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This is essential reading for anyone interested in directing or acting. Judith Weston's brilliance is to recognize that directors, actors, writers, and technicians are involved in a process that is at essence a collaboration. In order for them to have the best shot at creating something true and meaningful, they must share a language and a method of exchange that fosters creative cooperation. Weston rightly sees the director as the central figure in inspiring the energy of a production's harmony. She advises the prospective director on every aspect of a stage or film production, showing how the director can draw the best performances possible from actors.
Book Description
Internationally-renowned directing coach Weston demonstrates what constitutes a good performance, what actors want from a director, what directors do wrong, script analysis and preparation, how actors work, and shares insights into the director/actor relationship.
Customer Reviews:
Buy this book now!.......2007-04-15
If you are even thinking that this book might be of some interest to you, I can assure you it will change the way you work -- all for the good. Weston has boiled down and focused the art of getting a performance in a clear and brilliant manner. What else can I say, why are you still reading this - buy it. Simple.
Simple techniques that WORK!.......2007-02-05
Judith Weston has outlined for the director (of any performance, not just film) quick and effective ways to communicate and elicit the performance you want... at the very least, you will get something different. I am an actress who has had the privilege of working with Judith and her directors. I have seen the process in action. I've used it. When someone has truly applied the techniques that this book recommends, it doesn't matter if the actors have just started, or if they're old pros, with vastly different methods, the performances are fresh. The performances change. The performances improve! READ THIS BOOK!
No other book on acting or directing comes close.......2006-10-18
This book isn't just for directors. It is an invaluable resource for actors as well. I've taught film and video acting for a number of years and never found a book that was worth having students read even part of. Until this one. Unlike most books on acting which focus on techniques that may work great on stage but are worse than disastrous on film, Judith Weston goes under the surface of acting and directing to the core of what a close-up camera needs to see. That, in a nutshell, is "lending the character your unconscious," so that absolutely nothing looks (or is) fake or "pretend." Even more importantly, she provides down-to-earth, extremely effective techniques for directors that support and demand genuine, affect-free performances. She discusses the creative process of the director at a level that is not idiosycratic or based on her personal "style" (as so many books for directors and actors do). Her advice is both common-sensical and deeply insightful, it's what every good director knows but often can't articulate consistently enough. Don't miss this book if you work in film or video, whether you are a director, actor, teacher, editor, DP, AD, or even a gaffer. After reading Weston, you will see every aspect of the actors performances more truly and clearly, and find yourself finding new ways to get the most out of every second on screen. One of those books that changes your life by telling you what you already knew more clearly than you ever thought it could be said, and giving you fresh new ways to put it into practical use. Highest recommendation.
the best book on directing actors.......2006-02-17
This book teaches the most important skill a director can possess: getting great performances from actors.
She breaks things down into logical bits and helps you avoid many common mistakes directors make, such as giving unplayable directions, giving too many directions, talking too much, etc.
She writes with wisdom, insight, and humor.
If you're a director or a wannabe director, do the world a favor and read this book so the world has better performances to watch.
This book is the best kept secret in show business. An even more valuable secret is her workshop, which she teaches regularly in L.A. as of this review (Spring 2006).
Great beginner book.......2005-10-14
I agree with Thor Vadir's review in that it did favor the actor more often than not. But that is ok as long as you are aware ahead of time.
As a very first time director, I read this book through 2x before my shoot. It is a 40 min short film with paid actors.
It was very helpful as a true newbie.
This, coupled with some experience under my belt, has given me a great start to my (hopeful) career.
Product Description
This is a Signed - Limited Edition book which comes with a 45 minute CD of Steve McQueen reviewing his scripts for the movie Tom Horn. This book covers Steve McQueen's final 3 1/2 years up to and including his untimely death from Cancer. Includes around 400 Color and Black & White Photos taken by Barbara McQueen.
Customer Reviews:
A Must for McQueen Fans.......2007-03-10
Wow, the photographs are beautiful and highly personal. It's like seeing a private photo album from this marriage. Plus the text is informative and revealing. I'm so glad this part of Steve's life is now so well documented.
It goes perfectly on my coffee table.
The Real Steve McQueen.......2007-03-10
Intimate, touching, insightful, sometimes hilarious passages into the life of The King of Cool, Steve McQueen. We live in such a visual, media oriented world that we tend to get preconceived notions of who movie stars are, based on what we see. The world saw Steve McQueen as the ultimate man- handsome, macho, cool, someone they could spend their hard-earned bucks on back in the day and get their money's worth at the theater. Barbara McQueen, his widow, saw the real Steve McQueen. She got to know Steve, the family man; Steve, the man who loved the great outdoors and his morning constitutional; Steve, the great mashed potato guru, airplane and motorcycle enthusiast. "The Last Mile" shows how little we all knew of his kindness and philanthropy; how little we knew of his yearning for happiness and how he ultimately found it. The photos in this book will enchant you, leave you wanting more. One of my favorites is one where Barbara embraces Steve from behind. That photo alone is worth the book to me. Beautiful model, handsome superstar, real people worn out from what life has dealt them. You can see it in their faces. It makes me sigh everytime I see it because there's not one person I know who hasn't been to that point and had nothing left but an embrace. You will love this book and you will want more. I guarantee you.
Steve McQueen: The Last Mile.......2007-03-10
This book takes you into the very intimate and private world of Steve McQueen between 1977 and 1980.
Consisting of approximately 150 color photos (most of which were taken by his wife Barbara McQueen) and accompanied by Barbara's recollections of their time together.
Unlike some other photobooks where you sense you are watching the star pose, this book shows you the absolutely unguarded and relaxed side of the man as he goes about his daily life, talking to friends, tinkering on his bikes, dozing in an armchair or washing down the pavement outside his airplane hanger.
These are the sort of photos you would usually never see of a movie star - Steve in the morning before he has showered, looking drowsily over a hot mug of coffee, househunting in Montana with Barbara, or lying asleep on the living room floor with his pet dog lying on top of him.
You really feel like you have stepped into Steve and Barbara's house, it is that personal.
The text accompaniment is also very entertaining and educational as Barbara shares her memories of how Steve wooed her, the initial problems he had to overcome in winning her parents approval of the relationship, his personal lessons to her on how to dismantle and rebuild a motorcycle (sadly unsuccessful) or a gun (successful), how he came to propose, and many other intimate and fun moments. Overall it takes you through their entire relationship and serves as something of an autobiography in itself.
All these photos are beautifully presented in a high gloss large coffee table book format.
Released with the first limited edition run of the book is a 45 minute audio CD of Steve verbally working through the script of the film "Tom Horn". It is fascinating to hear him talk about his vision of the film, rework the script and plan his character. You get a real sense of the epic film he wanted Tom Horn to be (but was denied due to the studio slashing the budget), and you realise just how insightful he was with film and acting. The amount of thought he puts into his role should forever dispel the notion that he just played himself on film.
Steve McQueen - The Last Mile is a very special book and no fans collection will be complete without it.
Fantastic!.......2007-03-10
A fantastic book on the last years of legend Steve McQueen! Great job by Barbara McQueen and Marshall Terrill! Touching moments! Great photos!
BITCH"EN.......2007-03-08
Just recieved "the Last Mile" in the mail. The photos and text are outstanding !! The book could have been twice as big. Great job Barbara and Marshall!!
Book Description
6 working actors describe their methods and philosophies of the theater. All have worked with playwright David Mamet at the Goodman Theater in Chicago.
Customer Reviews:
Exciting Choices for the Actor.......2007-10-18
I used this book to teach a beginning acting class at our community college. It is an excellent introduction to the craft. The book gives clear examples of selecting an action that create clear and exciting choices for the actor. Rather than focusing on emotional states such as "you're angry or you're happy," the text shows how to allow emotional truth to come from the moment while focusing on what the character is doing. The examples in the book are practical and relate well to the craft. I particularly appreciated that an action should have a test in the other character. So rather that an character delivering a letter with an action "to deliver" that is over without fanfare, a more exciting action would be "to please my boss so I'll get a promotion." The character still delivers a letter, but with a more dynamic action that is interesting to watch. The book is short. I covered the material in our film acting and stage acting units in about eight classes. It's short, sweet & to the point. I recommend it as a great review for experienced actors and as a wonderful introduction to beginning actors. Enjoy!
Very Useful.......2007-06-13
This is a very useful guide to teaching theatre. I will be using it a lot in my classroom.
bravo!.......2007-04-03
I studied for a couple of years at the Atlantic Theatre in NYC which David Mamet and William H Macy founded...they teach exclusively the principles in this book..the title says it all.."Practical"..as far as analyzing a script, breaking it down and coming up with acting impetus this book will free you from all that crap you've been taught and give you basic, workable tools to act..especially in auditions where you might be given a script and then 5 minutes later be asked to do it..once I got a grasp of the practical techniques I found my audition success rate soar..I still incorporate these techniques in every audition...the method and all that other acting stuff you'll learn like smelling the coffe and being a leave floating off a tree, well, that's nice but an actors basic tools never change, knowing your lines and analyzing the script, knowing what's going on in the scene and what you want in the scene..this book give you the tools to do just that...highly recommended!
Even if you're not an actor.......2007-02-07
I'm a theatre major, but I'm not an actor. I've never been, actually. But one of the requirements is to take an acting course, which put me in a pinch.
We study this book in class, and this book is great, even for people who know nothing about acting. It really does do a good job for making it easy to understand.
Clear, DO-ABLE instruction.......2005-04-15
Ok. When you're studying an art, like acting, it is sometimes frustrating to hear people talk about "craft" and "technique" without getting really specific about what you must actually DO to achieve such things and develop as an artist. People often talk about art as if it is some vague, nebulous, magical thing. And, I guess, it benefits them to talk about it that way. Because then, everyone respects them immensely for being able to do such a thing, and (like a magician) they don't reveal any of their secrets.
This book pulls the veil away. While I don't necessarily advocate relying ONLY on this resource (instinct, other techniques, etc., should all be in an actor's bag of tricks), this book provides clear, actionable directions on how to achieve more specificity in your choices as an actor, how to make your characters more focused, and how to deliver more compelling performances. Based on Stanislavsky's method, the book advises embodying each line with action (and tells you how), LISTENING to your stage-mates, and thinking about the physicality of a role (and tells you how).
What I like best about this book is that it breaks something complicated, like rendering a complex character, down into manageable things you can do to get yourself there as a performer. Bravo!
Average customer rating:
- Very Inspiring & Fascinating.
- Call Me Anna: The Autobiography of Patty Duke
- Patty is a pioneer for telling her candid story
- Candid celebrity auto-bio, written with great character
- Refreshingly unlike most celebrity "life stories"
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Call Me Anna: The Autobiography of Patty Duke
Patty Duke
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ASIN: 0553272055
Release Date: 1988-05-01 |
Book Description
The Star--The public saw her as a gifted child star: the youngest actor to win an Oscar for her role as Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker and the youngest actor to have a prime-time television series bearing her own name.
The Nightmare--What the public did not see was Anna Marie Duke, a young girl whose life changed forever at age seven when tyrannical mangers stripped her of nearly all that was familiar, beginning with her name. She was deprived of family and friends. Her every word was programmed, her every action monitored and criticized. She was fed liquor and prescription drugs, taught to lie to get work, and relentlessly drilled to win roles.
The Legend--Out of this nightmare emerged Patty Duke, a show business legend still searching for the child, Anna. She won three Emmy Awards and divorced three husbands. A starring role in Valley of the Dolls nearly ruined her career. She was notorious for wild spending sprees, turbulent liaisons, and an uncontrollable temper. Until a long hidden illness was diagnosed, and her amazing recovery recovery began.
The Triumph-- Call Me Anna is an American success story that grew out of a bizarre and desperate struggle for survival. A harrowing, ultimately triumphant story told by Patty Duke herself--wife, mother, political activist, President of the Screen Actors Guild, and at last, a happy, fulfilled woman whose miracle is her own life.
Customer Reviews:
Very Inspiring & Fascinating........2007-09-11
I bought this book years ago but re-read when a friend of mine was diagnosed with Manic-Depression/Bi-Polarism. The show business aspect of he story alone is quite involving as Ms. Duke realistcally depicts both the postive & negative aspects of being a celebrity at such a young age. Even though she became famous for being on Broadway & showing her incredible ability & dedication in portraying Helen Keller,she wasn't ,due her the Ross's (her business managers/surrogate parents) complete control over her, allowed to feel worthy of her sucess. Later on,her manic episodes are very well-depicted and her struggle to gain control over her life shows that in spite of her illness,her own personal strength,acting talent, motherhood(plus a wonderfully wry sense of humor) helped her overcome her demons and finally, get a proper diagnosis. Patty Duke shows herself to be an intelligent,honest woman and an inspiration to people with both Bi-polar disorder (& dysfunctional childhoods as well)
Call Me Anna: The Autobiography of Patty Duke.......2007-01-09
The book was very well written with great descriptions of what was going on during the times I remember seeing her movies and hearing/reading "entertainment news." I had no idea what she was going through, other than a couple of divorces. What a hard time she had growing up and what a survivor! This should give hope to those with bipolar disorder or family/friends of someone suffering from bipolar disorder.
Patty is a pioneer for telling her candid story.......2006-03-23
"Call Me Anna" is Patty's own story. Patty Duke wrote this book in 1988 long before it was fashionable to "tell all" like today's throwaway "stars" do.
Like millions of Americans, Patty Duke has always been one of my most cherished TV actresses because her talent is so deep and thought-provoking. But I never knew much about her, until I read "Call Me Anna."
"Call Me Anna" describes Patty's rise to TV stardom (playing the title character on the classic "Patty Duke Show") and subsequent fall, partly due to her illness. Patty talks candidly for the first time about the bridges she burned, and the people she hurt while she struggled with her disease, bipolar disorder.
Patty was one of the very first (if not the first?) bona fide celebrities to discuss their own mental illness. And she was a pioneer in the rights of the mentally ill, and for that she should be highly regarded.
I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys reading about TV stars, or anyone who cares about someone who is struggling with mental illness (especially bipolar disorder). I also recommend Patty's second book, "Brilliant Madness" which describes the disease in a more clinical manner.
Candid celebrity auto-bio, written with great character.......2005-05-20
Born poor and surrounded by addicts and illness, young Anna Marie Duke drifted into the arms of a society-busy married couple wanting to represent her in show business; they were odd social climbers who nonchalantly took away Duke's identity and gave her a made-up existence that crumbled once the photographers went home. A few of Duke's stories, while never less than candid and darkly amusing, are nearly too wild to believe(or maybe that's because they seem half-finished, as with the story of a motel molestation attempt or a day at a doctor's office where Patty's grandmother was deeply shaken after being forced into a strange contraption apparently meant to subdue her). Patty the Singer gets a colorful chapter(she hated her records for the UA label)and the chaos surrounding "Valley of the Dolls" is wonderfully captured. The final chapters skitter over her mental illness and a new marriage, and Patty doesn't delve much into her feelings as a woman(having her second child seemed to help her blossom, but we don't feel her passion, mostly her drive, her unfocused ambition and her neuroses). Still, she's a charming writer and has a sly way with a story(her roots are very important to her, and she's fine as a leader or a follower, but she never loses her vitality or funny malice).
Refreshingly unlike most celebrity "life stories".......2005-05-01
"What's in a name?" Shakespeare's question gets a different answer in this autobiography, when a little girl named Anna Marie Duke is told by her managers, "Anna Marie is dead. You're Patty now." It starts there, the stripping away of a child's identity so that the managers can rebuild her to their own specifications. The one thing that makes this child worth the effort, though, is there already: phenomenal acting talent. The kind of talent that makes Patty Duke a Broadway star at twelve, and an Oscar-winner at sixteen.
Alcoholism and mental illness surround her in childhood, and breaking away from her managers (who become her surrogate parents early on) just before her eighteenth birthday sets her adrift in a world for which she is totally unprepared. Pat, as she calls herself then, marries early and almost doesn't make the tricky transition from child star to adult actress. Disastrous career decisions, broken relationships, financial debacles - they're all here, and Ms. Duke recounts them without flinching. But running throughout her life story are other threads, the ones that keep her going until the manic depression that causes her roller coaster behavior is finally diagnosed and treated. This woman loves her craft, and she adores her children. Thanks to those two loves, she survives and eventually rediscovers herself. Not Patty; not Pat. Anna Marie.
So many celebrity biographies end with an overdose of pills or booze, or a car crash, or a razor blade in a bathtub. I found it refreshing to read this outwardly similar tale, which ends instead with a life rebuilt. With - corny as this is going to sound - a new beginning.
Book Description
One of the most charismatic movie stars of all time, Cary Grant left an indelible mark on the film industry and on the culture at large. His sense of style--so integral to who he was both onscreen and off--has been admired, copied, emulated, and lauded, but never fully examined, until now. With rare and never-before-published photographs and exclusive interviews with film and fashion luminaries, this groundbreaking book reveals the style secrets that helped make Grant a fashion icon and a perennial inspiration to fans and fashion designers alike. On the 20th anniversary of Grant's death, fashion and style writer Richard Torregrossa makes a powerful case for why Cary Grant matters today more than ever.
Customer Reviews:
THIS WORLD NEEDS CARY GRANT NOW!!!!!!!!.......2007-09-27
THIS IS AN AMAZING LOOK AT MR. GRANT. THIS RANKS UP WITH RICHARD SCHICKLES BOOK CARY GRANT , A CELEBRATION.I LOVE GRANT AND HAVE ALL HIS MOVIES AND MOST BOOKS ON HIM EXCEPT THE SCHLOCK LIES.HIS ACTING AND COMEDIC TAKES ARE BEYOND EVEN CHAPLIN OR KEATON AND IN SITUATION COMEDY HE WAS PEERLESS.I WAS LUCKY TO BE IN THE AUDIENCE FOR "AN EVENING WITH CARY GRANT" IN STAMFORD ABOUT A YEAR BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY.HE WAS CHARMING, ERUDITE, SELF- DEPRECATINGLY FUNNY ABOUT HIMSELF AND HOLLYWOOD AND HIS FRIENDS LIKE CROSBY, SINATRA , FLYNN, COOPER,STEWART, ROGERS ETC.AN IT WAS ALL I HOPED FOR AND FAR MORE.THERE WAS NEVER AND WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER CARY GRANT.OUCH.THE ACADEMY AWARDS COMMITTEE SHOULD DIE IN SHAME THAT HE ONLY RECEIVED AN HONORARY OSCAR. I CAN NAME 3 FILMS HE SHOULD HAVE HE SHOULD HAVE WON FOR.GET THIS BOOK AND PUT IT OUT AS A STAR PIECE ON YOUR COFFEE TABLE.WHERE HAVE YOU GONE ARCHIE LEACH???
Not what I was expecting.......2007-06-25
I bought this book believing it was about the Cary Grant style and tips on the varies aspects of dressing well. To my surprise it was really a very short biography on CG with lots and lots of photos. Now I gave it four stars and not lower because I actually enjoyed it. Even though I've read CG biographies I must say this book has photos that I've never seen before and so that tops the flaws I found in the style department.
Timeless Style.......2007-04-24
This biography is unique in that it reveals a connecting thread in all the stages of Cary Grant's life: his attentiveness to style.
Even in childhood Cary Grant was particular about the fabrics of his clothes. The book gives adequate treatment to his vaudeville and early Hollywood years and mentions some of his inspirations, such as Douglas Fairbanks Sr.
Cary Grant did not have a stylist like many celebrities do today. After failing his first screen test he worked at minimizing his flaws by making adjustments in his wardrobe. The book covers the highlights of his movie career and I appreciated the many behind-the-scenes glimpses and quotes from other actors. The book devotes the most space to the movie To Catch A Thief, considered by some as the most stylish movie ever. It also devotes many pages to his marriage to his fifth wife, Barbara, whom he married in his 70's.
Interspersed throughout are short features on topics such as pocket squares, jackets, dress shirts and bow ties. The book is loaded with photographs and is a pleasure to hold and to read. If you are a Cary Grant fan, or are simply interested in men's fashion, this book should not disappoint.
Lovely book.......2007-01-16
This book is very well done. After reading this book, I admired Mr. Grant even more. He was very deserving of admiration because he really worked hard at everything to achieve his status. The author did an excellent job.
My sister loves it!.......2007-01-11
This was a gift for my sister who loves all things Cary Grant. Include this book as yet another item she loves.
Average customer rating:
- Another home run for Schatz!
- Good entertainment
- Great gift for acting/photography buffs
- Incredible
- Look closely-
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In Character: Actors Acting
Howard Schatz
Manufacturer: Bulfinch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Book Description
IN CHARACTER portrays well-known actors assuming a variety of roles, accompanied by their comments on the art of acting, by critically acclaimed photographer, Howard Schatz.
Customer Reviews:
Another home run for Schatz!.......2007-02-05
Superlative photos accompanied by text. It's a great, original concept. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy photography, particularly portraiture, or acting.
Good entertainment.......2007-01-10
Lots of faces, almost all familiar to most everybody, putting on an
expression to match the director's request. Great coffee table item.
Great gift for acting/photography buffs.......2006-11-04
I gave this book to friends who are in the theatre. They both have told me they enjoyed the photographs and the accompanying text. I am not a theatre buff, but I found this to be a great coffee table book with wonderful black and white images.
Incredible.......2006-07-24
This is a must have for artists, animators and actors. Yes, the photography is superb, so as a pure art book, it's great. But I also recommend this book as a teaching tool. I have seen many, many books on facial expression, but this one surpasses them all by miles. Not only because it uses actors instead of ordinary Joes, but Schatz puts them into character by giving them a situation to react to and a personality to react with. Other books on expression, simply state "sad" or "confused" or "angry". Schatz directs the actors by saying "your are a man who has been told he has inoperable cancer", for instance. The results speak for themselves.
Look closely-.......2006-04-05
The camera never lies. Howard Schatz has re-invented celebrity photography. The actors in this collection playfully dance through a myriad of emotions (directed by Shatz) and later wax sentimantal about their career. Any coffee table of any stature should be proud to have this book lying on it.
How many times before this book can you say you have actually seen your favorite actor's dental work? Howard puts the viewer right there. Every nuance of character is beautifully recorded and documented.
What an amazing way for future generations to look back upon and see how this generation of actors "Did it".
Kudos to Schatz...for getting that close, and once again capturing each tender moment.
Book Description
The accomplished author shares her lifetime of techniques and tricks of the trade. For the student and professional actor, here's the ultimate guide for planning, promoting and expanding an acting career. What you need to know to truly master acting is everything you need to know to master your life because acting is everything. When actors are ready to make acting not only a career, but a lifestyle as well, then this book can be a lifetime guide. It includes up-to-date resources for everything from * headshots * fake cigarettes * changing one's name * acting nude * great plastic surgeons. It's all here, including incredible web sites and valuable phone numbers.
A wonderful intro to the world of show biz. -- Jerry Seinfeld
First rate primer, excellent refresher course. -- Jason Alexander
Customer Reviews:
Do yourself a favor and BUY THIS BOOK!.......2007-09-24
"Thank You so much for your book. It is an essential tool that every actor in Los Angeles MUST HAVE. You have graciously offered all the information in one place that would take an actor years to figure it all out on their own. THANK YOU.
-Guy D. Wells"
An Actor's Black Book..........2006-12-30
I started reading this book thinking I could jot down a couple useful pieces of information and quickly advance to another book on acting. Boy was I wrong!
This book is overflowing with so many sources that you may as well toss out the Yellowpages. Judy Kerr did a flawless job of providing step-by-step instructions regarding the business-side of acting and how you can get started.
Sure, there are useful quotes from all kinds of big names and experienced veterans about the technique, but Judy was very wise to simply refer readers to all types of classes, coaches and workshops rather than attempt to write a book on how to act. Experience is the only way you truly learn, not by reading about others who experience it.
I'm currently saving up to take the 2-week trip to Los Angeles to research the city which is mentioned in the book with detailed stops to make.
If you're wondering whether or not this book should be on your bookshelf at home, buy it now. No, don't continue reading my review!! You're not listening and I feel disrespected. You could've been entering your shipping address and credit card info by now you lazy bum! Ya wanna act? Okay, your character is shopping for a book by Judy Kerr... ACTION!!!
Like having a professional adviser at home with you 24/7.......2006-12-26
There is no greater source book out there. For actors and other industry professionals, "Acting Is Everything" is a magnificent compendium of information covering all aspects of pursuing your acting career - from arriving in LA, to agents and managers, to your pictures - and it's wrapped up with motivational and inspiring advice. I have been recommending this book to not only actors but all entertainment professionals that I speak to including seminar attendees, my UCLA Extension students, and my own clients. Owning this book is like having a professional adviser at home with you 24/7.
An Awful Lot of Really Good Information.......2006-11-04
The back cover of this book has a very good summary of what its all about: 'Where to Go, Who to Call, What to Spend, What Not To Do!' Acting is a really hard business. The hints & tips, things that work & those that don't, will become well known to you after a time. But when you are new and trying to break into the biz the more of these things you know the more time you'll save.
One point she makes I'd do differently. She says that it's a good idea to participate in theater and theater groups. Truth, absolute truth. Unfortunately it's not that easy. In your home town, the little theaters needed and probably eventually used everyone who showed up for the auditions. In New York and LA, it's just about as hard to get into an 'amateur' production as it is a professional one. There are so many 'currently unemployed' who want to be on stage that it's difficult. Solution - start your own. Perform in your church, or the Y, or the back room of a restaurant. Just do it. As she says, you never know who will be in the audience.
Finally, the title of the book just about says it all -- Acting is Everything. Acting is not something that you want to do, it's something you have to do. Use the book as you can, but go for it.
Highly recommended!.......2006-09-06
Having already owned the hugely inspiring and knowledgable Acting is Everything book which helped me tremendously with my move to Los Angeles from Australia, I was delighted to see the latest "gold edition" which is just as wonderfully encouraging, informative and packed with even more knowledge. Anytime I was feeling lost in my career, this book renewed my faith.
Joanne Rose
www.joannerose.com
Book Description
An inspirational real world practical handbook for nayone seeking a career in the highly lucrative field of voice-over acting.
Customer Reviews:
Genius!!.......2007-07-26
Like a good song that make you get up and move, this book is pure inspiration! The stories are told in a way that gives you the experience of discovering the truth of your own heart. I appreciate the contributors' honest accounts of their setbacks, and discomforts. I also wanted to know what the professionals learned on their way to reaching the pinnacle of their success. Most of all, it delivers a powerful message of having the nerve to turn out the odds. It stimulated my conscience in a way that even my understanding of passion elevated to another level.
Even though I'm not a voice over actor, I'm still an actor who audition on a regular basis. The principles are the same and I've had to refer to the lessons more than a few times. Needless to say, this book has served me very well. I applied the lessons to my line of work and have gotten amazing results.
It is your soul that will find food here. Unless you put the suggestions to practice, the secrets will pass you by leaving you once again with frustration and doubt. In other words, this book will point you into the direction of your hearts' desire. If you follow your heart, "Secrets" will find and move you in some way. Only when ready to receive new information will your thirst for knowledge and a new point of view expand. After reading, I asked myself, do I dare? The stories in this book tells me the answer is a question of courage and effort; a question of desire. We either love/enjoy our labor or not. It's for each us to decide.
Certainly, you'll get a second wind after reading this gem of a book called, Secrets of Voice Over Success.
Joan:
You and the other contributors' courage have encouraged me. If just one soul is empowered, that's valid enough. And, you've even managed to find a creative way to enlarge the vision of humanity by contributing to a good cause such as the Alzheimer's Association. Bravo!!! Your work is a perfect expression of love in action! Now suddenly the impossible seems possible!
A Bible for VO artists.......2007-07-23
This book does what no other VO book has. It puts aspiring VO talent into the world of successful VO talent. Every other book I've looked at is a technical guide...dry and dull. Training is important and I've had my share but this book answers all the FAQ's the other books miss. If you want to make a living at VO this is a must have.
GREAT INSIGHTS FROM SUCCESSFUL VO PROS!.......2007-07-21
One of the most common question questions I hear in the Los Angeles voice over world is how did the big guns get to the top. Well, this book uses standardized interview questions to 19 of the top vo talent in the U.S., Joan herself being one of them. You couldn't wish for a better one on one interview with each one.
Everyone interviewed certainly had distinct things to say, but some common threads were "just fell into it", battled racism on the way and hard work and persistence really pays off.
A note to the wise: if you're in this business for quick profit forget about it. This career path has alot of competition, and only those with stamina and passion for voice work will stand the test of time and make a full-time living at it.
The Alzheimer aspect was valuable in today's society where it is estimated that in the coming decades, unless something is done, millions of the aging group of Americans will succumb to this heart-wrenching disease. Go Joan!!
Tansy Alexander
Inspiration is sometimes all that's needed.......2007-06-29
I'm just flummoxed by a previous review of Joan Baker's "Secrets of Voice-Over Success". Ms. Baker is deemed by the reviewer to be irrelevant, obvious and out of date because she neglects to deconstruct the semiotics of the latest manifestations of an ever-changing gamut of voiceover styles. Whazzat? Pretty heavy, I guess, but these quibbles convey nothing of the wonderful and inspiring book I read. What could be more relevant and uplifting than the tales these voice artists relate as to how they reached the high level of success they enjoy today. These are top people, engaging in national level campaigns right now. Their voices are supposed to be irrelevant? I don't think so.
For a newcomer to voiceover like myself it's so encouraging to learn how others overcame pitfalls and obstacles to make it in our chosen field. Joan Baker's nifty volume is like a pat on the back and a helping hand along the way. Kudos to Joan and to all the artists who so generously gave of their time and experience to help make this marvelous book a reality. And what more wonderful theme to tie the volume together than touching on the effects of Alzheimer's on the lives of so many of us? Something tells me that one day, when we've reached the other side of the River Jordan, we'll be surprised to learn just how much good this book will have done to help those poor souls afflicted with Alzheimer's.
Secrets is a gold mine!.......2007-06-26
I orginally met the author Joan Baker at her Learning Annex workshop called "Make Millions With Your Voice" where I was very very impressed but after just finishing her book and meeting more than half the people in the book at her workshop-Iam overwhelmed with inspiration!
Thank you Joan Baker and the Vo Artist's in Secrets for moving me forward in my vo career that I've been navigating for the past 6 years. Thank you!
I would recommend this book to anyone seeking solutions in the Vo industry.
Book Description
Stanislavski, Strasberg, Meisner, Adler, Berghoff, Hagen, Mamet...now Batson.
Like all great performers, Nicole Kidman approached her role in The Hours as a creative collaboration. Kidman knew that portraying Virginia Woolf on screen required a truth that she as the actor and Woolf as the character shared. Enter acting "alchemist" and "technician of the spirit" (The New Yorker) Susan Batson. Batson's process gave Kidman the tools to find that truth and honed her performance from the inside out. She won an Oscar® for her work.
In TRUTH, the most sought after acting guru in Hollywood and on Broadway distills her half century's experience as an actor, teacher, and personal coach into a step by step process for creating a character from first read-through to final performance.
Debunking a century's worth of myths about "method acting," Batson identifies the unifying forces of Need, Public Persona, and Tragic Flaw to unite the actor with his or her character. Need is the primal, unfulfilled desire that a character's Public Persona hides. Tragic Flaw is the confrontational dramatic behavior that erupts when the character's Need and Public Persona clash. TRUTH shows how actively defining and understanding these three principals leads to the most truthful performances possible.
A must-read for beginning actors, a wake-up call for working actors, and an indispensable reference for writers, TRUTH reveals the inner game of telling stories and creating vivid, three-dimensional life out of words.
Customer Reviews:
the ultimate teacher, a true teacher.......2007-07-10
Brilliant, generous, unique teachers have the potential to change a student's life. Rarely does a student (or even reader) have the sheer luck to come across a teacher who possesses it all: a "coach" with the unique ability to be sensitive to each individual's particular needs; a mind like a steel trap (with an expansive body of knowledge, references, and even more important, real-world experiences unmatched by her competitors; an almost altruistic sense of service and generosity to one's "students" (students in life and in acting); and of course, a no-nonsense backbone that kicks a novice in the pants when s/he needs it, but just as easily provides a hug (or money for dinner) when s/he needs that, instead.
Nicole Kidman is exceptionally successful as an actor, so it's fitting that her words grace this book's Introduction. But anyone who has ever met Ms. Batson or had the great fortune of knowing/studying with her personally knows firsthand that the kind, flattering, almost hyperbolic description provided by Kidman is completely accurate. The heart, wisdom, humility, and power that define Ms. Batson, as well as what she provides to those lucky enough to learn/have learned from her in person, seems to be as meaningful to Oscar winners (Kidman, Juliette Binoche, etc.), as to the hundreds of anonymous actors and former actors to inhabit her classrooms.
Buying/possessing this book is a good idea for anyone concerned with "truth," anyone with a penchant for the performing arts, or really, anyone interested in the important, sometimes painfully difficult art of introspection and living life more authentically.
As a former acting student of Ms. Batson's (I'm a college literature professor now), I always listen for her name when one of her more famous "students" receives an award on television. Once, perhaps at the Oscars, Kidman referred to Ms. Batson as her "guru" and a "spiritual godmother." For those fortunate few of us who can also boast former classroom experience with Ms. Batson, we nod our head in agreement - she is just that. The lessons she offered me nearly ten years ago (lessons about acting, I suppose, but more so, about life, about growth) are still a part of my daily life, how I practice living. For that reason, anyone with an interest in learning more about "truth" would certainly benefit from buying this book.
One of the best acting books that I've read.......2007-06-08
My acting instructor recommended Susan's book and I have to say that it was worth its weight in gold. As a working actor, I've continually been on the search for practical techniques to help me build characters and breakdown scripts. Susan's book shows you exactly how to do that in a very clear, precise way. What I particularly liked was her use of the need-persona-tragic flaw paradigm that has helped me create characters quickly for cold reads. I almost don't want to give out this secret because I want to be selfish and keep it to myself, especially in this highly competitive industry, but I can't deny that this book is one of the best. I've already recommended it to several of my actor friends before even writing this review.
Amazing insight for the professional or amateur dramatic actor.......2007-06-01
Loved this passionate, practical guide to dramatic acting, either for the stage or film acting.
Ms. Batson writes in a clear, wonderful way that ably explains the dynamics behind generating a great performance through thorough understanding of character, self and the technical aspects of playwrighting.
FINALLY A MODERN MASTER.......2007-02-15
Susan Batson's book 'Truth' is amazing! It is the best book on acting available today. Ms. Batson follows a long line of prodigious acting teachers, Lee Strasberg, Sanford Meisner, breaching today's world with an amazing grasp of the technique of acting and its history. Her mastery of the craft of acting is genius. She is the ONE modern teacher to follow if your dream is to work in the world today as an actor. This book is a revelation on the craft of acting and creating characters. Susan is a master teacher with a firm hold on the jugular of today's film world. Susan is behind some of modern cinema's most truthful performances. She is the creative force behind a power house acting studio, Black Nexxus, located in LA and New York. Buy it and change your life!
Average customer rating:
- Very Informative
- any performing artist should read this book...
- Definitely The Bible for actors.
- Absolutely essential read
- Excellent not only for actors but for any performing artist!
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An Actor Prepares
Constantin Stanislavski
Manufacturer: Theatre Arts Book
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ASIN: 0878309837 |
Amazon.com
So much mystery and veneration surrounds the writings of the great Russian teacher and director Stanislavski that perhaps the greatest surprise awaiting a first-time reader of An Actor Prepares is how conversational, commonsensical, and even at times funny this legendary book is. After many productions with the Moscow Arts Company, Stanislavski sought a way to introduce his new style of acting to the world outside of his rehearsal hall. The resulting book is a "mock diary" of an actor describing a series of exercises and rehearsals in which he participates. He details his own emotional and intellectual reactions to each effort, and how his superficial tricks and mannerisms begin to disappear as he increasingly gives over his conscious ego to a faith in the creative power of his subconscious. Rarely has any writer on the theater achieved the sort of lucid and inspired analysis of the acting process as Stanislavski does here, and his introduction of such now-standard concepts as "the unbroken line," "the magic if," and the idea of emotional memory has laid the groundwork for much of the great acting of the 20th century. While much excess and nonsense was to follow in the steps of Stanislavski's writings, his original texts remain invaluable, and surprisingly accessible, to any actor or student of drama. --John Longenbaugh
Book Description
An Actor Prepares is the first volume of Stanislavski's enduring trilogy on the art of acting. Fusing psychological realism and expressionism, his exploratory exercises teach actors to evoke past emotions that draw out their vulnerability. Stanislavski here introduces such concepts as the "magic if," "emotion memory," the "unbroken line" and many more now famous rehearsal aids. This classic manual is written from the viewpoint of fictional actors taking lessons from a director (based on Stanislavski). Through the student's mistakes, questions, revelations, and struggles, Stanislavski teaches the actor about the stage, truth, and life itself.
Customer Reviews:
Very Informative.......2007-03-16
This book is very informative and resourceful. It teaches you the true method of acting.
any performing artist should read this book..........2007-03-06
the magic 'if' can transform worlds for you...the grand Master Stanislavski in a rough interpretation brings you his mystery of acting..has any acting technique been more misrepresented then 'the method'? ..read how MR S wanted to reach actors, how they went about rehearsing...how they realized their most important job was being true to the playwrights words..much to Anton Chekov's delight..how they built layer upon layer of developing a character..I think this book will enhance any artist, hold magic over them and let them develop their own magic 'if'..what if I was a king? what if I was a world famous dancer? what if I can make any dream come true? what if?
Definitely The Bible for actors. .......2006-02-21
I had to buy this book for an acting class I am currently taking in college. If you were to open my book, you'll notice the bright color of my highlighter. It is highly informative and intellectually stimulating for those who want to be actors, or people who are simply interested in acting.
Absolutely essential read.......2005-10-13
This book is an absolute MUST READ for all actors. I am convinced that no-one should be allowed on stage until they have read this book.
Stanislavski's ideas form the basis of most modern acting techniques, as well they should. Before I studied Stanislavski, I had always felt there was something lacking in my acting and could never quite figure out what; I discovered it when I studied Stanislavski.
My one complaint is that the translation is bad. The translator was NOT an actor, and many cuts were made to the original text. This has resulted in many confusions about what Stanislavski actually said.
Excellent not only for actors but for any performing artist!.......2004-12-04
Stanislavski himself says, "My system is for those who have a creative nature. It's for the talented". On stage or on a movie set you have to be believable. All musicians should read this book (or any performing artist in that matter). It would be a priceless benefit for them... For instance, many soloists these days are displaying an unnatural, forced "phrasing". If they were asked to speak the way they play, the result would be so fake or even funny that they'd realize it in a flash.
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