Using Meisner Technique, Terry Knickerbocker Coaches a Dramatic Scene
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Video Transcription:
Terry Knickerbocker: My purpose is to help people learn to do something that they say they
want to do, which is acting. Can’t you do it well. I’m so I think of myself kind of a submit wife. Helping them to just give birth to their talent.
Student A: Ouch
Terry Knickerbocker: Sharper. Not ouuh but Aah!
Student A: Okay. OUCH!
Student B: Sorry. Adele. I’m sorry.
Terry Knickerbocker: Knell, knell.
Student B: Sorry.
Terry Knickerbocker: Yes those figures out like that. Little
fingers… yes just index fingers… like, like a little scorpion.
Terry Knickerbocker: I’m really interested in the group, and so I
like to use the group a lot for what’s happening in the room and
see reflections like there’s a whole house of mirrors there So that
when someone is working and they’re struggling through
something other people are noticing that and I like to make those
connections.
Student C: Must’ve been wondering something I mean people
don’t just wonder nothing
Student D: No no just wondering was it a pattern that’s all
Student C: No
Student D: Don’t get irritated you asked me.
Terry Knickerbocker: You asked me! I’m asking you a question.
Student D: I mean, I mean, don’t get irritated. You asked me!
Student C:I mean I was trying to tell you something else entirely.
Terry Knickerbocker:I Like to keep things moving. I’d like to have
energy flowing.When things get stuck that’s a signal something is
not happening, right. You gotta kinda, shake it up a little bit.
Terry Knickerbocker: Okay. Now start styling it.
Student B: I never loved Carl. I only loved making loved to him. I
think I realize this when it was no longer a secret.
Terry Knickerbocker: Who’s the genius?
Student B: Me
Terry Knickerbocker: Don’t be off to the side your genius you’re a
genius.
Student B: I think I realize this when I was no longer secret
Terry Knickerbocker: Who’s a loser with that thing on her head.
Terry Knickerbocker: A trained musician should be able to say
you give me a piece of music, and I know how to play it. And they
will train authorship say, “ you give me a script, any script, and I
know how to turn the script into behavior.” And thats what we
make as actors. We make behavior.
Student B: The only thing I have in common is that they’re both
restaurants.
Student A: I want him dead!
Terry Knickerbocker: No pushing. No tension. Just what’s your
wish?
Student A: I want him dead.
Terry Knickerbocker: That’s nice. Alright.
Terry Knickerbocker: Oh I love it. You know I love helping actors
find the tools in the process to do what they want to do. It’s a great
responsibility. And to watch an actor, who used to be closed, Open
up. Who used to be frightened, find their voice. And use the work
to gently facilitate their own discovery and ownership of their
power, and their voice, and their creativity and their imagination,
is just… I mean I’m getting goosebumps.