Acting in South Florida

How can you go wrong with expert training given by Jeff Goldblum, Robert Carnegie, Tony Savant, and J.D. Coburn while using the Sanford Meisner approach? It is pretty heavy to say the least. Acting Coach Michael Haney had some of the best training available. Now here in South Florida he shares that expertise with his students in the Boca Raton/ Boynton Beach area of South Florida.

When asked why he uses that particular method of teaching he explained;
"The Sanford Meisner approach encourages the use of imagination. The emotions displayed are imagined unlike other techniques that use memory of past experiences instead."
Why is that important" I asked.
"Using ones imagination instead of living a past memory is less harmful."
He went on to point out the harm that had come to actors in the past using the latter, some depressed, long after the scene had ended.
"Sometimes emotions can be too powerful, especially when they come from a real past event." He answered.

The Sanford Meisner Acting technique has been successful for many of the celebrities we have all come to know. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meisner_techniqueMethod.
"It has brought success to such fine Actors as Robert Duval, Kim Basinger, Mary Steenburgen, Eli Wallach, Sydney Pollack, Joanne Woodward and many others." Mr Haney said.

Invited to join one of his classes I observed several students performing. His direction is patient, his training precise. All seemed to love what they were learning, it was impressive.
Having a BA in Speech and Theater, it brought back memories of past teachers I admired.

When the class had ended and we had some time alone I asked him about his career and training.
He reminisced about working with some of my favorite Artists such as James Woods, Tom Hanks, Andy Garcia, Billy Crystal, Raul Julia and others.
Michael Haney told me he was privileged to have been under the direction of greats like Steven Spielberg, Robert Zemeckis, Oliver stone, Joe Adler, Neil Leifer and Mike Jackson

"What films did you enjoy being a part of"
I asked. He thought for a while and then said
"All of them"
He stated he has appeared in films such as Catch Me If You Can, Nixon, The McMartin Trial, The Bachelor, Next Door, The Witness, Star Trek and Deep Space Nine. He has appeared on series and soaps such as The Edge, General Hospital, Designing Women, and Miami Vice.

Grateful to be Fortunate, in his tenure, to have worked with MGM, Universal, Paramount, Warner Brothers, Sony Pictures, 20th Century Fox and more he is looking forward to training those coming after him.

I have been wanting to act and to create a Documentary for the Delray Film Fest for 2011 and asked him what he thought about it.
"That is a good place to start, there are more and more opportunities right here."
He generously shared with me and his students the current casting calls here in South Florida.
"More companies are coming to this area all the time." he said

In his eight week acting course Michael Haney hopes to reach those that are dedicated and serious. The focus is on monologues, cold reading, listening, noticing your partner, improvisation and what he calls the reality of doing as well as other exercises in and out of the classroom.

When I asked him what it is he is actually teaching his students to do, he said;
"To be real."
I asked him to explain what that meant to him, he answered;
"When they act they need to be real. Yes they are playing a role, other then themselves, but it is still them playing the role." They need to find what they are using from inside them self."

Michael Haney encourages his students to practice at home, he asks them to be more observant of others around them and therefore lose their self consciousness a bit in the process.
He seems to be a genuine guy that loves what he is doing while sharing his enthusiasm with all those around him. His website www.palmbeachactingschool.com
describes in further detail the classes, in Boca Raton and Boynton Beach Florida, going on right now.