Humanitarian Arts: Philosophy & Practice Overview — LS&CO Acting

Going DEEPER as an actor isn't just looking to explore the most sentimental things, or the most profound things, or even the darkest things.

DEEPER is where the things are that I hide the most. The things I hide even from myself - the most human things. DEEPER in my work is when I travel to those uncharted countries, to the lands and seas where my true voice was born, and I am home.

Lonsdale Smith & Company is an acting studio for the humanitarian arts. It presents the overarching philosophy that art, in this case acting, is humanitarian in nature. That the practice of truthful storytelling requires knowing oneself, to be able to apply oneself more authentically to art, and creates deeper and more resonant stories. This ignites consciousness for everyone involved, including children and communities, by fostering a supportive community among actors. Accessing one’s expanse or capacity for empathy is ultimately what we need more of as a global society, especially in exploring the impact of acting on individuals, society, and humanitarian action within the humanitarian sector.

This acting process is a hybrid of classical techniques as well as proprietary exercises developed over the past 20 plus years by Michèle Lonsdale•Smith and her company of actors. The program is designed not only to master the craft of acting but also to prepare actors, including mid-career professionals, for leadership roles in the humanitarian sector, emphasizing the structured approach to acting training and its relevance to humanitarian efforts.

The work done in this studio is a deep and ongoing investigation into the hidden parts of human behaviors, truths and realities - into the subconscious. Delving into what is extremely personal and simultaneously the most universal. At this studio, we attempt to ignite conversation about human behavior and the nature of the work done by actors. The conversation about our global and universal humanity is meant to help actors find their truest experience, through a physical understanding and emotional intelligence. For that reason, and to add to the safety of the room, we keep the conversation focused on the first person. “I felt **, because I__**_” The relevance an actor brings is from their own experience. The conversation is not meant as a round-the-room confessional. Additions to the conversation should be based on realizations and revelations that have not been voiced or have been voiced another way. This keeps the conversations moving, continuously sparking new insights for all involved.

The auditing process is named that for a reason. Although someone may not be on stage, it still is a full process. You are an active part of the room, its energy, its depth, its safety and the reciprocal nature of this type of acting. Auditing is active: an act of caring, an act of empathy, and an act of love. One is never watching objectively for their entertainment, one is taking part subjectively, looking for the truth in their own humanity and experience. In most of the illustrious acting studios around the world, actors have been known to audit for months before getting up. The amount that can be contributed and learnt by taking part this way is astounding and not to be underestimated.

The studio uses specific terminology to quickly identify or communicate things. Over time, you’ll learn them all. Some of the acting terms that you may or may not have heard before, that may or may not exist in other studios or processes, include: “Kiss the pole”, “The Depths of the Well”, “Actor Impulse vs. Character Impulse”, “80/20”, “Hot 6”, “More Personal”, “Make Any Sound”. Also, phrases or terms we’ve adopted over the years that make it easier to pinpoint behaviors we’ve seen time and time again in ourselves include: “The dogs are barking”, “Ego Blackout”, “On a Red Carpet”, “You’re having a reaction”, “I believe you”, “I don’t believe you”, “my artist”, “love out”, “love first”, “the deepest truth” “judicial truth”, “surface truth”, “conscious unconscious acting”, “take the note”, “your realities”, “the cosmic joke”, “cosmic orphan”, “voice”, “rightful place”, “active vulnerability”.