Category: Acting Technique

Part 2 of the Meisner repetition exercise. How instinctive changes teach actors to respond to behavior, not words, and why you can't learn it from a book.

You may have seen it. Two actors sitting across from each other, repeating the same words over and over. “You have a nice smile.” “I have a nice smile.” “You have a nice smile.” “I have a nice smile.” It looks almost absurdly simple. That’s the point. What Is the Meisner Repetition Exercise? The repetition […]

I have a friend who builds world-class homes. He only takes one project every couple of years, a hired gun who travels wherever the work is. We were talking once and he told me his dream was to someday build a house without using a single nail or screw. I said, what? He said it […]

Timothee Chalamet trained in Meisner technique and still talks about it as the foundation of his best work. Jim Jarrett explains what the training actually produces in an actor.

The camera doesn't lie. Here's why film actors who train in Meisner technique show up to set more present, more prepared, and more believable.

A lot of people in the Bay Area are taking improv classes right now. That’s not surprising. Improv has exploded over the last decade, and for good reason. It gets you out of your head, puts you in front of other people, and gives you a taste of something that feels alive. Therapists recommend it. […]

Theater actors get accused of being too big on camera. Film actors can disappear on stage. Jim Jarrett breaks down what actually changes between the two - and what doesn't.

People ask me this all the time. They’ve heard both terms, maybe taken a class or two, and they’re trying to figure out what they’re actually signing up for. It’s a fair question. And the honest answer is more interesting than most people expect, because to understand the difference, you have to understand where both […]