20 Best Books About Acting (2023 Update)

The video game industry has experienced explosive growth over the past decade, and with that, opportunities have increased for actors to work in the medium. but these new opportunities bring up questions — where do you start? how is the process different than acting for film or television? what are casting directors and developers looking for? what skills do you need to focus on to succeed? julia bianco schoeffling, a voice and performance capture casting director, has seen the industry from every angle, and knows exactly what can make or break an actor's career in games. she pulls from over a decade of experience working on iconic franchises like call of duty, the last of us, gears of war, and more to give you a blueprint for navigating this lesser-known industry. you'll learn everything you need to know to break in, including: – the history and the basics of the video game industry- the ins and outs of unions, contracts, and ndas- basic gear to get started on a home studio- best practices for your video game demos and auditions- the process from audition to booking- tips on performance and motion capture written in an approachable and informative style, the art and business of acting for video games gives you the skills and tools that will set you apart in the audition pile. this first-of-its-kind guide is perfect for actors who want to take their craft into a new, exciting world.

"a treasure trove of advice, support and encouragement that no performer should be without. honest, witty and direct, the golden rules of acting is every actor's best friend in handy paperback form.? when auditioning, rehearsing or in a performance, take a risk the worst that can happen is that you get embarrassed. you won't die.' easy to dip into, fully illustrated throughout, and designed to be both instructive and empowering, the golden rules of acting won't tell you how to act but it will tell you how to be an actor.? always remember, the people auditioning you want you to be brilliant. they want you to solve their casting problem.' if you're a working actor, drama-school student, someone who wants to become an actor, or simply someone who has a dream and wants to make it a reality, this book is for you.? never harmonise when singing happy birthday' this has nothing to do with work, it's just all actors do it & it's bloody annoying.' andy nyman learnt the golden rules of acting the hard way, through twenty-five years of working in theatre, film and television. on stage, he co-wrote, co-directed and starred in the west end hit ghost stories, and won an olivier award for best entertainment for co-writing and directing something wicked this way comes with his regular collaborator derren brown. his many film appearances include severance and frank oz's death at a funeral.' christians have the bible, now actors have this book. at last, everyone is happy.' – simon pegg'andy's distilled guidebook is smart, hilarious, and just might get you work!' – neil patrick harris'like its author, this little book is packed full of wit, wisdom and good things.' – matthew macfadyen'a wonderful insight into the secrets of success that will help anyone achieve their dreams.' – richard wiseman (author, 59 seconds: think a little, change a lot)

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. – helps actors transfer skills from the theatre to the camera. – updated with new scenes from cheers and seinfeld. – includes interviews with don murray, norman jewison, glenn jordan and other actors who've made the transition from stage to screen.

The most authoritive, authentic text of a classic guide to acting – in the four decades since its first publication, michael chekhov's to the actor has become a standard text for students of the theater. but to the actor is a shortened, heavily modified version of the great director/actor/teacher's original manuscript, and on the technique of acting is the first and only book ever to incorporate the complete text of that brilliant manuscript. scholars and teachers of chekhov's technique have hailed on the technique of acting as the clearest, most accurate presentation of the principles he taught yul brynner, gregory peck, marilyn monroe, anthony quinn, beatrice straight, and mala powers, among others. – this new, definitive edition of chekhov's masterful work clarifies the principles outlined in to the actor concerning the pivotal role of the imagination in actors' understanding of themselves and the roles they play. on the technique of acting also expands on chekhov's previously published work with many unique features, including: thirty additional exercises – a chapter devoted to screen acting – more thorough explanations of the psychological gesture, inner tempo vs. outer tempo, and other key concepts of chekhov's approach – for actors, directors, and anyone interested in the theater, on teh technique of acting is an essential handbook.

Heralded as "best acting teacher in la" by back stage magazine, hollywood's most sought after acting teacher howard fine reveals the winning technique that has garnered his students international acclaim and the industry's highest honors in his astonishing book fine on acting. during his twenty-five years as a teacher and director, fine has developed a technique that is both useful and exciting. emmy award-winning actor michael chiklis (the shield, fantastic four) writes in the foreword for fine on acting, "you've purchased this book because you either aspire to be an actor or want to be a better one. either way you've made a wonderful decision. howard fine is a great teacher. his philosophy and approach to the craft of acting are the most helpful, encouraging and practically applicable i've ever encountered." fine on acting covers the essentials for actors, including the common mistakes, rehearsal, auditions, stage vs. television and film acting, and comedy vs. drama. fine also offers valuable advice for troubleshooting challenging situations, such as playing opposite a bad actor, nerves, memorizing lines, working with a bad director, and being emotionally blocked. a close colleague of the legendary uta hagen and the founder of the howard fine acting studio, fine has worked with hundreds of stars, including brad pitt, will smith, bradley cooper, chris pine, justin timberlake, lindsay lohan, salma hayek, simon baker, amanda bynes, gerard butler, jennifer connelly, dwayne "the rock" johnson, michelle williams, val kilmer, sela ward, jason priestley, kerry washington, amy smart, jared leto, wilmer valderrama, brooke shields, daryl hannah, rick fox, estella warren, christopher meloni, enrique murciano, garry shandling, alexa vega, heather locklear, geri halliwell, carla gugino, james belushi, diana ross, jon bon jovi, and josh groban. fine is one of the few elite acting experts who has devoted his primary career to perfecting the teaching and coaching of professional actors. his outstanding reputation is the product of his remarkable expertise uniquely coupled with his extraordinary gift to inspire.

Become your future agent's dream client before you've even met. self-management for actors will help you take control of the business side of your creative career. by learning how to build your brand, target your buyers, create content that showcases you best, and pitch like the rockstar you are, you'll build a fulfilling career (wherever you live) that helps rocket you to the next tier.

It reveals everything an actor needs to have a successful career in film and television in 2016. it is a tell-all of insider secrets author kym jackson spent nine years researching and compiling into this one resource guide for anyone hoping to navigate the rough seas of hollywood.

Hey you! yeah, you, the one reading this book blurb! do you have a passion for acting, but don't quite know how to earn a living by doing what you love? are you tired of acting self-help books that just say cryptic things like, "get an agent"? well, you're in luck! is far different and better (emphasis on the better) than any acting advice book currently out there. instead of teaching you acting techniques, it teaches you how to book jobs! ka-ching! from learning how to navigate the scary world of social media to figuring out what to say in emails to agents, this book is your saving grace. so, whether you're a college graduate with an acting degree about to make the big move to an industry hub or you're an adorable mailman in wyoming curious about the business aspects of film and television acting, this book will certainly not disappoint.

"what a refreshingly honest and practical guide for the actor! stuart covers every detail that actors need to know, from how to get into sag, to how to spot a scamming agent, to how to keep your self-esteem from taking a nose dive. sprinkled with positivity and helpful anecdotes, the keys to commercial acting is the text book every actor should own." – faith streng in the second edition of the keys to commercial acting, hollywood casting director stuart stone reveals what it takes to be a working actor today in the lucrative, but competitive, world of commercials. his years of experience casting for the world's top brands and directors gives him a deep insight into what works and what doesn't for actors looking for success.the tools and tips on every page of this must-read book are designed to take actors step-by-step through the business of acting. full of useful information on how to build your career and what to avoid in the process, the advice in this book can save you time, money, and making costly career mistakes.the conversational style makes the keys to commercial acting a quick and easy read, like sitting down with stuart and picking his brain

Product type: subjects > arts & photography > performing arts > theatre > acting & auditioning

The actor's mindset: acting as a craft, discipline, and businessuniquely prepares actors to live a full, successful life as a performing artist. while most acting books focus on either the art or the business of entertainment, archibald looks at the entire picture of what it means to be an actor, focusing on the foundations of both the artist and the entrepreneur to guarantee a complete and fully functioning approach to a career. the actor's mindset is divided into three distinct parts: "the craft," "the discipline," and "the business." archibald's unique experience as both an actor and a coach gives him an unparalleled perspective on the current industry landscape. while classic method texts still circulate, and there are actors who have written books that address craft, none have archibald's depth of knowledge and experience in coaching, nor approach the art from a professional standpoint instead of solely an instructional one. the success of craig's approach is exemplified by the success of his clients, a roster that includes constance wu, john slattery, and two-time academy award nominee dan futterman.

Short comedies characters: various males and females, extras in each of these masterpieces from the authors of four plays for coarse actors, sets collapse, actors fail to appear and props fall to pieces while the casts carry on, believing that the audience won't notice. moby dick is an ambitious attempt to reduce the epic novel to a series of quick fire scenes. the cherry sisters, a previously undiscovered chekhov fragment, is a desperately sincere piece with a teary ending (spoiled by a faulty prop that necessitates a standing death). last call for breakfast is an avant garde play shortened because an actor is in the wrong place during a black out. henry the tenth (part seven) is a rarely performed tragedy with battle scenes that would amaze the bard.

The real star of any play or film is the script. every creative choice is focused on making this abstract compilation of dialogue and actions come to breathing, believable life. the actor's script offers a clear, concise, and easily assimilated technique for beginning scriptwork specifically tailored to actors' requirements and sensibilities. included are: techniques actors need to make the script a powerful and limitless resource for creativity, passion, and transformation processes for breaking scenes into playable beats and actions character analysis from textual information, themes, and larger ideas specific playwriting styles and many excerpts and applications from both contemporary and classic texts. all discussions are applied to actors' unique needs with humor and clarity. actors who read this book will learn how to break down a script, create the richest and most varied characters, embody the time period and script's unique world, and allow the highest themes and ideas to empassion their choices. waxberg, playwright, director, and actor, has been developing his technique for script analysis since 1981. he has taught script analysis, playwriting, and acting for carnegie-mellon university, stella adler conservatory, new york university–tisch school of the arts, and the roundabout theatre conservatory, which he founded and where he served as conservatory director. mr. waxberg has performed in over 25 productions throughout the east coast and new york city.

Acting is a tough profession. making it in hollywood is even tougher. british actress julia farino has survived in la longer than most and here she shares her experiences and offers practical tips and advice to help avoid the pitfalls and stay the course. the industry can be unforgiving, but it can also offer amazing opportunities. honest, light-hearted and fun, this book navigates all that hollywood can throw at you.the book covers day to day survival as an actor, marketing materials and how to stand out, training and auditioning, the difference between agents and managers, the business part of show business, how to stand up for your rights and how to stay sane! plus information about the practicalities of moving to, and living in, los angeles.

Acting 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!"

In the power of the actor, a los angeles times bestseller, premier acting teacher and coach ivana chubbuck reveals her cutting-edge technique, which has launched some of the most successful acting careers in hollywood.the first book from the instructor who has taught charlize theron, brad pitt, elisabeth shue, djimon hounsou, and halle berry, the power of the actor guides you to dynamic and effective results. for many of today’s major talents, the chubbuck technique is the leading edge of acting for the twenty-first century. ivana chubbuck has developed a curriculum that takes the theories of the acting masters, such as stanislavski, meisner, and hagen, to the next step by utilizing inner pain and emotions, not as an end in itself, but rather as a way to drive and win a goal.in addition to the powerful twelve-step process, the book takes well-known scripts, both classic and contemporary, and demonstrates how to precisely apply chubbuck’s script-analysis process. the power of the actor is filled with fascinating and inspiring behind-the-scenes accounts of how noted actors have mastered their craft and have accomplished success in such a difficult and competitive field.

The audition is the first — and most essential — test of any actor's craft, one that is typically performed for a very tough audience, under conditions that are always less than perfect. this practical, hands-on guide by a veteran producer covers every aspect of the auditioning process: the monologue, the cold reading, the musical audition, and the interview. it shows actors how to see their performance through the eyes of prospective employers, how to sell themselves even before they step into character, and how to interpret roles without outside direction.

Acting with your eyes there is a saying in hollywood: "do less because less is more." this phrase usually means that an actor is over-acting the role and trying too hard to demonstrate their feeling and actions. but when the director or an acting teacher says these words, they never actually tell you what to replace it with. so the actor tries to do nothing and in doing nothing, his or her performance becomes flat. in acting with your eyes, i will show you the technique of eye phrasing and the magic pull, which will enable you to do less on camera while retaining a strong, exciting performance. these simple and powerful techniques will make you a better and more confident on-camera actor. i would like you to think of this book as a plug-in app, as these techniques will work with any acting style you are currently using. the exercises in this book of only thirty-one pages, are easy, fun and extremely powerful. after using these techniques you will immediately understand what has been missing from your on-camera acting performance. acting with your eyes will put you miles ahead of your fellow actors. i can guarantee you no acting class has ever taught these specific, powerful acting techniques that i call eye phrasing and the magic pull. you will learn the techniques of many eye phrases, starting with some basics: break left, pick up, back to one and the magic pull. the magic pull will invigorate you with a new awareness of your inner life, your surroundings and the power you have not just as an actor but as person. you can own the fastest, most expensive sports car in the world, but if you don't have the fuel to put in the car, it's not going anywhere. the magic pull is the fuel you need to power up personal acting charisma, energy and sensuality in your performance as an on-camera actor. this book is a must-have plug-in app for actors!

Acting with your eyes there is a saying in hollywood: "do less because less is more." this phrase usually means that an actor is over-acting the role and trying too hard to demonstrate their feeling and actions. but when the director or an acting teacher says these words, they never actually tell you what to replace it with. so the actor tries to do nothing and in doing nothing, his or her performance becomes flat. in acting with your eyes, i will show you the technique of eye phrasing and the magic pull, which will enable you to do less on camera while retaining a strong, exciting performance. these simple and powerful techniques will make you a better and more confident on-camera actor. i would like you to think of this book as a plug-in app, as these techniques will work with any acting style you are currently using. the exercises in this book of only thirty-one pages, are easy, fun and extremely powerful. after using these techniques you will immediately understand what has been missing from your on-camera acting performance. acting with your eyes will put you miles ahead of your fellow actors. i can guarantee you no acting class has ever taught these specific, powerful acting techniques that i call eye phrasing and the magic pull. you will learn the techniques of many eye phrases, starting with some basics: break left, pick up, back to one and the magic pull. the magic pull will invigorate you with a new awareness of your inner life, your surroundings and the power you have not just as an actor but as person. you can own the fastest, most expensive sports car in the world, but if you don't have the fuel to put in the car, it's not going anywhere. the magic pull is the fuel you need to power up personal acting charisma, energy and sensuality in your performance as an on-camera actor. this book is a must-have plug-in app for actors!

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