Academy Award winner and celebrated acting teacher Milton Justice presents his new podcast: I Don’t Need an Acting Class, based on his forthcoming book of the same name. Destined to become every actor’s new invaluable audio resource, the podcast is a virtual master class that seeks to demystify the craft of acting while answering the question, “Why take an acting class?” Produced by Walker Vreeland. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/actingclass/support
The I Don't Need an Acting Class podcast has undoubtedly had a profound impact on me as an actress, providing a fresh perspective on the craft of acting. In just a few minutes of each episode, I have gained invaluable insights that I may not have come across in any other acting class or teacher. I can only hope to one day have the pleasure of sitting in a class with Milton Justice. The knowledge he shares is truly priceless and has transformed my approach to acting.
One of the best aspects of this podcast is the incredible and helpful crew behind it, particularly Milton and the "I Don't Need An Acting Class" team. Any questions or concerns are promptly responded to with no compromise on the quality of information provided. Milton goes into an in-depth analysis of various facets of acting, which is extremely valuable for actors at all levels, especially novices like myself. Overall, this podcast receives a 12/10 rating from me and I would give it 10 stars if possible!
Prior to listening to this podcast, I was completely lost as an actress with no sense of purpose in my work. I was merely reciting lines and hoping they sounded good without understanding the depth or meaning behind them. However, Milton's incredible teachings have not only improved my acting but also transformed me as a human being. The growth between my acting ability and personal development are intertwined, just as Stella Adler once said. Additionally, I am eagerly looking forward to Milton's book and cannot thank him enough for encouraging and enlightening actors like myself to hone their talent and grow in the craft.
Now for one potential drawback of this podcast: it leaves you wanting more! The episodes are so engaging that it feels like they pass by too quickly, leaving you longing for hours rather than minutes of insightful discussions. However, this can also be seen as a positive aspect because it shows how captivating and informative each episode is.
In conclusion, The I Don't Need an Acting Class podcast is a gold mine for actors. In a short amount of time, Milton has the ability to connect dots and provide actionable advice that guides actors through the complexities of their craft. As a beginner in acting later in life, I deeply appreciate how Milton addresses the struggles and challenges I am going through. This podcast is incredibly helpful and delivered in a way that allows for absorption and reflection on what Milton shares. Regardless of your level of experience, this podcast will challenge your understanding of what it means to be an actor. Take the time to meditate on these lessons - you won't be disappointed. A special thanks to Walker Vreeland, the producer of the show, for convincing Milton to share his wisdom with actors everywhere.
www.idontneedanactingclass.com
Happy Thanksgiving everyone. We're so grateful for you. In honor of the holiday we're releasing some audio from 5 years ago, all about an exercise called The Imaginary Vacation. Interestingly, I found it in a folder called "Unusable." I have no idea why I deemed it as such at the time, but I certainly don't think it's unusable now! www.idontneedanactingclass.com
But we still have a lot going on. Check out out website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com for all the latest events. Happy Holidays to all of you and we can't wait to see you soon.
In this episode, Milton discusses the importance of understanding specific relationships to text and sequence of thoughts. The discussion highlights a common actor's problem of moving too quickly to performance without fully understanding the text's underlying thoughts and relationships. The episode concludes with practical examples of how to break down and connect with text by being more specific about your relationship to each thought.
This episode delves into the importance of conveying big ideas in acting. Milton emphasizes the need for actors to grasp the magnitude of concepts in great plays, avoiding monotonous delivery that reduces dialogue to a mere "grocery list." He advises performers to explore ideas deeply by asking "What does this mean?" and to get specific with examples to bring concepts to life. He also talks about the difference between artistic pursuits and conventional careers. WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com
You have to give yourself permission to fail. If you're too afraid of being bad, you'll block your creative energy. Like Venessa Redgrave, indulge yourself in all the worst, most cliche choices first. Get them out of your system, and once they are, then go back and really get to work. But most of that work is done at home. Between rehearsals. It's about the creative, imaginative research. Talking out. Getting more specific— like “the tear in the curtain.” And you'll know it's a good choice because you love it. It excites and fuels you in the part. WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com
Or we should say: everything must be magical. To YOU. This week's episode is a lesson in connecting. We hear a student, Grace, go from “reporting” to “experiencing.” A big part of “getting it” is understanding the purpose of talking out. Once you understand what it's for, then it becomes easier to make a good choice and “go there.” And when that happens, you no longer have to work so hard. The impulse of the character and circumstance take you over and magic happens. WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content!https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribeHave a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com
WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com
Talking out or improvising text helps us connect to what we're talking out, sometimes by way of letting us know we are lying. In that sense, talking out is like a lie detector. It's a way of self-assessing our own work. For example, if we're bored, that means we're not bringing ourselves to life, which means we haven't earned it. Will don't believe it and neither will anyone else. Milton also makes it clear what talking out isn't: it's not performing, it's not standup comedy, it's not telling a story. It's solely meant to connect, or begin experiencing the character and circumstances. WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com
Milton will be teaching a week-long acting workshop at Clap Class in Marseille! The class will be held in English. Must have experience in film, television or theater, and be fluent in English. Monday, November 18th to Friday November 22, 2024; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. To register: go to clapclass.fr
Two topics are covered in this episode: our tendency to be disconnected from what you're talking about, and our tendency to be disconnected from what's going on with you in the scene. We shy away from being truly connected because it means vulnerability, it means “going there.” Even if you're talking about something simple or you're in a moment that's not particularly heightened, when we're connected, we're revealing ourselves. It's why we fall back on an analytical tone. Because it keeps us removed. Milton also talks about the importance of being active at all times, whether we're speaking or not. A great way to listen actively is to talk out your reaction to what another character is saying. This creates an internal monologue so that something is always “going on” with you, whether you're listening or looking out of a window. *This episode is in audio and video format. To watch the video version, find it on the Spotify app. WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com
Milton gives another round of notes to Chris who is doing a monologue from All My Sons.
This week, Milton coaches Chris on a monologue from All My Sons. This episode is both audio and video. You can watch the video version on Spotify. WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com
This week's episode calls to mind the Steve Martin quote: “Be so good they can't ignore you.” You want to make choices that are so inventive that they have no choice but to hire you. WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com
In this longer-than-usual episode, Milton coaches the class through Jed's audition for a TV series in which an out-of-control robot is stealing children. You'll hear how Milton talks out the entire scene several times. This includes his dialogue, the dialogue of the others in the scene and his response to the others in the scene, as if telling someone a story of what happened. In doing so, he finds choices he loves, which makes the scene more than being a mere plot device. He finds a clear action, gives himself obstacles which help him play that action, and starts getting a sense of who this person is. WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com
In this episode, Milton begins talking through The Rainmaker by N. Richard Nash. It's an example of how we can begin working on a play by ourselves. There is no right way. We can take our initial impressions (whatever hits us first) and wander around with them in a non-performative way. We do this, in large part, to discover what world we're in, and that becomes our entree into all the specific elements that exist in that world. “But I resist making a decision for as long as possible,” Milton says, referring to the barn in the play. “The reason is: I want every decision I make to feed into my understanding of what the scene is about. And at this point, I don't know enough yet, about the play or my character, to create the barn. But once I know more, I'm going to build it in a way that helps me an as actor, that gives my character something to play against.” WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com
Two of Milton's students are currently starring in an off-Broadway musical, and this week he discusses his recent work with them. He talks about the similarities between the structure of a film and the structure of a musical. In (almost) every scene there is a song, which takes place because the circumstances become so heightened that the only thing one can do in that moment is to sing; and like in film, each scene turns, (i.e. a big change happens and usually it's during a song.) WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com
This episode gets back to the HUGE topic of using your own life, featuring an in-depth conversation amongst the class. It culminates with the following ideas: even though Stella Adler advised against using your own life and experience because it limits you, it's impossible to take you out of the work. When you use your imagination instead of searching for how you can “relate” to your character, whatever comes up emotionally for you is the result of your own personal, emotional well. Your life is still going to be there in your performance because it's you! But that is simply the result, not some place that we should start. WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com
Let's face it: acting is weird. So are actors. The issues we have…the circumstances we find ourselves in are unlike that of anyone else. Some examples: How does one negotiate a love scene? What do you do when you're on stage and you start focusing on the mole on your fellow actor's face, pulling you completely out of the moment? Why dating a co-star is dangerous. What are the principals of “food acting”? And how does a gay cult classic film end up on The Criterion Collection? There are so many weird things that we have to know as actors that have little to do with acting. WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com
Even when you're getting bad direction, or someone in the cast inappropriately gives you notes... Even when you feel like you're the only one who knows what they're doing, it's impossible to overemphasize the importance of being respectful and leaving a positive impression on everyone you work with. There are ways to handle these situations. Some actors have to learn the hard way, but for those who don't want to go through that, here's some advice on how to communicate when you feel stranded in a sea of stupidity while continuing to bring your best work to the table.
Milton begins this week's episode talking about a client whose personal life reflects the circumstances of the character he's playing. It's yet another lesson about the actor's instinct to make a character about us, and it's especially difficult to resist when we have been through almost the exact same experience. The difference is— our relationship to the circumstances. This is what can wake you up to the fact that the character you're playing is in fact, very different from you. *Starting now, you can leave comments on episodes on Spotify, and we can reply! (Finally!) Please leave and questions or comments you have and we'll get back to you. *WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe *Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com
Milton Plays A Car Mechanic The point of this episode is that, while we always need to work hard to make our work believable and interesting, there are times where you might have to work even harder because of your limited imagination and/or life experience. Such as the example provided in this week's episode: Milton working on a car. This, in life, has never and most likely, will never happen. And a big part of our talent is know what it's going to take to get there for us as individuals, playing a specific part. We have to be able to identify what it's going to take for us to earn it. WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com
In this episode, we take a look at the play Loose Ends by Michael Weller. We do so through the lens of realism and the contribution that Ibsen, Strindberg and Chekov made to the modern theater. It's an unusually long episode, but listening to Milton lecture on and analyze the time period of this play is an example of where script analyses can begin. It's an exploration, a deep-dive conversation where the actor layers in information and just begins to consider it. Also— stay tuned for the end where Milton shares his favorite relationship advice! WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/message
Whether it's stage or screen, you have to be able to analyze the text to figure out what world you're in, what's going on with your character and how you fit into the bigger picture. This way, you can come up with a choice that gives you something, moves you, makes you excited. So that by the time you *say it,* you've earned it. WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/message
This week, Milton explores a few of the ways we can gain insight into character. We can observe a stranger on the street and then, using a specific character trait, improvise a monologue as that person. We can also examine the events that contribute to a person's identity. The crucial lesson here is that we never stop searching, never stop digging to find the complexity of a human being. Finally, Milton shares a “talking out” exercise Shane did which is a great example of allowing yourself to wander until you find something that brings you to life. WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/message
We begin our 7th season with a call to save acting. Together, we can do it! One of the biggest elements that is missing in acting today is understanding the idea behind the play (or whatever it is that we're doing) and understanding the size of it. Because of the work we do as actors, we get insight into truths about the human experience that we get to share with an audience. And this is how we need to approach plays: that we are letting the audience in on an idea. We are there to teach, inspire, enlighten and ultimately save. WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/message
In life, we usually don't relive a painful experience when we're talking about it. That doesn't mean it doesn't affect us. It's just that we're not actively trying to "go there." In fact, usually we resist going there with all of our being. The same should be true when we're acting. We must build the character's past, but that doesn't mean our action is to relive it. This is another example of trusting the work we've done is *in us* and playing the action of the scene. And if the scene does call for you to "go there," it's important to give yourself somewhere to go. This has to do with knowing where you're going and where you are in the context of the character's journey. *If you want to access the video version of this bonus episode, you can watch it on Spotify. www.idontneedanactingclass.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/message
Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/message
Season finale! The problem with trying to learn acting in a linear way is that no creative art is linear. You can't fit a lifelong craft into one box or one book. Therefore, there is no one secret, or one method, or one idea that will save you. We have to be able to take on board the fact that acting is multifaceted. It is not about right or wrong, but a matter of depth. And the more you're able to challenge yourself, and integrate the many aspects of being human, the greater chances that the audience will walk away considering something new. WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/message
Email Walker at questionsformilton@gmail.com for more information or to register. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/message
In this episode, Milton shares an example of what it means to trust your creative impulses. This means allowing yourself the freedom to wander around until you find a connection to what you're talking about. Although you may know where you're going, you don't necessarily know how you're going to get there, or what choice you're going to discover that ends up bringing you to life. WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/message
“I'm so sick of Mark Ruffalo. Whatever that is, I'm so sick of it. I am so sick of him that literally there was a part of me that was flirting with disaster.” On the heels of his Academy Award nominated performance in the film Poor Things, Mark Ruffalo joined his former acting teacher and coach Milton Justice on the podcast I Don't Need an Acting Class to discuss his process. He has since been nominated for an Academy Award. “I'm always thinking I'm about four hours away from being fired!” He also lightheartedly admitted that his co-star Willem Defoe, and even the film's director, Yorgos Lanthimos questioned his outrageous character choices. “Willem said to me first day on set, he's like: “Are you out of your fucking mind?” In the end, Ruffalo was so grateful for the opportunity to take risks and push himself this far: “It was so liberating. You're always trying to throw your elbows out to stay one step ahead of what people expect of you as an actor. I get bored, you know? And I wanna keep being challenged.” --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/message
“I'm so sick of Mark Ruffalo. Whatever that is, I'm so sick of it. I am so sick of him that literally there was a part of me that was flirting with disaster.” On the heels of his Academy Award nominated performance in the film Poor Things, Mark Ruffalo joined his former acting teacher and coach Milton Justice on the podcast I Don't Need an Acting Class to discuss his process. He has since been nominated for an Academy Award “I'm always thinking I'm about four hours away from being fired!” He also lightheartedly admitted that his co-star Willem Defoe, and even the film's director, Yorgos Lanthimos questioned his outrageous character choices. “Willem said to me first day on set, he's like: “Are you out of your fucking mind?” In the end, Ruffalo was so grateful for the opportunity to take risks and push himself this far: “It was so liberating. You're always trying to throw your elbows out to stay one step ahead of what people expect of you as an actor. I get bored, you know? And I wanna keep being challenged.” --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/message
This week's episode is based on a question we received about adding your own circumstances in order to increase the stakes, or help you connect. Here's the question in its entirely: Is it acceptable to add your own specific circumstances or facts to bear down on generalities in the script? Or is this dangerous embellishment? David Mamet says to invent nothing, and that the author has given you only what is germane to the physical action of the play, as the joke-writer gives you only what is germane to the punchline. For example act 1, scene 4 (Richard III). Murderers and Clarence. There is nothing that mentions how much time they have to kill Clarence in the scene but the actors may add the fact “we only have 5 minutes to kill Clarence” so as to make the present circumstance more engaging and difficult, therefore more entertaining? WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/message
WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe This episode begins with the exercise of telling someone else's story. It involves hearing a story from someone in class, and then retelling it as our own. This is a great technique exercise because it allows you to layer in your first impressions improvisationally. You don't have to get it all the first time. And in the process, you find the details that stick with you— these are the choices that bring you to life, and what allows you to put your own unique stamp on the role. “This is what you all did with this exercise,” Milton says. “You allowed yourself to add things that became your contribution. Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/message
WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe Milton begins this episode by emphasizing the importance of observing human behavior— our own and others. The reason is, it gives us clues to everything, from character to circumstance to what “playing an action” looks like. Milton gives the example of an audition Diego recently worked on, where he struggled to play the action “to seduce.” This is where observation becomes so helpful. Looking at others helps us understand the nature of seduction. Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/message
This week, we go back to some of the fundamentals of acting technique. One of which is, The Biggest Sin: Thou Shall Not Make Performance Choices When You First Read The Script. But this is not something we're always aware that we're doing. We forget. Or— we have an immediate response to the character or the circumstances, and run with that first instinct. Or— because of our own personal beliefs and values, we unconsciously pass judgement on the character we're playing. Regardless of the reason, what we end up with is something that lacks depth and complexity. The bottom line is: the mistake is almost impossible NOT to make. The key is: catching ourselves in The Biggest Sin, and coming back to the starting line, giving ourselves permission to really sit with the facts and see what questions occur to us, perhaps do some research and see what sparks some fire within us. If you have the luxury of time, allow yourself the space to build the role, piece by piece, layer by layer. WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/message
On the heels of his critically acclaimed and Golden Globe nominated performance in the film Poor Things, Mark Ruffalo joins his former acting teacher Milton Justice on the podcast "I Don't Need an Acting Class" to discuss his acting process. In this intimate, passionate and revealing conversation, Ruffalo talks about why Poor Things was so liberating and what it took to find his way into world of the film. Other topics include: the gift of knowing when you're lying, the importance of developing your imagination, and how layering in elements, like a piece of costume is vital to building a believable character. He and Milton also reminisce about the projects they worked on together earlier in their careers, and how attempting great plays informed them both as artists. Throughout the conversation, Ruffalo's passion for the work is apparent, especially when it comes to the need to challenge himself. "You're always trying to throw your elbows out to stay one step ahead of what people expect of you," he says. "As an actor I just get bored and I want to keep being challenged. I'm sick of Mark Ruffalo." www.idontneedanactingclass.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/message
On the heels of his critically acclaimed and Golden Globe nominated performance in the film Poor Things, Mark Ruffalo joins his former acting teacher Milton Justice on the podcast "I Don't Need an Acting Class" to discuss his acting process. In this intimate, passionate and revealing conversation, Ruffalo talks about why Poor Things was so liberating and what it took to find his way into world of the film. Other topics include: the gift of knowing when you're lying, the importance of developing your imagination, and how layering in elements, like a piece of costume is vital to building a believable character. He and Milton also reminisce about the projects they worked on together earlier in their careers, and how attempting great plays informed them both as artists. Throughout the conversation, Ruffalo's passion for the work is apparent, especially when it comes to the need to challenge himself. "You're always trying to throw your elbows out to stay one step ahead of what people expect of you," he says. "As an actor I just get bored and I want to keep being challenged. I'm sick of Mark Ruffalo." WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe www.idontneedanactingclass.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/message
WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/message
“Don't shop at Kmart if there's a Tiffany's at 57th and 5th.” -Stella Adler on Making Choices This episode begins with Milton's deconstruction of an audition. He talks about the downside of adding a lot of plot points to your preparation for a scene: it means you have to earn every single one of them in a way that feeds you emotionally. “But the advanced work,” he says, “is making kick-ass choices. You challenge yourself to be smarter.” WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/message
WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe There are some misconceptions about relaxation in acting. You want to be relaxed but not so relaxed that you're not able to be active as your character in the given circumstances. As Milton says in this week's episode: “I think a lot of it is figuring out where to put your focus in the work, rather than trying to solve the problem of being all over the place, or being nervous or being in your head.” In other words, the answer to relaxation is found in the actor-work itself. Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/message
In this episode, actress Annabelle Dexter-Jones joins us on the podcast to talk about playing twin witches on American Horror Story. She discusses the extensive background and character work the did while working one-on-one with Milton, as well as the exercises that freed her up the most and allowed her to make ever more discoveries. WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/message
An excerpt from Milton's Masterclass at Spotlight in Stockholm, Sweden. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/message
WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribeWhat do we mean when we say the Given Circumstances? According to Stella Adler, the Given Circumstances includes everything— all the facts. And as Milton puts it, it incorporates all the P's: the play, the playwright, the plot, the place, the period, and the personality, past and profession of the character. Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/message
WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe This is one of those ideas in acting that is almost scientific in its certainty. If you're ever in a scene where your character is meant to be inactive, you must equally compensate for it by finding a way to make what you're doing especially active. For example, your character is “bored” or “depressed” or “listless,” you cannot “play bored or depressed. You must give yourself something active to do, whether it's an activity with a definite end, or a larger action like something to fight for. In the second half of the class, Milton works with a student on the “Love/Hate exercise” and talks about the importance of letting your choices feed you. Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/message
WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe The reason why “putting something in your own words” is such a useful exercise is because it covers so much territory: understanding the sequence of thoughts, owning the character's point of view and the size of an idea, and what action we are playing. There are concepts that you can apply to any monologue, any scene. Since you don't have time to memorize the words, (and therefore become creatively strangled), you're forced to get clear about what it is that you're doing. Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/message
WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe This week, Milton muses about what we mean when we talk about connecting. How much to we, as actors, have to connect to the character's point of view, and how it that different than the *character* connecting to their point of view? “I often say that you know more than your character knows,” Milton says. “But the question is: what do I know that my character doesn't know? And how does that inform the importance of what I'm saying?” Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/message
You promised to bring me the notes for the lecture. I waited for you and when you didn't turn up I knew you'd forgotten as usual. This is a comprehensive list of what people in class said they would work on when given this one line of dialogue: Relationship to partner Where are we What is the lecture Are you teacher or student How long did you wait Where did you wait Who am I who are they Past of forgotten as usual What have they forgotten How do I feel about the fact that they've forgetten Where was he? At the lecture? What happened? What was I doing before waiting? What were the consequences How important the notes What exactly are the notes? What was the person's attitude about this? Moment of the promise? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/message
WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe There are so many (upsides) to improvisation. For one, it helps you get specific, own what you're talking about, and find choices that you love. It also forces you to listen because you're constantly having to check-in with your scene partner to see if you're getting through to them and solving your problem. It also, as witnessed in this episode's exercise with JP and Amanda, is a great way to understand your character's point of view. Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: questionsformilton@gmail.com Also, check out our website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/message
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