An workshop titled “Acting and Experience Transmission,” led by renowned Iranian actor Mehdi Hashemi, was held on Saturday, 29 November at Honar Shahr Aftab Cineplex in Shiraz, as part of the educational program of the 43rd Fajr International Film Festival. The session focused on the position of the actor in cinema, the nature of performance, and the transmission of lived experience to younger generations.
At the beginning of the workshop, Hashemi emphasized the primacy of practice over theory in acting. Referring to a well-known anecdote involving Al Pacino, he said that acting cannot be learned solely through academic study. “Someone with a PhD in acting once complained to Al Pacino that despite years of study, he hadn’t become an actor. Pacino told him: ‘Go act.’ If you want to learn boxing, you have to step into the ring—throw a punch and take a few hits. Acting happens on stage, not just in classrooms.”
He explained that while acting classes can help performers prepare physically and mentally, true understanding emerges only through experience. According to Hashemi, “In class, you learn how to keep your body flexible and ready, but it’s on set that you truly discover what to do. Filmmaking works the same way—you won’t understand feature films until you’ve made short ones.”
Hashemi described acting as an art rooted in passion. He warned against commercialized training environments that drain young actors’ motivation. “Acting is desire. An actor must be full of enthusiasm. Some classes are purely business-oriented; many lack both knowledge and dedication. As a result, the passion of many students is wasted.”
Discussing the concept of the “auteur actor,” Hashemi noted that while authorship is more commonly associated with directors, certain actors possess such distinctive personalities that their roles consistently align with their own inner character. He cited Alain Delon as an example, explaining that although Delon did not play a wide range of roles, his strong personal identity defined the characters he portrayed.
He also addressed acting styles, stressing that performance is closely tied to a director’s worldview. “There are different acting styles, often shaped by the director’s atmosphere. For instance, Marlon Brando could not easily fit into Hitchcock’s cinema, which is built on tension and suspense.”
Reflecting on emotional immersion, Hashemi quoted an artist who once said that an actor should be so deeply immersed in feeling that they almost faint—yet remain conscious of the performance. “You must play with complete emotion, but never lose awareness,” he said.
Physical preparation was another key theme of the workshop. Hashemi encouraged actors to maintain physical health, noting that a prepared body allows emotions to flow more freely. “Actors should exercise so their bodies can breathe. Still, in practice, many actors are unprepared. Watching films and attending classes helps, but readiness comes from discipline.”
One of the central ideas of the session was honesty. “Acting is not about tricks or deception,” Hashemi stated. “If that were the case, con artists would be the best actors. Transparency and honesty with yourself are the best ways to become an actor.”
Addressing the challenge of portraying characters without real-life counterparts, he explained that this depends largely on the director’s vision. “I listen carefully to the director. If I believe in them, I follow their guidance, and gradually my character aligns with their perspective.”
Hashemi concluded by stressing the importance of ethical and emotional balance in an actor’s life. He highlighted listening as a fundamental skill, saying, “Great actors are great listeners.” He also challenged common misconceptions about confidence, arguing that many strong actors are actually reserved rather than bold. “Shyness is something we lack today. Learning to portray modesty and inner truth is essential. Acting deals with inner realities.”
The 43rd Fajr International Film Festival is currently underway in Shiraz from November 26 to December 3, 2025, featuring a wide range of screenings, workshops, and discussions that bring together filmmakers, artists, and cinema professionals from around the world.
