How Living in the World of Perspective Changes Your Stories
I\u2019m at an Improv class doing a scene with a partner when the instructor stops us. He says to me, \u201cWhen you think about your character you just acted out, what was their point of view? What was their philosophy?\u201d
I\u2019m thinking, \u201cPhilosophy?! This is Improv! I barely know my character\u2019s name, let alone what my character\u2019s philosophy is.\u201d I tell him that I have no idea.
And then he gives me a piece of advice that has stuck with me: knowing your character\u2019s philosophy, point of view, or how they see the world will influence what you say, how you say it, your voice, your body language--everything.
Even though in Improv we don\u2019t have any time to set up a whole backstory for our character, just having that awareness of their philosophy helps you as a performer. It changed me. And my special guest today, Jillian Paige, lives in the world of perspective from the point of view of a classically-trained singer, actress, and instructor.
In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you\u2019ll hear about how you can take performance training to a whole new level in your storytelling (or anything you do). We\u2019ll also answer questions like:
What is the Meisner technique, and how is it similar and different to Improv? How can repetition help ground and calm you before a performance or audition? How can you practice avoiding inattentional blindness when speaking or performing? And what is the \u201cliking gap\u201d and how can you use it in your storytelling to take it to the next level?
Along the way, you\u2019ll hear about Marlon Brando\u2019s influence on Hollywood acting, the operatic singer who cried from letting go, the 90-second audition gone wrong, and so much more!
What you will learn in this episode:
- How using the Meisner technique can affect the story you experience
- How Meisner can help you move past the story of not feeling good enough
- Why a \u201cf*$% it\u201d mentality can be crucial to keeping your audience engaged
Who is Jillian?
Jillian Paige is the Founder of Meisner in Music, the premier class to infuse the Meisner technique with singing. Jillian received her master\u2019s in music theatre from Oklahoma City University, her bachelor\u2019s in classical vocal performance from Belmont University, and studied Meisner under Terry Martin (a direct pupil of Meisner\u2019s) and Ted Wold.
Jillian is based out of New York City and has performed with companies such as Actors Theatre of Louisville, the Nashville Opera, and Kentucky Opera. She is passionate about helping singers maintain beautiful singing while achieving emotional freedom and impulsivity in the moment.
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