New York University, the Tesch School of the Arts is located in the heart of Manhattan, New York, across the street from the famous Broadway.

The red-walled building is interlaced with a white Gothic stone gate, and behind it is a bell tower building dozens of stories high. If it weren't for the fact that there are a lot of purple torch flags flying on the campus buildings, otherwise, you really wouldn't be able to enclose such a college, or the entire New York University, from the city of New York.

New York University, as if it grew out of New York City, blends in with its surroundings.

The Disch School of the Arts is the top film school in the United States and even the world, and it is world-famous for producing the largest number of Oscar winners.

As the sun sets, a dim afterglow spreads on this campus, making it truly a place of light and shadow.

When Lao Huo came to the Dishi Art Academy, it was already five or six o'clock in the afternoon.

In the morning, Xiao Huolin's words when he went out suddenly hit him, he wandered in his yard for a long time, and finally decided to try acting activities. Now he doesn't have to worry about food or clothing, his son Xiaohuo doesn't need him as a father to take care of the children because of his personal philosophy, he is idle all day, what to do, as long as he doesn't break the law, for him, there is no trial and error or other costs.

The key is for him to be able to take this step himself.

After thinking about it all morning, he finally made up his mind to go to the theater. Immediately, after eating at noon, he went directly to several studios in the suburbs of New York to see if there were any opportunities to trot up and play tricks. However, because he is not familiar with the door, and he is now seventy years old, no one dares to let him go on the set.

After wandering outside those sets for a long time, Lao Huo had to give up.

Get off the wrong foot.

Soon, though, he thought of other places, some acting classes for actors, or even film schools like New York.

As for the acting class, for Lao Huo, it is still too formal for the time being, and it is very private, and you need to sign up for something. He didn't lack that money, but now, he was just talking on paper, reading theory for two months, and the level of real practice, when he got there, there were some classes with axes.

So think about it, film school is the best place to go.

For example, these film schools in New York will have their own small theaters, which are also a place where many new actors or students interested in acting gather.

There are several film schools in New York City, among which the film school of New York University is naturally his first goal.

Walking into the Dishi Academy of Arts, Lao Huo first walked around the academy, but didn't find the direction, and then pulled a student-looking girl from the side and asked, "Hello classmates, do you know where some of your college's performance-related associations or activities are?"

"Performance-related associations?"

The girl looked at him and was a little puzzled, "Sir, what are you looking for an acting-related association?"

"Oh, that's right, I recently read a book about acting, and I felt that I had some insights in my heart, so I wanted to talk to someone. ”

Lao Huo said.

"That's it, that's a coincidence!"

The girl suddenly laughed, "It just so happens that in a classroom in the teaching building over there, a performance theory seminar is being held, and I am about to go over, sir, if you are interested, you can follow me." ”

"Is it such a coincidence?"

Lao Huo hesitated a little when he heard this, "This...... I'm just a hobby, and I want to see it, but I don't have the ability to discuss it......"

"Don't worry, old man, we are all hobbyists. ”

The girl continued, "Sir, the book you read about acting, can't it be this one?"

As she spoke, she pulled out a book from her backpack behind her.

Lao Huo looked at it, the title of the book was "The Self-cultivation of Actors", although it was different from the hardcover book at home, but this simple book was obviously the performance book written by the acting master from the East: "This is it." ”

"That's great! We're just going to have some discussion about this book today, and you've read it, sir, so you can join us!

"Thank you! I've just watched it a few times myself, and I want to learn from you. ”

"I didn't expect the old gentleman to be interested in performance theory! You are so old and so studious, you are simply my role model!"

"Haha, no, no, I'm just too idle to do anything, so I'll take it and take a look, I'm also a layman, it's nothing, it's not like you guys are professional in studying this......"

"We're all acting enthusiasts, but I'm an amateur, I just like to act on something, and I can't get on stage. At the seminar, there were many great gods who were very powerful and professional, and many of them had already begun to perform in the theater. ”

As they spoke, the two of them walked together towards one of the school's buildings.

On the way, Lao Huo also learned that the girl's name was Annie and she was a student at New York University's Business School.

And the seminar they were going to next was, in fact, a gathering of performance lovers.

They are all students from other colleges who are interested in acting, or who have other purposes.

"We will also have a lot of seniors with acting experience, or some actors we know, come to give us lectures. ”

As she spoke, Anne took Lao Huo around the corner, came to the door of a classroom, and entered from behind.

It can be seen that there are quite a few students sitting inside, and on the podium is a young man in a denim suit, who is talking about some performance there.

Anne and Lao Huo walked around the back row, and then sat at the back of the crowd.

"Hello. ”

A few students who obviously knew each other turned their heads, saw Anne say hello, and saw Lao Huo next to him, with a slightly surprised expression on their faces.

Lao Huo smiled at them, and then began to pay attention to what the young man on the stage said.

"Actually, acting, it's really an experiential thing. Moreover, the performance is skillful......"

The young people on the stage spoke freely, and from time to time they cooperated with some theatrical performances. Obviously, his prestige and status among the group of young people in the house were still relatively high, including Anne next to him, looking at him with a bit of admiration in her eyes.

"His name is Hans, and he has appeared in several films, one is "Gosford Manor", you have heard of it......"

Anne whispered.

Lao Huo thought about it, seemed to be a little impressed, and nodded.

"Recently, it is obvious that one of the hottest theoretical books about performance in China, I think needless to say, you all know it. "The Self-cultivation of Actors", written by an Oriental, I asked just now, it seems that we have a copy here. ”

Young Hans said.

When the others in the audience heard this, they all nodded immediately.

Obviously, Hans is still looking forward to Hans's mention of this book, and I expect him to talk about the content of this book.

As Hans said, this book has been very popular in the United States recently, and has been recommended by many Hollywood insiders, and they are also the first to buy this book.

However, after reading it, although I can basically understand it, I still have a poor understanding.

Therefore, I am also looking forward to Hans being able to explain some of the performance systems in it.

To their surprise, though, Hans's next words: "Actually, I don't really like this book very much. As I said before, acting is more of a technical thing, an experiential thing, and what you need is your own personal performance and hands-on teaching. It's like writing, it's not that you can write it if you understand the various structures, the context of the system. Performances too...... Moreover, the performance system talked about in this book, especially the one called experientialism that the author mainly admires......"

Lao Huo, who was sitting in the back, listened to Hans on the stage chatting there.

At the beginning of the conversation, he still agreed a little, it is true that practice is needed, and theory alone is not enough. But later, the more Hans spoke, the more he frowned.

Different performance genres, different people have different understandings, this performance master from the East, in his book, wrote three types of performance. Therefore, it is understandable that different people reject the performance methods of other genres.

Hans himself had his own experience in acting, and it is understandable that he rejects experientialism. However, what made Lao Huo feel that something was wrong was that Hans himself seemed to be completely wrong in his understanding when explaining some of the systems in the performance school. There is a discrepancy with the exposition and expression of the oriental performance master in that book.

Lao Huo looked at the other students around him, and when he listened to Hans's chat, he didn't have any disapproving expressions, and listened to them with relish one by one.

Could it be that I have misunderstood?

Lao Huo continued to listen again, and probably understood a little.

This student, Hans, had obviously read the book "The Self-cultivation of Actors", but it was obvious that his understanding was superficial, and he did not really grasp the essence of experiential performance expounded in that book.

And when Hans continued to say that he himself preferred a performance system, Lao Huo completely strengthened the idea in his heart.

However, he did not interrupt Hans directly, but listened, and then analyzed some of the errors in his thoughts.

Soon, Hans on the stage reached a point, and when he brought a mineral water bottle from the side to drink, he swept it down and said, "After all, it is a performance theory written by an Oriental." There is still a big gap between Orientals and the West in terms of film and television drama shooting experience, including the history of film and television development. Okay, this paragraph is here first, if you have any ideas, you can also put them forward, and let's talk about it together. Eh, I see an old friend in the back today?"

Everyone looked behind him and saw Lao Huo sitting in the last row, all of them with surprised expressions.

"Sir, are you also interested in performance theory?"

Hans on stage said, "Are you a film actor or a theater actor?"

Lao Huo smiled: "I'm not an actor, I'm just an ordinary person, I happened to read the book "Actor's Self-cultivation" recently, and I was very interested, so I thought about coming over and talking to you young people." ”

By the way, sir, do you have any other opinions or thoughts on what I just talked about?"

Hans said this out of politeness or respect.

After all, the other party is an old man who is already so old, even if the other party has no acting experience, but in this attitude, he still shows a little respect. But he himself understands that these are all amateurs on the scene, and they all come to learn from him in a sense, and it is impossible for him to really have any opinions.

Lao Huo originally had a modest attitude, and he didn't really want to express his opinion so early.

However, looking at Hans on the stage, thinking of what he had just said, Lao Huo was a little hesitant in his heart.

In fact, he himself has been reading the book "Actor's Self-cultivation" for more than two months, and he is very immersed, and he has his own understanding of many performance theories and expressions in it.

Although he has never performed it himself, he doesn't know if the theory written in this book and the things he understands are correct. That's why he wanted to be able to go outside and verify it, and at the same time, he also wanted to practice.

However, when I listened to Hans talk about his understanding of this book just now, I felt completely different from my own understanding, and even in his opinion, he misinterpreted the theories and opinions in that book.

Therefore, he hesitated, but still stood up and said: "I think you just said about the opinion of the book "The Self-cultivation of Actors", I think ...... Well, I myself have some different opinions. ”

"Oh?"

Hearing this, Hans was also a little surprised, and stretched out his hand with a smile, "Old gentleman, tell me, eh, let's do it, you come to the stage, talk on the stage, ......"

"Row ......"

Lao Huo hesitated, but he was not polite, and walked on stage in the eyes of everyone.

He looked at Hans, who was sitting in the stands, and the others, and then said, "That's right, I also have some understanding of my own reading, and I will say it, and everyone will help to see if it is right." ”

Immediately, he began to outline the content of Lin Bao's "Actor's Self-cultivation" about the experiential school: "In fact, the Oriental author, the system about the experiential school written in the book, the focus is not the simple and stereotypical imitation that the classmate just said, but the highest goal and the chain of behavior......

In the audience, Hans listened to the old man's words, and his face suddenly changed slightly.

In fact, he didn't think that the old man could know much about acting, and some of the other party's opinions were different from his own, only because he had studied less books or had a narrow field of vision.

But, as he listened, the expression on Hans's face suddenly changed.

The other students around me don't have too deep research in performance theory, or even just a hobby.

But he himself actually studied acting theory specifically.

Therefore, he could hear whether the old man was talking about whether these things were right or wrong.

Combined with the content of the performance theory book he had read, and then listening to what the old man said, he vaguely felt that the old man's understanding should be right, beyond his understanding of the content of the book.

After a further pause, Hans's face began to show a sense of enlightenment.

The old man's narration actually gave him a feeling that his thoughts were instantly unblocked.

Recalling the classroom scenes mentioned in that book, it was still a whole context, and his heart became clearer and clearer.

It turns out that the true essence of this experiential school talked about in this book is here!

Before, it was completely my own vision and narrow-mindedness!

Thinking of this, Hans's face couldn't help but turn red.

I am still a little complacent about my half-baked understanding level, and I am here to teach other students.

This old man, an unprofessional learner, has a better ability to understand than himself.

It's just a shame!

"Actually, as you said, experiential school is more difficult and cumbersome in terms of learning, and what is needed is talent. This is a feature of this system. ”

Lao Huo looked at Hans in the audience, "As for the more technical performance methods you mentioned, saying that it is the mainstream of Hollywood theater performances now, in fact, it is...... I don't know if you've read the book yourself at the end of the book, where there is a third way of acting, the method. In fact, the ones you are talking about are the performance methods in the methodology summarized by this author, which pays more attention to skills and speed of entering the play. ”

Hearing Lao Huo say this, Hans sighed completely, completely understanding his mistake, he blushed a little and looked at the speech on the stage that was only four or five minutes, which made him instantly realize a lot of old people, and couldn't help but say: "Are you really just an acting lover?