The Actor In You
Sixteen Simple Steps to Understanding the Art of Acting
5th Edition
Published on 4. April 2011
Book
Paperback/Softback
160 pages
978-0-205-78123-2 (ISBN)
Description
The Actor in Youintroduces aspiring actors to beginning acting by helping them realize and develop the basic acting skills they already possess and hone them for the stage. By drawing the principles of acting from observations about everyday behavior, the author shows acting students how they already possess many acting skills. Acclaimed for its direct and enjoyable writing style, The Actor in You draws on exercises and examples from well-known plays, and popular television programs to lead the beginning student through the process of creating a role. Revised based on user reviews, the book succeeds in deducing dramatic principles from those experiences and then applying them to everyday life for artistic purpose.
More details
Edition
5th edition
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Pearson Education (US)
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 227 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 9 mm
Weight
230 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-205-78123-2 (9780205781232)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions
Book
03/2014
6th Edition
Pearson
€102.74
Article is exhausted; no reprint
Book
02/2014
6th Edition
Pearson
€100.59
Article is exhausted; no reprint
Previous edition
Book
02/2008
4th Edition
Pearson
€77.03
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Content
Notes on This Fifth Edition
Preface
About the Author
PART ONE Preparing Yourself to Act
1 Understanding the Actor's Job
Engagement
Truthfulness
Skill
Dramatic Function
Discipline
Summary of Step 1
2 The Tradition of the Actor
The Twentieth Century
Getting into the Tradition
Summary of Step 2
3 Relaxing and Centering
Relaxation
FindingCenter
Summary of Step 3
4 Breathing, Sounding, and Moving from Center
Your Cycle of Energy
Your Relationship to Gravity
Phrasing Movement
Summary of Step 4
5 Collaboration
Leading and Following
Seeing and Hearing
Getting and Giving Notes
Summary of Step 5
Summary of part one
PART TWO Discovering Action
Example Plays
6 Actions and Objectives
Stanislavski's View of Action
Public Solitude
Dual Consciousness
Indicating
Raising the Stakes
Summary of Step 6
7 Action, Emotion, and Character: The Magic If
Action and Emotion
Character and the Magic If
The Actor in You
Selecting Your Scene
Dramatic Function Revisited
Summary of Step 7
8 Defining Objectives and Actions
Defining Useful Objectives
Subtext
Not Doing
Obstacles and Counter-Actions
Summary of Step 8
9 The Flow and Shape of Drama
Internal and External Action
The Shape of Drama
Crisis
Summary of Step 9
10 Exploring Scene Structure and the Given Circumstances
Units of Action (Beats)
The Given Circumstances
Summary of Step 10
Summary of part two
PART THREE Developing the Character
11 The Character's Traits and Needs
Function Traits
Recognition Traits
Needs and Personalization
Emotion Recall and Substitution
Summary of Step 11
12 Getting into the Character's Mind
Perception, Arousal, and Attitude
Automatic and Spontaneous Actions
Deliberation and Strategic Choice
The Inner Monologue
Summary of Step 12
13 Exploring the Character's Language
Word Choice
Rhythm
Melody
Summary of Step 13
Summary of part three
PART FOUR Final Rehearsal and Performance
14 Finding the Scenario, Score, Through-Line, and Superobjective
The Score and Pace
The Through-Line and Superobjective
Personalizing the Superobjective
Summary of Step 14
15 Staging
Types of Stages
Moving on Stage
Blocking
Shaping and Pacing
16 Performing
Emotion in Performance
Spontaneity
Evaluating Your Work
Growth After Opening
The Actor's Sense of Purpose
Summary of Step 16
Summary of part four
Appendix A: A Sample Television Scene
Appendix B: Suggested Plays and Anthologies
Plays
Play and Scene Anthologies
Anthologies for Students of Color
Glossary of Theater and Film Terminology
Index
Preface
About the Author
PART ONE Preparing Yourself to Act
1 Understanding the Actor's Job
Engagement
Truthfulness
Skill
Dramatic Function
Discipline
Summary of Step 1
2 The Tradition of the Actor
The Twentieth Century
Getting into the Tradition
Summary of Step 2
3 Relaxing and Centering
Relaxation
FindingCenter
Summary of Step 3
4 Breathing, Sounding, and Moving from Center
Your Cycle of Energy
Your Relationship to Gravity
Phrasing Movement
Summary of Step 4
5 Collaboration
Leading and Following
Seeing and Hearing
Getting and Giving Notes
Summary of Step 5
Summary of part one
PART TWO Discovering Action
Example Plays
6 Actions and Objectives
Stanislavski's View of Action
Public Solitude
Dual Consciousness
Indicating
Raising the Stakes
Summary of Step 6
7 Action, Emotion, and Character: The Magic If
Action and Emotion
Character and the Magic If
The Actor in You
Selecting Your Scene
Dramatic Function Revisited
Summary of Step 7
8 Defining Objectives and Actions
Defining Useful Objectives
Subtext
Not Doing
Obstacles and Counter-Actions
Summary of Step 8
9 The Flow and Shape of Drama
Internal and External Action
The Shape of Drama
Crisis
Summary of Step 9
10 Exploring Scene Structure and the Given Circumstances
Units of Action (Beats)
The Given Circumstances
Summary of Step 10
Summary of part two
PART THREE Developing the Character
11 The Character's Traits and Needs
Function Traits
Recognition Traits
Needs and Personalization
Emotion Recall and Substitution
Summary of Step 11
12 Getting into the Character's Mind
Perception, Arousal, and Attitude
Automatic and Spontaneous Actions
Deliberation and Strategic Choice
The Inner Monologue
Summary of Step 12
13 Exploring the Character's Language
Word Choice
Rhythm
Melody
Summary of Step 13
Summary of part three
PART FOUR Final Rehearsal and Performance
14 Finding the Scenario, Score, Through-Line, and Superobjective
The Score and Pace
The Through-Line and Superobjective
Personalizing the Superobjective
Summary of Step 14
15 Staging
Types of Stages
Moving on Stage
Blocking
Shaping and Pacing
16 Performing
Emotion in Performance
Spontaneity
Evaluating Your Work
Growth After Opening
The Actor's Sense of Purpose
Summary of Step 16
Summary of part four
Appendix A: A Sample Television Scene
Appendix B: Suggested Plays and Anthologies
Plays
Play and Scene Anthologies
Anthologies for Students of Color
Glossary of Theater and Film Terminology
Index