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    Michael Chekhov

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    Michael Chekhov was an influential 20th century theatre practitioner who developed his own acting method known as the psycho-physical technique. This technique focused on using physical movements and gestures to influence emotions rather than experiencing real emotions. Chekhov trained many famous Hollywood actors and his methods were popular in the 1940s-50s before declining as Stanislavski's psychological approach became standard. Today, organizations continue to teach Chekhov's techniques, which include qualities of movement, direction, and using imaginative psychological sculptures to embody roles.

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    Michael Chekhov

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    api-541653384
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    Michael Chekhov was an influential 20th century theatre practitioner who developed his own acting method known as the psycho-physical technique. This technique focused on using physical movements and gestures to influence emotions rather than experiencing real emotions. Chekhov trained many famous Hollywood actors and his methods were popular in the 1940s-50s before declining as Stanislavski's psychological approach became standard. Today, organizations continue to teach Chekhov's techniques, which include qualities of movement, direction, and using imaginative psychological sculptures to embody roles.

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    Michael Chekhov was an influential 20th century theatre practitioner who developed his own acting method known as the psycho-physical technique. This technique focused on using physical movements and gestures to influence emotions rather than experiencing real emotions. Chekhov trained many famous Hollywood actors and his methods were popular in the 1940s-50s before declining as Stanislavski's psychological approach became standard. Today, organizations continue to teach Chekhov's techniques, which include qualities of movement, direction, and using imaginative psychological sculptures to embody roles.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as ODT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as odt, pdf, or txt
    65 views2 pages

    Michael Chekhov

    Uploaded by

    api-541653384
    Michael Chekhov was an influential 20th century theatre practitioner who developed his own acting method known as the psycho-physical technique. This technique focused on using physical movements and gestures to influence emotions rather than experiencing real emotions. Chekhov trained many famous Hollywood actors and his methods were popular in the 1940s-50s before declining as Stanislavski's psychological approach became standard. Today, organizations continue to teach Chekhov's techniques, which include qualities of movement, direction, and using imaginative psychological sculptures to embody roles.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as ODT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as odt, pdf, or txt
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    Practitioner Study: Michael Chekhov

    Michael Chekhov, born 1891, is a massively influential theatre practitioner who, after studying under
    practitioner Konstantin Stanislavski, went on to forge his own method of acting, taking a great
    interest in the actor’s process. In fact, this process was so successful that it impressed actress
    Beatrice Straight who invited Chekhov to start an acting studio with her after watching his
    performance in The Inspector General.

    After the studio disbanded in 1942, due to WW2, Chekhov’s techniques became incredibly popular
    in Hollywood, where he trained the likes of Clint Eastwood, Marilyn Monroe and Gregory Peck, as
    well as starring in films himself, for which he received Oscar nominations. Slowly, Chekhov’s
    methods lost popularity as the more Stanislavskian, psychological approach to acting, in which a
    character would experience their character’s emotions became the standard approach for actors
    processing roles. However today, due to organisations such as the Michael Chekhov Acting Studio
    and the MCA (Michael Chekhov Association) solely train actors with his methods, attempting to
    impart his Five Guiding Principles.

    Rather than trying to make actors mirror real life, through drawing inspiration from their own lives,
    in order to create naturalism like Stanislavski, Chekhov created the psycho-physical method, in
    which an actor would influence their emotions through physical movements. Chekhov did not
    believe in actors experiencing life as if they were their characters, instead he wanted them to be
    fully aware that this was in fact a character separate from them, so that they could use their
    imaginations or Creative Individuality to create believable characters rather than just backstories and
    experiences.

    Secondly, Chekhov developed the skill of Radiating, in which, actors must be able to visualise the
    exchanging of energy from one interaction to the next

    Chekhov’s 5 Guiding Principles:

    1. The actor must train his or her body through the use of psychological exercises.

    2. The actor must use intangible means of expression while acting and rehearsing to achieve
    tangible results.

    3. The actor must employ a creative spirit and the higher intellect to unify the various aspects
    of the performance.
    4. The purpose of the Chekhov method is to embody each component of the method as a
    means of awakening all parts of the method in order to evoke a creative state of mind.

    5. The actor must penetrate each separate point of the Chekhov Technique and then
    determine to what degree and by what means it frees his or her talent

    Relati ng Chekhov’s Techniques to My Performance:

    - Stick, Ball, Cloth – Considering the stick, ball cloth technique, I have decided that Yvonne is a
    predominantly cloth character, as she is almost entirely controlled by her emotions. She is
    very easily manipulated by her urge to drink and has little to no resolve or motivation. Often
    cloth can be used very gracefully, however, Yvonne is a cloth being viciously torn apart and
    shredded. Much like cloth, Yvonne is a smothering force, suffocating everyone around her,
    tying them up with her responsibilities, or binding them to her with guilt and fear. Her
    arguments are incomprehensible and she has no will to do anything other than drink.

    - Qualities of Movement – Yvonne is a radiating character, as there is a constant energy that


    buzzes through her due to the amount of inner-conflict happening within her mind as it
    fights against the urge to drink. This radiating of pain, fear and rage is expressed through
    constant shaking, incessant scratching and fast paced talking.

    - Direction – Yvonne is a ‘backwards’ character, someone constantly yearning to return to the


    past – a time that she perceives was much better than her current life. She attempts to relive
    her memories, only to fail, but then refuses to admit to her faults/issues and subsequently
    refuses to move forwards.

    - Psychological Sculptures – Yvonne is made out of black tar that seeps into the floor, its
    fumes suffocate anyone who walks past, however, her attractive figure coated in a thin layer
    of honey is what draws people near. Her hair is made of wires, vibrating with electrical
    currents, her face is made of marble, slowly decaying and chipping away, within her head is
    red wine that sloshes about constantly. Yvonne’s spine is made from thin wires, bent
    sloppily into shape, in fact her entire skeleton is. Her muscles are rotting and withering
    pieces of meat, decaying as the sculpture ages; her feet are bricks, tethering her to the floor.

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