Gene Cusano

By dramateach11 - 03/04/2009 00:37 - United States

Today, I was trying to get drama students to attempt to make themselves cry. I was not having any luck, until suddenly a girl burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably. I jumped up to applaud, saying what a wonderful thing it is to have such expressive kids. Turns out her grandma just died. FML
I agree, your life sucks 59 923
You deserved it 10 746
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Top comments

ecrw 0

Actually that's an excellent way to approach drama, by conjuring up personal emotions actors can put themselves closer to their characters. You should considering giving her some extra marks for that. I remember in drama class the best actor of the whole class would remember real life situations in order to cry and get closer to her character.

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sufan106 0

wow that must have been really awkward for the students watching haha ur life does suck

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Comments

sufan106 0

wow that must have been really awkward for the students watching haha ur life does suck

42 3
onwork 0

That's really not your fault I think. But reading this website might make you be a bit more careful next time?

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Jimboom 11

Well that sucks but it gives her something to think about the next time you want her to cry I suppose.

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spankyness 0

Hell wutever works... Bet she got an a on that project

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AntiChrist7 0

artists, always problems

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Amkii 0

So... she just realized that her grandma died, then, after a few minutes of you urging them to cry?

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ecrw 0

Actually that's an excellent way to approach drama, by conjuring up personal emotions actors can put themselves closer to their characters. You should considering giving her some extra marks for that. I remember in drama class the best actor of the whole class would remember real life situations in order to cry and get closer to her character.

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infinitegrace 21

It says her grandma just died. As in JUST DIED. Therefore she just found out, bringing her to cry. That's pain here and now, not from the past.

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youreawhore 0

Mmmm... were you trying with emotional recall/memory? D: Scary stuff, can be psychologically scarring if not approached correctly...

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Ybot_fml 0

@#7, that's called substitution. I go to the Setlla-Adler Acting School and that's actually frowned upon for using because it doesn't show emotions for the character, but just yours juxtaposed into the scene. Also, I've been told numerous times that the best way to cry on stage is to just get so much into your character that the tears flow truthfully. THAT'S when it's good acting.

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JhasNeeh 7

Originally a section of Stanislavski's System called 'Emotion Memory'. I'm training to be a drama teacher and one of the first things we learnt when we covered the System was that 'Emotion Memory' is not to be used in schools as it's actually very dangerous. Stanislavski did comment on a good performer actually using their emotions as part of a character in this way because it makes it more real to the performer. It alters the character for every actor that attempts the role - but that's not a bad thing. The Characters need to stay linked to the actors so they appear human and not a wooden copy.

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fightingkittens 39

I know what you mean--a good actor will get so involved with his/her character that the emotions will become their own. I once went to a play where the emotional stakes were very high, and it took ten minutes for the lead actress to break character after it was over. I've experienced this myself, as a dancer. Obviously it doesn't produce the same effect, but if the dance is extremely dramatic, it takes a minute to come back to the real world instead of the one onstage.

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