Ledger stares into the Abyss

Heath Ledger and "method acting" The reports that indicate Ledger had "become" The Joker, the part he was playing in the new Batman movie, are all too familiar to those of us who have been through training in "method acting." The "method" as now applied is in actuality a psychological therapy administered by immature young kids and their "teachers," upon the student for the purpose of attaining inner "truth." None of these people know jack shit about anything other than introspective immersion into a person's deepest "feelings" and sense memories in order to attain that truth. The end result in most cases is supposed to be a characterization that comes exclusively from within and will be one free of the usual cliches'; a performance that is totally unique to the actor, and one that has never been done before by anyone else.

However, because most of the "work" (preparation) takes place outside of formal rehearsals and instead takes place in private rooms, homes, and any other handy spot, means your imagination is in charge and this imagination becomes your reality. If your reality becomes an insane psychopath like "The Joker" as in Batman and you take this persona and internalize it inside yourself, you are playing with psychological dynamite. The "method" propels you into the possibilities of murder, insanity, sadism and all other potentialities within yourself. Ledger's prior parts did not include playing deeply disturbed or murderous people but even so it seems he may have internalized a lot. What does this all mean? It means, along with a lot of other means, that young actors need to be aware of the dangers one encounters when one stares into the abyss, and the abyss stares back.