
A: Recall a short story to them in full detail
A: Retell story with less detail
A: Finally try to recreate the emotions without words.
Do the same steps with partner B
The Third Lesson: Dramatic Action
Evelyn
Leaves: Presentation
of idea
Branches: Elements of
the idea (coming from
actor)
Trunk: Idea, Reason
(coming from director)
Exercise #3
Mimi
Pick a Partner; A and B
“One must choose his or her actions in accordance with the character
of the part that opposes them.”
Three situations:
Two teenage friends
A: college student, B: Senior citizen
A: Skater, B: Valedictorian
A: So, you’ve finally made it to the fishbowl?
B: The what?
A: That’s what we call the box office. Its an inside joke.
B: Oh. I guess. Mr. Boston said he wanted you to train me.
A: Then let the training begin. People come up. They say what movie they want. You press this button. Take their
money. Give them their ticket. There, you’re trained.
B: Now what?
A: Now sit down and wait. No one’s coming tonight. It’s Christmas Eve and all our movies suck.
The Fourth Lesson:
Characterization
Megan
Pathological hypnotism: Unbelievable acting
Too complete sincerity
Create a unique life and soul
Physical & emotional personality:
Real life examples
Previous acting roles
Author’s mind process
Romeo & Juliet example
Exercise #4
Evelyn
Analyze the pictures below for:
Artist Motives
Time period
Character situation
Create a new posture based on these character choices
The Fifth Lesson: Observation
Observation in relation to acting
Unusual things in everyday life
Builds memory and memory capacity
Develop sensory and muscle memory
Enriches inner life
Fully appreciate different personalities
Mimi
Exercise #5
Evelyn
Get into pairs; assign A & B
Both will observe the video and take note of specific
actions/gestures
B will pantomime the clip for A
A will point out any missed steps.
Switch; repeat steps for next clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmnhmHHOzKc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9kVsnTQh-g
The Sixth Lesson: Rhythm
Mimi
Levels of Rhythm:
Consciousness
Emotions result of other’s feelings
Create your own rhythm (take into account other’s rhythm)
Building Rhythm
Absorb sounds of nature
Listen to music with entirety
Exercise #6
Ana
Lie down on the floor
Close your eyes and concentrate on the music played
Discuss the different types of rhythms presented in the
music
Conclusion: CEACOR
C: concentration
E: emotions
A: action
C: characterization
O: observation
R: rhythm