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Acting: The Basics (The Basics)
by Bella MerlinActing: The Basics 3rd Edition is a dynamic response to recent societal and entertainment industry changes, focusing on inclusion, diversity and equity, and the actor's trajectory from training to rehearsal to performance on stage and screen, with hands-on tools and global perspectives. The book offers vital ways of building a practical acting toolkit, through breath, body, voice, emotions, imagination and spirit. We begin with a socio-cultural look at actor as magician, storyteller, healer and social changer. Throughout, there are insights from Black, Indigenous, First Nations, South/East Asian, intercultural and feminist practitioners, together with methods focusing on disability and accessibility, intimacy directives, mindfulness and intersectionality. Key 'canonical' figures still feature (e.g., Stanislavsky, Meisner, Brecht and Suzuki) with re-visioned perspective. Scattered throughout are post-COVID insights, plus expanded sections on screen acting (including self-tapes) and Shakespeare. This book is useful for beginner or expert, as it's always helpful getting back to basics. Because the author is both an actor and an actor trainer, the tools are steeped in user-friendly application. At the same time, transferable skills (e.g., dynamic listening and empathy) are shown as relevant to everyone. With a glossary of terms and useful online suggestions (including blogs, videos and podcasts), this is ideal for anyone learn anew about the practice and history of acting, or to take their acting and teaching into new terrain.
Acting: An International Encyclopedia
by Beth OsnesExpanding beyond the conventional western concept of theater, the reference explores current and historical rituals, festivals, and performances from countries and cultures around the world; contributions of women to acting and the performing arts; and cinema and the film industry. The cross-referencing is extensive, and entry-specific references augment the general bibliography.
Acting: How to Avoid Mistakes and Achieve Success as a Working Actor
by Paul RussellIn ACTING: Make It Your Business, Second Edition, award-winning casting director Paul Russell puts the power to land jobs and thrive in any medium—stage, film, television, or the Internet—directly into the hands of the actor. This blunt and practical guide offers a wealth of advice on auditioning, marketing, and networking, combining traditional techniques with those best suited for the digital age. Well-known actors and powerful agents and managers make cameos throughout, offering newcomers and working professionals alike a clear-eyed, uncensored perspective on survival and advancement within the entertainment industry. This second edition has been updated and expanded to include the following: More stars of screen and stage sharing acting career strategies Digital audition techniques for screen and stage, including how best to self-tape New tools to master modern marketing, both digital and traditional with innovation Expanded actor resource listings Additional bicoastal talent agents and managers spilling secrets for obtaining representation, and tips for successful actor-to-representation partnerships New insights on audition techniques An excellent resource for career actors, beginning and amateur actors, as well as students in Acting I and II, Auditions, and Business of Acting courses, ACTING: Make It Your Business provides readers with invaluable tools to build a successful, long-lasting acting career.
Acting: Advanced Techniques for the Actor, Director, and Teacher
by Terry Schreiber Mary Beth Barber Edward NortonHoned by the author's 35 years of teaching, this advanced book offers different warm-up exercises concentrating on the actor's sense of smell, sound, sight, and touch; sensory tools for conveying the climate and environment of the text; tips for suggesting a character's physical conditions; and much more. Individual exercises will help actors to free the voice and body, create a character, find the action and condition of scenes, and explore the subconscious for effective emotional recall. Readers will also find meticulous guidelines for best using rehearsal time and preparing for in-class scene work. The foreword is written by two-time Academy Award nominee Edward Norton. Those who act, direct, or teach will not want to miss the acting lessons that have made T. Schreiber Studio a premier actor training program.
Acting after Grotowski: Theatre’s Carnal Prayer
by Kris SalataFor whom does the actor perform? To answer this foundational question of the actor’s art, Grotowski scholar Kris Salata explores acting as a self-revelatory action, introduces Grotowski’s concept of "carnal prayer," and develops an interdisciplinary theory of acting and spectating. Acting after Grotowski: Theatre’s Carnal Prayer attempts to overcome the religious/secular binary by treating "prayer" as a pre-religious, originary deed, and ultimately situates theatre along with ritual in their shared territory of play. Grounded in theatre practice, Salata’s narrative moves through postmodern philosophy, critical theory, theatre, performance, ritual, and religious studies, concluding that the fundamental structure of prayer, which underpins the actor’s deed, can be found in any self-revelatory creative act.
Acting and Being: Explorations in Embodied Performance
by Elizabeth HessIn this book, educator-actor-playwright-director Elizabeth Hess offers systematic and original explorations in performance technique. This hybrid approach is a fusion of physical theater modalities culled from Western practices (Psycho-physical actions, Viewpoints) Eastern practices (Butoh, Kundalini yoga) and related performance disciplines (Mask, Puppetry). Behavioral, physiological and psychological 'states of being' are engaged to unlock impulses, access experience and enlarge the imagination. Through individual, partnered and collective explorations, actors uncover a character's essence and level of consciousness, their energy center and body language, and their archetype and relationship to universal themes. Magic (to pretend, as if), Metaphor (to compare, as like) and Myth (to pattern after, as in) provide the foundation for generating transformative, empathetic and expansive artistic expression. Explorations can be adapted to character work, scene study and production, including original/devised work and established text, to illuminate singular and surprising work through collaborative creativity that is inventive, inclusive and alive.
Acting and Directing Shakespeare's Comedies: Key Lessons
by Kevin OtosActing and Directing Shakespeare’s Comedies: Key Lessons outlines a clear, effective process for acting Shakespeare’s comedies. This book lays out core principles and useful exercises that help the reader better understand, expereince, and implement Shakespeare's comedic design. Building off of modern acting methods as well as contemporary Clown, classical Commedia, and verse-speaking techniques, the author guides the reader toward interpretive and performance choices that are original, justified, and entertaining. Included are clear examples and detailed case studies that illuminate and reenforce these key lessons. This accessible book is for actors, directors, students of Shakespeare, and those who want a fuller, richer awareness of the possibilities within Shakespeare’s comedies and a clear, pragmatic process for creating those performances.
Acting and Living in Discovery: A Workbook for the Actor
by Carol RosenfeldActing and Living in Discovery, A Workbook for the Actor lays out essential fundamentals of the actor’s process. Based on the author’s experiences at the legendary HB Studio in New York City, Acting and Living in Discovery provides practical guidance for developing, honing, or revitalizing the actor’s craft for the actor. A teacher can use the workbook to support a studio class, a special workshop, part of a university acting course, or private coaching. The chapters delve into basic facets of the acting process that lead the actor into discovering the corporal world of a script. Exercises at the end of each chapter invite the actor to discover the treasure trove of his unique self, and spell out the work an actor can do to wear the shoes of any character. The actor is at once the instrument and the player. The workbook can be read straight through or used as a reference for addressing a particular problem or topic.
Acting, Archetype, and Neuroscience: Superscenes for Rehearsal and Performance
by Jane Drake Brody"How do we move actors into the less accessible regions of themselves and release hotter, more dangerous, and less literal means of approaching a role?" Superscenes are a revolutionary new mode of teaching and rehearsal, allowing the actor to discover and utilize the primal energies underlying dramatic texts. In Acting, Archetype, and Neuroscience Jane Drake Brody draws upon a lifetime’s experience in the theatre, alongside the best insights into pedagogical practice in the field, the work of philosophers and writers who have focused on myth and archetype, and the latest insights of neuroscience. The resulting interdisciplinary, exciting volume works to: Mine the essentials of accepted acting theory while finding ways to access more primally-based human behavior in actors Restore a focus on storytelling that has been lost in the rush to create complex characters with arresting physical and vocal lives Uncover the mythical bones buried within every piece of dramatic writing; the skeletal framework upon which hangs the language and drama of the play itself Focus on the actor’s body as the only place where the conflict inherent in drama can be animated. Acting, Archetype, and Neuroscience weaves together a wealth of seemingly disparate performance methods, exciting actors to imaginatively and playfully take risks they might otherwise avoid. A radical new mixture of theory and practice by a highly respected teacher of acting, this volume is a must-read for students and performance practitioners alike.
Acting as a Business
by Brian O'NeilAn essential handbook for actors-a modern classic-in a newly updated edition.Since its original publication, Acting as a Business has earned a reputation as an indispensable tool for working and aspiring actors. Avoiding the usual advice about persistence and luck, Brian O'Neil provides clear-cut guidelines that will give actors a solid knowledge of the business behind their art. It's packed with practical information-on everything from what to say in a cover letter to where to stand when performing in agent's office-including:*How to craft a winning theatrical résumé*The most effective ways to join the performer's unions*Tactics for getting an agent*Strategies for finding work in the theater, on daytime television, and in independent films*Navigating the different customs and cultures of New York and Los AngelesO'Neil has updated Acting as a Business to keep up with the latest show-business trends, including how best to use the Internet, making this new edition no actor should be without.From the Trade Paperback edition.
Acting & Auditioning for the 21st Century: Tips, Trends, and Techniques for Digital and New Media
by Stephanie Barton-FarcasActing & Auditioning for the 21st Century covers acting and auditioning in relation to new media, blue and green screen technology, motion capture, web series, audiobook work, evolving livestreamed web series, and international acting and audio work. Readers are given a methodology for changing artistic technology and the global acting market, with chapters covering auditions of all kinds, contracts, the impact of new technology and issues relating to disabled actors, actors of colour and actors that are part of the LGBTQIA community.
The Acting Bug
by Kathryn EllisTV stardom – fame, fortune, and Hollywood! It’s the chance of a lifetime for Kate Merriman when she lands a small role in a new TV series called Backbeat. But it’s less fun when Kate finds out her best friend Maria has turned down the part she’s been offered in the show. They’re always there for each other. How can Kate succeed when Maria’s not there to share this new adventure. And why doesn’t their friendship seem to work any more? In her first novel in the Backbeat series, Kathryn Ellis provides a lively look into the world of TV shows – and close friendships.
Acting Class: Take a Seat
by Milton KatselasJim Carrey, Kyle Chandler, George Clooney, Ted Danson, Kate Hudson, Justina Machado, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Tom Selleck are just some of the many celebrated actors who have benefited from the legendary acting teacher Milton Katselas. As the founder of the prestigious Beverly Hills Playhouse, Katselas was regarded by many as one of America's foremost acting teachers as well as an acclaimed director. Originally available only to students at the Beverly Hills Playhouse, Acting Class: Take a Seat presents the concepts and methods that helped lead a generation of actors to success on stage, in cinema, and on television. In this all-encompassing book, Katselas invites readers to “sit in” on the classes he taught for more than forty years. Acting Class covers in detail three concepts central to the Katselas approach: Acting, Attitude, and Administration. Katselas not only covers techniques and methods, but also includes valuable discussions on the attitudes any artist needs to fulfill their dreams.
Acting Comedy
by Christopher OlsenDespite being roundly cited as much harder to perform than its dramatic counterpart, comic acting is traditionally seen as a performance genre that can’t be taught. At best it is often described as a skill that can only be learned "on the job" through years of practice, or given to a performer through natural talent. Acting Comedy is an effort to examine this idea more rigorously by looking at different aspects of the comic actor’s craft. Each chapter is written by an expert in a particular form—from actors and directors to teachers and standup comedians. Topics covered include: how performers work with audiences how comic texts can be enhanced through word and musical rhythm analysis how physical movements can generate comic moments and build character. This book is an invaluable resource for any performer focusing on the minute details of comic acting, even down to exactly how one delivers a joke on stage. Christopher Olsen’s unique collection of comic voices will prove essential reading for students and professionals alike.
Acting Exercises for Non-Traditional Staging: Michael Chekhov Reimagined
by Anjalee Deshpande HutchinsonActing Exercises for Non-Traditional Staging: Michael Chekhov Reimagined offers a new set of exercises for coaching actors when working on productions that are non-traditionally staged in arenas, thrusts, or alleys. All of the exercises are adapted from Michael Chekhov's acting technique, but are reimagined in new and creative ways that offer innovative twists for the practitioner familiar with Chekhov, and easy accessibility for the practitioner new to Chekhov. Exploring the methodology through a modern day lens, these exercises are energizing additions to the classroom and essential tools for more a vibrant rehearsal and performance.
Acting: The First Six Lessons
by Richard BoleslavskyActing: The First Six Lessons by Richard Boleslavsky is a classic and enduring guide to the art of acting, offering both aspiring and seasoned performers a deep understanding of the craft. Originally published in 1933, this book is structured as a series of dialogues between a young actress and an experienced director, through which Boleslavsky imparts essential lessons about technique, emotion, and artistic truth.The six lessons—Concentration, Memory of Emotion, Dramatic Action, Characterization, Observation, and Rhythm—form the foundation of Boleslavsky’s method, drawing from his experience in the Moscow Art Theatre and his study under Konstantin Stanislavski. Each lesson encourages actors to engage both mind and body, teaching them how to tap into personal emotions, create authentic characters, and bring nuance to their performances.Through vivid storytelling and insightful examples, Boleslavsky emphasizes the importance of discipline, empathy, and preparation in the actor’s journey. His conversational approach makes complex techniques accessible, guiding readers to explore their inner world, connect with their characters, and fully inhabit the roles they play. While deeply practical, the book also touches on the philosophical aspects of performance, encouraging actors to view their work as both a craft and a form of personal expression.Acting: The First Six Lessons remains a vital resource for actors, directors, and theater enthusiasts, offering timeless wisdom that continues to shape modern acting methods. Boleslavsky’s blend of technical instruction and artistic inspiration makes this book an essential addition to any actor’s library, challenging performers to approach their work with authenticity, emotional depth, and an unwavering commitment to truth.
Acting for Animators
by Ed HooksEd Hooks' indispensable acting guidebook for animators has been fully updated and improved! Hooks uses basic acting theory to explain everything from character movement and facial expressions to interaction and scene construction. Just as acting on film and on stage are very different disciplines, so is the use of acting theory in creating an animated character, scene or story. Acting for Animators is full of essential craft tips from an acting master. New to this Routledge edition: - scene-by-scene analyses of six films, including Up, Coraline and Kung Fu Panda - an expanded chapter on video game animation - all-new illustrations - a 500 word history of acting
Acting for Animators: 4th Edition
by Ed HooksEd Hooks' essential acting guidebook for animators has been fully revised and updated in this 4th edition. Hooks uses classical acting theory – from Aristotle to Stanislavsky and beyond – to explain everything from character analysis and physical movement to facial expression and scene structure. He speaks directly to animators, instead of stage or screen actors. Acting for Animators is an invaluable primer for beginner animators and a useful reference for experienced pros. New to this fourth edition: - 6 new scene-by-scene acting analyses of animated feature films, including Zootopia and The Little Prince - an annotated analysis of Walt Disney’s famous 1935 memo to Don Graham, regarding how best to train animators - advice to the animator about how best to perform visual references - a chapter on Virtual Reality - an online database of Ed’s previous film analyses, all in one place.
Acting for Animators
by Ed HooksEd Hooks' essential acting guidebook for animators has been fully revised and updated in this fifth edition, capturing some of the vast changes that have affected the animation industry in recent years. Written specifically for animation professionals instead of stage and movie actors, this book provides an essential primer for creating empathetic and dynamic character performance and, in the process, shows how the strongest storytelling structure works. Hooks applies classical acting theory – from Aristotle to Stanislavsky and beyond – to animation, as well as explaining scene structure, character development and the connections between thinking, emotion and physical action. Theory presented here applies to any and all character animation regardless of style or animation technique. Whether your project is stop-motion, 2D, 3D or a blend of techniques, audiences are audiences are audiences, and they have shown up at the theater or cinema so they can experience and enjoy your story. New to this fifth edition: Four new scene-by-scene acting analyses of animated feature films: Flee, Soul, Porco Rosso and The Triplets of Belleville. A comprehensive and updated section titled "Classroom Notes" which includes a segment on experimental animation, a brief history of acting training for actors and guidance on Motion and Performance Capture technology. Updated online database of Hooks' previous film analyses, all in one place. Acting for Animators is essential reading for all students and teachers of animation courses.
Acting For Film
by Mel ChurcherThe author uses her wide experience as an acting and voice coach an major movies to offer insights into the film acting process. She provides tasks, techniques and tips that are designed specifically for film: there's advice to make the first-time film actor feel at home on set, tips on the casting process, how to cope with auditions, on-camera techniques, schedules and shooting order, as well as specific advice from film crews to help an actor's performance. This practical workbook combines exercises and anecdotes in an informal and accessible style, making it the indispensable guide for anyone wishing to light up the silver screen.
Acting for Film
by Cathy HaaseAspiring film and television actors will discover exercises for relaxing the face to achieve maximum expressiveness; maintaining proper eye focus in front of the camera and conveying the "beats" of a scene, even in the shortest takes. They'll also learn tested techniques for adapting to the styles of different directors; modulating voice and breath for maximum effect; preparing for the first day on the set; enduring multiple takes and on-the-set waiting; and much, much more. For any performer who intends to make a living in front of the camera, Acting for Film is the most authoritative resource!
Acting for Film (Second Edition)
by Cathy Haase Ian McKellen"It will not disappoint . . ." —Ian McKellen, from the ForewordAn Authoritative Training Manual for Film Actors and Teachers “In today's entertainment industry of buff bodies and beautiful faces, it's easy to think that a couple of sit-ups and high cheek bones can create a movie legend,” writes film veteran Cathy Haase. However, she adds, what the actor really must have are “technique, craft, and a depth of self-knowledge.” In Acting for Film, Second Edition, Haase shows actors how to develop all of these, sharing her secrets (developed through years of on-camera work) for creating characters who come alive and who touch the souls of the audience. Readers will learn how to apply theatrical training to film acting and hone a personal approach to rendering a character. Acting for Film, Second Edition, is an essential guide for aspiring performers, acting teachers, and anyone interested in gaining a greater understanding of the craft. This new edition includes: Advice on dealing with new technology including CGI and motion capture Concentration and relaxation exercises that will enhance facial expressiveness Exploration of sense memory techniques for on-camera work Animal exercises and their usages Tips for maintaining proper eye focus in front of the camera and conveying the “beats” of a scene, even in the shortest takes For any performer who intends to make a living in front of the camera, Acting for Film, Second Edition, is the most authoritative resource! With Haase’s experience and advice in their pocket, readers will be prepared to land the film role they’ve been dreaming of.
Acting For Real: Drama Therapy Process, Technique, And Performance
by Renée EmunahThis second edition takes the reader further into the heart of using drama for healing. Dr. Emunah offers an expanded understanding of her Integrative Five Phase model, a foundational approach that embraces the wide spectrum of possibilities within the playing field of drama therapy. Grounded by compassionate clinical examples, including ones that reach over time into deep-seated issues, the book offers tools for action-oriented treatment, embodied therapeutic interventions, and creatively engaging a wide variety of clients. This comprehensive text also contains over 120 techniques, categorized by phases in the session and treatment series, and subcategorized by therapeutic objective. Process-oriented drama therapy with group and individuals, as well as performance-oriented forms, are described in vivid detail. New to the second edition is an exploration of drama therapy outside of the clinical arena, including dramatic methods in family life and parenting, and drama therapy geared toward social change.
Acting for the Camera: Revised Edition
by Tony BarrLearn how to adapt the craft of acting to the needs of the camera and how to make it in TV & film with this guide full of insights from pros in the field.Culled from Tony Barr’s forty years of experience as a performer, director, and acting teacher in Hollywood, this highly praised handbook provides readers with the practical knowledge they need when performing in front of the camera. This updated edition includes plenty of new exercises for honing on-camera skills; additional chapters on imagination and movement; and fresh material on character development, monologues, visual focus, playing comedy, and working with directors. Inside tips on the studio system and acting guilds make it particularly helpful for people new to the business, and numerous anecdotes from actors such as Morgan Freeman and Anthony Hopkins and examples from current movies illustrate its many lessons. It is perfect for acting classes, workshops, all actors who work in front of the camera—and all those who want to.
Acting for the Camera: Back To One
by Peter Allen StoneActing for the Camera: Back to One is a "how to" book with practical steps to achieve a professional performance on camera. The book focuses on four distinct areas: how to prepare the character, how to execute the technical responsibilities that will assist the editor in creating the on-camera performance in post-production, tips from industry professionals, and how to create effective self-tape auditions. Part One: The Character’s World is packed with tools to analyze the script and fully prepare the character before arriving on set. Part Two: The Actor’s World focuses on developing technical acting skills for the camera that assist the pre- and post-production teams to create a dynamic on-screen performance. In Part Three: The Professional World, industry professionals provide tips from inside the film/TV audition room and how to navigate a career in the acting business. The final section, Part Four: Self-Tape Like a Pro, outlines how to build a self-tape studio in the privacy of your own home and submit high-quality self-tape auditions that will help you stand out from the competition. Written for students enrolled in Acting for the Camera courses, Acting for the Camera: Back to One explores techniques that can be practiced and mastered by actors of all levels, from the moment they audition for the part through to when they hear that director call "cut!"