MC² Actors Studio

Tag Archives

THAT SPECIAL GIFT

June 2, 2022by MC² Actors Studio in Acting, Actor tagged , , , , ,

“Children always get so excited about that special gift they’re given during holidays or birthdays. It’s that special gift that they ask for over and over to anyone who would listen. And usually they see that special gift on TV which makes it even more exciting. Or they see that others have that gift, and so they want it too! They see how special it is! It looks exhilarating, easy and fun to play with. And they think if only they could get that special gift, it would make all the difference in the world for their life and they would never ever stop playing with it. Then one day, someone actually makes their dream come true and they finally get it! They get that special gift that they’ve always wanted! And it comes all wrapped up in a nice box with perfect wrapping paper and a big ole bow. And they tear open that special gift! And they are mind-blown! Someone actually listened and they got it! And they love it love it love it! But then they realize they don’t know how to use that special gift. So with some help, through some trial and error, some struggles, some mistakes, a lot of creativity, and of course, the instructions, they finally figure out how to use that special gift. And now they can play with it. And they enjoy playing with it! It’s the most awesome thing ever! They love it! It’s everything they said they always wanted! And they tell everyone “Look at what I just got!” And then others say, “Ah cool! Me too! Look what I just got!“. And so they all get together and their imaginations go wild with the endless possibility of circumstances that manifest from all those special gifts. It brings a tribe together and many worlds are created! However, as is so often the case, once that gift no longer becomes so special to them and they stop using it or playing with it, it ends up just sitting home on a shelf somewhere taking up space. And then all of the sudden, that special gift disappears because it is put in a box and donated or handed down to someone else who will use it, enjoy it and appreciate it for how special it is. And some time goes by but they don’t even realize it’s gone. And then one day, they see it somewhere and then they remember it and they ask, “Wait, what ever happened to that gift?! I loved that gift! That gift was mine! Where did it go?! I want it back!”. But it’s no longer home. It’s no longer there. It’s no longer accessible. Now that special gift is going to take a lot of pursuing and work to get back. The same goes for your gifts as actors. They need to be loved, appreciated, enjoyed, learned about, cultivated and used. Your gifts are not meant to just sit at home doing nothing. If they are, they mysteriously just slip away and you start asking “Wait, what ever happened to that gift?! I loved that gift! That gift was mine! Where did it go?! I want it back!”. Stay focused! Be proactive! Appreciate the gifts you have and work hard toward doing something remarkable with them. No one is going to come knocking on your door to remind you to stay on track. And if you need a little reminder or a little push, let this be it! You have to be the CEO of your dreams or they slowly disappear. You have something so inexplicably special in you! Do not take that for granted! Dream big! But get the dream out of the dream state and go for making it a reality!”
~Mario A. Campanaro
Master Teacher 
MC² Actors Studio
Los Angeles | New York City | London

The Circles Of “I Am”…

October 11, 2021by MC² Actors Studio in Uncategorized tagged

If You Really Love It, Really Do It!

October 5, 2021by MC² Actors Studio in Acting tagged ,

Authenticity Through Action…

September 19, 2021by MC² Actors Studio in Uncategorized tagged

Tapping Into Uncharted Territories…

September 19, 2021by MC² Actors Studio in Uncategorized tagged ,

Becoming The Answer

August 31, 2021by MC² Actors Studio in Uncategorized tagged ,

“Let No One Leave Your Presence Feeling Lonely”…

August 17, 2021by MC² Actors Studio in Uncategorized tagged
“One of the greatest tools an actor (or any artists/human for that matter) can possess is his or her compassion and empathy. The ability to have an open heart and a willingness to dive into the depths of the human condition is the very foundation for our work and the ability to live moment to unknown moment within extraordinary circumstances. We have to be willing to see, hear, feel, taste, understand and experience more than just our own small circle of experiences in order to live the vast highly complex life of characters in unimaginable pain, great struggle and overall high stake circumstances. This is ultimately the ‘in’ to every character we will ever play/reveal/live. Everyone has struggled. Everyone has suffered. Everyone has had trials and tribulations. Everyone has a story. Every story has a history that formulates who we are and how we move and function in life and what we strive to get, achieve, be and experience. We have to understand that at our very core, we function from survival love received and love unreceived. From there our story unfolds based on what life throws at us. This is not just about our technique. This is about humanity. It is about our humanity  And every human’s story has within it the worthiness to be witnessed simply because it is part of the essential fabric of this thing we all call ‘Life’.”
~ Mario Campanaro
Master Teacher 
MC² Actors Studio 
Los Angeles | New York City | London

Learning Who You Are Through Discomfort…

August 10, 2021by MC² Actors Studio in Uncategorized tagged , ,
“Dear Actor…
Dear Artist…
Do not get overwhelmed by the enormity of your creative mission. 
Get inspired by the undeniable talent, strength and ability that inherently lives within you to do something remarkably transformative with it. 
Let me introduce you to your true Artist Self: 
You are a slayer of limitation.
You’re an alchemist. 
You are a creative gladiator.
You’re an artistic warrior. 
You were always meant to move mountains.
When most may exclaim:
‘I AM DONE!’
The creative warrior simply whispers:
‘I am just beginning.’.”
~ Mario Campanaro
Master Teacher 
MC² Actors Studio 
Los Angeles | New York City | London

THE CHILDREN’S HOUR by Lillian Hellman MC² Actors Studio Scene Work

August 4, 2021by MC² Actors Studio in Uncategorized tagged , ,
FROM THE MASTERCLASS:
“Our awareness, observation and the exercising of what we learn about the human condition inevitably inspires and informs how we live honestly, truthfully and authentically in our work as actors. A lot of the time this may feel inconvenient, difficult, tedious and maybe even heart-wrenching work during the exploration process. Especially when there is not the immediate ‘payoff’ we so often crave. But the more we stay on track, the more we continue to persevere, the more we continue to align, refine and cultivate our craft, the more the ‘payoff’ will eventually come. It is about artistically and creatively persevering. Even during those moments when we feel like we don’t want to artistically and creatively persevere. It’s not about going around it, or over it, or underneath it. But going through it. We must go through it. We must be focused and disciplined in our approach to what we want to achieve as artists. And we must hold ourselves accountable within and throughout the creative process. Why? Because, as actors…that is and will always be a huge part of the artist’s journey…And let’s not forget this important fact…We love what we do! The craft of acting comes from the living, observing, and implementing of what Life itself has to teach us about the human condition…And then be able to marry that along with our imagination and personal investment to LIVE story as it pertains to a specific text. This is not just about technique. It is about humanity. It is about Life. Life itself has a delicious limitless rainbow of colors to offer and teach us as artists that is crucial to our work. I happen to call it Mary Poppin’s purse. It has everything needed within it! It is so important for the actor to stay open to it in their every day Life…to keep searching for the Life within the craft itself as it will ALWAYS be mirrored, justified, and validated by Life. Remember this…Life may not always be about acting…But acting will always be about Life!”
~ Mario Campanaro
Master Teacher
MC² Actors Studio
Los Angeles | New York City | London

Broken Hearts

July 7, 2021by MC² Actors Studio in Uncategorized tagged ,

From The Masterclass:

“It is not the ‘easy’ that makes the Artist. It is not the ‘easy’ that makes the difference. It is all the complexity. It is all the ‘stuff’ that we may very often want to shy away from, that is the necessary ingredients to our work. 

Sometimes it is all those ‘things’ that may make us feel broken hidden deep down within. It is all that ‘stuff’. The deep, messy, dark and even shattered truth that is so very beautifully human…so extraordinarily ordinary…and that is an undeniable truth…whether we like to admit it or not…that lives within each and everyone of us.

And it is all that ‘stuff‘ that is necessary for our glorious ‘opening’ within the creative process. 

You are necessary. You are the answer. The technique means nothing without You….ALL of You from the depths of your soul. 

And though your personal pain is not the pain of the character’s, you will always have it there as a reference point (if it is safe and helpful to do so) to marry to the givens expanded by your imagination that can help you along the journey to fulfilling that greatness of the Life of the text.

It is that kind of bravery that makes the Artist. It is that willingness to deeply live in relation to the givens and to do so publicly that makes you and your work more than worthy of being witnessed.

And it is when the work becomes far more than just ‘play’…When it  holds an artistic and social responsibility within your mind and heart…When it serves a greater purpose…That the work really starts to make a difference in shifting the world in and around you.

The great paradox of that is…In order to really do that…You still have to be willing to INTENTLY play…With the objective of revealing the utmost truth…In a myriad of very often extremely uncomfortable circumstances…While also fulfilling that great artistic and social responsibility…By using and sharing your heart and soul.

But along that creative process, there may be times when you are going to have to walk through your very own Hades in order to get to your very own Utopia. You may have to endure a lot…You may even find yourself struggling/suffering at times…But if you keep persevering…If you keep on believing in what you are doing…If you simply do not give up…You will find that all that hardship pays it forward by bringing something profoundly fulfilling into your Life. 

You may want to cry because it hurts so bad…And then you may want to laugh until you cry…Because you got through it.

And once you make it out of the fire, you will see all the beauty hidden within the ashes.

Each of us has our very own story of strife and struggle. And each of us has the potential for a very deserving and awe-inspiring victory.

Stay along the creative path. Do not give up! Struggle through if and when you must. Discover what else there is…Because you are everything. It is all there. In you. Find yourself there. Meet yourself there. Honor yourself there. It’s all there waiting to be discovered, explored and tapped into.”

Much Love,

Mario Campanaro
Master Teacher 
MC² Actors Studio
LA | NYC | LDN

Page 2 of 4123...Last