David Livingston's Acting Workshop

I have taken many acting classes, and they do not compare to this one. This class teaches a technique for actors to express themselves in such a way that truly electrifies an audience, whereas I feel other classes teach you to conjure up an emotion or character as convincingly as possible, which will never have the same effect on an audience. The process of getting freed up enough to express yourself fully in front of an audience presents you with truths about yourself, and in my case, truths I might not have realized otherwise. I've had moments where I've gotten to this freed up expressive state, and they stand alone as some of the most thrilling and informative moments of my life. The acting coach, David Livingston, makes this a safe place where you can explore anything you want. He will provide you personal, specific and pragmatic advice that, when taken, will open the door to your acting potential. And in my opinion, make your life better as you will learn the value of being able to access your true feelings and have more meaningful connections with other people. This workshop is the opportunity of a lifetime and I recommend it for everyone even if you don't have acting aspirations.

Posted by: Dirk Wallace at Pdxbackstage - Sat Apr 4, 2009 4:14 am (PDT)



I have never posted or commented here before but feel compelled to do so in response to the apparent controversy surrounding Jessica's weekly audit invitation to David Livingston's Acting Workshop. Let's address what it is... an invitation, free of charge, to get a look at what this workshop is about. I have yet to see another posting in Portland offering a similar opportunity. In fact, it seems that half the classes posted are from traveling salesmen looking to take money from people who think they can learn how to act in one weekend.



I have been attending Mr. Livingston's workshop. He provides a protected space where we are encouraged to live on the edge... to let things get risky... and there is no other environment like it anywhere. He takes care to develop a unique working relationship with each actor/actress specific to their needs. The Acting Workshop is tough and isn't a "touchy-feely" type of atmosphere. It is a place where progression is marked by trial and error, where sometimes public failure is the only way to learn, and where applause isn't given away... it's earned.



Many of the other classes posted on PDXbackstage say they offer a friendly and even social environment. This seems contrary to me as the productions I have been a part of are neither. In fact, they are most often extremely edgy, non-social, highly stressful and even chaotic. Mr. Livingston's workshop addresses these challenges and prepares actors to be self reliant in the face of unpredictability.



I find it surprising that other coaches/teachers don't offer chances to audit their classes before signing up. It makes me wonder if they are ultimately more interested in helping advance our careers or in padding their own wallets. I can say with integrity that Mr. Livingston's sole interest is in guiding his students toward their highest levels of performance.



I hope Jessica continues to post the audit invitation each week and I challenge those who have not yet accepted the invitation to do so soon. Passing it up is a wasted opportunity.



Dirk

Current mood: catalyzed



Hey, wanted to post this to let aspiring actors out there know about this phenomenal class that has opened up a few, very coveted spaces.



"The Acting Workshop" is unlike any other acting class you may have taken (well I don't know that for sure but it is highly likely! No jumping around on the floor like a piece of bacon!) and is meant to sharpen your tools of seeing, body awareness, emotional expression, and ultimately your ability to hold power in a room and/ or on film. It's about emotional exploration and requires you to take risks that push your own boundaries of what you though you were capable of.



It goes like this:



1. We have an acting coach who is honest and agile and been in the game 20 plus years in LA. He is semi-retired but can't stay away.



2. He coaches 2 people at a time as they "settle in" (say and do what they want, get rid of their baggage, discover their holdings and emotional colors in front of the audience), and then proceed to do a "repeat" borrowed and improved upon from Sandy Meisner who is the Godfather of truthful acting as we know it.



3. The repeat is "you have a NOSE" or whatever else you see on their face, and you say this back and forth. It eventually becomes gibberish while the emotion behind it tells the truth of the evolving relationship.



4. The scene: One person has an independent activity and puts some real stakes behind it. As in, if they don't get this done, this personalized thing that they are emotional about will happen. The other person comes into the scene with some kind of need of the first person which they have also personalized for themselves so that they have something fueling them. Basically setting up real and personal circumstances to be emotional about in this improve ( if you don't get that handshake that you are asking for, never getting to see your dying grandmother again after she goes into her surgery Thursday will be what you are dealing with). Each person lets the emotional life come to get them as they interact with each other and/or the audience in spontaneous, of the moment impulses.



5. Coach steps in with comments to let us know if we are being truthful with our emotions and body language if we need it, and guides the work so that it remains viable. He ends the scene when appropriate and gives feedback.



This is a very basic skeleton of the work we do...



I have been taking this class every Wednesday night for a year and a half now and have grown as an actor and as a human in so many ways. I want to share this opportunity with those of you who are serious about because it will make you step up your game and challenge you to be a better performer. David Livingston is coming up from Eugene every Wednesday for this class and does it because he loves it. I feel that his class is gold. If you get the chance to study with him, you will benefit multi-dimentionally. Not for the weak of heart. You will be split open.



Reach out to Jessica ASAP to audit your first class at:



The Acting Workshop

541-870-5232

info@theactingworkshop.com

http://www.theactingworkshop.com



Arianna (myspace.com/arievolution)

Friday, April 24, 2009



I'm taking an improvisational acting class, a new experience for me. We've had three sessions so far and I'm here to tell you it has been one wild ride. The class is small, usually only six people, so we get a lot of time to work, and we work until we're finished. It’s a very late night. The evening goes like this--two actors in front of the room working, the rest watching, the coach focused on the action. You watch the other actors work, wait for your turn, wonder who you'll be partnered with, and wonder what the evening will bring up for you. Your name is called, you’re now up front, time to claim the space, see what's there for you, what's there for your partner. Feel the tension in your body, let it go, let it go some more, try to be open enough to let whatever is there come up to be expressed. And the most surprising things come up--toads and jewels. Usually you work with your partner, but sometimes you go down an emotional path alone. When finished, your work (essentially the depth of your emotional experience) is personally critiqued by the coach. It's exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. Also completely uncontrollable, that's the essence of the experience. I like a reasonable amount of control. To be honest, by the time Monday night rolls around I'm usually looking for a reason not to go to class.



It has been an interesting process to watch this unfold within my personal drama. I have told myself I don't really like being in the spotlight, that's why I do voiceover. But I completely love doing this--I'm hooked. I not only feel right at home, it's like good therapy . . . juicy, deeply scary, freeing and REAL. While I'm up there working it's as real as it gets, and the results are showing up in my voice over work. That's why I'm never going to miss a class, even though the alien is usually on my face as I'm driving there. Because this class is awakening me to the concept of theatrical power and has jump-started my creativity. Miss Muse is alive and kickin' once again. Welcome spring!



Kitzie (kitziesvoice.blogspot.com)