On Method Acting

by Edward Dwight

Practiced by such actors of stature as Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Julie Harris, Dustin Hoffman, and Ellen Burstyn (not to mention the late James Dean) the Method offers a practical application of the renowned Stanislavsky technique.
On Method Acting demystifies the "mysteries" of Method acting -- breaking down the various steps into clear and simple terms, including chapters on:
Sense Memory -- the most vital component of Method acting
Improvisation -- without it, the most integral part of the Method is lost
Animal Exercises -- just one way to combat the mental blocks that prevent actors from grasping a character
Creating The Outer Character -- so actors can give the freshness of originality to a role while at the same time living the life of the character
On Method Acting is also an indispensable volume for directors, designers, lighting technicians, and anyone in the dramatic arts interested in creating a believable and realistic effect in their productions.

Genres: Nonfiction, Theatre, Film, Art, Drama

ebook

First published July 30, 1989

Reviews

[Luwam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first gave this book four stars and then I changed it to five because I realized it gave me everything I expect to get out of it and then some. It didn’t have to be entertaining, but it actually was very informative thus engrossing. Dwight was very loyal to Stanislavsky and has meticulously exercised the teachings of Stanislavsky in the book. It stresses the importance of self insight,perceptiveness, and the concern and search of truth. I think anyone can benefit from this book.

[mush♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did love getting to learn more exercises and tips/tricks for acting, some that I had never been taught or even thought about. It’s a great reference book, but it’s also very dense. For the most part I took notes and highlighted/marked a lot of strong points I wanted to remember. A strong educational read, and even though I’m beyond passionate about acting, it’s so hard to enjoy educational books.

[Sourav Bangotra · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of a reference book than a simple piece of literature on acting; this book provides a practical approach to the various techniques followed in Method Acting in the Western Theater. Having read Stanislavsky before (An Actor Prepares), I could clearly see the practicality imposed by the author in this book. Edward Dwight Easty, a student of the legendary Method teacher Lee Strasberg, has written a book which introduces you to the various techniques of Method Acting that can be easily grasped by a young actor and at the same time can be useful for an experienced actor. This is not a perfect book having all solutions to an actor's problems as it is impossible to put in words the infinite prospects about acting that an actor can explore. This is why much has been left for the actor to discover on his own with a pointer to the right direction. The good thing about this book is that it has enough examples and anecdotes to make it interesting for reader. The passages about the work put in by actors who played Willy Loman being my favorite (for personal reasons!). This is a book that can be read in any order (not necessary to read the chapters in a serial order) and hence can be referenced by an actor at any time when facing a problem. Again, the solution may not be there but you'll most probably have a better idea to go about it. In fact, this book can be read and re-read quite regularly by a 'working actor' to improve his skills using the exercises described in this book. The most important thing an actor can learn out of this book is how to keep it real on stage, which should always be the aim for an actor and which has been stressed upon in all the chapters of this book.

However, I felt that the dogmatic views of the author in favor of 'The Method' in theater and his quite evident personal vendetta against other forms of acting can be quite irritating at times while reading it. A certain 'method' that may work for an actor, may not work for another actor. The writing is also little difficult to understand at times for a book that aims at simplifying the Method to an actor.

Having said that, this is a brilliant book for an actor who is looking to know what the mysterious 'Method' is all about.

[Tess Bianchi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool exercises in this book.

Was able to cry on command just from doing the exercises. Didn’t read the full book because it got too deep into acting, which wasn’t my intent.

Interesting book to come back to if you want to relive an old memory

[Sea Urchin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book on The Method.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A handy handbook on the great American Method. A book that holds its charm in the fact that it gets to the point and has no qualms with being simply a go to book on the technique of acting.

[Glenn Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not being a fan of Method Acting, this book did not do as much for me as it might for others. But it is well-written and certainly covers the topic well.

[Riccardo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not an actor, but I am interested in method acting techniques especially as they apply to psychology. Easy enough to read. Some unusual excercises, but if that is what it takes to be an actor...

[Sophie Bloor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dated but still remains an effective breakdown of key elements of Method. I love method.

[Rudrashree Makwana · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝗢𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘆 𝗘𝗱𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗗𝘄𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘆

🏹 Dealing with the principles of acting by Stanislavsky.

🏹 Psychological and mental training for actors.

🏹 Insights about Moscow Art Theatre

🏹 Marilyn Monroe and James Dean are beautifully conceived.

🏹 Useful for actors/ Writers/ for Psychological aspects / Stage fear

🏹 Inner and outer characterisation

On method Acting by Edward Dwight Easty is a book written for actors, following the principles of acting by Stanislavsky and its deals with mental and psychological aspects as to bring realism in acting on stage, some psychological and mental aspects plays an eminent role. The book is great even for people who wish to gain complete understanding about psychological aspects like we create mental blockages in our childhood due to unfortunate incidents and they don’t come out all in once but memories gets flash-backed in every stage of youth.

The renaissance of acting begin in America. In this life, our actions are created unconsciously by our inner feelings and emotions, so it must be with acting, with the exception that our feelings and emotions must be dealt with consciously. For any soul to be free to express their art with truth, societal repressions must always be torn away and be honest, open faced expression. Acting and reading both captures the complexity of the characters, emotions, personality, actions and we see through the lense of the reality of our situation at the moment and a small flicker of realisation dawn in our eyes. Whenever you feel like trapped in the vacillation of mind, try to grasp all the facets of the character and accept them.


My favourite parts:

1. Do not forget that whiskey burns when taken straight and in life one never drinks the whiskey the exact same way, one would drink tea or water.

2. A cat is one of the most interesting subjects of observation for an actor even if he not inclined to like cats as pets. Where the human beings use all of his muscles in a physical task, the cat only use their paw.

3. a. Know Stanislavsky’s system
b. Build a back story
c. Connect Personally & Truthfully
d. Practice & Apply

[Shervin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent overview of the Method as practiced by Strasberg in the Actors Studio. I disagree with Strasberg's emphasis only on substitution and emotional recall. I think the actor doesn't have to only use their own experiences to be truthful. There's a bias against imagination here that's consistent with what I know of Strasberg, but it's still interesting to see the ideas laid out in such clear terms.

In some ways this is better than Strasberg's own book in its practicability. Sense memory, improvisation, animal exercises, and other elements of the Method are explained clearly enough. It made me wonder who Edward Dwight Easty really was, but there's no biographical information about him anywhere on the internet, which I find odd for a writer of a seminal acting text. Who was this guy?

When he discussed Marilyn Monroe doing a scene with Philip Roth, I wondered: THE Philip Roth? But no there was an actor with the same name. lol.

The only reason this isn't five stars is because of Strasberg's limitations, but as an elucidation of his ideas, it is solid.

[anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

some interesting points made with some useful exercises, all very standard stuff based off of the writers experience of Lee Strasberg.
I have issues with a lot of phallocentric ideas pushed forward in the book however with the ideal of women being beautiful before being good actors. Overall though this was a useful resource to reflect upon and I have definitely found a lot of the exercises beneficial.

[Lorinda Christene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled to like it. I think I’m much better suited to learning classic techniques in class with other actors in an interactive structure. Don’t expect to be entertained by this book but maybe you will pick out a couple of useful insights.

[Abi]

*for uni*

[Patrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing gets a little silly. But the content is decent.