Ahead of her meeting with the Greek actors, Ivana Chubbuck talks about Oscar performances for the mcf.gr/ Lower price for drama school students
By Achilleas Kourias
More than 35 years of tuition experience in the fields of acting, as well as the maturity of a human being who was not afraid of facing creatively her own traumas, lie beneath the absolute certainty, in which, Ivana Chubbuck reveals the characteristics which distinguish the complete actor among the good ones. Talking for mcf.gr she shares with us elements of the technique she works on with the greatest Hollywood stars, building successful Oscar performances, while she claims that she eagerly awaits the day she will work with Greek actors in the line of the Master Class she will offer in December 21st at the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation.
Without a doubt, your forthcoming presence in Greece in the line of Act and Re- Act: Masterclasses, as far as the artistic proceedings of our country are concerned, will be an extraordinary opportunity as well as a great honour for all the participants of your Master Class. Would you please let us know your intensions and your expectations considering this meeting with Greek theatre people? Which are going to be the subjects you will work on with the participants of your Class? Will it be more theatrically or cinematically orientated?
I usually do scenes in workshops that I conduct around the world from both movies and plays. A broad cross-section of types of material. In your case, I will be doing a seminar, instead, included in the seminar will be some of the Oscar lauded performances Ive helped to create, and how we got to the places that facilitated, dynamic, powerful life enriching art through acting.
I also will include some of the performances that I helped to turn a small part into a star making opportunity, as well as how to play a serial killer, how to play a death scene, and how to get to organic highs in your work if you have to play a heroin or cocaine using exercises with the audience. There will be film clips of these performances, too, to aid in having a visual to go along with my explanations, which I will provide. Some of the clips will include James Franco, Brad Pitt, Charlize Theron, Halle Berry, Elisabeth Shue, Eva Mendes, Jessica Biel and more.
I look forward to returning to Greece to do a full-on workshop with Greek actors. Think of the seminar as the appetizers that whet the appetite for the full meal!
Those who are aware of your acclaimed career might know that the Chubbuck Technique is structured in a way that enables human emotions into the acting process. How deep an actor should go into his or her own psyche, when approaching a part, in order to discover the necessary tools for his or her performance?
That all depends on the specific part that the actor is playing. Say, for example, if the character the actor is portraying is a serial killer it is important to find that part of you that can find a righteous reason to commit murder, and not even a crime of passion, but cold-blooded murder one must find the darkest, deepest pain that resides within our hearts and souls. Then the actor must explore who he/she feels is responsible for this pain, and metaphorically/symbolically in the fantasy of acting, take retribution with that person within the context of the performance.
However, if the person is playing someone who is seeking love, and is having a hard time doing so the actor need only go to the part of them that feels lonely and separated from human connection. Therefore, creating not just a want but a desperate need to find their love match. Making the journey for the actor, and therefore the audience, more compelling and urgent.
Theres always a certain depth one must reach to establishing a character that is universal in his/her needs. In this way, no matter geography, socio-economic differences, social hierarchy, or religious beliefs — all people, in all countries, can relate. This ultimately establishes a true human connection between the audience and the character that is being performed.
The Chubbuck Techniques success depends more on the tutors role or is it a matter of the actors willingness to actually dive into the deepest aspects of human soul? Moreover, which way the tutor shapes the path that an actor should follow towards his/her most intimate soul layers?
No I teach actors tools so that they can do the work themselves, have a sense, a meter to know when they are doing true, authentic, powerful work.
Which includes how to get an actor to be open, and not only willing, but desiring to dig deep. The base of the Chubbuck Technique is to take trauma and pain, and use it to fuel the journey/objective to overcome and thereby accomplish their goals. Most actors, and people as well, take pain and wallow in it. This creates a self-indulgent feeling sorry for oneself result.
No one wants to be around people who are all about self-pity in life. If one takes personal pain/traumas and uses to impassion journey, their mission, to overcome the circumstances that create pain, it also create a catharsis for the character, the actor, and ultimately the audience. Theres inertia to a person who sits in their pain, creating a loser mentality. But a person who tries to move mountains, in order to change their circumstances that will help them conquer the pain — is a winner. Its more satisfying to play and to watch someone who rather than wanting to lose, is someone who wants to, in any and all ways, to WIN!
When an actor realizes that this way of working makes bringing up your deepest feelings create such a feeling of release and accomplishment, it makes the actor want to dig deep.
Making a reference to Aristotles Drama definition you highlight struggle and the final victory against the odds as fundamental issues for acting process. Do actors really have to fight in order to accomplish a complete performance, and if so, which are the weapons needed?
The best weapons to fight and therefore to win are: passion, drive, focus, need, and tenacity. And to not let obstacles stop you, but rather to invigorate your drive to fight. If you are climbing Mount Everest, you might find the obstacles of thin air, bad weather, avalanches, the possibility of slipping and falling to your death may get in the way. But once you get to the top (accomplishing your goal) it becomes a rousing and adrenaline inspired journey more satisfying to play (and again to watch) someone fight those obstacles to get to your ultimate goal.
What really makes an actor complete? In other words, what really distinguishes the best actor from the good one? Is it a matter of an exhaustive soul-searching and a balance that follows the discovery of his or her true identity?
What makes an extraordinary actor (as opposed to a merely good one) is two elements:
1. A strong work ethic (doing all the detail work it takes to create a 3-demensional human being. Rehearsals, homework, redefining and continuing to change and manipulate your choices off what works and doesnt work, etc)
2. Taking RISKS! (to never be afraid to make bold choices, both in your inner investigation, and in establishing mannerisms that come from need and from the uniqueness of the specific kind of character that you are playing)
These two elements, Ive found, in creating hundreds of successful careers in my 35+ years of teaching, is also the recipe for stardom.
See more about the Master Class by Ivana Chubbuck at the What’s On sector with a click here
