Method Lab SlidesStanislavski Series Method Lab Decoding the Human Experience The Father of "The System" 1863 – 1938 "Create your own method. Don't depend slavishly on mine. Make up something that will work for you!" Focus on Internal Realism The Psychophysical Connection Subtext over Surface The Moscow Art Theatre Founded in 1898, this studio became the testing ground for Stanislavski's revolutionary approach to psychological realism. Foundation: Given Circumstances The World Where are we? When is it? What are the physical rules of this environment? The People Who are you in relation to others? What is your history with the people in the room? The Conflict What is happening right now? What just happened 5 minutes ago? "You cannot act in a vacuum. You act within the facts." IF The Magic If The lever that lifts the actor from the everyday world into the world of imagination. "How would I act IF I were in these circumstances?" Step 1: Believe Accept the circumstances as true facts. Step 2: Respond Don't 'play' the result. Simply exist as yourself in that situation. Objective & Motivation Objective The Goal What do I want from the other person? (Must be an active verb: To charm, To convince). Motivation The Why Why do I want it? What happens if I don't get it? (The stakes). "If you have no objective, you are just making noise on a stage." Emotional Memory Recalling a personal experience that produced an emotion similar to what the character is feeling. Sensory Recall The smell of rain, the cold of metal, the tightness in the chest. Inner Truth Using the essence of the feeling, not necessarily the exact event. The Method Lab Interview Your Mission: 01 Find a partner. One is the Interviewer, one is the Subject. 02 Subject: Describe a real-life situation where you felt a strong emotion. 03 Interviewer: Use the Method Lab Worksheet to decode their story. Pro-Tip for Interviewers: Don't just ask "What happened?" Ask "What were you trying to achieve?" and "What did the air feel like?"
Method Lab WorksheetMethod Lab Interview #1: Peer Decoding Name: 1 The Setup (Given Circumstances) Subject Name A Memory The Given Circumstances (Facts: Who, What, Where, When): 2 Decoding the Internal Process Objective "What did you want more than anything in that moment?" Motivation "Why was that goal vital? What were the stakes?" Emotional Memory "What physical sensations (smell, cold, heat) stand out?" The Magic If "How would you react if the circumstances changed slightly?" 3 The Director's Analysis Identify the "Internal Truth" an actor needs to find to make this performance feel real. Method Lab Interview #2: Peer Decoding Name: 1 The Setup (Given Circumstances) Subject Name A Memory The Given Circumstances (Facts: Who, What, Where, When): 2 Decoding the Internal Process Objective "What did you want more than anything in that moment?" Motivation "Why was that goal vital? What were the stakes?" Emotional Memory "What physical sensations (smell, cold, heat) stand out?" The Magic If "How would you react if the circumstances changed slightly?" 3 The Director's Analysis Identify the "Internal Truth" an actor needs to find to make this performance feel real. Method Lab Interview #3: Peer Decoding Name: 1 The Setup (Given Circumstances) Subject Name A Memory The Given Circumstances (Facts: Who, What, Where, When): 2 Decoding the Internal Process Objective "What did you want more than anything in that moment?" Motivation "Why was that goal vital? What were the stakes?" Emotional Memory "What physical sensations (smell, cold, heat) stand out?" The Magic If "How would you react if the circumstances changed slightly?" 3 The Director's Analysis Identify the "Internal Truth" an actor needs to find to make this performance feel real.
Power Play SlidesMethod Lab Activity Power Play Objectives, Obstacles & Tactics The Persona Acting is the art of persuasion. There is no higher stake for persuasion than the political stage. You are not "acting" a politician. You are a human being with a specific platform, a reputation to protect, and power to gain. Step 1 The Name & Party What does your name say about you? What are your colors? Step 2 The Platform What is the ONE issue you would fight for at any cost? The Objective "What do I want from the voters right now?" ● To win their trust (not just "to talk") ● To crush my opponent's credibility ● To avoid answering a dangerous question Must be a VERB Action drives the scene The Obstacle External The heckler in the front row, the moderator's timer, the opposing candidate. Internal Guilt over a past scandal, fear of public speaking, a hidden bias. Environmental The microphone is broken, the room is too hot, the crowd is booing. Tactics: The How Tactics are the actions you take to overcome the obstacle and reach your objective. To Charm Winning them over with warmth. To Bully Using power to intimidate. To Deflect Changing the subject quickly. To Inspire Lifting the crowd's spirits. To Mock Making the opponent look silly. To Pity Making yourself the victim. To Educate Using facts to prove a point. To Warn Scaring the crowd into action. The Challenge The Debate Stage You will be given a "Scandal Question." You must achieve your Objective by switching between at least THREE different Tactics. Strategy First
Power Play WorksheetPower Play Politician Persona & Strategy Lab Candidate: Date: 1 The Persona Profile Full Campaign Name Party Affiliation & Slogan Primary Platform (The "One Issue") Candidate Sketch / Logo 2 The Strategy Super-Objective Ultimate goal: To save the world, to crush all rivals. Immediate Obstacle Standing in your way: A scandal, low budget, etc. The Scene Objective Specific goal for the Town Hall: To Win, To Silence, To Enrage. TO: ____________________________________________________ 3 The Tactic Toolbox Plan at least three tactics to achieve your objective during the debate. Tactic 1 (Verb) Execution Plan Tactic 2 (Verb) Execution Plan Tactic 3 (Verb) Execution Plan "Power Play" Strategy Worksheet | Stanislavski Method Lab
Tactic Toolbox HandoutTactic Toolbox The Politician's Active Verb Guide Offensive Tactics TO BULLY Intimidate with volume or physical presence. TO EXPOSE Force a secret or weakness into the light. TO MOCK Make the opponent's idea seem ridiculous. TO CORNER Use logic to leave them with no way out. Charismatic Tactics TO CHARM Win them over with a smile and warmth. TO INSPIRE Paint a picture of a better future. TO FLATTER Tell the audience exactly how great they are. TO BOND Prove that you are "just like them." Defensive Tactics TO DEFLECT Answer a different question entirely. TO MINIMIZE Make a major problem sound like a tiny error. TO MARTYR Make yourself look like the victim of a "hit job." TO STALL Use filler and long sentences to waste time. Logical Tactics TO EDUCATE Overwhelm with facts and complex data. TO WARN Explain the "catastrophe" if your plan isn't followed. TO CLARIFY Restate their argument to make it sound stupid. TO REASSURE Calm the fears of the audience with authority. Power Play Strategy Handout | Stanislavski Method Lab
