two year acting program interview - Aviona Carrigan

The two year acting program at the Maggie Flanigan Studio is based on the Meisner technique, which was created by Sanford Meisner. In this video Aviona Carrigan talks about the two year acting program and how she is changing personally and professionally. Katie: Aviona what have been some unexpected hurdles for you while you've been training at this studio? Aviona: I think the thing I've struggled with the most is self-doubt or a fear of failure, which I never would have thought of before. I feel I've really grown over this past year, especially with not being so scared to fail, I've learned that through failing is where I have my biggest breakthroughs and that at the end of the day no is not the worst thing that you can hear. It doesn't kill you, you grow the most from it and I've grown with so much confidence. I feel like just doing the work too. Katie: How have you felt yourself change unexpectedly as an actor through this whole process? Aviona: I feel like I've not changed only as an actor but as a human being, I listen more. I actually didn't realize how much I wasn't listening or actually taking in what someone was saying. I feel I was a little bit more self-absorbed with like, "What do I want to say back to you?" I communicate better, I feel I have a deeper understanding of people too. I want to understand other people's perspectives and know how that feels too. Katie: You've trained as a dancer for 15 years, you've taken classes other places. How does Charlie compare to the other acting teachers or just teachers in general that you've had? Aviona: Charlie, like I said earlier he's that voice of truth, the thing that you don't want to hear, but you need to hear. I also really appreciate that he individualizes how he teaches all of us, I'm not going to get the same critique that someone else is going to get and he puts it through a filter that works specifically for each of us. I know personally for me I'm one of those people I learn best from someone that's a little bit more harsh with me, not to say that he's harsh with me, but he's definitely on my case more and I know I need that. Katie: He just doesn't tell you what you want to hear, he tells you what you need to hear. Aviona: Exactly, right. I know with some people he approaches them in a more kinder way and because that's what they take to better. It's really nice to watch it happen in the class too and you learn also by him teaching other students and sometimes you start learning in that way as well. It rounds you out a little bit more. Katie: What would you say if someone felt after, if someone you'd study with had another class, an intensive if they said they didn't need to commit to a two-year training program, what would you say to that person? Aviona: I would say that if this is something you really take serious, if this is something you want to continue to do two years isn't that big a deal in the scheme of things. Look at all these professions, such as a doctor, look how many years they study and then they get to work. Why wouldn't we as artists, as actors, why wouldn't we approach our work with the same respect and want to grow and further our knowledge, further what our bodies can do and just be so solid and prepared to go out and work? Katie: What would you say, for you, is the single number one reason to study at Maggie Flanigan Studio instead of any other studio? Aviona: I would say, the single reason -- I honestly I like the community we have here. I feel like everyone's so supportive of each other. There's so many days that you're going to have a bad day or that you are going to be filled with so much self-doubt that you don't want to continue on. You have so many people around you and so many teachers that are just there to pick you up and there to motivate you again and get you back where you need to be and so much stronger. I think that's what I've prized most at being here. Maggie Flanigan Studio 153 W 27th St #803 New York, New York 10001 (917) 789-1599 www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/ www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1SoU0EHDskHoP_lhaX_AKCn7... https://flic.kr/p/Dxuqtj

meisner technique maggie flanigan studio 10

The two year acting program at the Maggie Flanigan Studio is based on the Meisner technique, which was created by Sanford Meisner. In this video Aviona Carrigan talks about the two year acting program and how she is changing personally and professionally. Q: Aviona, tell me about your background in acting. A: I don't have a background in acting but I danced for 15 years and trained that way and I model professionally. Q: Before you came into Maggie Flanigan Studio, did you study anywhere else? Did you study the Meisner technique? What was that like for you? A: Actually, I looked at several places before coming here. I spent a year and a half trying everything out. The first place I went to was a Meisner technique acting program. Some of the issues I found with that is that because I was a green actor, as they like to call me specifically, I was treated differently than most of the other students. It's somewhat like a factory, really. I was just a number. I was like a paycheck for them. I didn't really feel welcomed. Especially, with some of the other students, it felt very competitive when that's not what I really wanted in a program. I wanted a home and a family and people to grow with. The second place I study wasn't a Meisner-based program at all but I found that the students were lacking -- what's the right word for it? Motivation and wanting to actually put in the work and effort and everything in it, like they were just here to show up and here to play, it was like a hobby. I wanted somewhere that -- one that felt like a family and everyone wanted to push each other and work together and grow. Maggie Flanigan Studio 153 W 27th St #803 New York, New York 10001 (917) 789-1599 www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/ www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1SoU0EHDskHoP_lhaX_AKCn7... https://flic.kr/p/ZA6nGG

meisner technique maggie flanigan studio 10

The Meisner Technique is one of the most respected acting techniques that has been studied by many of the most recognized professional actors. In this video Aviona Carrigan talks about her reasons for deciding to study the Meisner technique and why she chose the Maggie Flanigan studio. Q: What were the steps that led you specifically to the studio? You said you looked for a year and a half which is a long time. Some people look longer than that. Some people, this is the first studio they look at. What were the specific steps that made you decide to come to Maggie Flanigan? A: I read so many books on technique which, honestly, it doesn't really do anything justice. I really think you have to dive in there and learn what works best for you. Also, interviewing all the teachers and instructors. I honestly feel Charlie was the best fit for me after speaking with him. He’s one of those people that will tell you how it is and will honestly tell you what you don't want to hear but what you need to hear and that's what you need to grow. Maggie Flanigan Studio 153 W 27th St #803 New York, New York 10001 (917) 789-1599 www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/ www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1SoU0EHDskHoP_lhaX_AKCn7... https://flic.kr/p/GJKtxX

meisner technique maggie flanigan studio 10

Q: You studied a Meisner program. You studied a couple different techniques, you mentioned. Why did you decide Meisner was the best one for you? A: It was something that I noticed -- focused on bringing myself to the world or to the character. It was like looking within you. I noticed that it helped me with my listening, it helped me with my communication. It really grounded me. The other places I found didn't create a sense of foundation, it was more of like, "Here's some cute like not cute," but some tools and things that you can add but it didn't have a foundation to add it to and that's what I wanted. Q: You mentioned you danced professionally or danced for 15 years, you model. A lot of people might just think, "Oh, I can just jump into acting." Why did you decide to commit to a two-year training program instead of just jumping in? A: I wanted to approach acting the same way that I had approached dance. I think it's really important to -- within dance, you start on the floor. You stretch and you build strength and then you move to the bar and you work on your technique and then you go to the floor and you work on combinations. Eventually, you get to learn choreography and you get to perform. I wanted to have the same approach to acting as I did dance because I felt like that's the best way to strengthen yourself. Q: What were the steps that led you specifically to the studio? You said you looked for a year and a half which is a long time. Some people look longer than that. Some people, this is the first studio they look at. What were the specific steps that made you decide to come to Maggie Flanigan? A: I read so many books on technique which, honestly, it doesn't really do anything justice. I really think you have to dive in there and learn what works best for you. Also, interviewing all the teachers and instructors. I honestly feel Charlie was the best fit for me after speaking with him. He’s one of those people that will tell you how it is and will honestly tell you what you don't want to hear but what you need to hear and that's what you need to grow. Q: Why the professional actor training program? You're taking all the classes. You’re balancing a job, you're modeling, you’re still working. Why did you decide to take on not just the acting class but movement, voice, theater history, script analysis, all of the things we offer here? A: I think knowledge is power. Especially in this industry that's so competitive, why wouldn't you want to know as much as you can know about the career you're trying to have for a lifetime? I think voice training is so important and I was unaware of how untrained I was with my voice. Movement has grounded me so much. I didn't even know how to approach a script before and now taking script analysis or being in that class, I was like, “Oh, man. I was really clueless." I just think it's really important that you try to be as well-rounded as possible in something that you want to do forever. Maggie Flanigan Studio 153 W 27th St #803 New York, New York 10001 (917) 789-1599 www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/ www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1SoU0EHDskHoP_lhaX_AKCn7... https://flic.kr/p/Dxu8Us

meisner technique maggie flanigan studio 10

Q: Before you came into Maggie Flanigan Studio, did you study anywhere else? Did you study the Meisner technique? What was that like for you? A: Actually, I looked at several places before coming here. I spent a year and a half trying everything out. The first place I went to was a Meisner technique acting program. Some of the issues I found with that is that because I was a green actor, as they like to call me specifically, I was treated differently than most of the other students. It's somewhat like a factory, really. I was just a number. I was like a paycheck for them. I didn't really feel welcomed. Especially, with some of the other students, it felt very competitive when that's not what I really wanted in a program. I wanted a home and a family and people to grow with. The second place I study wasn't a Meisner-based program at all but I found that the students were lacking -- what's the right word for it? Motivation and wanting to actually put in the work and effort and everything in it, like they were just here to show up and here to play, it was like a hobby. I wanted somewhere that -- one that felt like a family and everyone wanted to push each other and work together and grow. Maggie Flanigan Studio 153 W 27th St #803 New York, New York 10001 (917) 789-1599 www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/ www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1SoU0EHDskHoP_lhaX_AKCn7... https://flic.kr/p/GJKtyP

Best Meisner Summer Intensive: Jamie Butler Interview 01

Best Meisner Summer Intensive - Call 917-789-1599 Respected Meisner Summer Intensive Program www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/ What did you think it meant to train as an actor before you started the summer intensive at Maggie Flanigan studio? Before I started the summer intensive at Maggie Flanigan I thought it meant to learn, run lines, know how to run lines. Learn how to do character development, learn how to act, to cry on-site, learn how to act happy and sad and dramatic and go through all of those motions. That's what I thought training would be like. What happened to you during the six weeks summer intensive that changed your perspective on training and acting? Well, what happened during the six weeks of training, it dismantled all of that, completely and totally. It shattered it. It helped me to understand what acting really is and people oftentimes say, "Oh, you're acting," and meaning like, "Oh, you're pretending," and acting is not pretending. Acting is actually doing and that completely changed everything. You can't just act like you're crying you have to really internalize that moment and cry and let it come naturally and a lot of people miss that. It opened up my eyes to the truth of acting and it really changed my life. It's bled over to other areas in my life. Every area in my life has been touched by just the truth of doing what I'm doing truthfully and full out and it helped me as a person and as an actor. What did you learn about yourself that was a surprise or that changed you? What I learned about myself that was a surprise? I foolproof my life. I noticed that I neglected my feelings oftentimes. I neglected stating how I felt and here I learned that it's okay. Your feelings matter say what you feel, say how you feel, express yourself and I found so much liberation in that. And also honesty, as I walk through life. That was monumental for me because a lot of people walk around in their clammy and they don't want to say this, and they don't want to say that, or they don't want to offend, or they don't they feel like their feelings don't matter. Or if they say something it might be taking the wrong way but here it taught me that that's okay. It's really okay and it helped me to be honest with everyone and I feel free. How would you describe Charlie as a teacher? Charlie Sandlin as a teacher. Captivating, passionate, professional. I feel so honored to be his student. He makes me want to be better even in life, outside of the classroom. Compassionate, strong. There's no other teacher, instructor that I would want to teach me this craft and I've just been so honest. I told myself, Jamie you'd be a fool to go anywhere else so he's I know this may sound strange but he's a blessing. I mean, he's a blessing to be so honest and so real and really help you. That's the thing. A lot of times you're in situations or a lot of these schools they just want your resources, but he's really about showing you how to be a real bona fide artist and I can't thank him enough. I can't thank him enough. Maggie Flanigan Studio 153 W 27th St #803 New York New York 10001 United States +1 917-789-1599 www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/ http://flic.kr/p/Symzqt

Best Meisner Summer Intensive - Hunter Bryant 02

Meisner Summer Intensive 2017 Maggie Flanigan (917) 789-1599 What did you think it meant to train as an actor before you started the six week Summer Summer Intensive? Before I came here -- I'm actually currently enrolled in a BFA program. So training for me has been a lot of voice, a lot of speech, a lot of movement, a lot of different techniques given, layered on top of each other. But in all of that what was really missing for me was just simplicity of sitting and talking to another person just without fear, without bias, without judgment, without text and being able to own who I am in that work. What happened to you during the six week summer intensive that changed your perspective on training? What happened to me, I really got a sense of who I am in a variety of moments. Just how I would respond uncensored, how I could take risks and not have to worry about the repercussion, because in work as an actor I am not just my normal censored everyday pedestrian self. I have to be able to rise to the occasion in multiple senses and here I feel like it's been-- here I feel like I have been given the liberty to do that. What did you learn about yourself that was a surprise or that changed you? I feel like I learned what I care about, what I don’t care about, what motivates me to work and how I can bring that through my work. What are the essential things that fire me up that I can layer into a part that would instantaneously bring me to life. Maggie Flanigan Studio 153 W 27th St #803 New York New York 10001 United States +1 917-789-1599 www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/ meisner summer intensive, meisner acting, meisner intensive, meisner technique, meisner training, summer intensive, master acting class, christina mavronas http://flic.kr/p/TAGQrZ