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Scene Study

The concept of acting at the Richard Lawson Studios is loosely based upon the fundamental principles as conceived and developed by Milton Katselas.  The approach is based upon moment-to-moment spontaneous work that is inspired by imagination, passion, and purpose, driven by a sense of reality, intelligence, and common sense, grounded in the patience to listen, the willingness to be affected, and the courage to ask the next question.  Drawing from Stella Adler who said, “I don’t teach actors to be actors, I teach people to be people,” I embody a similar philosophy.  I try to get the actor to be as personal (drawing from the circumference of their own life experience) as possible, even though they may sometimes be playing characters far removed from themselves so that what they create will be original and unique, as it is coming from them and it is what they know best.  As the Latin verb to educate, educere, means to “lead out”, it is my intention to lead the artist out so they can have, as Martha Graham says, “the gift of themselves.”  

At Richard Lawson Studios we utilize a “Plan A” and “Plan B” approach to creating your career. “Plan A” is learning and implementing the tools to create your own destiny by focusing on your unique, specific “ticket-to-the-party,” through the creation of your own products and evidence. “Plan B” is Hollywood in the traditional sense. 

We focus on two triangular dispersive prisms of teaching and learning. The first prism consists of Passion, Application, and Strategy. You enter into the foundational aspects of the studio, and everything going forward stands on this bedrock. The second prism consists of Politics, Personality, and Craft. While the first prism teaches you how to be an accomplished artist or professional, the second teaches you how to monetize your art, become a businessperson, and turn it into commerce.