Hollywood acting studio trains Kapuso stars

MANILA, Philippines -- In its continuing effort to give its stable of artists quality and worthwhile training to hone their talents and further their craft in the entertainment industry, GMA Artist Center (GMAAC) management pulled out all the stops to bring the expertise of an international acting studio in Hollywood right here in the Philippines.

Ron Burrus, master acting coach of the famed Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York, visited Manila recently to specifically host an acting workshop for Filipino actors. GMA Artist Center talents were among the privileged few in attendance.

The Kapuso stars, along with veteran actors from other groups, who have been privileged to join the esteemed group of students under coach Burrus were Iza Calzado, Kris Bernal, Bela Padilla, Rocco Nacino, Bianca King, Enzo Pineda, Victor Aliwalas, Sarah Lahbati, Gino dela Pena, Ian Batherson, Sef Cadayona, Rita Iringan, Jayanne Bautista, Justine Ferrer, Diva Montelaba, Marvin Kiefer, Luane Dy, Gretchen Espina, Bodie Cruz, Stef Prescot, Steven Silva, and Stephanie Henares, among others.

These GMAAC talents now share the distinction with some Hollywood greats who have been tutored and trained under the Stella Adler school of acting. These Hollywood alumni include Robert De Niro, Kevin Costner, Benicio del Toro, Martin Sheen, Melanie Griffith and the late Marlon Brando, who is often considered the greatest actor of all time.

The week-long workshop was held last month in Arts in the City, Taguig. Burrus shared his expertise in on-camera acting to local stars, with character actor Nanding Josef of Tanghalang Pilipino serving as Filipino facilitator.

"Filipino actors are underused. They have more skills than what they are actually using.” Burrus remarked in an interview after one of the sessions.

The acting technique was developed by Stella Adler, who studied under acting icon Constantin Stanislavsky. The institution of the Acting Studio ensured that its secrets would be passed on from one generation of actors to another—and across continents as well. The seminars have been brought from New York to France, Italy, Germany, Japan, and now, to Manila.

According to Tata Nanding, the studio is planning to set up a branch here in the Philippines. This is great news for Filipino actors—they may be given opportunities in Hollywood now that Burrus has seen the potential in Filipino talent.

Iza Calzado, already considered one of the best actresses in Philippine cinema, acknowledges the great privilege she just got in this workshop. "I wanted to study acting abroad and further push my craft. But I can't be gone too long. So being in a Stella Adler workshop is worth like going abroad na rin," she said. Iza, who is not new to Hollywood projects, having starred in the American version of the Yam Laranas thriller "Echo" and acted opposite Jesse Bradford, says she is learning a lot about real acting even without the use of words and movements.

Stephanie Henares, for her part, says this workshop is integral in her growth as an actress especially now that she is dabbling more on character acting (first in the just-concluded “Machete” and soon in the indie film “Paglipad ng Anghel”). She said, “to get into a character is perhaps the most challenging task for me yet. But I’m finding out that it’s not a world of difference in hosting. Hosting is being who you are in front of the camera. Acting is hosting but not as yourself."

mb.com.ph

April 27, 2011