As a student of Sandy Meisner's, i can tell you that working with people who had studied with Stella Adler was like old home week! We all came out of the same womb, artistically speaking. Sandy & Stella were very close, personally & artistically!
Strasberg later disowned his theory of those personal objects -- "emotional memory" -- to help the actor, because he realized that as we grow older, events from our past take on certain meanings and this can muddle our acting. (A memory that mortifies me right now might make me laugh hysterically three years from now). He decided that instead of emotional memory, the actor should imagine a circumstance that will put him in the right mindset.
Adler said Stanislawski himself said that, use the imagination instead. That's why she decided to start teaching about imagination and Strasberg then left the Group Theater. He was at odds with Adler. But Stella got it straight from the horse's mouth
Acting should be rewarding and creative. Tell me, how can you bring creativity with Strasberg? And something else to remember: it doesn't matter what actor came out of what school and what method he uses. Everyone is their own creator of their own acting ablities. All I do is give and show you the tools (acting exercises and methods) and the actor decides what to do with them. Stella was a great instructor.
What she's saying may seem too over-the-top, but it's very true. If you REALLY want to be a great actor, you need to choose Theater and leave behind Life because as she says, it's all about undying devotion and dedication to the material you're given.
Strasberg works with using a personal object, memories to build "keys" and anchoring them to your body or gesture to bring you an emotion. Yes, it works but how many actors have came out being psychologically damaged? I did his approach in my early days of acting and it depressed me. I didn't enjoy acting. Now with finding the right method for me, I love it more than ever. Acting is all about the creativity, imagination, play and fun. Whatever happened to that?
We can fight and say, "Oh this teacher is better..." this teacher is the best...." however every student will find their best method and what works for them. You can't tell a method actor, "OMG you are so wrong..." to another actor who uses another method. I know all the methods and my best one (and the one that I teach) is M. Chekhov. I say personally that Meisner and Strasberg students work best for telly and the rest of the methods for true acting. Remember, Acting is about being creative.
@toby099 - Among other things. Sandy said in later life that Strasberg was the greatest influence on his life. It must have been painful for him to break with Lee and side with Stella when it came to technique. Later, Sandy resented the fact that Lee tried to take credit for the students that he had trained when they went to the Actors Studio. Sandy & Stella remained artistically & personally closer over many years.
I had the opportunity to do a couple of scenes for her. She was the only living person at that time to have studied directly under Stanislavsky. I could make a joke out of that last line that I think she would appreciate but I won`t. I still wonder why she is still so over-looked by the actors who studied with her and only mention Lee Strausberg. She taught Brando and Paccino and many famous actors. Brando is the only actor I`ve heard from who pays tribute to her.
@Knoxvicious - Sandy Meisner said that Stella & Lee were enemies before the Group Theater. Sandy & Stells remained great friends and allies all their lives!
I can't believe this discussion on who is right and blah blah blah. Let me say something. I used to be an actress and now I'm an acting instructor. I have met many international instructors and actors who worked with Adler, Sandy, Stanislaski, Chekhov and Strasberg. Every teacher has their approach and method. It all came out from the acting main instructor, Stanislaski who then opened up to many different branches of acting methods.
@starlightmayra - Bobby Lewis told us in class that when members of The Group Theater asked Micheal Chekov, circa 1935, about Stanislavski, Chekov said (and I paraphrase) that he really couldn't say, since he hadn't seen him in a few years an that he was always changing. As someone who studied for years with Sandy as well, i can tell you that it is all "elephant parts". The truth is what you yourself experience on day at a time. It takes years to experience very much of it.
She was an idealist, a position usually ridiculed and yet somehow essential, or art (and humanity) would lose its meaning. I think she was also quite drunk here, but not only does that not preclude the truth, it may even have promoted it. True courage is a rare thing.
Yeah? So what is your point. If you want it done right and you want it done well, you gotta give your all. That is not just theater. That is everything.
@greenrate Why is it intellectually superficial for starlight to say that? Don't you think what you're saying is pretentious? Yes, an actor should be disciplined, but not so technical that the art is lost and a robotic performance is given. Maybe I misunderstood what you meant.
I loved Stella. I was in her class for 4 years and she was always a hoot.
As a student of Sandy Meisner's, i can tell you that working with people who had studied with Stella Adler was like old home week! We all came out of the same womb, artistically speaking. Sandy & Stella were very close, personally & artistically!
Amazing. I absolutely love this woman and admire her beyond all possible descrption.
I loved Stella. I was in her class for 4 years and she was always a hoot. She was an amazing teacher.
stellar perfomances from all the actors who were trained by Adler....
AMEN!!!!! How refreshing to hear this truth in our self centered, egomaniac "reality" driven world. I LOVE THIS WOMAN!
We need more like her
Strasberg later disowned his theory of those personal objects -- "emotional memory" -- to help the actor, because he realized that as we grow older, events from our past take on certain meanings and this can muddle our acting. (A memory that mortifies me right now might make me laugh hysterically three years from now).
He decided that instead of emotional memory, the actor should imagine a circumstance that will put him in the right mindset.
If that were true, they wouldn’t still teach it at his studio or any other method acting studio, which is done
Adler said Stanislawski himself said that, use the imagination instead. That's why she decided to start teaching about imagination and Strasberg then left the Group Theater. He was at odds with Adler. But Stella got it straight from the horse's mouth
Acting should be rewarding and creative. Tell me, how can you bring creativity with Strasberg? And something else to remember: it doesn't matter what actor came out of what school and what method he uses. Everyone is their own creator of their own acting ablities. All I do is give and show you the tools (acting exercises and methods) and the actor decides what to do with them. Stella was a great instructor.
WAW this women is amazing.
what a great teacher
Incredible Video !🙏
What she's saying may seem too over-the-top, but it's very true. If you REALLY want to be a great actor, you need to choose Theater and leave behind Life because as she says, it's all about undying devotion and dedication to the material you're given.
Strasberg works with using a personal object, memories to build "keys" and anchoring them to your body or gesture to bring you an emotion. Yes, it works but how many actors have came out being psychologically damaged? I did his approach in my early days of acting and it depressed me. I didn't enjoy acting. Now with finding the right method for me, I love it more than ever. Acting is all about the creativity, imagination, play and fun. Whatever happened to that?
We can fight and say, "Oh this teacher is better..." this teacher is the best...." however every student will find their best method and what works for them. You can't tell a method actor, "OMG you are so wrong..." to another actor who uses another method. I know all the methods and my best one (and the one that I teach) is M. Chekhov. I say personally that Meisner and Strasberg students work best for telly and the rest of the methods for true acting. Remember, Acting is about being creative.
love her. do you have any more videos of her or the awake and dream video
@toby099 - Among other things. Sandy said in later life that Strasberg was the greatest influence on his life. It must have been painful for him to break with Lee and side with Stella when it came to technique. Later, Sandy resented the fact that Lee tried to take credit for the students that he had trained when they went to the Actors Studio. Sandy & Stella remained artistically & personally closer over many years.
I had the opportunity to do a couple of scenes for her. She was the only living person at that time to have studied directly under Stanislavsky. I could make a joke out of that last line that I think she would appreciate but I won`t. I still wonder why she is still so over-looked by the actors who studied with her and only mention Lee Strausberg. She taught Brando and Paccino and many famous actors. Brando is the only actor I`ve heard from who pays tribute to her.
Actually Kate Mulgrew pays tribute to her too
@Knoxvicious - Sandy Meisner said that Stella & Lee were enemies before the Group Theater. Sandy & Stells remained great friends and allies all their lives!
I can't believe this discussion on who is right and blah blah blah. Let me say something. I used to be an actress and now I'm an acting instructor. I have met many international instructors and actors who worked with Adler, Sandy, Stanislaski, Chekhov and Strasberg.
Every teacher has their approach and method. It all came out from the acting main instructor, Stanislaski who then opened up to many different branches of acting methods.
@starlightmayra - Bobby Lewis told us in class that when members of The Group Theater asked Micheal Chekov, circa 1935, about Stanislavski, Chekov said (and I paraphrase) that he really couldn't say, since he hadn't seen him in a few years an that he was always changing. As someone who studied for years with Sandy as well, i can tell you that it is all "elephant parts". The truth is what you yourself experience on day at a time. It takes years to experience very much of it.
I need you Stella Adler in Brazil, please.... she's beautiful
Stella Adler was great I would've love to study with her Come on she studyied with the master STANISLAVSKI
Deep!
OMG!! It's Zandra! Eileen Brennan's character from Will & Grace!
@rodanosamehr do you know any good morris teachers in nyc?
What's wrong with over the top? You need to be, often. Why put it down? What does it mean, anyway?
@iamLydianicole...are you in any movies???
She was an idealist, a position usually ridiculed and yet somehow essential, or art (and humanity) would lose its meaning. I think she was also quite drunk here, but not only does that not preclude the truth, it may even have promoted it. True courage is a rare thing.
@legatofancier
I guess they were united by their disagreement with Lee Strasberg!
This message can be very relevant in difficult times. Happy Birthday, madame Aquarius!
@Orfeo68 SOOOO right!
Yeah? So what is your point.
If you want it done right and you want it done well, you gotta give your all. That is not just theater. That is everything.
that was a funny!
and I do appreciate, it as well.
This is the first time I'm seeing this.
Hmmm......
thats the reason im getting to acting
What are you doing now ???
Think... we.... get.... the.... point!
@greenrate Why is it intellectually superficial for starlight to say that? Don't you think what you're saying is pretentious? Yes, an actor should be disciplined, but not so technical that the art is lost and a robotic performance is given. Maybe I misunderstood what you meant.
thought the same as soon as she grabbed her hair.
I love Stella but she's a little too much for me at times HAHA
Yikes! Talk about a drama Queen! 😁