Acting Techniques That Improve an Actor’s Performance

Acting techniques are an important and personal part of being an actor, something acting enthusiast and actor Othman Louanjli can attest to. There are many different acting techniques, all of which have been created with the aim of cultivating a more powerful acting performance.

Classical acting describes an acting philosophy that focuses on expression through the voice, body, external stimuli, imagination, improvisation, personalising and script analysis. Classical acting is a general term that includes the teachings and theories of classical directors and actors, such as Michel Saint-Denis and Konstantin Stanislavski.

The Life of Konstantin Stanislavski

Konstantin Stanislavski is also the creator of the Stanislavski method, where actors use their own personal experiences and emotions in order to find the ‘truth’ in the character that they are playing. Using Stanislavski’s system, actors must understand the thoughts, feelings and motivations of the character, putting themselves in their shoes, in order to find common ground and to perform in a genuine and naturalistic manner. For more information on Stanislavski, please refer to the embedded PDF.

Method acting is one of the most well known techniques in modern acting, and certain aspects are based on Stanislavski’s acting method. Founded by Lee Strasberg, method acting requires the actor to develop a deep and emotional understanding of their character, so that they can personally identify with them. The acting technique by Stella Adler is also based on Stanislavski’s work; however, unlike Strasberg’s technique, Adler believed that it was potentially damaging for actors to have to dig into their personal history in order to identify with their roles.

Other than method acting and the technique by Adler, the Meisner technique was also inspired by the work of Stanislavski. The Meisner technique asks the actor to focus all of their attention onto the other actor, to believe that their acting partner is the only thing to exist in that moment. The technique is based on the idea that genuine responses and reactions between the actors will result in a more authentic performance.

In opposition to the highly emotional and responsive technique by Meisner, the Brechtian Method, developed by Bertolt Brecht, is based on ‘epic drama’ that relies on the audience being detached and reflective rather than fully emotionally involved in the scene.

Bertold Brecht was born Eugen Berthold Friedrich Brecht in Germany in 1898. Brecht was a poet, playwright and theatre practitioner whose plays were influenced by Marxist ideologies. Brecht preferred to call his style ‘dialectical theatre’, as opposed to ‘epic theatre’, of which he was the main proponent.

In dialectical theatre the audience does not experience a climactic catharsis, as Brecht believed that this caused a sensation of complacency. Instead, Brecht wanted his audiences to watch with a critical perspective, recognising how the issues within the play corresponded to those in the outside world. In consuming dialectical theatre, Brecht hoped to inspire and empower the audience to effect changes in the society in which they lived.

Practical Aesthetics combines elements of the Meisner technique and the Stanislavski method, as well as taking inspiration from the Stoic philosopher Epictetus. Created by the playwright David Mamet and the actor William H. Macy, the method is based on an ability to adapt and develop, script analysis, and exercises in repetition.

The Inventors Behind the Photographic Process

In the 5^th Century B.C. the Chinese discovered the basic idea behind the camera obscura, describing how an inverted image was formed on a wall when projected through a ‘pinhole’ - for further information on the camera obscura, please refer to the embedded PDF. From that time onwards, photography has been refined and developed, becoming a quick, easy, cheap and convenient way of capturing images.

Many different scientists, inventors and thinkers have been instrumental to the development of photography, including Sir Isaac Newton, thanks to his discoveries concerning white light and the colour spectrum. Johann Heinrich Schulze was also instrumental in the history of photography, having discovered that silver nitrate darkened when it was exposed to light. However, it is Joseph Nicephore Niepce that is credited with inventing photography in the mid-1820s.

Nicephore Niepce’s images were formed in a small camera. However, the images were negatives, which meant that areas of light were dark on the image, and areas of darkness were seen as light. Nicephore Niepce’s first images were not permanent or durable, as the image would darken all over with continued exposure to light, and so the Frenchman stopped working with silver salts altogether, turning instead to light-sensitive organic substances.

Using bitumen, painted onto glass or metal, Nicephore Niepce invented the Heliograph, which was the first permanent photographic image. The bitumen would harden when exposed to light, and after a long exposure the plate was washed with oil of lavender to reveal the image.

Over a decade later, Nicephore Niepce collaborated with Louis Daguerre, inventing the first practical photographic technique in 1837. This technique remained in popular use until the mid-1850s. The process requires a polished sheet of silver-plated copper, which is treated with fumes to make its surface sensitive to light; the surface is then exposed within the camera, and is fumed for a second time with mercury vapour. After a chemical treatment removes the surface’s sensitivity to light, the delicate image is sealed behind glass in order to protect it against damage.

In 1861, James Clerk Maxwell, a Scottish physicist, created the first ever colour photograph by taking three exposures under different coloured filters, and combining the separate images into one colour composition. 1871 was the year that Dr Richard Maddox made the discovery that gelatin could be used instead of glass for the photographic plate, which eventually led to the invention of dry plate photography, which did away with the darkroom tent and was a much less cumbersome process.

George Eastman created the first box camera in the 1880s, which he called the ‘Kodak’. It was light and easy to use.

In 1975, an engineer at Eastman Kodak named Steven Sasson invented the first digital camera, which recorded 0.01 megapixel black and white photographs onto a cassette tape. The cassette could then be played back to display the photograph on a television monitor.

Digital cameras have become more and more sophisticated, as have the technologies behind them. In 1988 static RAM memory was developed which was followed quickly by the invention of solid-state flash memory, which was created in 1993 – and is still used in the majority of digital cameras to this day.

Thanks to continually developing technology, amateur photographers and photography enthusiasts such as Othman Louanjli are now able to capture and document the world around them with ease.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CAMERA OBSCURA

Culinary Trends: The French Food Revival

One of the 2017 culinary trends to watch out for is the revival of French cuisine, according to a list from the James Beard Foundation. Many home cooks are desperate to bring the exciting and complex flavours that exist in French cuisine to their own home table. This is perfectly understandable of course, with French cuisine often being seen as the height of cooking sophistication.

However, they are put off by the perceived complexity of this cooking style and are therefore hesitant to try it. Yet there are simpler recipes available that allow you to dip your toe into the world of French cooking without having to spend hours cooking up such a meal. You can try the recipe in the short video attachment for a delicious lunch that is going to be ready in just minutes.

Othman Louanjli is someone who appreciates the possibility of being able to cook French cuisine in his own home. He tends to focus on creating traditional and harmonious dishes, with an emphasis on the main ingredient that has been used.

A Lighter Touch

Modern French cooking is perhaps slightly different to what people traditionally associate with this particular cuisine. There are many top chefs who are going back to their French roots with their cooking, but in a far more simple way than would have been traditionally used. These chefs include Gabriel Kreuther and Kevin Adey. Kreuther advises to read any recipe twice all the way through before beginning any home-cooking experiment. This enables a budding chef to better plan a meal by working out what ingredients are needed and in what order.

Focus on the Produce

French cooking usually focuses on seasonal and regionally sourced produce, and this is particularly important to the top French chefs. They serve products that are fresh, in season and locally sourced, and would never serve something like asparagus in autumn or tomatoes in winter. The embedded PDF guides you through a great, simple winter warmer, prepared in classic French style.

Layering Flavours

French chefs are renowned for having a gift for layering many different flavours, which is often a feature in sauces, soups and stews. This layering process often takes place over a base ‘mirepoix’. This is made up of carrots, onions, and celery, combined with garlic. Wine is often used within this recipe to deglaze the pan or to be reduced, for a more intense flavour. Finally, you can add a layer of fresh herbs for a finishing touch.

Typical Meal Structure

A typical French meal will usually last for three courses, none of which are meant to be rushed. This provides a pleasant and relaxing end to the day’s activities. Soups, salads and other basic dishes are often popular as starters. The attached infographic looks at how to make a classic pissaladiere. Main courses tend to be built around one central ingredient, such as chicken. This will usually be roasted to the perfect point at which the skin is crispy and the meat underneath is juicy and tender. Dessert can be quite a varied course, which options ranging from a simple selection of cheese and fruit, to a more complex and fancy pastry or tart. The latter can be an important addition to any budding French cook’s repertoire.

Master the Basics

The key to creating spectacular French meals lies in the ability to master some of the basic meals and techniques. To do this, spend time researching and learning a variety of different cooking methods, and why and how they are used.

Drive Your Business Forward with Financial Modelling

The start-up stages of a business can often involve a sizeable amount of trial-and-error, which involves trying out different product offerings, marketing methods, and sales approaches. At the start-up stage, this is often undertaken without the benefit of a refined and mature set of business processes. Many business experts argue that the trial-and-error approach is a bad one; however, the early part of a business’s life - or the beginning of an entrepreneurial career - can benefit from the use of trial-and-error as it can offer many opportunities for learning.

Once a business matures out of this stage, strategy and process refinement and development are important elements of scaling the business to a larger size. Particularly, driving growth needs an approach that moves key processes like sales and marketing away from requiring the input of the owner(s), and towards a system that is much more automated.

Knowing Your Numbers

A solid grasp of your financials is an important part of being in business. Without the knowledge of which products make you the most profit, or whether you are making any profit at all, you can’t understand which area of your business would benefit most from your effort and attention.

An income statement (also known as a profit and loss account) is a business document that allows the owner to see the performance of their business over a defined period of time in the past. This is often used to understand the health of the business over the past financial year, or one particularly quarter. In addition to other financial tools, including the balance sheet, the income statement can be great for allowing you to see how well your business has performed. Yet, while they are great for understanding the past, they are not particularly helpful when forecasting the future.

Financial Modelling

Financial modelling  takes a number of different inputs, such as historical financial data from the income statements and balance sheets, to predict how the business will perform in the future. By undertaking financial modelling like this, business owners are able to make better decisions, as well as better understand the impact of such decisions and forecast trends.

Financial models are commonly used in the financial industry, with bankers and investors such as Othman Louanjli of Julius Baer creating financial models as part of their jobs. In addition to this application, financial models can also be used to help business owners understand the drivers of their businesses, finding opportunities to drive growth.

Understanding the Profit and LossAccount

The US Open 2018 - The Final 32 Seed Grand Slam

The 2018 running of the US Open tennis Grand Slam came to an end on 9^th September 2018, handing out a total of $53 million in prize money to the players that took part. 2018’s US Open was Andy Murray’s first tournament after undergoing hip surgery in January 2018. He was knocked out in the second round by Spanish player Fernando Verdasco; this followed Andy’s victory over Australian player James Duckworth, his first in Grand Slam tennis since Wimbledon 2017.

2017’s men’s and women’s singles winners, Rafael Nadal and Sloane Stephens, failed in their attempts to retain their US Open titles in 2018. These titles were instead won by Serbian Novak Djokovic and Japanese player Naomi Osaka, respectively.

2019 Rule Changes

The US Open is traditionally the last of four annual tennis Grand Slam events, boasting this title since 1987. The 2018 running is the last Grand Slam to be held with 32 seeds. Starting in 2019, the Grand Slam tournaments will return to their traditional 16 seed format. In addition, several other rule changes are being made, including alterations to the way prize money gets dished out to players that retire from a first round match, or withdraw late from the tournament because of an injury. Other changes include the partial introduction of clocks to speed up play, similar to the shot clock used in basketball.

These rule changes are part of the Grand Slam Board’s plan to create a better game for fans, particularly paying spectators who are sat courtside. The return to the traditional 16 seed format could spice up play, increasing the chances of unexpected results. This could in turn provide a better spectacle for spectators; however, the proof will be in the pudding when tennis fans such as Othman Louanjli give their verdict after the first 2019 Grand Slam, the Australian Open, in January 2019.

2018 Prize Money

The 2018 US Open’s $53 million prize money was an increase of 5% on the previous year. However, the 5% increase has not been a uniform increase across each tournament, with the top prizes for both women’s and men’s singles competitions increasing by 2.7% against the 2017 winnings, bringing the 2018 total to $3.8 million each.

Halving the Tennis Seed

French Cooking – Some of the Best Dishes from France

Included on the UNESCO’s lists of the world’s “intangible cultural heritage”, French Cooking is one of the greatest influencers in the culinary world. Whilst originally influenced by foods from Italy in the 15^th and 16^th centuries, French cooking now permeates the cooking of many other countries.

The original Italian influence began with the matrimonial union of the future King Henry II and Catherine de’ Medici, a princess of Florence. At the time, cooking in Italy was much more mature, and this maturity was introduced to the French palette as Catherine moved into the French court. She was accompanied by a number of Italian chefs, who brought their culinary skills and knowledge to France.

Chefs in Italy had been using ingredients that were revolutionary at the time, such as truffles, garlic and mushrooms. These are now common elements in many French dishes thanks to this Italian influence. France’s cuisine is adored by many, including Othman Louanjli.

Here is a selection of some of the most popular French dishes:

Steak Tartare

Steak Tartate is a very famous French dish; it has even been the main feature of a famous Mr Bean sketch. The concept may be a little difficult to fathom: raw beef that is totally uncooked, not just rare like a steak... completely raw. Because of this, it is vital to ensure that the meat comes from a trustworthy source and that it is high quality. The meat should be completely covered and refrigerated until ready for serving. To make steak tartare you will also need eggs, onion, Worcestershire sauce, anchovies and hot sauce.

Gratin Dauphinois

Although commonly cooked with it, authentic gratin dauphinois contains no cheese, instead using just sliced potatoes that are baked in either cream or milk. Paired well with red wine, gratin dauphinois is quite easy to prepare, with a sprinkling of nutmeg and chives to add extra flavour.

Coq au Vin

One of the most famous of the dishes from France, particularly in the United States, Coq au Vin was traditionally made with rooster, but is now more commonly made with chicken, along with bacon, beef stock, butter and red wine sauce. Delicious, especially when paired with a pinot noir.

Baked Camembert

A very simple recipe, simply a baked camembert cheese (usually served with bread and wine).

Regional Differences in French Food from Othman Louanjli

Playing the Piano - How it Can Improve More Than Musical Abilities

Music is a tool that is widely considered to have numerous benefits. It can improve concentration, increase our productivity levels, and even provide health benefits. The Greeks believed in this so much that they put one god, Apollo, in charge of both music and healing. Learning to play a musical instruction such as the piano can assist in the development of new skills and offer many other benefits. Learning to play the piano as a child can deliver benefits well into adult life.

Reducing Stress and Anxiety Levels

Our modern lifestyles place huge demands on us. Our attention is demanded all of the time as the little communication devices in our pockets continually beep and ping with new notifications. Learning to play the piano can distract from the demands of everyday life and help you to relax. A 2013 study that was published in the National Library of Medicine found that learning to play the piano can treat depression and reduce stress.

Professional Success

Many people who have been successful in their respective fields are regular players of the piano. This includes actors such as Richard Gere and Robert Downey Jr., finance professionals such as
Othman Louanjli and Stephen Ridley, and politicians such as Condoleezza Rice and Richard Nixon. Whilst playing the piano doesn’t necessarily mean you will be successful, it is clear that the successful are often amateur musicians.

Better Creative Thinking

Creativity is a skill that is required in almost all walks of life, both in work and outside of it. It is not just the creative industries that require creative thinkers; creativity helps to improve problem solving skills which are required in almost all jobs, as well as being useful outside of work. Learning to play the piano encourages the brain to improvise, which helps to develop the ability to find innovative solutions to any and all challenges life can throw at you.

The Virtue of Patience and Perseverance

Just like learning any musical instrument, learning to play the piano takes a long time and a lot of effort. Practising regularly requires a great deal of discipline, particularly since progress can be very slow when starting out.

History of the Piano from Othman Louanjli