"Remember the first time you were inspired by the magic of this pursuit? Remember when you moved the audience and moved yourself as well? Remember the joy of that first big laugh you ever got, and the thrill of fully communing with the audience? That’s exactly how I want you to feel. Again."
-Michael Laskin |
An “acting-class-culture” exists anywhere that actors train. It should be fun, rigorous, and useful. But too often it proves to be cultish, financially driven, and harmful. Where you choose to study is an important decision. It’s your time and your hard-earned money. Whether you choose to study at my studio or not, my advice to you is this:
If you go by these guidelines you’ll probably eliminate 75% of those who teach acting.
- Study with an actor; an actor who has had some degree of success. It’s surprising how many teach acting and have not done any significant work as actors. An actor has travelled your path both personally and professionally.
- Avoid studying where only one methodology is explored. We all learn differently, and one size does not fit all.
- Don’t study where the teacher is the star, the “guru”. The need to please the teacher becomes the focus rather than your growth and development.
If you go by these guidelines you’ll probably eliminate 75% of those who teach acting.
HOW WE ARE DIFFERENT
Unlike many other studios, I don’t offer a large number of differing and tiered classes, taught by a multitude of teachers. This “supermarket approach” (classes for beginners, teens, cold-reading, improv, advanced, etc.) is not a model that I choose to emulate. While it is perfectly fine for others, it’s not in alignment with my approach to the work, the career, and the life. So, I have purposely taken a “boutique” approach to how The Michael Laskin Studio is focused.
The premise of my teaching is based on these two principles:
Past guests have included:
The premise of my teaching is based on these two principles:
- This is the class I wish I had then, knowing what I know now.
- And my true education took hold when I actually started to work as a professional actor.
Past guests have included:
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Class will always remain a place for experimentation, aspiration, and growth in a safe environment. And fun….I deeply believe in that above all!
the camera
We integrate the camera whenever possible. Our "Camera Nights" explore how our work translate to the camera. This takes the form of assigned work, exploration, and unique proprietary exercises I’ve developed for working on camera.
studio PHILOSOPHY
Sometimes actors are not fully in touch with their instinctive creative process. Often their native creative instincts have been subverted by a lack of basic technical training, or (on the other end of the spectrum) overly dogmatic training. We will work with you to discover what approach instinctively suits you, one that is healthy and sustainable. Acting classes are a bit like diets: they ALL work....for a while. Almost every diet will work if you stick to it. But the real question is what can you live with - every day? Discovering that is our job, together.
We embrace solid time-tested and usable techniques, which help open the door to real artistry. Reliable technique mated to your unique “personal fingerprint” is the difference between good and great; creating work that is memorable….indelible. Your technique is the "house" in which your artistry resides.
I am agnostic when it comes to the various schools of thought about acting training – I believe that whatever process works for you, is in fact what we should be focusing on and refining. I don’t try to “shoe-horn” you into a process that simply feels wrong. There is no one true path, there are many. “All roads lead to Rome”.
But, the point is actually getting to “Rome”! In fact, getting to the truth using the approach that suits you and feels aligned with your instincts. Ultimately the acting teacher’s job is to empower the actor to become their own guide, their own “north star”.
We embrace solid time-tested and usable techniques, which help open the door to real artistry. Reliable technique mated to your unique “personal fingerprint” is the difference between good and great; creating work that is memorable….indelible. Your technique is the "house" in which your artistry resides.
I am agnostic when it comes to the various schools of thought about acting training – I believe that whatever process works for you, is in fact what we should be focusing on and refining. I don’t try to “shoe-horn” you into a process that simply feels wrong. There is no one true path, there are many. “All roads lead to Rome”.
But, the point is actually getting to “Rome”! In fact, getting to the truth using the approach that suits you and feels aligned with your instincts. Ultimately the acting teacher’s job is to empower the actor to become their own guide, their own “north star”.
My Role: I’m not looking to be anyone's guru. On the contrary, I’d like be your “creative sherpa” and open you up to the tools that will help you to become your own guru, in art, and in life – which are always interwoven. I believe that what separates great acting from good acting is when your work becomes firmly connected to something personal. Great actors don't make obvious choices, they make personal choices.
But, make no mistake, it’s acting. It’s not therapy. And to be totally transparent, I’m a firm believer in both – just not necessarily in the same time and place. The actor is the prism through which the character is seen, so we best get acquainted with ourselves, learn to like ourselves, and get on with it. I am interested in seeing and meeting you, the dynamic you, the real you – and so is the audience. Remember the first time you were touched by this pursuit? How did you feel the first time you were really great in a play? Remember when you moved the audience and moved yourself as well? Remember that first big laugh you ever got – the thrill of communing with the audience? That’s how I want you to feel. Again. |