On screen- EVERYTHI NG HAS MEANING
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POLSKI
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20. 05. 2018.
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Talking about directing and refraining actors from playing – MACIEJ STUHR.

As part of the Drama Schools' Festival Maciej Stuhr as a…debutant. He presented to the audience of the Festival two films he worked on with students of The Aleksander Zelwerowicz National Academy of Dramatic Art in Warsaw – "Silence of the Polish Lambs" and "Ding Dong". The creation of those medium-length films is the final part of workshops for students of the Academy in Warsaw conducted by Maciej Stuhr. The meeting at the Film School between the actor-director and the acting students was full of advices and reflections on how to be on screen? To act? To pretend?

- The workshops on operating the camera were more about refraining actors from playing. On screen everything has meaning. When you react and when you don’t. We need to control what we are showing the viewer. The less, the better. You need to let the camera peek at you – said Maciej Stuhr during the meeting.

He recalls the studies at the AST National Academy of Theatre Arts in Krakow (formerly PWST). The school can't be the aim in itself, it should be a tool, one should take as much education from it as possible. For me a turning point were classes with Jan Peszek. "I click and you play". This made me realize what acting is about. After the word "action". I instantly have to believe in what I’m playing, who I am at this moment, what I’m doing, so that person on the other side could believe it to – Maciej Stuhr told us.

When asked about directing films and working with young actors, he said – It is a great responsibility, but also great personal fun. I spend plenty of energy on this, but it is the best energy that I have – said the guest of the 36th Drama Schools' Festival.

Photo: Filip Szkopiński