Transcript Centering
The Basic Actor’s Training Program: CENTERING The first step in an actor’s training program in personalization and self exploration involves the process of “centering.” CENTERING is a psychophysical condition whereby an actor finds emotional, mental and physical freedom. When centered, the actor is in what is called “a state of heightened awareness.” This state of heightened awareness enhances thinking, physical activity, sensory perception, and emotional availability. Acting requires speaking and behaving in front of people… This often creates excessive nervous tension: STAGE FRIGHT- the fear that takes place when an individual is on stage in front of others RESULTS OF STAGE FRIGHT: preoccupied with thinking normal behavior is abnormal psychological entanglements that distort honest expression excess energy creating inordinate tensions through trembling legs, twitching knees, fidgety fingers, facial grimacing, shifting weight, aimless walking, and breathiness. Indications that an actor is not operating from a strong sense of center: insecurity assuming others are judging- thinking appearance, manner, intelligence, emotions, and movements are inferior becoming guarded, physically and emotionally unusually artificial behavior deterioration of the actor’s effectiveness and believability. Emotional tension or anxiety in study, rehearsal, or performance is NOT necessarily an unfavorable condition provided it does not become excessive and crippling to the performance. Adrenal gland pumps adrenaline into the system o Adrenaline reaches muscles, vitality is restored and reaction time enhanced o Larger quantities of sugar are released into the bloodstream, greater energy for stimulus response o Breathing quickens, more oxygen absorbed o Pulse rate quickens, more oxygen rich blood reaches muscles, heart, brain, and nervous system o Brain is capable of thinking with greater clarity, perception, and quickness Muscles are capable of performing with greater physical effort Central nervous system is capable of reacting more quickly Centering prepares the body for better physical, mental, and emotional expression. Centering is the process of focusing and channeling this heightened state into productive resources for the actor. VOCABULARY: personalization process psychophysical heightened enhances perception excessive preoccupied entanglements distort inordinate inferior deterioration unfavorable vitality stimulus clarity