I'M BACK.
And I just saw MY WEEK WITH MARILYN, a film that grew on me, as did Michelle Williams' performance of the icon herself.
Seeing how Marilyn was so dependent on her schoolmarm-y acting coach, I was inspired to say a few words.
True--when you speak/act, often it is best, if you have stage fright, to pretend that the audience is a set of your most supportive friends and that your performance is actually the hobby that brings a smile to your face. That is what Marilyn was told to do a few times as she was struggling against many odds to remember and be comfortable with her lines.
True--what Olivier keeps on insisting is accurate: it's just acting. Just pretend.
True: finally what Marilyn learns is that by being true to her self--heck by just being herself--she can shine.
Take a pick as to which tip or what combo works for you.
PS: Eventually, Ms Williams' Marilyn became Marilyn---for me anyway; my eyes watered at her vulnerability, her charm; at whatever it was that makes her, to this day, so memorable.
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I saw this during the Philly Film Festival in October and while it had lots of great scenese, I must say I enjoyed the ages old battle between American & British approaches to acting -- or, more accurately the mostly British contempt for the mostly American insistence on "the Method" in order for actors to "get into" a role.
ReplyDeleteOlivier was especially annoyed by this "Method" approach as evidenced by many anecdotes about his experience acting opposite Dustin Hoffman in Marathon Man. But it is not just the older generation of Brits who find the Method all a bit much. James McAvoy has told some stories about working with Forrest Whitaker who refused to "come out of character" on the set of The Last King of Scotland. (McAvoy also prefers to be told exactly where to stick his tongue or hands or other body parts rather then having the director just say, "You're two young people in love and in lust --- just go at it while we film it.")
But it is not just the Brits who have found the Method off-putting over the years. I once heard about a rehearsal for Annie Get Your Gun in which Ethel Merman asked the stage director where she should stand for a particular scene.
"Should I be on the left or on the right?" she wanted to know.
"Well, where do you think Annie would stand?" came a question in reply.
But Merman was having none of it "Should I stand on the left or on the right?" she repeated...
So what is YOUR take on this whole debate.
(And in addition to McAvoy there are tons -- possibly even the majority -- of British trained actors who really see no value at all in the Method. You should hear Derek Jacobi go on about it...)
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ReplyDeleteI need to check out the jacobi' rant:)
ReplyDeleteAnd do recall the Hoffman issue in marathon man? lol.
I use whatever works in the situation I am in.
To hold on to something just because that is how I was taught seems silly.
When I have acted--and I need to jump back in I am told by some expert friends-I know my character, the arc, the beats. I plan a many things but I never rule out spontaneity.
Supposedly HL was so immersed in method during his black knight performance that he drove himself....
But yours truly is a libra king, meaning I always see validity in every side--my blessing and my curse