Monthly Archives February 2012

Blend Business with Enthusiasm

It’s often the case that newer and more enthusiastic actors overlook the fact that things need to be done in a logical and properly conceived order. According to Actingmagazine.com, many as a result go through a case of classic self-sabotage.

One of the best things an actor can do for themselves is make sure they have a great foundation in film acting technique. Even though this is the rule of thumb, many beginning actors don’t see it this way. They think acting is just acting and therefore a fair amount of their time is spent on plays and dabbling into a workshop or two. After their vicarious training, then they rush straight into film and the television market, and only then do they realize their training/skills aren’t quite winning over those casting directors.

Eventually these impatient actors will see that it will be over a year or more before casting directors would take another chance to see someone who had essentially wasted their time.
What does this all mean? Basically, that the industry is too tight knit, and the memories of casting directors too long for you to make that kind of mistake.

To ensure you get the right training, be sure you check out The Elizabeth Mestnik Acting School.  Located in Los Angeles, in the heart of Hollywood, Ms. Mestnik has taught acting for over a decade.  With her combined experience in the industry and with her expertise in the Mesiner Technique, she will help you develop those skills that will get you the auditions you’ve always wanted.

Acting Education

If your goal is to become a film director, but you want to first gain access to that kind of exposure through an acting career, and you are divided upon what kind of education you want to seek, the question remains – how focused are you?

As a high school student about to finish school, and on the verge of starting his adult life and career, that is a really good question to ask awarding-winning filmmaker, D. L. White. White, who began studying acting at The Sanford Meisner Center in Los Angeles, CA where he graduated from the two year acting program in 2006 and went on to write and direct several short films and a feature length in 2010, titled, The Middle of the Middle, White most likely went through the same decision-making process and struggled with the same things that this high school student is probably going through.

To answer the question, White says that filmmaking is an extremely expensive and time consuming process, and sometimes the expenses and the time invested can outweigh the pros of going to film school. He gives another alternative: The School of Life. The only place to really learn about this job is via on the job training, and this true for any field in the industry including, acting, script supervising, directing, set designing, gripping, gaffing, etc. According to White you can work your way up in this industry, and through that gain great experience and valuable contacts along the way.

But sometimes as an actor, you would need some guidance to give you the right amount of direction that you need in order to get you motivated. Elizabeth Mestnik Acting Studio, located in the heart of Hollywood, is the recommended actor-training program for NBC’s Talent Development Initative. Since 2001, Ms. Mestnik has been providing Hollywood actors the same comprehensive training she received in New York City. Similar to D. L. White’s educational background, EMAS was founded on the principles of the Mesiner Technique. Offering serious training, in a fun and challenging environment, EMAS may become that great opportunity that you can’t forgo towards the honing and development of your potential as an actor. Contact us, here, for more details.

Key to Handling Auditioning Pressure

It seems like once you take that big step towards achieving your goals, a huge barrier comes between you and your success. And that can take many forms from self-doubt to the unknown pressures you may put on yourself to achieve those dreams. But the question remains: as an actor, how do you handle that sort of pressure?

D. L. White, an award winning filmmaker, who has worked in the film and television industry for nearly 20 years, has been asked this question before by aspiring actors who are attempting to make their mark in the industry.

His advice is to stop thinking about it. The creative process is a delicate thing, and you’re only going about disrupting the flow of your craft by stressing about things you cannot control, while focusing on what you can improve with rehearsals, research, memorization, preparation, and performance, will produce better and more effective results.

White writes that the more you try to control your craft, the more likely you will come across straining the creative process. Simply by letting go, and giving your talent leeway to breathe and grow, you will eventually learn and grow from it also.

White gives the example in his article for Actingreality.com of an absurdist play, a form of theater he is not all too familiar with, but where he finds the structured formatting stifling. Only during the more authentic moments of the production, where the actors’ emotions happened to slip through did the play really speak to him.

By the end of the performance, White was surprised to find that the things that stood out to him the most were these rare and spontaneous moments of emotion. The human connection that he felt through the player’s acting drew him closer to the scene and dialogue. What also lured him was the authenticity of the moment. By being real, the player was actually able to elicit a truer gift than any contrived monologue has ever done.

Join us at Elizabeth Mestnik Acting Studio, located in Los Angeles, to discover your full acting potential. Currently enrolling for Spring classes for beginning actors and those who want to study under the Meisner technique, be sure you don’t miss out on this great opportunity!

Juggling Acting and a Day Job

There’s already so much that goes on with an acting career, but what if you’re juggling a day job as well? There’s no question that you need the day job to pay for expenses, but a burgeoning acting career is something that asks all kinds of sacrifices from you and it just isn’t realistic to work at both a regular full-time gig and pursue an acting career at the same time.

The question has come up if you had to choose, would you choose your day job over acting? Well, it comes down exactly to that – how committed are you, and to which career? In the long run, if you choose acting, you’ll have to sacrifice comfort for crappy living conditions and for long periods of time – which is why a lot of people quit their acting pursuits because to actually give yourself this kind of shot is really up to what you are willing to sacrifice.

Usually an average of eight to ten years is required from acting professionals who make it to the big screen or television. Similar to any profession out there, acting requires hard work, determination, and perseverance. If you’re not willing to do your part and carry the bulk of what’s required of you, then it really isn’t likely that you’ll be able to hit the big time either.

And finding something flexible, which usually falls into the waiting tables-category, is ideal. It’s pretty rare to find something part-time that is flexible and accommodating at the same time. But if you’re not willing to work hard to reach where you want to be in 5-10 years, then it’s pretty much telling an engineer that forgoing his studies will help him get his certificate – which really isn’t the way the world works. Work hard, and that means roughing it, and even suffering a few blows financially, but if you want to be one of the elite few, then it’s all requisite stuff from here on.

Acting: How To Get Started

Acting is a tough profession. It’s a distinct balance of experience and skill perfected over a period of time. A lot of patience and time ends up being thrown into the equation, and those who are disciplined enough to work hard and persevere for what they love and aspire to will reap the rewards in the end.

Rigorous training and practice – a minimum of three to four hours a day, six days a week for at least two or three years before you reach the bare minimum of becoming a professional. Which means you might have the potential, but you’ll have to work hard in order to be able to push that potential to the max.

It also comes down to how you present yourself. Imagine this: you are given a basic monologue and a rundown of what the casting director is looking for. What if you look down at the script in hand, your self-doubt gets in the way, and you freeze? The first few seconds are crucial. Your monologue either flies and you deliver, or you fail to sell them your speech, and you’re axed before you can unearth your character. Two seconds or so to prove youself – probably the most essential two seconds of your life.

The Elizabeth Mestnik Acting Studio, a dynamic Los Angeles acting school, is willing to help you unmask your potential in truthfully, emotionally, and courageously expressing yourself. Ms. Mestnik founded EMAS in 2001 to provide Hollywood actors the same comprehensive training she received in New York City. Using the Meisner Technique to help challenge and invigorate actors to fully encompass their roles, EMAS will help guide you in understanding and improving your craft.

What’s most likely standing between you and your goals, is yourself. With the help of some great acting instruction, you’ll be able to acquire the skills that you will need to deliver those lines with fiery appeal, or with enough pizzazz, or dynamic panache to impress the right people.

Enrollment for Spring Classes Beginning Acting Classes starts now!