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Oscar reaction, and why acting is like skiing

Written by David Lee Strasberg Thursday, 26 February 2009 12:29

First of all, did you know who was shrieking with delight over the Oscar results? Kate Winslet? Danny Boyle? Sean Penn?

How about Rachel Hopkins. Rachel, a brand new student at Strasberg who commutes to LA from San Diego, is the winner of the Strasberg Oscar predictions competition. Don’t let her low-key SoCal vibe fool you, this is one driven young lady. She won with an amazing 83 out of 100, and she is still regretting missing out on that “Best Animated Short” category. For inquiring minds, your overly competitive blog-host is still smarting from an awfully mediocre 62. Congrats to Rachel.

I just got back from a few days on vacation. There I was skiing down a beautiful mountain in Colorado, dark green pine trees lining either side of the steep, powdered-covered run when I thought about acting.

It was something the ski instructor said when he noticed me leaning back to keep my balance on the faster parts of the mountain. His name is Don Jones, a good-natured guy who retired from North Carolina to teach skiing in Colorado. What Don said was, “David, sometimes you just have to have Faith.”

Faith. Its a big word and charged with all kinds of meanings. Don meant Faith as in Courage. You lean downhill in order to better guide and control your skis and keep your balance. Problem is, when you point downhill you go faster which makes you FEEL out of control. That’s where Courage comes in. You need to keep leaning downhill even though it feels like you are going to fall. Channel your speed into your turn. Trust the skis, they will respond.

A good acting class is not about just doing a scene or performing. It is also not just about feeling good. It is about creating a process that works for you regardless of the material. A process you can rely on to get you through any terrain. It’s not always easy.

Acting should be fun and exhilarating, but it can also be hard work in the same way skiing is. It may feel awkward – scary even, just like leaning downhill. Many actors avoid the rush of a real moment just like some skiers fight gravity in order to feel safer.

Our work encourages you to build new habits. It is best used by actors willing to be brave. We teach you to use your most creative impulses. Don’t judge them, express them. Channel them into your scene. Trust your skis.

All it takes is a little Faith (in yourself).