Blog
Acting Advice – Using the 80/20 Rule
There are hundreds of self-help books that promise to transform your life. The 80/20 rule, though, is too powerful for any book. It’s free to use and nearly universally applicable. Here, we’ve applied it to the art of acting. The rule sounds straightforward: 80% of results come from 20% of actions. While this is…
Read MoreWhat is the Lee Strasberg Method?
Born in 1901 to Jewish parents in what is now the Ukraine, Lee Strasberg’s family could not have guessed he would one day become the father of method acting in America. He and the still-renowned schools he taught at are famous for coaching the “rebel heroes” of cinema to their greatest heights: James Dean,…
Read MoreActing Career Advice: Are You About to Give Up?
From time to time I’m approached by old students or colleagues who gave up acting for a “normal” life. They will say to me: I shouldn’t have given up. I often think about what would have happened if I had stuck with acting. I miss it. That’s exactly it. To succeed an…
Read MoreConstantin Stanislavski: Techniques of a Legend
Born in Moscow in 1863, Constantin Stanislavski was to become perhaps the most famous figure in theatre. He not only devised the still-used ‘System’ of acting; he also sparked inspiration in every other teacher he met, launching a wave of System-inspired techniques across Europe and the U.S.; including the Method we use here at Brian…
Read MoreWhat is Method Acting?
What is Method Acting, and Why is it Important? When the media talk about method acting, they often like to focus on wild stories about actors pulling out their own teeth or losing large amounts of weight for a role, but this is not what method acting is. So, what is method acting? Well, fundamentally,…
Read MoreCase Study: Jack Nicholson’s Method Acting
Jack Nicholson has been acting professionally for nearly 60 years, having made his professional debut in 1958’s The Cry Baby Killer. He is one of the industry’s most decorated actors, having won three Oscars, two for Best Actor and one for Best Supporting Actor. With 12 Academy Award nominations to his name, Nicholson…
Read MoreThe History Of Method Acting
Understanding ‘The Method’ – The History of Method Acting Many modern-day movies that we watch boast outstanding performances by method actors. In fact, the technique of method acting has been utilised by 80% of Oscar-winners in the ‘Best Actor’ category since the turn of the century. However, it is far from a new trend;…
Read MoreActing Techniques: How to Put Your ‘Uniqueness’ to Work
One thing that’s fantastic about working with our students is that they are all unique. They come to me, complete with baggage and weaknesses, and not only learn but also teach. Everyone you’ll share a scene with, write with, or even talk to about a character will have a unique take. While its easy…
Read MoreWhat Type of Actor Are You?
Know thyself. An ancient saying, and the first thing on the list of our Ultimate Acting Rules. To know yourself is to have a deep understanding of who you are, not a vague list of likes and dislikes. You should know the psychology behind why you like and do certain things. Once you know…
Read MoreAre You Failing To Commit To Your Acting?
“There are no small parts, only small actors.” – Laurence Olivier. Have you ever been watching a play or movie and said to someone, “wow, that actor really stole the scene!” This is what Olivier was talking about: how a great actor can own a scene, no matter how small their part in it.…
Read More