Off Cut Forty Five

Method vs method. Getting clear on what is what.

Method is Madness
In May 'The Australian' newspaper published an article headed "Method is Madness". In it WILLIAM H. MACY received loud applause for the large number of memorable characters he has played. Lynden Barber who wrote the article characterized MACY as someone who doesn't burble on about the importance of character in drama. MACY was quoted as believing the whole notion of character is "over rated". "I don't believe in a lot of research into the character. I firmly believe that if it's not on the page, it wouldn't be in the movie anyway," he said.

The David Mamet View
These views of MACY'S are well known as they have been developed and extensively explored by his friend and colleague David Mamet. The article suggests the Mamet process "reserves special vitriol for the New York based method … quest for greater emotional realism." This is linked to MACY who is quoted as saying that he spent a lot of time trying method techniques and in his honest opinion it just didn't work."

Competition and Confusion
This article clearly illustrates the competitive nature of the relationship that exists between competing theories. However the article's byline "the Stanislavsky approach is hogwash" confuses the competing arguments.

WILLIAM MACY is quoted in the article as saying that the 'only tool an actor has is his will. "What do you want and what are you willing to do to get it." This is a wonderfully succinct description of the most basic of Stanislavski principles. So the point that is frequently missed in such debates is that the arguments are generally between competing interpretations of Stanislavski's work rather than derision for its fundamental principles.