
So Therefore...
A Practical Guide For Actors
Al Ruscio(Author)
Routledge (Publisher)
1st Edition
Published on 25. June 2012
Book
Paperback/Softback
168 pages
978-0-415-51672-3 (ISBN)
Description
'Every scene or action or speech has a so therefore. It is the goal, the ultimate statement of the character. You should know the so therefore as you begin your scene ... The climax and the payoff is the so therefore.' - from Al Ruscio's Preface
When working through a scene with a student, renowned actor and acting teacher Al Ruscio will ask, 'so therefore, what?' to urge them to capture the specific actions and desires that define their character at that moment. So Therefore... interweaves tried-and-tested practical exercises with sound advice, and illustrative tales from Ruscio's remarkable career, to form a training handbook as uniquely pragmatic as his favourite phrase. Breaking down his method into three broad focuses, Ruscio considers:
Warming Up - including relaxation, going 'beneath the words' and emotional recall;
Scene Work - ranging from character analysis to an exploration of action;
The Play - discovering its spine, progressing through rehearsals and sustaining a performance.
But So Therefore... also reflects wisely on such diverse subjects as Stage versus Film, and Stamina, Luck and Chutzpah. Enriching and generous, it is the culmination of a career that has taken in dozens of major motion pictures, and spans the entire history of television - as well as half a century spent training actors.
Al Ruscio graduated from the famed Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre and has been teaching acting for five decades. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Screen Actors Guild and is a current voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
When working through a scene with a student, renowned actor and acting teacher Al Ruscio will ask, 'so therefore, what?' to urge them to capture the specific actions and desires that define their character at that moment. So Therefore... interweaves tried-and-tested practical exercises with sound advice, and illustrative tales from Ruscio's remarkable career, to form a training handbook as uniquely pragmatic as his favourite phrase. Breaking down his method into three broad focuses, Ruscio considers:
Warming Up - including relaxation, going 'beneath the words' and emotional recall;
Scene Work - ranging from character analysis to an exploration of action;
The Play - discovering its spine, progressing through rehearsals and sustaining a performance.
But So Therefore... also reflects wisely on such diverse subjects as Stage versus Film, and Stamina, Luck and Chutzpah. Enriching and generous, it is the culmination of a career that has taken in dozens of major motion pictures, and spans the entire history of television - as well as half a century spent training actors.
Al Ruscio graduated from the famed Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre and has been teaching acting for five decades. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Screen Actors Guild and is a current voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Reviews / Votes
'In this succinct guide, Ruscio draws on his successful 40-year career of film and stage experience and his professional acting training with Sandy Meisner at New York's Neighborhood Playhouse School. He provides a plethora of practical, thorough, realistic advice in 41 bite-size chapters organized into five parts. His goal is to provide experiences that will help actors find truth and depth in their characters at all times, and to offer useful information about scene work and rehearsal processes for beginning to intermediate actors. He breaks down the salient points about each element of acting with examples and exercises including stage versus film acting, and how stamina and luck play a part in actor's lives. Part 1, "Warming Up," is foundational yet goes beyond other texts for beginning actors by including activities based on animal and life studies for character development. In part 2, "Scene Work," Ruscio emphasizes emotional truth and the importance of finding the spine--or main force--driving the character and the play. Throughout, he shares fascinating, humorous, and inspirational anecdotes from his experiences working with actors and directors ranging from Laurence Olivier to Matt Damon. Summing Up: Highly recommended.'J. Tomalin, CHOICEMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Professional Practice & Development
Illustrations
10 s/w Photographien bzw. Rasterbilder
10 Halftones, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 9 mm
Weight
188 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-415-51672-3 (9780415516723)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Book
06/2012
1st Edition
Routledge
€215.41
Shipment within 15-20 days

E-Book
06/2012
1st Edition
Routledge
€63.49
Available for download

E-Book
06/2012
1st Edition
Routledge
€63.49
Available for download
Person
Al Ruscio graduated from the famed Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre and has been teaching acting for five decades. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Screen Actors Guild and is a current voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Content
Contents
Foreword by Martin Landau v
Acknowledgments vii
Preface "So Therefore" (a few words about my title) ix
Part One: Warming Up
Introduction x
Relaxation x
Concentration xx
Imagination xx
Beneath the Words xx
Sensory Exercises xx
Improvisations xx
Animal Studies xx
Life Studies xx
Emotional Recall xx
Part Two: Scene Work
Character Analysis xx
The Spine of the Play xx
The Spine of the Character xx
Your Objective in the Scene xx
Actions in the Scene xx
The As If xx
Preparation xx
Scenes xx
Part Three: The Play
Introduction xx
Read the Play xx
The Main Idea and Special Quality xx
The Climax xx
Character Analysis xx
The Spine of your Character xx
Rehearsals Begin xx
Elements of Characterization xx
The Use of Improvisations xx
Blocking Sessions xx
Detailed Work On Each Act xx
Run-Throughs xx
Dress Rehearsals xx
Opening Night and Beyond xx
Part Four: Stage versus Film
Projecting versus Being xxx
The Scene versus the Shot xxx
Opposing Views xxx
Part Five: Stamina, Luck, and Chutzpah,
& Other Lessons
Stamina, Luck, and Chutzpah xxx
Remembering Lear xxx
The Semi-Final Lesson xxx
The Final Lesson xxx
About the Author xxx
References xxx
Foreword by Martin Landau v
Acknowledgments vii
Preface "So Therefore" (a few words about my title) ix
Part One: Warming Up
Introduction x
Relaxation x
Concentration xx
Imagination xx
Beneath the Words xx
Sensory Exercises xx
Improvisations xx
Animal Studies xx
Life Studies xx
Emotional Recall xx
Part Two: Scene Work
Character Analysis xx
The Spine of the Play xx
The Spine of the Character xx
Your Objective in the Scene xx
Actions in the Scene xx
The As If xx
Preparation xx
Scenes xx
Part Three: The Play
Introduction xx
Read the Play xx
The Main Idea and Special Quality xx
The Climax xx
Character Analysis xx
The Spine of your Character xx
Rehearsals Begin xx
Elements of Characterization xx
The Use of Improvisations xx
Blocking Sessions xx
Detailed Work On Each Act xx
Run-Throughs xx
Dress Rehearsals xx
Opening Night and Beyond xx
Part Four: Stage versus Film
Projecting versus Being xxx
The Scene versus the Shot xxx
Opposing Views xxx
Part Five: Stamina, Luck, and Chutzpah,
& Other Lessons
Stamina, Luck, and Chutzpah xxx
Remembering Lear xxx
The Semi-Final Lesson xxx
The Final Lesson xxx
About the Author xxx
References xxx