The intent of this blog (even when it was germinating in my mind) has always been to try to set the record straight and correct the many myths and misconceptions surrounding The Method. After all, who was better qualified than someone who had studied with Lee Strasberg for 11 years; someone who Lee trusted to teach in his name; someone who Lee taught how to teach; someone who Lee made the Director of his New York school? In other words ME.
How can the distortions and misconceptions about The Method not exist when so many people are teaching who do not fully understand it themselves? For example, a couple of years ago an old student of mine called me on the phone and told me that he would really like to talk with me. Over dinner he told me that The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in LA would like him to teach for them. He wanted to know what I thought of that idea and also wanted to know if he could ask me questions to refresh his memory “about certain aspects of the work”. I tried to encourage him, but also cautioned him to keep his content to what he knew. That was the last time we spoke. (He sent me an email a month ago wanting to meet again. I agreed, but he never followed through). I found out from people who studied at that school that he was quoting me in the classroom, but presenting the information as his own ideas and words.
Now I have been “friended” on Face Book by another student from years ago. He, too, is now teaching. This time I’m surprised because as nice a person as he seemed when he was in my class, he never quite understood what he was studying nor devoted himself to learning it. This time he came right out and told me that he had “ripped off several of my illustrative stories in his classes”. He told them as if they were his own. He went on to tell me that he had even related events that took place between Lee Strasberg and me as if they had happened to the two of them.
In both instances this was done to put themselves forward as teachers. I, too, tell many stories in class to make a point. I learned this from Lee. I even tell stories that I heard Lee tell over and over again. The difference is that I ALWAYS let my students know that I am quoting Lee Strasberg. I make a clear distinction between his stories and thoughts and my own. When I depart from Lee’s work in addressing a student’s difficulty I always let them know that the suggestion is my own based on what I learned from Lee.
I guess the difference is that I know what I’m talking about.