Mastering the Art of the Integrated Actor: A Director's Dream

The integrated actor is essential for effective collaboration with directors. Rather than relying solely on intuition, actors must become conscious of their unconscious processes, sensations, emotions, and imagination. Before a scene, they need to understand their inner experiences and how they relate to the character. During the scene, they work off creative impulses and engage with the other character. Afterward, reflection on what they've discovered through ISOMA (image, sensation, orientation, meaning, affect) leads to a complex understanding of the story.

Being oriented in the scene is crucial. Actors must be aware of their surroundings, their scene partner, and work on multiple presences simultaneously. This presence work brings the story alive in them. By being open to different perceptions, an integrated actor can adapt to directors who work with felt experiences or conceptual approaches. It's a comprehensive skill set, akin to the "Da Vinci Code" of acting, allowing actors to be fully present, not disoriented, and to navigate various directions.

Ultimately, an integrated actor's breath changes, and they become more connected with the story's nuances and subtleties, creating richer performances. It's a wholesome approach, even if the character they portray may have limited emotional depth or be highly intellectual. A disoriented actor is undesirable on set or stage. Embracing this "Da Vinci Code of Acting" leads to complexity rather than intensity, unveiling the layers of the story and enhancing the actor's delivery.