Acting is a form of art that requires an individual to have immense passion, dedication, hard work, skill, and talent. Often, people who dream of becoming an actor and want to pursue an acting career need clarification about which acting technique to learn for an opportunity-filled acting career. There are two primary approaches or techniques that dominate the realm of acting: Method acting and classical acting.
If you want to pursue a career in acting, then you have probably asked yourself the question: Method acting vs. classical acting: Which one should you choose?
If you are one of those, then let’s explore both techniques further to help you understand which one is better for your acting career.
Method Acting vs. Classical Acting: An Insight
Both method and classical acting have their own unique strengths. It is important to understand the difference between both techniques to determine which is better suited for your acting style.
While method acting is focused on realism and emotional authenticity, classical acting, on the other hand, is focused on the technical aspect of the performance. Let’s know more about these techniques here:
Method acting:
Method acting is one of the most well-known techniques, as it allows the actor to truly bring a character to life by focusing on emotional authenticity and psychological realism during the performance. It is rightly the art of immersion.
The key elements of this type of acting technique are:
- Forming a deeper connection with the characters and emotions by focusing on emotional depth for a naturalistic performance.
- An attempt to live the life of the character to feel the emotional range and also incorporate improvisation during the performances.
An actor in Method acting utilises personal memories and experiences to evoke raw emotions while portraying a character. The actor not only plays the character physically but also becomes emotionally and mentally involved to bring a heightened sense of emotional truth during the performance. Due to its realistic nature, it is best suited for the screen.
Classical acting:
Classical acting is a broad acting methodology in which an actress is required to carefully analyse and understand the script to get a better insight into the character. It is regarded as the craft of technique that emphasises the technical aspects of a performance by utilising a range of vocal and physical techniques to create a character. The key elements of this type of acting technique are:
- To learn technical precision in controlling the body, voice, and delivery of actions and words while adhering to the script.
- Analyse the external motivations and characteristics of the character to understand how to portray the character and its emotions effectively.
In this technique, an actor needs to rely on the conventions of acting, exaggerated action, dramatic gestures, and drawn-out speech and stick to the words and actions that are written in the script to inform their performances. It is also considered an ‘over-the-top’ technique of acting.
Which Acting Technique is Right For You?
Method acting vs classical acting – which technique can work for your acting career? If this is what you’re thinking, then it is important to understand that there are several factors that you need to consider when choosing between both techniques.
If you are a person who prefers more emotionally immersive acting and has the ability to connect with the character that you are portraying on a deeper level, then method acting is definitely your calling. On the other hand, if you are focused on more technical aspects of performance and enjoy a more technical and precise acting style, then classical technique will best suit you.
Learning acting is more than just focusing on the techniques; it is also about developing character, improving vocal skills, understanding screen presence by learning about cinematographic tips, and more.
Learning from experienced and well-known professionals at a reputable acting school in India can give a major push to your acting career. Therefore, enrol in the best acting course to hone your style and learn the nuances of the craft.
Discover Acting and Learn the Craft of Immersion with Whistling Woods International:
Get an in-depth knowledge of the art of acting under the guidance of industry-experienced instructors at Whistling Woods International, a pioneering Acting school in India.
At WWI, we offer a wide range of acting courses that include a BA in Acting and an MA in Acting, which are designed with modules and lessons that act as building blocks for your acting career. These courses are aggregated by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS).
When you select a WWI acting course in India, you are sure to gain a holistic understanding of acting and the nuances of other allied acting methods, which can help you build a thriving career in theatre, film, and television.
Enrol in our courses and get trained by seasoned experts who will guide you to be industry-ready and make a thriving acting career!