David Strathairn at the Masterclass (11/30/2007) - photo copyright © The Greenville News

Overview: David Strathairn was invited by the South Carolina Govenor's School of the Arts & Humanities drama department chair and fellow actor Daniel Murray to teach his acting expertise to a group of teenage actors-in-training on November 29 and 30, 2007. Taking part in the school's drama and writing classes, David had the students working exercises during which he told them not to be afraid to explore their craft, to "invest the words with intention" and to explore the "connective tissue" between the writers' words and the actors' actions.

Quotes from the Masterclass:

• [regarding the actor-writer relationship] "It is a given that without the writer we wouldn't have the words. It is the writer who provides the blueprint, the story, and it is the actor's responsibility to respect it and investigate it. ...You offer up yourself as a tool, as an instrument of expression to the writer." -David Strathairn, 2007

• [regarding the actor's social responsibilities when taking roles] "I'm a citizen before I'm an actor, and I do care about what's going on." -David Strathairn, 2007

Related Links:
South Carolina Govenor's School of the Arts & Humanities (off site)