Backstagers,

Here is part two in a new series of 10 articles about acting, that focus on what you can do on your own to work on your acting! This article is about the imagination and dreams. It's dedicated to actors all the over the world who can't study at our school. Mr. Bennett will write a new article every few weeks.

You can read it here: The World Is Your Acting Class: The Curious Imagination

You can also download and print out a pdf of the article.

Please send us your questions about the article or about acting in general. Mr. Bennett enjoys getting your emails. Thanks so much for all the supportive emails after the last article. We heard from actors and acting teachers from all over the world.

- Michael Rehse

Readers,

TommyP made me think a little on another thread when he commented about the source of talent.

So I thought I'd post my comment on this thread, since the other one was so long.

Yesterday I was walking around...

I think a lot when I walk. I read a lot about Quantum Physics, Consciousness Research, Psychology, etc. I typically learn more about acting from these sources than from acting books, which I've mostly read over and over. And since I've now studied with a bazillion acting teachers for so many years, I generally have to go outside acting classes now to learn about creativity.

Where does this "source" of creativity come from? What is it? What is the imagination?

It seems that we can imagine the whole universe in our teeny-tiny, little brain. What a contradiction -- the infinite, vast universe contained in the smallest neurological pathways! Amazing.

And if we access our imaginings with specificity, and if we have a sensory process (which is learned in a great acting class, and bastardized in bad classes) for projecting the imagination into our external environment -- the sensations are no different than those of the "external" world. Our dreams are as real to our psyche as the external world.

Does this mean that in our imaginations we are accessing other dimensions and worlds that are as real as the external world you are experiencing as you read this? More and more scientists think so. Spiritual philosophers have thought so for eons.

It's fascinating to have this EXPERIENCE in my own work, and in my work with actors. We are literally expanding who we are through expanding the imagination. This is why when I act and sing I feel I am "transcending" my habitual "self" or personality. I feel I am expanding and growing through performance. And of course, this is how many great actors talk about acting.

Where does all this imaginative material come from?

It seems that our brains and bodies are CHANNELS. Our brains and bodies are channels that connect us to the awesome intelligence of the universe, or universes actually. There may be millions of universes. We are both a teeny-tiny speck, and yet can have this conversation about these awesome subjects, and can increasingly EXPERIENCE these awesome intelligences in our souls -- via our brain and body -- a temple perhaps.

It seems evolution is the march towards connection...with this creative source. God?

Are we actually creating anything original, ever?

I don't know. I think yes. And I think no. It is contradictory. Because the universe is so awesome it is contradictory. I think everything we could ever create is already created. But then I also think it isn't created until we create it, at least in this dimension and in this experience of "time." Isn't it amazing that time doesn't exist in many dimensions?

All this is part of why actor training should be diverse -- very specific but also diverse and well-rounded. It should not be religious. It should not be stuck in 20th century teaching anymore.

Actor training is about now. It is about the future.

It is about evolution.

Great actors connect the audience -- to themselves, to each other, to their imaginations. Acting facilitates evolution. Isn't that an amazing statement? It does.

What an awesome honor it is to be a part of this process with my students.

I notice some people on these boards talk about old ways, old acting training, and old teachers. But the march is on-going and the future holds many exciting possibilities. It is being created by the new generation of acting teachers and actors, at least those who are original thinkers doing their own work. It is amazing to see the older, huge, corporate acting schools simply existing to exist. They used to be cutting edge, now they are dinosaurs, their original brilliant teachers long dead.

Oh dear, perhaps I will be an out-of-date dinosaur one day. :-)

- Jason Bennett

quote:

Great actors connect the audience -- to themselves, to each other, to their imaginations. Acting facilitates evolution. Isn't that an amazing statement?

It IS! That statement resonated immediately with me. In Stephen King's audio book "On Writing", he calls the interaction between writer and reader an act of clairvoyance. He envisions a small round table covered with a red and white checkered oil cloth. In the center of the table is a clear vase with a single yellow rose (I'm paraphrasing). He writes a description of what he sees. The reader reads the description, and sees the same thing in his mind's eye.

Your statement reminds me of Stephen King's statement in that the medium, weather it be acting or writing, connects minds and imaginations together.

I'm a new student of acting. An important part of any learning process is to be able to clearly define what it is that you are learning, and what is its purpose. Your statement cut straight through the mental junkyard that is my mind, and flipped the light switch on. The rats are diving for cover as I write.

The idea that our imagination is a means to channel us to other dimensions and existences may or may not be true, but it is a wonderful conceptualization. It is something that I can wrap my mind around. I used to teach electronics, and I know how important it is to be able to illustrate complex concepts in simplified, easy to grasp terms. Your statement does exactly that.

Thank you for the really cool post. Now I'm all tingly and excited. No, I'm not touching myself right now, but I may need to take a cold shower before I move on to my next post.

Meanwhile, I think I'll mosey on over to your website and do a little reading.

"Notice how people, places and things make you feel. You will be amazed at how rapidly your state-of-being changes if you follow your inner stream of impulses. Your unconscious is racing with responses to the world, in feelings and images. This exercise begins to open the door again to that awesome, creative world -- a world that children have easy access to before they are socialized into conformity."

You keep blowing my mind! (I know. That can also be done with a cap pistol, but bear with me) I've been trying to break out of my shell and open up. I have always had a vivid imagination and used to express myself freely. But as I get older, I become more rigid. I will often watch a young child dancing and singing his way through the grocery store, or openly expressing what is currently playing out in his imagination with a careless, unselfconscious ease that I so admire. I think to myself, "Where did I lose that? How can I get it back?" This is a VERY important question as I enter the field of acting.

"...a world that children have easy access to before they are socialized into conformity." WOW! You've put your finger on it in such a precise way, that I really AM touching myself now! "Socialized into conformity". F**kin' A! There it is! That's the key. The shell that I need to break out of is conformity. After years of conformity (perhaps decades) I have become out of touch with my flow of impuleses and have supressed my natural reaction to them. I will dive into this exercise like Tommy Lasorda into a plate of pasta!

As you can see, I still do excite easilly. Why, just last week I finally learned to supress spontanious orgasms. Now I wish I hadn't!

Dear Kenneth,

Thanks for your posts. I'm happy the writings have meaning for you.

If you ever have any questions I can help you with, let me know.

I hope you find some great training out there in CA. There are some great teachers out there.

- Jason Bennett

quote:

I hope you find some great training out there in CA. There are some great teachers out there.

I'm taking a college course in beginning acting fundamentals. The instructor has also done private instruction as well. The school also offers intermediate and advanced, I will take those as well.

I'm the type who likes to learn the basics, and then build up from there by doing. Right now I'm still in the information gathering mode. I've been reading all the material that I can find online (including yours, which is very good!) along with a couple text books. I've also been going to youtube and other online video resources and watching other actors discuss the craft. Michael Caine has a great full length video on acting that is very good.

quote:

If you ever have any questions I can help you with, let me know.

Thanks. That's very generous of you. I will likely take you up on your offer. If there is anything I can do to add to your website (writing), let me know.

Hello,

I saw a message -- a list, written a long time ago on this board about what to look for in actor training. I can't find it now, but maybe someone else can. It might help you in your search for great training. Can anyone help find that list?

Anyway, wonderful. Yep, we're lucky to have so much information available to us as actors these days!

I was reading a book today, "Hidden Connections" -- about Quantum Physics, Psychology, Communication, Linguistics -- amazing research done in just the last 15 years. And I came up with three new acting exercises from the research and I've only read 45 pages out of 300 so far.

I would just KILL to see what Stanislavski would do with all this information we have now -- all this research about communication and psychology. These books make my imagination go WILD as an acting teacher. I learn way more acting from them than acting books. But then, I've pretty much read all the acting books 10 times each, so that isn't saying much.

Anyway, it's neat. I can't wait to share with my students. It's such a thrill. - Jason Bennett

Jason, you’re quite fortunate that I saved this. Early this year, former member CommonSense posted these guidelines on what to look for in acting training. I am thankful to CommonSense’s post, as it has led me to a school in which I am more than satisfied with. I encourage all actors to evaluate their potential schools by using the following advice prescribed:


“Acting Schools Advice

Beginning actors need the following kinds of work: imagination work, emotional work, voice work, body work. You have to develop your instrument before you just start "performing." As the actor's instrument develops, then you move quickly into scene study, reading the great plays and movies and learning how to identify the obligations of the material and THINK while you act. You definitely need a thinking process for acting, but that should definitely come after your imagination, emotions, voice and body are developed. Keep this in mind when looking for training.

So... in the beginning...

Look for an acting class where there are exercises to develop your imagination.

Look for an acting class where there are safe and respectful exercises to free al your emotions.

Look for a school that RESPECTS, and perhaps offers various acting methods and tools instead of just one. Only knowing one or two is out of date.

Look for a humble, supportive, non-guru teacher.

Look for small acting classes where you work in every class.

Look for a school with a well-rounded faculty, with teachers who teach all kinds of work.

Read the bios of teachers NOT for their performing credits, that's not very important, but for their TRAINING credentials. Who trained them? What philosophy is in their bio? Bios with only performing credits and no training credentials should scare you. Check them out.

Look for a school where you feel like the main acting teacher will take a very personal interest in you. You should expect to meet them and speak with them before you sign up for class. If it feels like a business, run away.

Testimonials don't matter too much on acting school web sites. Look for SUBSTANCE about TRAINING over marketing and big promises about career advancement and business success. It's ART, not the corporate world. Schools that sound anything like business schools for actors do no teach art.

Look for a school where you MEET and spend time with the MAIN TEACHER in an interview or work session, Many of the best schools don't do audits anymore, for various reasons. But you should SPEAK WITH AND MEET the main teacher.

Look for a school that seems to be MORE than just fame and fortune. If it feels like a business or corporation, beware. Fame and fortune is a SIDE-EFFECT of being a meaningful artist, not a goal in and of itself.

Do not pay casting directors to meet you when you are new at this... or maybe ever. Don't go to "acting schools" that charge you to meet casting directors. Those aren't real acting schools.

Stay away from any kind of "school" that seems remotely like big-business "scams" that take your money and do little or nothing for you. Also, here’s what NOT to look for in training: high cost, commercial, corporate garbage. Investigate the schools that advertise the most, and make your assessment thereon.

Read plays and movie scripts.

Scene study, monologue and scene work should come after you develop your instrument. Auditions come even later. Most schools and aspiring actors get it backwards -- they do auditions and scene study first -- wrong. And that's one reason most aspiring actors never get work or agents. They put the horse before the carriage.”

Wasn't Common Sense banned? Why was that? IT wasn't because he was posting malicious statements under various names, was it? Kind of makes one wonder about the validity of any of his posts. . . . As he is still posting on this board under a different name, wonder why he just doesn't repost this under his own name?

Thanks PrinceofGotham, that's an interesting list.

I think this list describes the approach of the best acting schools around -- there are many throughout the world. It's a great list.

Sounds like it could have been written by any of the best acting teachers I had in New York and in Los Angeles when I was young.

- Jason

Dear Readers,

Thanks for your amazing response to this article. It has been read now by over 4,000 people from around the world since it was published last week, according to our website stats. That's amazing.

I love writing these and more will come soon. Thanks for all your supportive emails and questions. We really appreciate them, keep them coming.

- Jason

Thanks PrinceofGotham! I think one of the most important parts of that list is not considering the performance aspect of an instructor vs. the training of the instructor. Several years ago, I always looked at the instructor's performance credits, but I've realized that's not quite so important. As I've found, some people get cast despite a lack of training, so performance isn't indicative of what someone can offer.

I have a friend who's constantly cast, despite never having set foot in an acting class. She's been cast far more than I ever have, but she's a dancer and I'm not. She may have made more money than I have acting, but I would never go to her for training, simply because she knows nothing except what has worked for her. And she can't teach you any tools. So, that's something to consider.

Sonnet 43
by William Shakespeare


When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see,
For all the day they view things unrespected;
But when I sleep, in dreams they look on thee,
And darkly bright, are bright in dark directed.
Then thou, whose shadow shadows doth make bright,
How would thy shadow's form form happy show


To the clear day with thy much clearer light,
When to unseeing eyes thy shade shines so!
How would, I say, mine eyes be blessed made
By looking on thee in the living day,
When in dead night thy fair imperfect shade
Through heavy sleep on sightless eyes doth stay!
All days are nights to see till I see thee,
And nights bright days when dreams do show thee me.

We can learn all there is about acting through Shakespeare, he saw way beyond anything, and is as relevant now, as the moment dinasours walked the earth. Maybe through the chaos of the universe, we can find a little order in humanity.

"For anything so overdone is from the purpose of playing, whose end, both at the first and now, was and is, to hold, as 'twere, the mirror up to nature, to show virtue her own feature, scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time his form and pressure." Hamlet

There is a fine line between reality and fantasy.It has always been this way, but its becomming more apparent through technology.The internet.I think as actors we need to find a Karmic balance to sustain order in a world of evolving chaos.

quote:

I notice some people on these boards talk about old ways, old acting training, and old teachers. But the march is on-going and the future holds many exciting possibilities.

I notice some people on these boards talk about old ways, old acting training, and old teachers. But the march is on-going and the future holds many exciting possibilities.

Great post. I honestly liked reading your article, Jason (pt. 2), and I hope to read the rest soon. I am just curious, were (or are) you "commonsense", the poster on this board?

Jason, you’re quite fortunate that I saved this. Early this year, former member CommonSense posted these guidelines on what to look for in acting training. I am thankful to CommonSense’s post, as it has led me to a school in which I am more than satisfied with. I encourage all actors to evaluate their potential schools by using the following advice prescribed.."

I am not trying to start a fight, but I remember reading a lot of Commonsense's posts in the past, and somebody said it was "Jason Bennett", which is nothing to be ashamed of!!In fact, the last article I read by J.B. was actually quite brilliant, (and just for the record, I used to hassle Jason B. a lot, but have exchanged emails w. him, and respect him as a teacher and poster). But I just want to know...who was "CommonSense?" Please tell me if anyone knows!!

Hi,

Commonsense was a professional actor and teacher who is in sync with some things I believe -- but not all at this point -- for sure.

Before I was on here openly posting, he came on here to fight against that person who wasn't an actor, who misled everyone about the business.

I am not responsible for anything my students write and don't want to be. I train independent thinkers and independent, rebellious artists of the future. My students and I have exciting disagreements about the work sometimes. It's how art gets made.

I am happy that those I work with care about making an impact. I am happy they are passionate and articulate. And I'm sure happy they book jobs.

- Jason Bennett

Commonsense was one of the truly immature and imo evil posters on this board who was rightfully banned. His posts are still available with some searching--the maliciousness speaks for itself. Re correcting misconceptions of the business, I would say hands down mominbiz is by far the most effective and helpful poster. If I knew who Commonsense was/is, I would certainly be ashamed to say that I knew him or her based on the tone and lack of effectiveness of his/her postings. NB I don't know who any of these people are, I just know what I read.

And Mr. Bennett, would you happen to know if it was "Commonsense" that sent the malicious emails about me that I posted? I would love to bring that info to a lawyer and see if I can still sue him or her for intereference in a contract. I'd appreciate if you can find that out for me so I can see if I have a lawsuit. Thanks.

Dear Csilvera,

I haven't read this person's posts. Perhaps if I did, I would be horrified. I don't know. Unfortunately, I'm busy with other matters.

I have literally worked with 1,000s of actors during my teaching career. I don't keep tabs on them or monitor them.

I do teach civility, respect for others, ethics and professionalism. But not everyone I meet or interact with in this business lives up to ideals. I've certainly made errors. It's part of the journey.

Some of the most successful acting teachers of the 20th Century were extremely abusive. Some actors do not make a good impression on the world and do not represent our field well. I think we have to let it go and do our own work and tend to our side of the street...and constantly strive for ideals.

- Jason Bennett

Well, you stated that you were familiar with his posts--if you didn't read them, how did you know that? I'll see if I can dig up a few juicier ones. And if you know who he is, I'd love for you to share that so I can see if I have a lawsuit against him.

I'd like to suggest that we keep this thread on topic and try to deal with the unfortunate dealings with "CommonSense" to PMs. I'd hate to see this thread with it's wealth of information deleted by administration for the wrong reason. Just a thought!

"How To Stop Acting" by Harold Guskin is a GREAT book and id advise any actor who hasn't read it, to read it!