Clips of actors using Michael Chekhov Acting techniques. (we are still adjusting the titles!)
This first clip is from the 1994 Third International Michael Workshop at Forest Row, UK. Lisa Dalton plays the Actress, under the direction and offstage presence of Jack Colvin as the Author. Jack was a protege of MC and mentor to Lisa, teaching her the Sensations of Falling, Balancing, Floating which Chekhov was developing before he died in 1955. This was the first introduction of these tools to the world and they are now taught regularly as part of the Technique. more information on them can be found in the articles section of www.chekhov.net. Here, Lisa is primariy working with the tool of Balancing....she is struggling to maintain her emotional balance while being questioned and dismissed.
The second clip is from Song of Russia, MC's first Hollywood Film. He wrote letters to his friends sharing his concern over lack of time and character development i Hollywood. Eventually, he applied his "Fall in Love with the Problem" approach and devised many shortcuts to the part that Mala Powers shares in her additions to his book "On The Technique of Acting".
The Third clip is Beatrice Straight's Oscar winning turn from Network. It is miss labeled here. Sorry about that! Perhaps the most stunning, concise 6 minute Academy Award performance. She is riveting, with atmospheres, center and quality shifts, psychological gesture changes, etc. Honored to have been her student.
4th clip is a non-verbal rehearsed improv with Lisa Dalton and Ken Kerman. Lisa is playing a linear thinking dominated character with her center in her fingertips. Ken is playing a feeling dominated character.