Can Acting be taught?

Many years ago I would have answered "NO". I once believed that you either had it or you didn't have it. But in my experience of being an actor for twenty five years, and working with actors for nearly as long, I believe this not to be the truth. The truth is Acting can be taught. The essential qualities that one needs are 'passion', 'determination' and 'perserverence'.

So what is this IT – that quality, that thing, that magic which makes an actor a good actor? To address this question we must ask the same question of "Theatre". 'What is the essential quality/thing which makes theatre – Good Theatre?'

"The Immediacy of the Present Moment"

All good Acting aspires to this Principle. Regardless of the play's content, style or direction, the only individual who can apply this Principle is The Actor. The actor's ability to execute this Principle is independent of the written material. The Immediacy of the Present Moment can only come from the Actor. This ability to be in the Present Moment I believe is the – IT – That quality that makes for good Acting and this ability can be taught.

To quote Jerzy Grotowski (The famous Polish teacher/director)

"Theatre is a place where one man comes out to meet another, without playing any role….He is what he is, complete in himself…He only wants to meet."

It's in this MEETING between 2 people where an actor encounters The Present Moment.

If you can learn to be in the present moment, you can learn to act.

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*Peter-Sardi's School Of Acting.  A Melbourne based drama school where Acting classes are taught in a safe creative environment.

^{QUOTE OF THE MONTH: New Year's Resolution - “To tolerate fools more gladly, provided this does not encourage them to take up more of my time."… James Agate}

_{NOW ENROLLING FOR TERM 1 – 2012}

REMINDER:    DEPOSIT PAYMENT OF $220.00 IS DUE ON JANUARY 19th

^{Please forward your deposit payment/enrolment form to us by the deposit due date above.  
We are happy to post an application form to you on request, alternatively you can download our enrolment forms directly from our website -click here:  
<DOWNLOAD ENROLMENT FORMS>
*For more information regarding all classes please contact – Sophie Sardi: 
9432-3062  0419 539030  or  email: acting@peter-sardi.com.au}

TESTIMONIALS – New!

WRITTEN TESTIMONIAL: You are without doubt a fabulous teacher and this is largely because you so passionately believe in what you do and your method of teaching. It is a formula that works! I know you've spent years perfecting it. I feel honoured to have been able to benefit from all your years of experience. Every time I've enrolled I have often thought I get from you far  more than my monies worth. … Janine

End Of Year Performance Videos!

View brief clips of scenes above:

TO VIEW FULL SCENES   Click on images below.        

Can You Learn To Act?

View ARTICLE HERE!

THE YEAR THAT WAS

Christmas is here – again.  This time last year we were busy running around in an attempt to complete all those things that need to be completed before Christmas.  Here we are again – running around in the hustle and bustle that is Christmas.  There are lists we need to make. Gifts we need to buy.  Friends we need to catch up with. House work we need to do.  Calls we need to make. Emails we need to write and a zillion other things we need to complete – all before Christmas. But it's not over. There’s the post Christmas sales! So we run around in pursuit of that bargain we have to have. That special we mustn't miss out on. Then, when all the "craziness" is over and New Year's Day finally dawns – for most of us around noon – and our hangover settles, we finally STOP. We reflect on the year that was.  The battles won, and the battles lost. The friends we made, and the friends we lost……….As we reflect on these things and as we look back on the year that was and assess our performance: where we succeeded and where we failed.  I feel it’s important we ask the questions: “What is success?  What is failure?”  Someone once said: “The highest reward for a person’s toil is not what they get for it but what they become by it.”  In our western society success is usually gauged by our material gain.  What we ‘get’ for our work. ……..For the actor, success is: “I got the part!”  Failure is: “I didn’t get the part.”  But if you are a true artist/actor, your “success” will not be measured solely on whether you get the part or don’t get the part.  Your success will be measured by the joy you experience in doing your work.  If you are a true artist and your painting sells and you make a lot of money – that will just be a bi-product of what it is you do.  The material gain/money is a bonus. ……..So as you reflect on the year that was and you ask yourself: “Was this a successful year for me?  Think not only about what you got for all your efforts, but think also on what you became. How much you have grown as a human being.  What you know now that you didn’t know then.  What you learned, not only from your successes but more importantly, what you learned from your mistakes. 

A VERY JOYOUS XMAS …and a SUCCESSFUL 2012          Peter & Sophie Sardi

In 1942 Igor Stravinsky, one of the greatest musical composers of all time wrote, his now famous, "Poetics of Music". I publish it here because it describes beautifully the creative process of an artist. This process, be you a musician, a painter, a sculptor, a director of theatre or an actor, is the same. The creative process must involve, always, that element of "not knowing", of "uncertainty" always observing and listening carefully for the "holy-accident" and when suddenly it appears, it illuminates the TRUTH of what it is we, as artists, are striving and searching for. This is my feeble attempt to describe what I believe to be the artist's creative process. Below is Stravinsky's description of the creative process.
I've titled it:  So we grub about… 

The Faculty of creating is never given to us all by itself. It always goes hand in hand with the gift of observation. And the true creator may be recognized by his ability always to find about him, in the commonest and humblest thing, items worthy of note. He does not need to surround himself with a beautiful landscape; He does not have to put forth in search of discoveries: they are always within his reach. He will only to cast a glance about him. Familiar things, things that are everywhere, attract his attention. The least accident jolts his interest and guides his operations. If his finger slips, he will notice it; on occasion, he may draw profit from something unforeseen that a momentary lapse reveals to him.

One does not contrive an accident: one observes it to draw inspiration there-from. An accident is perhaps the only thing that really inspires us. A composer improvises aimlessly the way an animal grubs about. Both of them go grubbing about because they yield to a compulsion to seek things out. What urge of the composer is satisfied by this investigation? The rules with which, like a penitent, he is burdened? No: he is in quest of his pleasure. He seeks a satisfaction that he fully knows he will not find without first striving for it. One cannot force one’s self to love; but love presupposes understanding, and in order to understand, one must exert one’s self. So we grub about in expectation of our pleasure, guided by our scent, and suddenly we stumble against an unknown obstacle. It gives us a jolt, a shock, and this shock fecundates our creative power. … IGOR STRAVINSKY, Poetics of Music

Student Video Testimonial

Dearest Peter,
“Thank you” is probably the best way to begin.  I feel in the past 15 or so months that I have been at your school I have not only grown as an actor, but more importantly I have grown as a person.  Your work with, and dedication to all your students is invaluable and I only hope that my passion for acting is as evident as yours.  You have been a role model for me and I thank you dearly.  I hope that the teaching experience has been just as rewarding for you as has been the learning experience for me.  Thank you for sharing your knowledge of such a beautiful craft, and I look forward to seeing you in the industry. … Gabby Mazzarino

More Video Testimonials

Hi Peter, I don't know if you remember me. I took a number of your Acting classes with you in Melbourne a few years ago. Took some time off to have a baby and now I’m back into things. Anyway just a note to say thank you for your teachings. I finally have made it on to a very successful T.V. series here in Greece. It is without a doubt what I learnt in your Classes has stayed with me and given me the strength over the years. I have attended other Acting Classes but it was your Classes that taught me how to act. I am always visiting Melbourne will drop in for some more classes.  Thank you. … Paula Theodore

Thanks for being such an amazing teacher for me over the last few years. I've really learnt so much in your Acting Classes & feel I've grown as an actor.  You've helped give me the courage to make the big leap from stability & tedium to excitement & passion. Your approachability and really hard work for your students is truly inspiring and I really appreciate all the advice you've given me over the years. Thanks again for being a wonderful teacher, for challenging me and giving me something to look forward to every week. … Claudia Greenstone

Peter Sardi guides the actor through a wonderous journey of exploration that leaves the actor gasping not only for air, but for the continuance of the journey. Thought provoking and enriching. Rarely have I found a teacher who is able to engender such a positive and nourishing support to their students. Many times after a class I have marveled over the pearls of Acting wisdom Peter has revealed and for those elusive moments when clarity finally appeared through the haze. … Kris Weber

I thoroughly enjoyed last term so much that at times I felt like I was a kid again. I had no idea how much fun your classes would be and can't wait to continues the journey. I am grateful I was referred to your Drama School. Thank-you. ...Leon

I want to give you millions of thanks for everything that I have learnt in your Acting Course. These last months have been full of excitement, enjoyment, constant discovering of myself and others. I hope you carry on teaching for years and years, hence people will have the amazing opportunity to learn and enjoy Acting in the most useful, powerful and fun way as I did. In two months I'll be in Spain, don't know if I'll back in Melbourne or not, but certainly I won't ever forgot this astonishing experience.  All the best. …Aroa

I enjoyed your classes so much! Thanks for everything over the last year or so, I have learnt a lot about Acting and life in general! Your Classes allowed me to explore myself a little more than what I would have otherwise in just everyday life. Your classes provoke the desire in people to learn more about themselves and learn about the craft of Acting. Many Thanks.  …Melanie

You are without doubt a fabulous teacher and this is largely because you so passionately believe in what you do and your method of teaching. It is a formula that works! I know you've spent years perfecting it. I feel honored to have been able to benefit from all your years of experience. Every time I've enrolled I have often thought I get from you far  more than my monies worth. I totally enjoyed the Melbourne Performance Night and it certainly does feel different performing in front of a live audience – what a buzz! … Janine

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: 
"We act as though success, comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about." 
~ Charles Kingsley

_{ALL VACANCIES NOW FILLED FOR TERM 3 – 2011}

*For more information regarding all classes please contact – Sophie Sardi: 
9432-3062  0419 539030  or  email: acting@peter-sardi.com.au

"DEMONSTRATION IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN EXPLANATION."

THE THEORY                                                              THE PRACTICE

In this above Video (on the LEFT) – Peter talks about "acting" and
specifically the purpose of acting exercises.

In this above Video (on the RIGHT) – Peter "demonstrates" one of his
exercises developed over 30 years of working with actors.

Andy Browne & Josh Blau
Talk about their experiences at our school.
*Andy Browne is now living & studying acting in New York.
*Josh Blau is now living & studying acting in Los Angeles.

WAITING … WAITING … WAITING …

       Often we spend our lives waiting.  Waiting for the 'right time', the 'right situation', the 'right job', the 'right relationship', the right … whatever…  before we start living our lives.  We keep waiting.  In doing so we give up, surrender our power our control.  We give our power away to some illusive future moment that does not exist in the belief that some one some thing will change, and when that day comes we will finally achieve our life's purpose or goal.  We will be happy.   What has all this got to do with 'acting'?  ACTORS are especially susceptible to this WAITING game.  Why?  The very stuff of the actor's life is one where he/she is continually waiting for the next job, the next audition.  Waiting for his/her agent to call.  Actors are incredibly dependant on the director, the casting agent and their particular agent for the next acting job.  This can be incredibly disempowering. Control is given over to another – the director or the agent.  It is very easy for an actor to get lost in this waiting game and suddenly turn around one day and realise that he/she has been waiting for 30 – 40 years!  I can already hear some of you, who may have been in this profession for some time, say: "Well we don't have a choice.  We don't have any control.  It's just the way things are for us actors."  This will be true for you if you believe it.  However you do have a choice.  If you truly want to act, need to act you will find a way to do this.  You need to find other actors who feel the way you do.  You need to surround yourself with people/actors who have the same needs and sensibilities you do and support each other in a way that helps you hold onto your ideals your enthusiasm and passion.  
Over a period of time the waiting game will eventually wear you down and disconnect you from your passion.  If you have experienced this disconnection, don't give up.  Find a group or take responsibility and create a group yourself where like minds and bodies can meet in a creative safe environment where your values and ideals can be supported in a way that will get you reconnected to your enthusiasm and passion – then – if your agent does call and you do get that next acting job you won't be solely reliant on that job.  You will have a home, a base of like minded people / actors that you can 'come-home' to that will keep you connected to your values to your passion.  This is essential.  How do I know this? Eighteen years ago, after fifteen years of acting professionally, I was in danger of losing my passion, so I decided to create a home for actors.  This home is called "Peter Sardi's School Of Acting" where I teach and explore the craft of acting.   This home has assisted me greatly in keeping me in touch with my passion.  And I know it also continues to inspire the many students who have walked through our doors over the last eighteen years.   
What have we been doing these last eighteen years?  Well have a surf around this website and you will get a feel for what it is we do to keep our enthusiasm and passion alive!   …Peter Sardi 7/3/2011