The Actor's Art and Craft


Book Description

William Esper, one of the leading acting teachers of our time, explains and extends Sanford Meisner's legendary technique, offering a clear, concrete, step-by-step approach to becoming a truly creative actor.Esper worked closely with Meisner for seventeen years and has spent decades developing his famous program for actor's training. The result is a rigorous system of exercises that builds a solid foundation of acting skills from the ground up, and that is flexible enough to be applied to any challenge an actor faces, from soap operas to Shakespeare. Co-writer Damon DiMarco, a former student of Esper's, spent over a year observing his mentor teaching first-year acting students. In this book he recreates that experience for us, allowing us to see how the progression of exercises works in practice. The Actor's Art and Craft vividly demonstrates that good training does not constrain actors' instincts—it frees them to create characters with truthful and compelling inner lives.




A Beginner's Guide to Acting English


Book Description

It's 1977 and life in Iran is becoming unpredictable. The Shah will be overthrown and events are about to take place on the world stage. But for five-year-old Shappi Khorsandi all this means is that she must flee, leaving behind a mad extended Iran clan and everything she has ever known.




Creating a Character


Book Description

Actor and mime artist Moni Yakim reveals his time-tested techniques and step-by-step exercises for physically evoking a character. Beginning with a chapter on looking inward, Yakim gives exercises on discovering aspects of one's own character. Then he teaches the actor how to identify with qualities outside the self. Finally, he shows how to apply these techniques to 12 classical theatrical roles.




The Acting Book


Book Description

The third of John Abbott's essential guides to acting introduces young actors to the best performance techniques, old and new.




Acting in Film


Book Description

(Applause Books). A master actor who's appeared in an enormous number of films, starring with everyone from Nicholson to Kermit the Frog, Michael Caine is uniquely qualified to provide his view of making movies. This revised and expanded edition features great photos, with chapters on: Preparation, In Front of the Camera Before You Shoot, The Take, Characters, Directors, On Being a Star, and much more. "Remarkable material ... A treasure ... I'm not going to be looking at performances quite the same way ... FASCINATING!" Gene Siskel




Sanford Meisner on Acting


Book Description

Sanford Meisner was one of the best known and beloved teachers of acting in the country. This book follows one of his acting classes for fifteen months, beginning with the most rudimentary exercises and ending with affecting and polished scenes from contemporary American plays. Written in collaboration with Dennis Longwell, it is essential reading for beginning and professional actors alike. Throughout these pages Meisner is a delight—always empathizing with his students and urging them onward, provoking emotion, laughter, and growing technical mastery from his charges. With an introduction by Sydney Pollack, director of Out of Africa and Tootsie, who worked with Meisner for five years. "This book should be read by anyone who wants to act or even appreciate what acting involves. Like Meisner's way of teaching, it is the straight goods."—Arthur Miller "If there is a key to good acting, this one is it, above all others. Actors, young and not so young, will find inspiration and excitement in this book."—Gregory Peck




Winning Auditions


Book Description

(Limelight). This book isn't about methods. It's not another how-to book. It's a revelation: a shared collection of actors' trade secrets tricks of the trade divulged by professionals in an experimental workshop that lasted nearly a year. You'll discover what actually sells you more than talent. You'll find out how powerful body language can be, and even how influential color is in the audition room. You'll learn what keeps a photo on a casting director's desk and what keeps a casting director on your side. In short, you'll have 101 innovative ways to get what you've always wanted: more of the parts you deserve.




The Actor and the Target


Book Description




The Best Book on Acting


Book Description

How to Become a Better Actor Instantly Without Killing Yourself with "The Method"! Discover the the psychological secrets of "The Life Acting System" If you are an actor, you've probably done your fair share of pointless exercises in classes: "Hold the imaginary teacup. Feel the warmth of the tea. Can you smell it? Can you smell it?" ...or you may have had your fill of "gurus" who may direct scenes, but don't give actors any understanding of how to get where they need to get--on their own! If you are not a trained actor, this book will help you to STOP THINKING and START DOING! It cuts through all the b.s., is mercifully short, but yet will help you get to the core questions that every actor should answer. Based on 50 plus years of psychological research, I make the case for what I call "Life Acting." A very simple, behavior-based approach that can be as effective with a toddler as it can be with a veteran wanting to go as deep as possible. That's why it's humbly titled "The Best Book on Acting." You wont be disappointed. You will become a better actor because 1. You won't be scraping your psyche with an internal focus to present something that has nothing to do with the material. 2. You won't be overly focused on emotion, (often pushing and unrealistic) but on the INTENT of the character. 3. You will be more focused, more colorful, more memorable and interesting because you know how to make crystal clear choices which lead to impacting the audience! 4. You won't be "in your head" in performance, trying to juggle the balls of technique, emotion and connection. You will be "doing"! 5. You will understand the crucial difference between Homework, Rehearsal, and Performance. This book might reboot your whole way of building a character. It will be faster, more precise and more interesting. The questions for Homework can be broken down to such a basic level that a small child can use them and be effective!




The Technique of Acting


Book Description

In The Technique of Acting Stella Adler imparts knowledge gained over decades on the stage and years of training with such greats as Stanislavski. This book presents invaluable training and technique for anyone aspiring to the stage.