Respect for Acting We must overcome the notion

Respect for Acting We must overcome the notion that we must be regular. . . it robs you of the chance to be extraordinary and leads you to the mediocre. ~Uta Hagen

Uta Hagen June 1919 - January 2004 She was an actor and teacher of Method acting. Ø a derivative of Stanislavski’s system She developed her acting philosophy while teaching at HB Studio.

Uta Hagen Respect for Acting 1973 Challenge for the Actor 1991 Uta Hagen’s Acting Class 2001

Uta Hagen's 10 object exercises 1. the basic exercise 6. talking to yourself 2. three entrances 7. outdoors 3. immediacy 8. conditioning forces 4. the fourth wall 9. history 5. endowment 10. character action

Object Exercise #1 The basic object exercise • “ 2 minutes of reality” • your life • you actually doing

Object Exercise #2 (1 st entrance) Three entrances • Your entrance is shaped and influenced by what just happened. • Uta’s step 1, 2, 3

Object Exercise #2 (2 nd entrance) Three entrances • Your entrance is shaped and influenced by what just happened. • Uta’s step 1, 2, 3

Object Exercise #2 (3 rd entrance) Three entrances • Your entrance is shaped and influenced by what just happened. • Uta’s step 1, 2, 3

Object Exercise #4 The fourth wall • use of primary 4 th wall • use of secondary 4 th wall

Object Exercise #5 Endowment • Give a thing the qualities of some other thing. • Incorporate the steps from object exercise #2.

Object Exercise #6 Talking to yourself • your intimate self • incorporates object exercise #2 • incorporates object exercise #4

Object Exercise #8 Conditioning forces • forces that influence you and shape your behavior • BUT those forces are not what the scene is about …

Object Exercise #9 History • Place the character in the clothing and setting of the time period. • Take your character outside the “crisis” of the play. template sample write-up