... as a convention, you get up and walk to the window to…
![“... as a convention, you get up and walk to the window to make the audience believe that you're looking out. It's for the audience , not for you! And what it means to you is something emotional [...] If you went to the Actors Studio you'd spend six months seeing the snow before you could say…” quote by Sanford Meisner](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/f54/sanford-meisner-16477_acting_as-a-convention-you-get-up-and-walk-to-t_1157059.jpg)
““... as a convention, you get up and walk to the window to make the audience believe that you're looking out. It's for the audience , not for you! And what it means to you is something emotional [...] If you went to the Actors Studio you'd spend six months seeing the snow before you could say, 'Look at the snow.' This takes a terrible burden away from the actor, who thinks he's got to see the woods and the snow. 'Give me my gun! I see a rabbit! Give me my gun!' " Meisner sounds thrilled at the possibility of a hunt. "That happens when you're still sitting there reading. Then when they put in the scenery you move to the window. Isn't that simple? How simple it is to solve the problem of seeing things when you know that it's all in you emotionally, and that walking to the window is only a convention.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Actors often rely on external tricks, but true perception comes from internal emotional work.
In simple terms: Real seeing is internal, not just physical.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate inner feeling.
Themes
acting
emotion
perception
Mood
introspective
thoughtful
Type
educational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- rehearsal
- scene study
- character development
Key Concepts
method acting
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you access genuine emotion?
- Can you trust your internal senses?
A Different Perspective
External cues can distract from authentic performance.