Comments on: The Method Brand http://cultureby.com/2008/02/the-method-bran.html This Blog Sits At the Intersection of Anthropology and Economics Wed, 23 May 2012 20:32:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mary Schmidt http://cultureby.com/2008/02/the-method-bran.html/comment-page-1#comment-2087 Mary Schmidt Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:39:08 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=339#comment-2087 Tom, Here's how I "draw the line" - whatever the profession, they should be educated, experienced, responsible and capable. If they're in a profession such as financial management or medicine (or politics) I'd add ethical and smarter than me. It's the actors jobs to "act." The Method is just one way they do it. But no matter how immersed they are in their characters, they're still doing make-believe. Sadly, our politicians all too often forget (or don't care) that what they do is reality. Tom,

Here’s how I “draw the line” – whatever the profession, they should be educated, experienced, responsible and capable. If they’re in a profession such as financial management or medicine (or politics) I’d add ethical and smarter than me.

It’s the actors jobs to “act.” The Method is just one way they do it. But no matter how immersed they are in their characters, they’re still doing make-believe. Sadly, our politicians all too often forget (or don’t care) that what they do is reality.

]]> By: peter http://cultureby.com/2008/02/the-method-bran.html/comment-page-1#comment-2086 peter Thu, 14 Feb 2008 18:57:54 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=339#comment-2086 One of the actors who apparently used The Method was Montgomery Clift, who was the leading male actor of the New York stage for a decade before moving to films in the late 40s. Something immediately noticeable about his film acting are the pauses -- he gives the impression that he is thinking what to say before speaking, just as people do in real life. But few actors do this in films or on stage, perhaps because pausing when you know the words requires self-discipline and skill. These pauses are the best example I know of the power of Method Acting. One of the actors who apparently used The Method was Montgomery Clift, who was the leading male actor of the New York stage for a decade before moving to films in the late 40s. Something immediately noticeable about his film acting are the pauses — he gives the impression that he is thinking what to say before speaking, just as people do in real life. But few actors do this in films or on stage, perhaps because pausing when you know the words requires self-discipline and skill. These pauses are the best example I know of the power of Method Acting.

]]> By: communicatrix http://cultureby.com/2008/02/the-method-bran.html/comment-page-1#comment-2085 communicatrix Wed, 13 Feb 2008 20:20:09 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=339#comment-2085 Tom - I've heard the Olivier story myself. Supposedly, him suggesting to the Method-trained Dustin Hoffman that he "try acting, my boy" on the set of Marathon Man. I wonder if it's true; I doubt it matters, since the story makes its point pretty well. In my own experience (I've trained in the Method and other acting modalities), *good* Method acting is a way in, just like technically-focused acting--the kind the Brits are trained in. And whether you are aware of it or not (and you'd think all actors would be aware of it, but I'm here to tell you that it ain't so), if you're a good actor, you are using both to some degree. You can't authentically play a character other than you without the "outside-in" stuff. And the Method, used properly, is a way to check in and stay truthful to the moment, not to lose yourself in something else. As an old acting teacher used to say, you are always aware you are working, that you are on a stage or in front of a camera, but you are also letting yourself live this emotion as it's happening. Again, in my experience, this is the case no matter what acting technique you are using. Even if an actor isn't using the Method, I would imagine it's hard to come down from a scene like the one at the climax of There Will Be Blood. Of course, I never got close to the level of a Day-Lewis or Olivier. A lot about acting is like any high-level sport: you get so good at switching on the fly, you don't even realize the myriad steps you're going through. I'll have to think more about this branding-as-Method thing. Something about it feels a bit off to me, but I can't put my finger on it yet. Tom – I’ve heard the Olivier story myself. Supposedly, him suggesting to the Method-trained Dustin Hoffman that he “try acting, my boy” on the set of Marathon Man. I wonder if it’s true; I doubt it matters, since the story makes its point pretty well.

In my own experience (I’ve trained in the Method and other acting modalities), *good* Method acting is a way in, just like technically-focused acting–the kind the Brits are trained in. And whether you are aware of it or not (and you’d think all actors would be aware of it, but I’m here to tell you that it ain’t so), if you’re a good actor, you are using both to some degree. You can’t authentically play a character other than you without the “outside-in” stuff. And the Method, used properly, is a way to check in and stay truthful to the moment, not to lose yourself in something else.

As an old acting teacher used to say, you are always aware you are working, that you are on a stage or in front of a camera, but you are also letting yourself live this emotion as it’s happening. Again, in my experience, this is the case no matter what acting technique you are using. Even if an actor isn’t using the Method, I would imagine it’s hard to come down from a scene like the one at the climax of There Will Be Blood.

Of course, I never got close to the level of a Day-Lewis or Olivier. A lot about acting is like any high-level sport: you get so good at switching on the fly, you don’t even realize the myriad steps you’re going through.

I’ll have to think more about this branding-as-Method thing. Something about it feels a bit off to me, but I can’t put my finger on it yet.

]]> By: Tom Asacker http://cultureby.com/2008/02/the-method-bran.html/comment-page-1#comment-2084 Tom Asacker Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:56:13 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=339#comment-2084 Hmmm . . . so where do you draw the line Mary. Do you want your brands of financial adviser and medical professional to be good "actors" too? Heaven knows that's what we finally have with our politicians. Hmmm . . . so where do you draw the line Mary. Do you want your brands of financial adviser and medical professional to be good “actors” too? Heaven knows that’s what we finally have with our politicians.

]]> By: Mary Schmidt http://cultureby.com/2008/02/the-method-bran.html/comment-page-1#comment-2083 Mary Schmidt Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:40:06 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=339#comment-2083 Reminds me of the story of Lawrence Oliver when he was working with Dustin Hoffman in Marathon Man. Dustin was way into Method, agonizing away. He asked Olivier something like, "how come you don't do that? (the whole method immersion). Olivier's reply: "It's call 'acting' dear boy. Try it sometime." Presenting a story (artifice) doesn't have to mean the story itself isn't genuine. (And I'd say Day-Lewis sounds like he's pretty grounded. He isn't, after all performing brain surgery.) Reminds me of the story of Lawrence Oliver when he was working with Dustin Hoffman in Marathon Man. Dustin was way into Method, agonizing away. He asked Olivier something like, “how come you don’t do that? (the whole method immersion). Olivier’s reply: “It’s call ‘acting’ dear boy. Try it sometime.”

Presenting a story (artifice) doesn’t have to mean the story itself isn’t genuine.

(And I’d say Day-Lewis sounds like he’s pretty grounded. He isn’t, after all performing brain surgery.)

]]> By: Mary Schmidt http://cultureby.com/2008/02/the-method-bran.html/comment-page-1#comment-2082 Mary Schmidt Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:37:56 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=339#comment-2082 Reminds me of the story of Lawrence Oliver when he was working with Dustin Hoffman in Marathon Man. Dustin was way into Method, agonizing away. He asked Olivier something like, "how come you don't do that? (the whole method immersion). Olivier's reply: "It's call 'acting' dear boy. Try it sometime." Presenting a story (artifice) doesn't have to mean the story itself isn't genuine. (And I'd say Day-Lewis sounds like he's pretty grounded. He isn't, after all performing brain surgery.) Reminds me of the story of Lawrence Oliver when he was working with Dustin Hoffman in Marathon Man. Dustin was way into Method, agonizing away. He asked Olivier something like, “how come you don’t do that? (the whole method immersion). Olivier’s reply: “It’s call ‘acting’ dear boy. Try it sometime.”

Presenting a story (artifice) doesn’t have to mean the story itself isn’t genuine.

(And I’d say Day-Lewis sounds like he’s pretty grounded. He isn’t, after all performing brain surgery.)

]]> By: Tom Asacker http://cultureby.com/2008/02/the-method-bran.html/comment-page-1#comment-2081 Tom Asacker Wed, 13 Feb 2008 08:32:55 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=339#comment-2081 Very nice Grant. IMHO, for a brand to be a method brand, the actors (employees) should "draw on their own emotions, memories, and experiences to influence their portrayals of" the brand. Authentic, to me, means the people believe in what they are doing and creating; e.g. Starbucks' baristas. This is in clear contrast to inauthentic brands, where the acting is a "more abstracted, less involved style of acting in which the actor himself or herself remains an outside observer of the character he or she is portraying." (Source: Wikipedia) Thoughts? Very nice Grant.

IMHO, for a brand to be a method brand, the actors (employees) should “draw on their own emotions, memories, and experiences to influence their portrayals of” the brand. Authentic, to me, means the people believe in what they are doing and creating; e.g. Starbucks’ baristas.

This is in clear contrast to inauthentic brands, where the acting is a “more abstracted, less involved style of acting in which the actor himself or herself remains an outside observer of the character he or she is portraying.” (Source: Wikipedia) Thoughts?

]]> By: botogol http://cultureby.com/2008/02/the-method-bran.html/comment-page-1#comment-2080 botogol Wed, 13 Feb 2008 05:53:36 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=339#comment-2080 Grant you will like this: from the BBC series Extras, Sir Ian on acting.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyoWmkhRyp8 Grant you will like this: from the BBC series Extras,

Sir Ian on acting….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyoWmkhRyp8

]]> By: Tom Guarriello http://cultureby.com/2008/02/the-method-bran.html/comment-page-1#comment-2079 Tom Guarriello Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:51:09 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=339#comment-2079 This is an interesting one. Olivier said something very similar, if I'm not mistaken (which I may be). What does it mean, then, that great actors can approach roles in either of these ways and still mesmerize us? Dinner conversation! This is an interesting one. Olivier said something very similar, if I’m not mistaken (which I may be). What does it mean, then, that great actors can approach roles in either of these ways and still mesmerize us? Dinner conversation!

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