How long you've been a student? Private student since May 2001. Class since March 2002.
What is the teaching and Eric Stone specifically as a teacher
have done for you to contribute to your growth as an actor, as an
artist and as a human being.
Eric has worked with me in private coaching for
almost a year now. I started the training as a real
novice, with no formal experience previously. Eric
has had a profound impact on me both personally and
professionally. I've identified more clearly my
reasons for pursuing acting and am becoming more
honest, more open and more alive as a result. Eric
provides a philosophic, holistic approach to the art
form that drives you to expand your horizons on
multiple levels. He is very different from the type of
get famous quick schemers that are out there, and
has genuineness and kindness that is very apparent.
He also takes no excuse for not challenging yourself,
but is never caustic or rude.
How has your life changed as a result of the teaching?
I've begun to make some major changes in my work
and life in general. I'm more active in taking proper
care for myself and find that I'm more enthusiastic
and energetic in my pursuits. I'm also gradually
shifting to freeing up more of my personal time to
pursue my artistic interests, despite many pressures
not to do so.
Talk about your personal experience of this approach to acting.
My first experiences focused on learning to trust myself and let go. Much of the work involved
relaxing and expanding past my many attempts to
control and tightly contain who I was and how I was
seen. As I began to give myself permission to
actually express emotion, I found that I wasn't the
emotional mess that this fear controlling me said I
was. Now I find myself more openly communicating with
others and finding even stronger interest and
commitment into the field of acting. I now know that
acting is not the shallow, unsatisfying rat-race
that I feared it to be.
What are the accomplishments?
At this time, I've achieved much in my personal
growth and am looking forward to completing my first
project!
Could you describe to a newcomer what the experience of being a
student of Eric Stone is is like?
Eric is laid-back and friendly. I can't imagine
anyone feeling intimidated by him! He is more than
flexible both in what we cover during sessions as well
as changing plans on short notice when needed. He is
always polite and friendly, but this again does not
mean he doesn't encourage you to grow as a person and
an artist!
Additional Comments:
Eric's approach to acting is more open and organic
than those who follow just one set school of thought.
I can't think of a better way to lay a strong
foundation to the craft!
What are the most important benefits you are getting out of this training?
Learning to relax during
performance, incorporating appropriate atmosphere to a
scene/performance, maintaining respect and dignity
toward myself and others, understanding the underlying
motivations that drive a character's behavior,
avoiding a superficial performance.
What specific results do you attribute to your participation?
Although I haven't begun pursuing work yet,
I will be working as an extra on HBO's Six Feet Under
for a day, which is a wonderful start! I have more
energy and more investment in myself and others as a
result of my training to date.
What in your opinion makes this coaching unique and distinct from other trainings?
Eric's approach avoids
teaching just one school of thought or "method". His
strong background in multiple approaches to acting
leads to a foundation that is unduplicated in other
acting schools in the area Eric's approach also does
not strive to "break down" or humiliate the student as
a means to progress. His approach is more profound
and philosophic (even spiritual) than many, if not
all, other coaches out there!
If you had to sum up how you are benefiting from this training in a couple of strong sentences, what would they be?
Eric's training provides a strong
foundation to a deeper, more satisfying approach to
acting. You will finish as a better actor, one who
truly enjoys life and the creative process!
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