When I do workshops on directing actors 90% of the material and techniques I share come from The Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City. This is the same Neighborhood Playhouse where renowned Hollywood director Sydney Pollack spent many years studying with and assisting for legendary Sanford Meisner.
I was exposed to the Meisner Method from Keith Eagle, a Neighborhood Playhouse graduate and 1st generation student of Meisner. Keith was a demanding instructor and has a tremendous passion for the craft. I studied with Keith for over five years, three of which I became his teaching assistant and ultimately co-teacher for the on-camera workshops. I feel incredibly fortunate to have had this experience. I haven’t followed Sydney Pollack’s path to Hollywood, but I have developed a solid reputation and been hired as an acting coach and director for independent films, training videos and many TV spots.
Here is a clip of Sydney Pollack describing how he entered Hollywood as an acting coach and later became one of the most respected directors ever. His Filmography includes: Out of Africa, Tootsie, The Way We Were, Electric Horseman, Absence of Malice and many more. This video begins with a photo tribute to Sydney and the actual interview starts at 1:16. If you’re interested in learning more about the Meisner approach to acting check out one of my acting workshops here.
Check more info on “The Meisner Method” and my Actors Workshops here.
Loved the Husbands and Wives character as well. So prtfecely depicts the subconscious tension: Upper class, educated, cultured New Yorkers don’t have urges’, so rather than aknowledge and then deal with his lust for a younger woman as such, he has to justify his satisfaction by ignoring the glaring incompatibilities by falling in love .The Woody Allen character goes through the same issue by his fawning over the Juliette Lewis character and her questionable writing talents: apewscious: I made it up! So funny and so close to the bone.