New Collective Acting Studio

The Collective Spirit The Official Newsletter Of The New Collective LA Acting Studio Inspiration From Other Art Forms The Seven Fine Arts A Fine Art is defined as something created mainly for its beauty and intellectual value. It’s judged based on its aesthetic appeal and the depth of its meaning. The traditional seven fine arts include music, painting, sculpture, poetry, architecture, literature, and dance. To see how acting fits into the fine arts, it's important to understand that although...

The Collective Spirit The Official Newsletter Of The New Collective LA Acting Studio Thoughts On Process: Improvisation Jazz As An Anaology Previously, I’ve mentioned jazz as a way to understand the concept of “letting go” as an actor. Jazz serves as a great analogy for structured improvisation in acting. While it may seem chaotic, jazz is actually highly structured. Musicians stay within a set framework, following the melodic line. This balance of freedom and structure is crucial to jazz—and...

The Collective Spirit The Official Newsletter Of The New Collective LA Acting Studio Rehearsal To Rehearse, Or Not To Rehearse There is a common misconception that rehearsing kills an actor’s spontaneity. Some film and television actors, especially those without theater training, tend to resist rehearsing for this very reason. Sadly, this is an unfortunate misunderstanding. When rehearsing properly and effectively, the actor is empowering themselves while also opening the door to freedom,...

The Collective Spirit The Official Newsletter Of The New Collective LA Acting Studio Thoughts On Process: Script Analysis What Is Script Analysis A very good definition of script analysis is: “Script analysis is the close reading of a text to establish its intended meaning, including a thorough understanding of the setting, the subtext, and the character’s objective.” There are many variations of script analysis techniques, many of which refer back to the teachings of Constantin Stanislavski,...

The Collective Spirit The Official Newsletter Of The New Collective LA Acting Studio Taking Risks In Your Auditions Being Artful When we talk about taking risks in auditions, we don’t mean putting yourself in physical or psychological danger. Instead, being artful with risk means embracing the joy and safety of acting while striving to stand out in a way that enhances your portrayal of the character. Use The Given Circumstances The actor must always refer to the given circumstances when...

The Collective Spirit The Official Newsletter Of The New Collective LA Acting Studio Working With The Film Director Have A Process Every film director has their own style. Some directors love to discuss your character, rehearse, and create a supportive environment. However, this kind of director is rare in the film industry. Often, you’ll arrive on set with minimal guidance, sometimes just being told, “You got the part.” Don’t expect detailed direction before the first day of shooting....

The Collective Spirit The Official Newsletter Of The New Collective LA Acting Studio Thoughts On Process: Choices What Are Acting Choices In acting, "choices" are how actors use their skills to bring a character and a scene to life. Making effective choices starts with a deep understanding of script analysis and a solid method for creating a character. The savvy actor develops these skills by going to class, watching great actors in film, television and theater, and consistently reading a...

The Collective Spirit The Official Newsletter Of The New Collective LA Acting Studio Mindfulness and Creativity What Is Mindfulness? Mindfulness is defined as, “a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.” As artists, sometimes we can get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of modern life. The constant drive to achieve and pursue results...

The Collective Spirit The Official Newsletter Of The New Collective LA Acting Studio Thoughts On Process: The Element Of Place Where Am I? The ability to create a sense of place is one of the most important skills in the actor’s arsenal. The great acting coach, Uta Hagen, created the physical destination exercise as the first object exercise for the actor. She said that if you are spaceless, “Your body will tense, and you will start to arrange yourself.” Incorporating a sense of environment...

The Collective Spirit The Official Newsletter Of The New Collective LA Acting Studio Recommended Film: Looking For Richard Pursuing the Role In 1996, Al Pacino released a passion project that he worked on for several years: a documentary that chronicles his exploration as an actor of Shakespeare’s “Richard III”. The film includes on the street interviews with ordinary people as well as scholars. Pacino also reveals the rehearsal process and later filmed staged versions of selections from the...