"MEISNER"

(my reflection as I look back in my journey in Meisner Acting Class)

I was not planning to enroll in another acting workshop because I just finished my course with Malou de Guzman. My original plan was to actually focus on the new job I just got hired for. But I think destiny has other plans in store instead.

As I mindlessly scrolled on Facebook, a post caught my attention. It was an ad for another acting workshop that teaches the Meisner technique. It intrigued me. As I read about it further, I realized that Meisner has a different acting style that is mostly used by Hollywood actors. It teaches how to act truthfully and not be trapped in one's mind. I was intimidated and got a little bit scared, but to be honest, my curiosity and excitement were stronger.

I signed up for the workshop not really expecting anything, but just like in the previous class that I had, all I have to do is be open, allow myself to learn new things, and prepare myself to experience another side of acting. From the onset, what makes this class different is that they only accept up to ten students per class, which excites me since I know that with this setup, our acting coach will be more direct and more focused on each of us.

Day one came, and I entered the room. As I listened to the brief history of Meisner, it left me with the impression that this technique is for those "upper class" actors. Actors who either already experienced acting abroad or actors who performed with complex subjects or materials. Like Les Misérables or Miss Saigon. Something that I'm intimidated by.

My journey in this class isn't that smooth. At first, my mind was mostly in conflict between what I knew about acting and what I was being taught.

While my coach and classmates were mentioning critically acclaimed plays, there I was talking about Pinoy teleseryes and movies. While they're talking about Hollywood actors, all I'm thinking about is Cherry Pie Picache. (How "jologs" can I get?). I just got to relax and loosen up a little when our acting coach told us that Meisner is not just for professional actors but is open to all who want to try it. And so I continued.

My journey in this class isn't that smooth. At first, my mind was mostly in conflict between what I knew about acting and what I was being taught. Like, how can someone act "truthfully" if their situation and character are just imaginary? How could someone "act" and dig deeper into someone's emotion without actually "performing" the scene? Isn't that what acting is supposed to be? How can we tap into our emotions instinctively if we're just repeating what our scene partners are saying? It really took me a while to get the hang of it, to the point that I even questioned myself about whether I'm in the right class or if I just wasted money. Despite all my doubts and apprehensions, I still persist, and I am really glad that I did.

When I act, I can feel that my emotion is REAL. There's no pressure or goal to make the scene "dramatic."

It took me three more classes before I was able to understand what Meisner was. And once I comprehended it, I was able to work around it. I was able to express my emotions authentically without aiming to "impress" my audience. I was able to LISTEN more to my scene partner, allowing myself to get affected by their behavior without the thought of "competing" with them. And the most helpful thing that I learned was that I was able to deliver my thoughts without thinking in advance about what to say next. Meisner frees me. When I act, I can feel that my emotion is REAL. There's no pressure or goal to make the scene "dramatic." Even when I was assigned a role, for example, as a professor, it felt like my real self was "on front" of the character instead of the character itself, which makes me more vulnerable in the scene, which results in a more convincing performance. I know it is hard to explain, but that's the closest description I can give. Maybe you can fully understand it once you try Meisner. (You can go to Sightlines on Facebook or Instagram for classes available!)

This class provided me with a whole new perspective on acting and became an added tool that I can use for future acting endeavors.

It was indeed a new experience trying the Meisner technique, as it wasn't like any other acting method that I've known or attended to. While common acting techniques require someone to "abandon" themselves, placing themselves in the character's shoes, Meisner somehow unites the character with your real self. While popular acting lessons taught us to be more extravagant and more visual, Meisner relies on one's instincts and impulses, which results in a more organic performance.

This class provided me with a whole new perspective on acting and became an added tool that I can use for future acting endeavors. But beyond that, Meisner allowed me to identify, feel, and honor my feelings. It reveals my own truth. Something that I can apply in my everyday life. 🎭🎥