Aspiring 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!
"It will not disappoint . . ." —Ian McKellen, from the Foreword An 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.
(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
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE ACTING INDUSTRY - CONVERSATIONS WITH A VETERAN HOLLYWOOD CASTING DIRECTOR New Second Edition of this significant book on the casting process for TV and film, told with compassion, wisdom, and brutal honesty by a veteran Hollywood casting director. Casting credits include "Frasier," "Arrested Development," and former Manager of Casting at NBC. Topics not found in any other book of it's kind include: The Different Styles of Auditioning For Each Type of TV Show, Film, Commercial, Webseries What is Sex Appeal, and How To Project It? Ten Secrets of Charisma: What We Are Drawn To and How To Enhance Your Own The Transition from Theatre to On-Camera Work. The Demystification of the Audition Process. Current Trends in Casting That Have Changed the Way We Cast. Revealing interviews with Broadway & Hollywood Actors. A Special Section for Parents of Gifted Young Actors. How to get jobs in TV and Film and Keep Them. REVIEWS FROM FIRST EDITION: Blessing to Actors!, June 12, 2012 by Great, the Alexander "This is a great education coming from a Pro, well established and fresh in the business! Why CDs think and act the way they do. Etiquette in the room, Agencies worth noting, Even hotspots in LA Night Life!! She writes so that you feel like you're actually in front of her, having a conversation. I met Cathy shortly after reading her book for the first time and can testify, there is nothing fake about her! She represents everything she teaches and thus practices what she preaches. In her book she talks about loving actors who are genuinely great people inside. She is this, in the form of a casting director and educator." "There is SO much valuable information in this book for actors with all levels of experience. I keep it with my audition materials and handy for inspiration. Read this book, re-read, and use it as a reference. It will change your life, or at least your acting career for the better!"
Film and Television Acting offers solid techniques for creating a natural, believable performance for film and television. The reader will discover techniques for listening and reacting, blocking and business, character, focus, the closeup, and comedy as they pertain to acting in front of a camera. The book analyzes the differences between theatre, film, and television acting, providing the theatre trained actor with specific approaches for making the transition to on-camera work. This second edition is thoroughly revised and updated. The book contains numerous scenes and exercises, including sample scenes from Cheers and Seinfeld, which provide the reader with ways to practice the specific techniques outlined by the author. Included are interviews with well-know actors and directors: Don Murray, Norman Jewison, and Emmy award winner, Glenn Jordan, to name a few. These interviews illustrate how the professionals apply their training and technique to filmed performances. There is also a chapter-length interview with John Lithgow, in which the actor provides a first-hand account of the differences of acting for the theatre and for the camera.
In Action!, Peabody and multiple Emmy award-winning producer and leading teacher of acting Robert Benedetti offers a practical, detailed and clearly structured approach to the fundamentals of acting for the camera. The first part of the book is a step-by-step guide to how an actor fits into the process of shooting a film or television show. The second part describes how to prepare yourself for any role through detailed instructions for creating the inner life of a character. Benedetti's analysis of sample scenes, such as Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman and the sitcom Cheers, helps readers become experts and complete naturals in front of a camera. The book features: How acting for the camera is different from acting on stage Complete coverage on how to start an acting career in film or television All major film production personnel, terms and forms Detailed discussion of self-training for the camera
Secrets of Acting Shakespeare isn't a book that gently instructs. It's a passionate, yes-you-can designed to prove that anybody can act Shakespeare. By explaining how Elizabethan actors had only their own lines and not entire playscripts, Patrick Tucker shows how much these plays work by ear. Secrets of Acting Shakespeare is a book for actors trained and amateur, as well as for anyone curious about how the Elizabethan theater worked.
This vintage book contains two pioneering volumes on the subject of film making by V.I. Pudovkin. Considered two of the most valuable manuals of the practice and theory of film making ever written, these texts will prove invaluable for the student or film enthusiast, and are not to be missed by discerning collectors of such literature. The chapters of this volume include: 'The Film Scenario and Its Theory', 'Film Director and Film Material', 'Types Instead of Actors', 'Close-Ups in Time', 'Asynchronism as a Principle of Sound Film', 'Rhythmic Problems in my First Sound Film', 'Notes and Appendices', 'Film Acting', et cetera. Vsevolod Illarionovich Pudovkin (1893 – 1953) was a Russian film director, screenwriter, and actor, famous for developing influential theories of montage. This volume is being republished now complete with a new prefatory biography of the author.
The 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.
Learn 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.
