Acting for Screen
A reflective analysis of my understanding of the importance of being receptive to my
surroundings and my impulses as an actor to enhance truthfulness on screen.
This reflective essay will delve into the crucial exploration of receptiveness and its profound
impact on the authenticity of my performance as an actor on screen. Upon reflection, I
particularly struggled throughout this module with the truthfulness of my performances,
sensing when watching myself back on screen that I was more often portraying emotions
rather than allowing them to unfold naturally. In an attempt to improve the authenticity of my
performances, I was influenced not only by following specific models of acting taught in
practical sessions and through individual research but also by constructive feedback received
from the module convenor, Dr Bryan Brown. Bryan consistently underscored the idea that in
acting, receptivity, impulses, and the significance of listening are essential elements that
contribute to a performer's ability to deliver truthful performances on screen. These were
commonly related to the Meisner techniques, a distinctive approach to acting developed by
Stanford Meisner himself. Kevin Otos identifies three fundamental principles in the Meisner
Technique; ‘The Importance of the Other Person, The Reality of Doing, and Impulse’ (Otos,
2021: 27). As a technique that is often regarded as one of the most impactful methods for
performing on screen (Otos, 2021: 155), I intend to explore these core concepts and discuss
the extent to which acting methods have been instrumental in enhancing my acting on-screen.
In learning to apply these acting theories, I particularly feel the most transformative outcomes
of my acting stemmed from a concentrated state of receptivity and a commitment to
understanding the importance of relying on my instincts. I aim to reflect on my progress in
understanding these concepts and explore the resulting implications and outcomes. Although
it has been exclaimed that ‘Acting in any medium requires a constant state of receptivity’
(Anon, n.d.), my reflection will delve into the essential reliance on receptivity as a screen
A reflective analysis of my understanding of the importance of being receptive to my
surroundings and my impulses as an actor to enhance truthfulness on screen.
This reflective essay will delve into the crucial exploration of receptiveness and its profound
impact on the authenticity of my performance as an actor on screen. Upon reflection, I
particularly struggled throughout this module with the truthfulness of my performances,
sensing when watching myself back on screen that I was more often portraying emotions
rather than allowing them to unfold naturally. In an attempt to improve the authenticity of my
performances, I was influenced not only by following specific models of acting taught in
practical sessions and through individual research but also by constructive feedback received
from the module convenor, Dr Bryan Brown. Bryan consistently underscored the idea that in
acting, receptivity, impulses, and the significance of listening are essential elements that
contribute to a performer's ability to deliver truthful performances on screen. These were
commonly related to the Meisner techniques, a distinctive approach to acting developed by
Stanford Meisner himself. Kevin Otos identifies three fundamental principles in the Meisner
Technique; ‘The Importance of the Other Person, The Reality of Doing, and Impulse’ (Otos,
2021: 27). As a technique that is often regarded as one of the most impactful methods for
performing on screen (Otos, 2021: 155), I intend to explore these core concepts and discuss
the extent to which acting methods have been instrumental in enhancing my acting on-screen.
In learning to apply these acting theories, I particularly feel the most transformative outcomes
of my acting stemmed from a concentrated state of receptivity and a commitment to
understanding the importance of relying on my instincts. I aim to reflect on my progress in
understanding these concepts and explore the resulting implications and outcomes. Although
it has been exclaimed that ‘Acting in any medium requires a constant state of receptivity’
(Anon, n.d.), my reflection will delve into the essential reliance on receptivity as a screen
