Wednesday, November 28, 2018
How Actors Can Sustain Their Careers - Karen Chamberlain - Maggie Flanigan Studio
Watch video on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/SMJCDn_3CR4
via Maggie Flanigan Studio
via How Actors Can Sustain Their Careers - Karen Chamberlain - Maggie Flanigan Studio
by Maggie Flanigan
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
5 Star Review
I consider my four years in undergrad to be some of the most formative years of my life.... https://flic.kr/p/2bXdhEu
via 5 Star Review
by Maggie Flanigan
Sunday, November 18, 2018
How Actors Can Sustain Their Careers
The Maggie Flanigan Studio is considered by many actors to be the best acting studio for Meisner training in New York and in the United States. With this blog post and video, Karen Chamberlain discusses the dedication and persistence that is required for actors to sustain their acting careers.
Karen Chamberlain – Meisner Technique Acting Teacher – Maggie Flanigan Studio (917) 789-1599
How Actors Can Sustain Their Careers
I was recently asked to speak about how one sustains a career as an artist. It’s an enormous question that has no single answer. I believe it requires dedicated training, passion, fortitude and the courage to say “Yes” to artistic projects that excite you even when you don’t know how you will possibly afford to do them. It demands belief in oneself, personal health and committing to practices that keep your heart open to the world. I believe that it also asks you to not be rigid about how the art in you expresses itself. You may be an actor now but you may also be a writer, a painter or a director. The expression of what you have to offer the world may have more than one venue.
When I look back at my own artistic career, I would say that my commitment to my training sustained me for the first decade in the professional world. Training in the Meisner Technique gave me a respect for and ownership of craft. I knew how to work which gave me self-esteem. I was also willing to leave the city. There was a point in my late twenties when I wasn’t booking work and life in this expensive city had me working crazy hours at my survival job to pay the rent. I was exhausted, unhappy and uninspired. A friend was understudying at The Roundabout Theatre and offered me a free ticket to see Blythe Danner in a British play called The Deep Blue Sea. I still recall everything about being in that theatre that night. She was brilliant. I wept through the entire performance. I was so happy to just be in a theatre. I hadn’t even realized how homesick I was. When the play was over, I literally stayed there weeping until the ushers kicked me out. I walked home to Chelsea in the rain, swearing with every step that if artistic work appeared, I would give up my beloved New York City apartment. That night I couldn’t sleep and stayed up all night writing a ten-page impassioned letter to Blythe Danner which I promptly left at the stage door the next day. That afternoon, out of nowhere, I got a job offer. It was a directing job, not an acting job but it was doing something I loved. I would have to move to a small town in Pennsylvania in two months, just when my lease was up. I would make barely enough money to live on. Remembering my promise to myself, I took the job. Back in a Theatre, I was home again! When my contract was up, I didn’t have enough money to come back to New York so I went to live with my parents in Boston. I started auditioning almost every day and I booked two plays, three commercials and a number of voiceovers in the span of eight months. I came back to work in New York but with my priorities straight. I chose to live with a lower rent in New Jersey so I could pursue my craft.
It’s twenty years later and my artistic career continues to evolve. I may credit that most to staying an eternal student and keeping my curiosity alive. I am also a very hard worker and I make career and life choices that feed my spirit. I love teaching which I consider to be an art form. The classroom is a place where the work is pure, done for the love of the work itself and the standards for good work are never higher. Getting to work in that environment feels like a privilege. The courage my students have is inspiring and the classroom keeps me in love with why I ever wanted to act in the first place. For me, it is still important to continue to work as an actress and director whenever it does not interfere with my commitment to my students. It always gives me something new to bring back to the room. I recently did a play in Provincetown for their Tennessee Williams Festival. It was luxurious to only be able to think about the play and be in such a beautiful place. I had the time to take long walks and sit and listen to classical music and I felt in the optimal place- open, relaxed and inspired- to do my creative work. It is not always easy to create that space for yourself in this city, especially in the early days of your career when you are juggling paying the rent with artistic work, but it is essential for the artist. I came home with renewed commitment to take at least an hour every day to meditate or walk so the creative voices can get through. I remind my students about the value of doing the same, whatever their version of that may be.
Karen Chamberlain – Meisner Technique First-Year Acting Class – Maggie Flanigan studio (917) 789-1599
Someone joked to me the other day at an audition, “You know, Karen, if you can get to the age of 60 and not go crazy, there is a ton of work for older actors and fewer of us in the race!” I laughed but inside I was thinking, “Oh, perfect! Now I have a retirement plan! I’m open!” And that’s it really. To sustain a career in the arts, you have to stay in love with doing the work for the work itself and free yourself from the expectations of the where, when and how of it. You must stay healthy, inspired and open. As a side note, Blythe Danner did write back. It turned out she knew the small town where I had taken the directing job. It was the same town where her grandparents had owned a farm and she often visited their farm as a child. You never know what’s going to happen. Follow your heart and keep the faith.
The Maggie Flanigan Studio has built its reputation on sending out students who are fully prepared for a long professional career. The acting programs at the studio provide our students with the most comprehensive and rigorous training available.
Complete Training for Professional Actors
The Meisner training and the complete acting curriculum at the Maggie Flanigan Studio ( http://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/ ) help actors create the foundation they need in order to have long acting careers. The entire faculty at the studio is dedicated to helping actors who are serious and passionate about their acting reach their goals. Learn more about the acting programs at the studio by visiting the acting programs page on the studio website.
The post How Actors Can Sustain Their Careers appeared first on Meisner Acting - The Maggie Flanigan Studio New York NY - 917-789-1599.
via How Actors Can Sustain Their Careers
by Maggie Flanigan
How Actors Can Sustain Their Careers
The Maggie Flanigan Studio is considered by many actors to be the best acting studio for Meisner training in New York and in the United States. With this blog post and video, Karen Chamberlain discusses the dedication and persistence that is required for actors to sustain their acting careers.
How Actors Can Sustain Their Careers
I was recently asked to speak about how one sustains a career as an artist. It’s an enormous question that has no single answer. I believe it requires dedicated training, passion, fortitude and the courage to say “Yes” to artistic projects that excite you even when you don’t know how you will possibly afford to do them. It demands belief in oneself, personal health and committing to practices that keep your heart open to the world. I believe that it also asks you to not be rigid about how the art in you expresses itself. You may be an actor now but you may also be a writer, a painter or a director. The expression of what you have to offer the world may have more than one venue.
When I look back at my own artistic career, I would say that my commitment to my training sustained me for the first decade in the professional world. Training in the Meisner Technique gave me a respect for and ownership of craft. I knew how to work which gave me self-esteem. I was also willing to leave the city. There was a point in my late twenties when I wasn’t booking work and life in this expensive city had me working crazy hours at my survival job to pay the rent. I was exhausted, unhappy and uninspired. A friend was understudying at The Roundabout Theatre and offered me a free ticket to see Blythe Danner in a British play called The Deep Blue Sea. I still recall everything about being in that theatre that night. She was brilliant. I wept through the entire performance. I was so happy to just be in a theatre. I hadn’t even realized how homesick I was. When the play was over, I literally stayed there weeping until the ushers kicked me out. I walked home to Chelsea in the rain, swearing with every step that if artistic work appeared, I would give up my beloved New York City apartment. That night I couldn’t sleep and stayed up all night writing a ten-page impassioned letter to Blythe Danner which I promptly left at the stage door the next day. That afternoon, out of nowhere, I got a job offer. It was a directing job, not an acting job but it was doing something I loved. I would have to move to a small town in Pennsylvania in two months, just when my lease was up. I would make barely enough money to live on. Remembering my promise to myself, I took the job. Back in a Theatre, I was home again! When my contract was up, I didn’t have enough money to come back to New York so I went to live with my parents in Boston. I started auditioning almost every day and I booked two plays, three commercials and a number of voiceovers in the span of eight months. I came back to work in New York but with my priorities straight. I chose to live with a lower rent in New Jersey so I could pursue my craft.
It’s twenty years later and my artistic career continues to evolve. I may credit that most to staying an eternal student and keeping my curiosity alive. I am also a very hard worker and I make career and life choices that feed my spirit. I love teaching which I consider to be an art form. The classroom is a place where the work is pure, done for the love of the work itself and the standards for good work are never higher. Getting to work in that environment feels like a privilege. The courage my students have is inspiring and the classroom keeps me in love with why I ever wanted to act in the first place. For me, it is still important to continue to work as an actress and director whenever it does not interfere with my commitment to my students. It always gives me something new to bring back to the room. I recently did a play in Provincetown for their Tennessee Williams Festival. It was luxurious to only be able to think about the play and be in such a beautiful place. I had the time to take long walks and sit and listen to classical music and I felt in the optimal place- open, relaxed and inspired- to do my creative work. It is not always easy to create that space for yourself in this city, especially in the early days of your career when you are juggling paying the rent with artistic work, but it is essential for the artist. I came home with renewed commitment to take at least an hour every day to meditate or walk so the creative voices can get through. I remind my students about the value of doing the same, whatever their version of that may be.
Someone joked to me the other day at an audition, “You know, Karen, if you can get to the age of 60 and not go crazy, there is a ton of work for older actors and fewer of us in the race!” I laughed but inside I was thinking, “Oh, perfect! Now I have a retirement plan! I’m open!” And that’s it really. To sustain a career in the arts, you have to stay in love with doing the work for the work itself and free yourself from the expectations of the where, when and how of it. You must stay healthy, inspired and open. As a side note, Blythe Danner did write back. It turned out she knew the small town where I had taken the directing job. It was the same town where her grandparents had owned a farm and she often visited their farm as a child. You never know what’s going to happen. Follow your heart and keep the faith.
Complete Training for Professional Actors
The Meisner training and the complete acting curriculum at the Maggie Flanigan Studio ( http://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/ ) help actors create the foundation they need in order to have long acting careers. The entire faculty at the studio is dedicated to helping actors who are serious and passionate about their acting reach their goals. Learn more about the acting programs at the studio by visiting the acting programs page on the studio website.
The preceding post How Actors Can Sustain Their Careers was originally published to Acting Studio New York Blog
via How Actors Can Sustain Their Careers
by Maggie Flanigan
Friday, November 16, 2018
5 Star Review
After finishing my acting training at Maggie Flanigan Studio, I was confident I had all of... https://flic.kr/p/PcvrJT
via 5 Star Review
by Maggie Flanigan
18-Month Acting Program New York - Maggie Flanigan Studio - (917) 789-1599
Watch video on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/7TCoO8SETig
via Maggie Flanigan Studio
via 18-Month Acting Program New York - Maggie Flanigan Studio - (917) 789-1599
by Maggie Flanigan
January 18 Month Acting Program - Hailey Vest Interview - Call (917) 789-1599
Watch video on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/eBFX_oPTxnw
via Maggie Flanigan Studio
via January 18 Month Acting Program - Hailey Vest Interview - Call (917) 789-1599
by Maggie Flanigan
Unlocking the Box
The January acting program is an 18-month program at the Maggie Flanigan Studio that trains professional actors using the principles and teachings of Sanford Meisner. Hailey Vest discusses in this interview coming to New York, the Meisner work and how the training at the studio has improved her auditions.
January Acting Program in New York – Hailey Vest Interview – Maggie Flanigan Studio
Q: Hailey, what were you doing before you came to the studio? Did you study anywhere else?
A: Yes. I grew up acting. I started being on stage when I was about three with dance and then turned to musical theater. Then I went to SCAD and got my BFA in performing arts there and started doing a lot of film work there as well. I’ve been trained how to act, but it was so general. I feel like that’s what you see a lot of right now, it’s this general way of approaching something where it’s like, “Okay, cool. That was awesome. Let’s move on.” Acting is messy. Not every performance is fantastic. I want to learn something.
When I moved to New York after college, I was auditioning all the time, and I just felt like something was missing. You go from being in shows and being on set every weekend, and it’s just kind of like, “I’m not doing this as much as I used to.” Honestly, Maggie Flanigan kind of saved my life in the way that I get to go and learn every week. I’m rehearsing every week and getting better. It’s a craft here. It’s not a general blase type, “Oh, cool. That was your objective. Nice try. Keep going.”
It’s no. It’s either you did it or, “Hey, this is how we’re going to make it better.” You learn. It is a craft. It is a skill. It’s what acting is. That’s what this studio provides. It gives you a craft. It’s not just a whitewashed idea of what this is.
Q: Have you studied the Meisner technique before you started the 18-month January acting program at Maggie Flanigan studio?
A: I mainly studied Stanislavski before coming here. I’ve never done Meisner before. One of my really good friends, he was studying Meisner, not here, but he’d come, we’d go hang out or something, and he’d start talking about, “Yes, I had to bring this activity to a door.” I’m like, “What? This sounds so cool, but I have no idea what you are talking about.” I’d never done Meisner before, but I am never going back. That’s for sure.
Q: How is the Meisner training at the studio different than you expected?
A: I can tell you the first couple weeks, it was a shock. I met with Karen. We had our interview of being accepted. She’s amazing. I love her. Of course, it’s me. I asked her, I was like, “What books can I read? What research can I do before I start?” She’s like, “Don’t read anything. Come in not knowing a thing because you will get in your head. Just show up. That’s all you have to do. Show up and be ready to work.” I was like, “Okay.” Still, I went and got everything out of my Amazon cart, but she’s oh man. You can’t go back once you know Meisner, once you have an idea of it.
The first two weeks I was very, very scared of my partners. I’m an actor, but I’d never really been forced to do confrontation. I can go in and do confrontation as a character because I can understand that, Susie is upset by this. The first year is like, “How would you respond? What’s the truth in that? What’s the truthful response from you as Hailey?” I’d never been asked to do that before. It was kind of scary because we’re put in a society where it’s– I have no– I’m not allowed to use my emotions. I’m supposed to be serene all the time and happy and bubbly.
It was like, you get in here and it’s just like, “Use it. Be raw. If you are mad, be mad. Be mad at a 10.” My emotional range of what I thought that I’m capable of, doubled, it tripled. The first year is fantastic. You learn so much about yourself.
Q: When you moved to New York, and you started to audition, were there specific problems that led you to decide to seek professional training?
A: When you go to auditions, the holding rooms are always chaotic with so many people there. You’re trying to make sure you know all your lines. It’s very daunting in some sense, but that’s how it is. You put a bunch of people all trying to be one person, and it gets a little– it’s a lot. I was finding that my training is like, I knew what I was supposed to be doing, I knew how I wanted to read something.
Maybe my first initial response to the sides that I was given perhaps wasn’t exactly correct, but like, I went in, and I gave 100%, but I could always feel that something was missing. That, like, I kept hitting this wall that I knew I could push through, and I could see it, and I could feel it, like, “Oh, it’s here,” and I’d get stopped about right here, and it just felt wrong. My friend told me about Maggie Flanigan, and I made the wall comment, and she goes, “Oh, I had the same thing. I don’t anymore,” and I was just like, “I have to check this out. I have to.”
Because you can go into an audition room, you can go, and you can give it your all, but if your all is already walled up and boxed up the moment you step in there, you’re only giving 80%. Maggie Flanigan unlocks that box and lets you like, unleash your power and have power over the audition, where I didn’t have that before.
18-Month Acting Program in Januaryhttp://https://ift.tt/2eQKYcD with Karen Chamberlain- Maggie Flanigan Studio – Call (917) 789-1599
Q: You mentioned your friend recommended the studio. Did you interview anywhere else, apply anywhere else, or was it just here?
A: I was just like all of those people. I’ve been looking in other places for probably a good six months before I even really heard about Maggie Flanigan, where I’d taken some like classes, and there you’re promised to be with a casting director and a couple of agents, and you really only get 10 minutes of doing a monologue in front of them, and they go, “That was good, try this next time,” and then that’s it. I was just like, “This isn’t training, this is–” I also just spent $700 for that. That’s ridiculous.
I heard about Maggie Flanigan, and I did the math on it, and honestly, for what we’re getting, it is the cheapest training in New York. For the amount of time you get to spend with a teacher, the amount of time that you’re here, like it is honestly, financially the best decision I have ever made. I can easily, like any time there’s a new class that I want to take, I know it’s going to be worth it. I don’t have to go talk to seven different people to be like, “Hey, was it? Did you talk to the teacher?” I know that it’s going to be 100% exactly what I need.
Because usually you’re also sitting in a classroom with 50 other people and you’re there for maybe three hours, and you get five minutes with somebody, and it’s rushed. The teachers don’t take the time with you at other places, in all the other acting studios that I’ve been and researched, but here it’s– I mean, we spent a good hour on my scene today. A full hour of just like ripping through it. You don’t get that anywhere else.
Q: What made you decide to commit to Maggie Flanigan Studio instead of the other studios you were looking at?
A: Man, mainly all the time, the amount of time that you get to spend with the teachers. The teachers here are incredible. I had the– honestly, it’s the honor of getting to work with both Karen and Charlie, because it’s wonderful being able to work with one person, but I feel it’s even better to be able to work with two, mainly because they’re both brilliant in different ways.
I feel like I have both Karen and Charlie in my tool belt and being like, “Oh, I don’t know how to approach this. Karen would do it this way. That makes a lot of sense. Charlie would do it this way.” Oh my gosh, with both of them, everything is so much clearer rather than, “This is–Wait, where am I?” The teachers here are incredible; you get the most out of all of the time that you spent here. It’s about a craft; it’s not about a studio trying to make money off of actors. It’s for the people who want to work, the people who aren’t fulfilled by being extras and background work.
It’s like, “This is what I want to do. Acting is not a side hobby; this is the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do.” I’ve never felt that I’ve had all of the tools or the keys to be able to lock into my power or my creative instinct as much as the Maggie Flanigan has given me, and it’s all through the teachers. It’s all through the classes.
18-Month January Acting Program – Maggie Flanigan Studio – (917) 789-1599
Admission to the Acting Programs at Maggie Flanigan Studio
Actors who are interested in long professional acting careers, who are ready to commit to professional actor training, are encouraged to apply to the Maggie Flanigan Studio ( http://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/ ). The acting program that begins in January is an eighteen-month program that provides the professional actor with the toolset that they need for a career in the acting industry.
Admission to the studio is based on an interview with Charlie Sandlan. Students should submit an application online and call the studio (917-789-1599) with questions about the acting program.
The post Unlocking the Box appeared first on Meisner Acting - The Maggie Flanigan Studio New York NY - 917-789-1599.
via Unlocking the Box
by Maggie Flanigan
Unlocking the Box
The January acting program is an 18-month program at the Maggie Flanigan Studio that trains professional actors using the principles and teachings of Sanford Meisner. Hailey Vest discusses in this interview coming to New York, the Meisner work and how the training at the studio has improved her auditions.
Q: Hailey, what were you doing before you came to the studio? Did you study anywhere else?
A: Yes. I grew up acting. I started being on stage when I was about three with dance and then turned to musical theater. Then I went to SCAD and got my BFA in performing arts there and started doing a lot of film work there as well. I've been trained how to act, but it was so general. I feel like that's what you see a lot of right now, it's this general way of approaching something where it's like, "Okay, cool. That was awesome. Let's move on." Acting is messy. Not every performance is fantastic. I want to learn something.
When I moved to New York after college, I was auditioning all the time, and I just felt like something was missing. You go from being in shows and being on set every weekend, and it's just kind of like, "I'm not doing this as much as I used to." Honestly, Maggie Flanigan kind of saved my life in the way that I get to go and learn every week. I'm rehearsing every week and getting better. It's a craft here. It's not a general blase type, "Oh, cool. That was your objective. Nice try. Keep going."
It's no. It's either you did it or, "Hey, this is how we're going to make it better." You learn. It is a craft. It is a skill. It's what acting is. That's what this studio provides. It gives you a craft. It's not just a whitewashed idea of what this is.
Q: Have you studied the Meisner technique before you started the 18-month January acting program at Maggie Flanigan studio?
A: I mainly studied Stanislavski before coming here. I've never done Meisner before. One of my really good friends, he was studying Meisner, not here, but he'd come, we'd go hang out or something, and he'd start talking about, "Yes, I had to bring this activity to a door." I'm like, "What? This sounds so cool, but I have no idea what you are talking about." I'd never done Meisner before, but I am never going back. That's for sure.
Q: How is the Meisner training at the studio different than you expected?
A: I can tell you the first couple weeks, it was a shock. I met with Karen. We had our interview of being accepted. She's amazing. I love her. Of course, it's me. I asked her, I was like, "What books can I read? What research can I do before I start?" She's like, "Don't read anything. Come in not knowing a thing because you will get in your head. Just show up. That's all you have to do. Show up and be ready to work." I was like, "Okay." Still, I went and got everything out of my Amazon cart, but she's oh man. You can't go back once you know Meisner, once you have an idea of it.
The first two weeks I was very, very scared of my partners. I'm an actor, but I'd never really been forced to do confrontation. I can go in and do confrontation as a character because I can understand that, Susie is upset by this. The first year is like, "How would you respond? What's the truth in that? What's the truthful response from you as Hailey?" I'd never been asked to do that before. It was kind of scary because we're put in a society where it's-- I have no-- I'm not allowed to use my emotions. I'm supposed to be serene all the time and happy and bubbly.
It was like, you get in here and it's just like, "Use it. Be raw. If you are mad, be mad. Be mad at a 10." My emotional range of what I thought that I'm capable of, doubled, it tripled. The first year is fantastic. You learn so much about yourself.
Q: When you moved to New York, and you started to audition, were there specific problems that led you to decide to seek professional training?
A: When you go to auditions, the holding rooms are always chaotic with so many people there. You're trying to make sure you know all your lines. It's very daunting in some sense, but that's how it is. You put a bunch of people all trying to be one person, and it gets a little-- it's a lot. I was finding that my training is like, I knew what I was supposed to be doing, I knew how I wanted to read something.
Maybe my first initial response to the sides that I was given perhaps wasn't exactly correct, but like, I went in, and I gave 100%, but I could always feel that something was missing. That, like, I kept hitting this wall that I knew I could push through, and I could see it, and I could feel it, like, "Oh, it's here," and I'd get stopped about right here, and it just felt wrong. My friend told me about Maggie Flanigan, and I made the wall comment, and she goes, "Oh, I had the same thing. I don't anymore," and I was just like, "I have to check this out. I have to."
Because you can go into an audition room, you can go, and you can give it your all, but if your all is already walled up and boxed up the moment you step in there, you're only giving 80%. Maggie Flanigan unlocks that box and lets you like, unleash your power and have power over the audition, where I didn't have that before.
Q: You mentioned your friend recommended the studio. Did you interview anywhere else, apply anywhere else, or was it just here?
A: I was just like all of those people. I've been looking in other places for probably a good six months before I even really heard about Maggie Flanigan, where I'd taken some like classes, and there you're promised to be with a casting director and a couple of agents, and you really only get 10 minutes of doing a monologue in front of them, and they go, "That was good, try this next time," and then that's it. I was just like, "This isn't training, this is--" I also just spent $700 for that. That's ridiculous.
I heard about Maggie Flanigan, and I did the math on it, and honestly, for what we're getting, it is the cheapest training in New York. For the amount of time you get to spend with a teacher, the amount of time that you're here, like it is honestly, financially the best decision I have ever made. I can easily, like any time there's a new class that I want to take, I know it's going to be worth it. I don't have to go talk to seven different people to be like, "Hey, was it? Did you talk to the teacher?" I know that it's going to be 100% exactly what I need.
Because usually you're also sitting in a classroom with 50 other people and you're there for maybe three hours, and you get five minutes with somebody, and it's rushed. The teachers don't take the time with you at other places, in all the other acting studios that I've been and researched, but here it's-- I mean, we spent a good hour on my scene today. A full hour of just like ripping through it. You don't get that anywhere else.
Q: What made you decide to commit to Maggie Flanigan Studio instead of the other studios you were looking at?
A: Man, mainly all the time, the amount of time that you get to spend with the teachers. The teachers here are incredible. I had the-- honestly, it's the honor of getting to work with both Karen and Charlie, because it's wonderful being able to work with one person, but I feel it's even better to be able to work with two, mainly because they're both brilliant in different ways.
I feel like I have both Karen and Charlie in my tool belt and being like, "Oh, I don't know how to approach this. Karen would do it this way. That makes a lot of sense. Charlie would do it this way." Oh my gosh, with both of them, everything is so much clearer rather than, "This is--Wait, where am I?" The teachers here are incredible; you get the most out of all of the time that you spent here. It's about a craft; it's not about a studio trying to make money off of actors. It's for the people who want to work, the people who aren't fulfilled by being extras and background work.
It's like, "This is what I want to do. Acting is not a side hobby; this is the only thing I've ever wanted to do." I've never felt that I've had all of the tools or the keys to be able to lock into my power or my creative instinct as much as the Maggie Flanigan has given me, and it's all through the teachers. It's all through the classes.
Admission to the Acting Programs at Maggie Flanigan Studio
Actors who are interested in long professional acting careers, who are ready to commit to professional actor training, are encouraged to apply to the Maggie Flanigan Studio ( http://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/ ). The acting program that begins in January is an eighteen-month program that provides the professional actor with the toolset that they need for a career in the acting industry.
Admission to the studio is based on an interview with Charlie Sandlan. Students should submit an application online and call the studio (917-789-1599) with questions about the acting program.
The above blog post Unlocking the Box is courtesy of Acting Studio Blog
via Unlocking the Box
by Maggie Flanigan
Thursday, November 8, 2018
5 Star Review
When I started training at Maggie Flanigan Studio my voice was not in good shape. But by... https://flic.kr/p/29ZT8Jq
via 5 Star Review
by Maggie Flanigan
Training Like an Athlete
The 18-month acting program at Maggie Flanigan Studio is an acting program in New York that introduces serious actors to the Meisner Technique in a small intimate studio environment. Troy Press talks about his experience in the acting program and the work ethic that students will need to have.
18-Month Acting Program New York – Maggie Flanigan Studio – Call (917) 789-1599
Q: Troy, what did you think it meant to train as an actor before you started the six-week summer intensive?
A: Before I started the six-week program, I thought that acting was more performance-based. A lot of classes that I’ve taken at other places that I’ve trained have been a lot about jumping right into scenes, jumping right into the script, so maybe that is the way the text is being read. When before you get to even all that stuff, I am not even sure I was also being taught correctly. Now I’m second guessing it on all the techniques that I’ve learned before because this technique has hit home with me.
I thought that acting was very performance-based. It has to do so much from within yourself of just listening, being present and being direct, having a point of view on things and taking in precisely what is happening at that moment, working off somebody else and then for you. It’s just having a great conversation with somebody the same way sometimes somebody can say something to you, and it makes your day or moves you or motivates you to go to the gym or motivates you to open the door for somebody maybe the next time. It’s about taking advantage of those moments in your life.
Q: Was there a moment where your perspective changed on what it means to train as an actor?
A: Yes. I think from the jump; Charlie said it straight by saying what this class is going to entail and he laid it out. I’ve appreciated that because me being a competitive athlete and playing at a high level, I had that mentality of somebody just saying, “This is what it’s going to be. Take it or whatever”. We’ve had people that dropped out of the class. People can’t handle the heat or whatever it is, and it’s nothing against them.
It’s just maybe this isn’t their style, or perhaps the craft isn’t a fit, whatever it is. For someone like me it kicks it up a notch, it sparks something, it makes me go ten times harder. I love being with my back against the wall. You put me there any time of the day. I love that feeling, and I think this class is a prime example of that because they’re going to give you the tools. They’re going to provide you with the resources and the time to do it. If you’re not putting in the work and you’re not mentally preparing and just coming in open, ready to work and prepared to leave everything at the door when you step in, then this probably isn’t the right place for you.
Q: What did you learn about yourself that was a surprise or that changed you over the past six weeks?
A: What did I learn about myself that’s a surprise? Surprise wise, I’d say just, I knew I had certain things installed within, but being able to pull them out when needed at the appropriate time. That it’s not something that you should look down upon if you have something that could trigger you or if you have emotions that maybe you’re like, “You know what, I might not want to say that because this could offend somebody.” These are just the things that make you who you are.
Sometimes as human beings we walk around in the world, and we are acting because we are putting on this friendly appearance, “How are you? Great to see you today, blah, blah”. When inside you’re probably feeling a different way about it. Maybe you are thinking about the way somebody just looked at you, the fact that you just got off the subway, the way you feel about somebody at work, the way your mother just spoke to you; you want to release all of that. In life, we are doing the acting technique. We are not present at all times.
Here, I’ve just been surprised at how simple the training can be, and how it can open up things for yourself. Yes, I would say that’s what’s changed me. It’s just being present. Taking the time to listen to people. There are still conversations that I have, and you start to check out at some point because you’re like, “All right, this person’s going nowhere,” or whatever. At the same time, there are times now where I’m in a conversation, and I’m giving that person my full attention and, feeling more confident about the interaction that we’re having because I’m taking what he or she is saying and hopefully they’re doing the same. And living in the moment right there at that time.
Q: People have a misconception that they can wake up and be an actor with no training. How has your previous training as an athlete helped you prepare and be open to the rigorous training program here?
A: I love that question because if you think about it from an athlete standpoint, it’s the whole day. If you’re an athlete, you wake up and what are you putting into your body is probably the first question. Are you getting a morning workout in is perhaps the second question? From there how are you fueling up? How are you recovering? Are you getting your vitamins? Are you going to stretch? Are you going to a sauna? Are you taking a hot shower? Are you doing yoga to get your mind right? These are all just some small, although they’re big things, that’s just a percentage of it.
On the athletes side for me I used to have 5:00 AM wake-ups, it was running in the cold, sweatshirts tied tight for an hour and a half, and that was just the start of the day, then going back to fueling up and then watching film about how we’re going to get better. Then we could have our craft again, of actually playing against each other and competing and then later that night it was usually a nighttime lift of some sort, getting the muscles and then recovery meal at night.
Now, I don’t know if it was the healthiest pattern, but it just talks about the work ethic that goes into something like that. Then even if you’re coming here and it’s like, “Okay, well, I have class tonight from 6:00 to 9:00, that’s my day’s work”. That’s three hours where what I just spoke about when I was playing at a very high level I was busting my a** from 5:00 AM till 10:00 at night on top of doing other stuff in my life and other work things.
Now I’m just saying three hours compared to a whole day and I’m not thinking, “Oh, maybe if I have this healthier option I’m going to perform better in class.” Yes. You will perform better if you are healthier. You’re going to be in a healthier state of mind. Everything should tie-in, and you should translate that mentality from crafting to the athlete or whatever it is that you do.
Acting Programs New York – Maggie Flanigan Studio – Call (917) 789-1599
Q: You mentioned you studied at some other studios, with some other teachers. How is the experience been different here?
A: Yes it’s been different. A different style is probably the easy answer to start. I’d say this is a little bit healthier in terms of if you have to dig for a particular scene or role or for crafting work, because obviously, you want to live it out, but maybe you’re not pulling from a real experience like what I have done before, and that can be draining on you. To me, it felt like sometimes it hurt the scene itself because you’re just going back to that moment.
Maybe I’m pulling something out of it, and I’m talking to the person the way I did talk to them, instead of being present with you, or whoever it is and feeding off of them. Maybe my mind was already made up and, again, I think for the mind and the heart and other places that it just feels more natural to not dive into whatever it is. If you’ve lost a loved one or if you’ve broken out with somebody, or whatever.
It’s tough because you have to be somebody that can zone in and be able to live it, breathe it and believe it. If you don’t do that, you could say, “You know what, maybe it is easier to pull something from my past,” in that sense to go into, if you needed to pull from a scene or a moment or whatever. I don’t know, and I could see both sides of it. Maybe it isn’t the worst idea to if you need to get somewhere to use something from your memory to get you to a place, but I think overall, this has made me feel healthier and more truthful and more alive.
Q: Why did you ultimately decide to study at Maggie Flanigan Studio?
A: I decided to study here because it was recommended by a lot of fellow actor friends of mine, a lot of people in the industry. I finished filming a feature last summer, and one of the writers was telling me all about the studio. Every time you hear something, you’re like, “Yes, whatever.” Then, I started listening to it more and more and more. This studio lives up to the f****** hype. I’m here for a reason and excited about wherever it goes, wherever it takes me for sure.
Q: How would you describe Charlie as a teacher?
A: Yes, Charlie. I love everything there is about the man. I feel if you struggle with taking the heat of a challenge, I don’t think this is the place for you. If you want to get better every single time you step here if you’re going to feel like there’s a comfortable place for you to create, which I find is tough in any city that you are. Once you get somewhere and you start feeling comfortable like, “I can start creating for myself. I can open up.”, I think this is the place. I think, Charlie, as we like to say in the athletic world, to me is the G.O.A.T. He is the greatest of all time.
18-Month Acting Program at Maggie Flanigan Studio with Karen Chamberlain
Learn More About the 18-Month Acting Program at Maggie Flanigan Studio
To learn more about the 18-month acting program as well as the other acting programs at the Maggie Flanigan Studio, visit the acting programs and acting classes page on the website (http://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/). Admission to the studio is based on an interview with Charlie Sandlan. Interested students should visit the admission page and contact the studio with any questions. Call (917) 789-1599.
The post Training Like an Athlete appeared first on Meisner Acting - The Maggie Flanigan Studio New York NY - 917-789-1599.
via Training Like an Athlete
by Maggie Flanigan
Training Like an Athlete
The 18-month acting program at Maggie Flanigan Studio is an acting program in New York that introduces serious actors to the Meisner Technique in a small intimate studio environment. Troy Press talks about his experience in the acting program and the work ethic that students will need to have.
Q: Troy, what did you think it meant to train as an actor before you started the six-week summer intensive?
A: Before I started the six-week program, I thought that acting was more performance-based. A lot of classes that I've taken at other places that I've trained have been a lot about jumping right into scenes, jumping right into the script, so maybe that is the way the text is being read. When before you get to even all that stuff, I am not even sure I was also being taught correctly. Now I'm second guessing it on all the techniques that I've learned before because this technique has hit home with me.
I thought that acting was very performance-based. It has to do so much from within yourself of just listening, being present and being direct, having a point of view on things and taking in precisely what is happening at that moment, working off somebody else and then for you. It's just having a great conversation with somebody the same way sometimes somebody can say something to you, and it makes your day or moves you or motivates you to go to the gym or motivates you to open the door for somebody maybe the next time. It's about taking advantage of those moments in your life.
Q: Was there a moment where your perspective changed on what it means to train as an actor?
A: Yes. I think from the jump; Charlie said it straight by saying what this class is going to entail and he laid it out. I've appreciated that because me being a competitive athlete and playing at a high level, I had that mentality of somebody just saying, "This is what it's going to be. Take it or whatever". We've had people that dropped out of the class. People can't handle the heat or whatever it is, and it's nothing against them.
It's just maybe this isn't their style, or perhaps the craft isn't a fit, whatever it is. For someone like me it kicks it up a notch, it sparks something, it makes me go ten times harder. I love being with my back against the wall. You put me there any time of the day. I love that feeling, and I think this class is a prime example of that because they're going to give you the tools. They're going to provide you with the resources and the time to do it. If you're not putting in the work and you're not mentally preparing and just coming in open, ready to work and prepared to leave everything at the door when you step in, then this probably isn't the right place for you.
Q: What did you learn about yourself that was a surprise or that changed you over the past six weeks?
A: What did I learn about myself that's a surprise? Surprise wise, I'd say just, I knew I had certain things installed within, but being able to pull them out when needed at the appropriate time. That it's not something that you should look down upon if you have something that could trigger you or if you have emotions that maybe you're like, "You know what, I might not want to say that because this could offend somebody." These are just the things that make you who you are.
Sometimes as human beings we walk around in the world, and we are acting because we are putting on this friendly appearance, "How are you? Great to see you today, blah, blah". When inside you're probably feeling a different way about it. Maybe you are thinking about the way somebody just looked at you, the fact that you just got off the subway, the way you feel about somebody at work, the way your mother just spoke to you; you want to release all of that. In life, we are doing the acting technique. We are not present at all times.
Here, I've just been surprised at how simple the training can be, and how it can open up things for yourself. Yes, I would say that's what's changed me. It's just being present. Taking the time to listen to people. There are still conversations that I have, and you start to check out at some point because you're like, "All right, this person's going nowhere," or whatever. At the same time, there are times now where I'm in a conversation, and I'm giving that person my full attention and, feeling more confident about the interaction that we're having because I'm taking what he or she is saying and hopefully they're doing the same. And living in the moment right there at that time.
Q: People have a misconception that they can wake up and be an actor with no training. How has your previous training as an athlete helped you prepare and be open to the rigorous training program here?
A: I love that question because if you think about it from an athlete standpoint, it's the whole day. If you're an athlete, you wake up and what are you putting into your body is probably the first question. Are you getting a morning workout in is perhaps the second question? From there how are you fueling up? How are you recovering? Are you getting your vitamins? Are you going to stretch? Are you going to a sauna? Are you taking a hot shower? Are you doing yoga to get your mind right? These are all just some small, although they're big things, that's just a percentage of it.
On the athletes side for me I used to have 5:00 AM wake-ups, it was running in the cold, sweatshirts tied tight for an hour and a half, and that was just the start of the day, then going back to fueling up and then watching film about how we're going to get better. Then we could have our craft again, of actually playing against each other and competing and then later that night it was usually a nighttime lift of some sort, getting the muscles and then recovery meal at night.
Now, I don't know if it was the healthiest pattern, but it just talks about the work ethic that goes into something like that. Then even if you're coming here and it's like, "Okay, well, I have class tonight from 6:00 to 9:00, that's my day's work". That's three hours where what I just spoke about when I was playing at a very high level I was busting my a** from 5:00 AM till 10:00 at night on top of doing other stuff in my life and other work things.
Now I'm just saying three hours compared to a whole day and I'm not thinking, "Oh, maybe if I have this healthier option I'm going to perform better in class." Yes. You will perform better if you are healthier. You're going to be in a healthier state of mind. Everything should tie-in, and you should translate that mentality from crafting to the athlete or whatever it is that you do.
Q: You mentioned you studied at some other studios, with some other teachers. How is the experience been different here?
A: Yes it's been different. A different style is probably the easy answer to start. I'd say this is a little bit healthier in terms of if you have to dig for a particular scene or role or for crafting work, because obviously, you want to live it out, but maybe you're not pulling from a real experience like what I have done before, and that can be draining on you. To me, it felt like sometimes it hurt the scene itself because you're just going back to that moment.
Maybe I'm pulling something out of it, and I'm talking to the person the way I did talk to them, instead of being present with you, or whoever it is and feeding off of them. Maybe my mind was already made up and, again, I think for the mind and the heart and other places that it just feels more natural to not dive into whatever it is. If you've lost a loved one or if you've broken out with somebody, or whatever.
It's tough because you have to be somebody that can zone in and be able to live it, breathe it and believe it. If you don't do that, you could say, "You know what, maybe it is easier to pull something from my past," in that sense to go into, if you needed to pull from a scene or a moment or whatever. I don't know, and I could see both sides of it. Maybe it isn't the worst idea to if you need to get somewhere to use something from your memory to get you to a place, but I think overall, this has made me feel healthier and more truthful and more alive.
Q: Why did you ultimately decide to study at Maggie Flanigan Studio?
A: I decided to study here because it was recommended by a lot of fellow actor friends of mine, a lot of people in the industry. I finished filming a feature last summer, and one of the writers was telling me all about the studio. Every time you hear something, you're like, "Yes, whatever." Then, I started listening to it more and more and more. This studio lives up to the f****** hype. I'm here for a reason and excited about wherever it goes, wherever it takes me for sure.
Q: How would you describe Charlie as a teacher?
A: Yes, Charlie. I love everything there is about the man. I feel if you struggle with taking the heat of a challenge, I don't think this is the place for you. If you want to get better every single time you step here if you're going to feel like there's a comfortable place for you to create, which I find is tough in any city that you are. Once you get somewhere and you start feeling comfortable like, "I can start creating for myself. I can open up.", I think this is the place. I think, Charlie, as we like to say in the athletic world, to me is the G.O.A.T. He is the greatest of all time.
Learn More About the 18-Month Acting Program at Maggie Flanigan Studio
To learn more about the 18-month acting program as well as the other acting programs at the Maggie Flanigan Studio, visit the acting programs and acting classes page on the website (http://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/). Admission to the studio is based on an interview with Charlie Sandlan. Interested students should visit the admission page and contact the studio with any questions. Call (917) 789-1599.
The above post Training Like an Athlete Read more on: Acting Classes New York NY
via Training Like an Athlete
by Maggie Flanigan
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
5 Star Review
Maggie Flanigan Studio is an amazing place that has truly changed my life. I can say... https://flic.kr/p/2cEEGPm
via 5 Star Review
by Maggie Flanigan
18 Month Acting Program - Maggie Flanigan Studio - Troy Press Interview
Watch video on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/lgSF4fb_5js
via Maggie Flanigan Studio
via 18 Month Acting Program - Maggie Flanigan Studio - Troy Press Interview
by Maggie Flanigan
The 18-month Acting Program Begins
Celebrated Maggie Flanigan Studio Now Taking Applications for Upcoming 18-Month Acting Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK, Nov. 5, 2018
The Maggie Flanigan Studio is currently signing up new students for its accelerated and compressed 18-month acting program. The 18-month Meisner training offers the same curriculum as the two-year program, but without the vacation and holiday breaks that come with a two-year conservatory. This compressed schedule is an ideal option for students who cannot commit to a full 24 months, as well as for international students looking to study on a M1 Student Visa.
Acting classes run Wednesday nights from 6–9 and Saturdays from 11–2, from January 5, 2019 through July 31, 2019. Second year classes begin in September. The Wednesday night, Saturday morning acting schedule was developed especially for aspiring actors who must juggle a full-time 9–5 job. January students also get the advantage of having Karen Chamberlain, the studio’s senior teacher, in their first year; following up with the studio’s Head of Acting, Charlie Sandlan, in their second year.
The Maggie Flanigan Studio has been considered the most serious and respected acting program in New York City for 17 years. The studio has always offered instruction in pure Meisner technique, which is increasingly difficult to find in the United States. Producers, directors and playwrights all understand that Meisner-trained actors bring an elevated skill set to their craft. The emotional range, as well as the depth and breadth of acting that a Meisner student employs immediately sets them apart from all other trained actors.
“Our enrollment is always smaller than other acting classes because we handpick our students, to ensure that they receive quality, personalized instruction. What exactly is Meisner technique? Basically, it gets at the core of acting itself: the ability to do truthfully under imaginary circumstances, consistently. Most actors simply indicate, they pretend. But exceptional actors learn to create organic, vivid human behavior,” stated Executive Director and Head of Action, Charlie Sandlan.
Maggie Flanigan Studio is New York City’s singular destination for serious acting instruction for a variety of reasons. But testimonials from former students, as well as celebrated actors and directors speak for themselves:
“I was always scared to act and worried that I would go through a professional training program like this and still be scared. I learned at this studio the fundamentals of acting that most places do not teach. I know how to work as an actor and I’m confident in my abilities that I’ve gained from this place.” ― Phil Portolano, former student.
18 Month Acting Program New York – Maggie Flanigan Studio – Call (917) 789-1599
About Maggie Flanigan Studio
Located in the heart of New York City, Maggie Flanigan Studio was founded in 2001 to teach the Meisner technique of acting. Maggie Flanigan trained in Meisner with William Esper and served with distinction as an MFA acting instructor at Rutgers University for 18 years. New York City’s “Home for the Serious Actor” is currently lead by Charlie Sandlan, who guides an exceptional faculty in teaching the next generation of aspiring actors. Learn more at: http://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/actingprograms/.
18 Month Acting Program New York
Contact:
Charlie Sandlan
Executive Director & Head of Acting
Maggie Flanigan Studio
153 W 27th St #803
New York, New York 10001
(917) 789-1599
This press release first appeared here:
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/celebrated-maggie-flanigan-studio-now-taking-applications-for-upcoming-18-month-acting-program-300743841.html
The post The 18-month Acting Program Begins appeared first on Meisner Acting - The Maggie Flanigan Studio New York NY - 917-789-1599.
via The 18-month Acting Program Begins
by Maggie Flanigan
The 18-month Acting Program Begins
Celebrated Maggie Flanigan Studio Now Taking Applications for Upcoming 18-Month Acting Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK, Nov. 5, 2018
The Maggie Flanigan Studio is currently signing up new students for its accelerated and compressed 18-month acting program. The 18-month Meisner training offers the same curriculum as the two-year program, but without the vacation and holiday breaks that come with a two-year conservatory. This compressed schedule is an ideal option for students who cannot commit to a full 24 months, as well as for international students looking to study on a M1 Student Visa.
Acting classes run Wednesday nights from 6–9 and Saturdays from 11–2, from January 5, 2019 through July 31, 2019. Second year classes begin in September. The Wednesday night, Saturday morning acting schedule was developed especially for aspiring actors who must juggle a full-time 9–5 job. January students also get the advantage of having Karen Chamberlain, the studio's senior teacher, in their first year; following up with the studio's Head of Acting, Charlie Sandlan, in their second year.
The Maggie Flanigan Studio has been considered the most serious and respected acting program in New York City for 17 years. The studio has always offered instruction in pure Meisner technique, which is increasingly difficult to find in the United States. Producers, directors and playwrights all understand that Meisner-trained actors bring an elevated skill set to their craft. The emotional range, as well as the depth and breadth of acting that a Meisner student employs immediately sets them apart from all other trained actors.
"Our enrollment is always smaller than other acting classes because we handpick our students, to ensure that they receive quality, personalized instruction. What exactly is Meisner technique? Basically, it gets at the core of acting itself: the ability to do truthfully under imaginary circumstances, consistently. Most actors simply indicate, they pretend. But exceptional actors learn to create organic, vivid human behavior," stated Executive Director and Head of Action, Charlie Sandlan.
Maggie Flanigan Studio is New York City's singular destination for serious acting instruction for a variety of reasons. But testimonials from former students, as well as celebrated actors and directors speak for themselves:
"I was always scared to act and worried that I would go through a professional training program like this and still be scared. I learned at this studio the fundamentals of acting that most places do not teach. I know how to work as an actor and I'm confident in my abilities that I've gained from this place." ― Phil Portolano, former student.
About Maggie Flanigan Studio
Located in the heart of New York City, Maggie Flanigan Studio was founded in 2001 to teach the Meisner technique of acting. Maggie Flanigan trained in Meisner with William Esper and served with distinction as an MFA acting instructor at Rutgers University for 18 years. New York City's "Home for the Serious Actor" is currently lead by Charlie Sandlan, who guides an exceptional faculty in teaching the next generation of aspiring actors. Learn more at: http://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/actingprograms/.
18 Month Acting Program New York
Contact:
Charlie Sandlan
Executive Director & Head of Acting
Maggie Flanigan Studio
153 W 27th St #803
New York, New York 10001
(917) 789-1599
This press release first appeared here:
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/celebrated-maggie-flanigan-studio-now-taking-applications-for-upcoming-18-month-acting-program-300743841.html
The preceding article The 18-month Acting Program Begins is available on Acting Studio New York
via The 18-month Acting Program Begins
by Maggie Flanigan
Tuesday, November 6, 2018
5 Star Review
When I started the Two Year Program at Maggie Flanigan Studio, I had just received my... https://flic.kr/p/2bBCRNf
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by Maggie Flanigan
Monday, November 5, 2018
5 Star Review
When I started the Two Year Program at Maggie Flanigan Studio, I had just received my... https://flic.kr/p/QyvoJS
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by Maggie Flanigan
Sunday, November 4, 2018
5 Star Review
When I started the 2 year Professional Actor Training Program at the Maggie Flanigan... https://flic.kr/p/2cAjdZN
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by Maggie Flanigan
Saturday, November 3, 2018
5 Star Review
There was a point in time when I felt stuck after my training at the studio had ended. I... https://flic.kr/p/29Sr8BW
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by Maggie Flanigan
Friday, November 2, 2018
5 Star Review
The summer intensive program at the Maggie Flanigan Studio was life changing. Within 6... https://flic.kr/p/2bdPA7c
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by Maggie Flanigan
Thursday, November 1, 2018
5 Star Review
My experience at Maggie Flanigan Studio changed my life. Charlie Sandlan is truly a gifted... https://flic.kr/p/2cvM3Pd
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by Maggie Flanigan
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