From the Studio
I have a friend who builds world-class homes. He only takes one project every couple of years, a hired gun who travels wherever the work is. We were talking once and he told me his dream was to someday build a house without using a single nail or screw. I said, what? He said it […]
At the age of twenty-five, Jim Jarrett was stumbling through his life wondering what he was supposed to do with it. “Find your passion” … “Live your dreams”… “Blah, blah blah” … Great advice when you know what your dream is, but when you have absolutely no clue, it’s depressing. Jim went on with this soul-searching for […]
Timothee Chalamet trained in Meisner technique and still talks about it as the foundation of his best work. Jim Jarrett explains what the training actually produces in an actor.
For decades, he taught in a single room at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York. What came out of that room changed American acting. “If you ever meet someone who calls themselves a Master Teacher run from this teacher! What arrogance and ego. I am not a Master Teacher. Even after a half century of teaching […]
The camera doesn't lie. Here's why film actors who train in Meisner technique show up to set more present, more prepared, and more believable.
If you just moved to San Francisco and realized you want to act, or you’ve been here a while and the itch finally got too loud to ignore, the first thing I’ll tell you is this: you’re in a better position than you think. Not because San Francisco competes with Los Angeles or New York. […]
A lot of people in the Bay Area are taking improv classes right now. That’s not surprising. Improv has exploded over the last decade, and for good reason. It gets you out of your head, puts you in front of other people, and gives you a taste of something that feels alive. Therapists recommend it. […]
Theater actors get accused of being too big on camera. Film actors can disappear on stage. Jim Jarrett breaks down what actually changes between the two - and what doesn't.
People ask me this all the time. They’ve heard both terms, maybe taken a class or two, and they’re trying to figure out what they’re actually signing up for. It’s a fair question. And the honest answer is more interesting than most people expect, because to understand the difference, you have to understand where both […]