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WHAT I LEARNED IN ACTING CLASS

DUSTIN HOFFMAN TEACHES ACTING 17

LESSON RECAP
I rarely meet actors who agree what the method is.
—Dustin Hoffman ▶▶ A simple approach to
method acting
▶▶ Strasberg’s relaxation
exercise
TAKE IT FURTHER ▶▶ Managing your ego
▶▶ Dustin’s roommates when he was living and studying acting in
NY were:
▼▼ Gene Hackman - Known for his range and versatility. Here

he is in an epic scene from Mississippi Burning. NOTES

▼▼ Robert Duvall - Duvall created one of the most memorable

characters ever assayed on film, and gave the world the

memorable phrase, “I love the smell of napalm in the
morning!”. Watch the scene from Apocalypse Now here.
▼▼ Both went on to be brilliant Oscar-winning actors.

▶▶ “Affective Memory” is a term that’s used a lot when learning the

method. It describes an experience in which an actor, while
performing, recalls a situation they’ve experienced with such
detail and concentration that the memory begins to affect them
as if it’s taking place all over again. This can lead to states of
physical and psychological extremity that make for potent and
believable performances.

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07 WHAT I LEARNED IN ACTING CLASS
DUSTIN HOFFMAN TEACHES ACTING 18

ASSIGNMENT
NOTES
▶▶ Try these method exercises. First, the relaxation exercise
that Dustin described: stand or sit comfortably, relax all your
muscles and sing any song (The Star Spangled Banner works
fine) but hold each note for as long as you have any breath left.
While you’re singing, think about the muscles in your body, start
from your toes and think up to your forehead, and relax them
one by one. Let yourself feel whatever feelings arise, while
making eye contact with other actors in class.
▶▶ Once you’re relaxed, try a sense memory exercise. The idea
is to practice storing and accessing impressions in your own
subconscious. Sit in a chair with an item of your choice. . .it
should be something interesting to the senses and small
enough to hold. A cup of coffee or a piece of fruit work well
to start. Now study the object, using one sense at a time.
Ask yourself a series of questions that engage your sense-
relationship with the object. How big is it? Is it smooth or rough?
Is it hot or cold? Heavy or light? How do I hold it? How do I eat
or drink it? What does it taste like? etc. You can’t ask too many
questions or spend too much time studying the object. Now
take the object away and try to pretend you’re holding it and
interacting with it. Ask yourself the same questions you asked
before and try to feel your responses. Do this every day with
the same object for five days and see if your ability to have an
“affective memory” develops.

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