new york acting programs - maggie flanigan studio 01 - (917) 789-1599

new york acting programs - maggie flanigan studio 01 - (917) 789-1599 Q: Esma, what did you think Meisner training was before you started the two-year program at Maggie Flanigan Studio? A: To be honest, I didn't really have a clue. In my own way, I googled and researched acting, New York and a lot of different things came up. From what I understood, Meisner was a technique that could be applied to any kind of role, to theater, to TV and film and I liked that aspect. If I'm being honest, I was very naive and I just kind of walked into it. Acting, I can do this. I interviewed at a few schools and that was it. Q: Now that you're finished with your first year, what do you think the Meisner technique is now? How has this year changed your opinion of it? A: It's been a huge learning experience. I realized that the Meisner technique really allows you to get to know yourself, which is very important in acting because any scene you get, you basically filter it through your own experiences, your own feelings. You have to have a point of view. I really appreciate that because it made me realize how much I go through my life without figuring out what I feel about something or how I feel about a certain situation. I don't really formulate my own point of view. It was a huge learning experience in that sense. I got to know myself. In that way, I get to know how I feel about something and a truthful reaction comes out of that. I can see how that can be applied to any kind of acting. I love that. Q: What did you learn about yourself this first year that was a surprise or that changed you? A: I knew I could be shy sometimes. I didn't know the extent to which I was holding back, like all the norms that were taught by society of how we should act and also how a woman should act, was so ingrained in me. I think the first six, seven months really, it was just me chipping away at that. It surprised me how I didn't really have any freedom and it was a struggle at times. It's uncomfortable trying to open up and be more vulnerable. If I'm being untruthful, I didn't always love the process, but now that I feel like I have broken down a lot of those walls, I feel so much more free. I think it's affecting other parts of my life positively as well because I'm just more open in all my relationships. Q: As you come from a business background, so you know what it means to work hard in the business sense, but how has this year taught you what it means to work hard or have a work ethic as an actor or an artist? A: I'm used to working hard. Like you said, I come from a business background. I went to business school. I ran my own retail company for six years. I guess in that way, I was confident coming in, like I'll just put in the work and I'm going to see immediate results and be a great actress, which is true. You do need to put in the work. What was different was the growth and the results. They're not linear. I'm just used to putting in all the work, immediately seeing results because that's how you get success in other fields. In acting, it can be very sporadic. It's like taking two steps forward, and a step back. You're learning how to react to other people, how to take in, how to listen. It's not something you can just read off a book. I've read a lot of autobiographies of actors that I admire, but I still can't employ all the techniques that they have. It doesn't work that way. I wish it did. I was a little naive coming into this, to be honest. I just thought I could put in the work and immediately be great. It takes time. Q: What's it like to be in acting class and have a bad day? A: I think it depends on your personality. I'm very type A and like I said, I do like to see immediate results. If I had a good day, let's say last class, I'd expect to have a good day next class. If I see that I'm struggling with something that I thought I had already internalized, "Okay, I'm done with that, I have that now in my tool box," it frustrates me. I'd really get down on myself. I have that inner critic that won't shut up and that's the worst thing that you can do as an actor, actress. It's not a good feeling, but it happens. Throughout the year, I've made peace with that. It's part of the process. Q: What's it like to have a good day in class? A: It's the best. [laughs] I personally, I just go home, and I can't shut up about it. I talk to my husband, I'm like, "Oh my God, I did this. I had the best exercise. My scene partner did this." It's just you feel so creatively fulfilled. I personally didn't have a lot of creativity in my past life, coming from a business background. Not to say there isn't creativity in business, but it's a whole different ball game here. I just love that. I love playing all out with myself. Maggie Flanigan Studio 153 W 27th St #803 New York, New York 10001 +1 917-789-1599 www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/ goo.gl/maps/oxqqExybwL32 plus.google.com/112291205845820496849 https://flic.kr/p/28AJ9aJ