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 Teen Actor Essentials from Larry Silverberg

"On the path towards a life of true acting."

Dear Teen Actor, in this ongoing column, I want to explore with you some of the most important ingredients in the craft of acting and some vital issues to consider as you travel the path of becoming an actor in this life. We will raise provocative questions and wrestle together with concepts most actors would rather not look at. I invite you and urge you to join the conversation by emailing us at the True Acting Institute with your response and your questions. Please email us at trueacting@actorscraft.com.

Also, be sure to notice the three prizes mentioned at the end of today's column.

The theme for today is "Commitment" and to begin, I want you to read the following from Goethe:

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation) there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too."

"All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issue from the decision raising in one?s favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would come his way."

"Whatever you can do or dream, you can begin it, boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now."

So, what is "commitment", what is it and what meaning does this concept have in your life today? Please take out some paper and write down your response. I want you to give careful consideration to this most crucial acting term. Yes, I did say acting term because, in every respect, acting is an act of commitment. What do you think I mean by that? Write your thoughts about that.

I want you to look carefully at your own life. When did you say you were committed to something but you gave up on it before you followed through. Did you give up when things got tough? Also look at the times when you gave your word and you lived up to your promise. How did the accomplishment of your commitment make you feel? And what about when other people have committed to you. Did they do what they said they would do? How many times have you been disappointed by people not living up to their commitments? Please write about all of these things.

If you are going to act then you must face the fact that every character in every play is a person who is committed to something. This "something" that they are committed to is absolutely specific, urgent, vital and most intimate to that particular character. As the play progresses, you will see very clearly how the character responds to this commitment, how they deal with events and other characters who make fulfilling this commitment more difficult and if they get to the other side of these obstacles and reap the rewards of achieving the thing they were after all along. You see, if you have to understand what commitment is when you are going to play a part in a play, then you must first understand how commitment relates to the way you live your own life!

To conclude our first meeting, I want you to write about what you are committed to right now, what are the difficulties in living up to your commitment and how are you dealing with these pressures?

Please send us your emails with your responses and questions. We will post your comments and you will truly take our conversation to where we will be going next. I am depending on you!

Also, the first three teen actors to email us with a response to "How I understand commitment in my own life", will win a copy of my new book, Meisner for Teens: A Life of True Acting as soon as it is available from Smith & Kraus!

Again, our email is trueacting@actorscraft.com

You can visit me on my website at www.meisnerteacher.com.