Actors & Acting

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Acting as an art, and as a profession, has long since fascinated many. Over the years, techniques, methods and styles have been formulated by the likes of Stanislavski, Strasberg, and Mamet, each with their own particular view on acting. Many of these legendary theatre artists have created accessible, helpful books that not only help demystify the craft, but also offer insight into their particular process. This section has a wealth of titles, ranging from technical handbooks, to intimate memoirs. An enthralling subject, these titles are sure to enlighten.

Letters to a Young Artist
Anna Deavere Smith
Here is Anna Deavere Smith's brass tacks advice to aspiring artists of all stripes. In vividly anecdotal letters to the young BZ, she addresses the full spectrum of issues that people starting out will face: from questions of confidence, discipline, and self-esteem, to fame, failure, and fear, to staying healthy, presenting yourself effectively, building a diverse social and professional network, and using your art to promote social change. At once inspiring and no-nonsense, Letters to a Young Artist will challenge you, motivate you, and set you on a course to pursue your art without compromise. Softcover, 227 pp. $16.95.

The Quotable Actor
Damon DiMarco
Collecting advice, quotes, essays, and observations from hundreds of famous actors and highly regarded acting teachers, The Quotable Actor covers a wide range of topics on the art and history of acting. Entertaining, instructive, and informative, it is organized into specific, easy-to-search categories, such as On Why We Act, On Auditioning, On Struggling and Building a Career, and On Gender Differences and Aging in the Biz. Softcover, $18.95.

The Actor's Art and Craft: William Esper teaches The Meisner Technique
William DiMarco & Damon Esper
William Esper, one of the leading acting teachers of our time, explains and extends Sanford Meisner's legendary technique, offering a clear, concrete, step-by-step approach to becomming a truly creative actor. The Actor's Art and Craft vividly demonstrates that good training does not constrain actor's instincts -- it frees them to create characters with truthful and compelling inner lives. Softcover, 286 pp. $15.95.

The Actor and the Target
Declan Donnellan
The exciting young Irish director provides a fresh and radical approach to acting. It is a scalpel to the persistent fears of " I don't know what I'm doing." " I don't know who I am."" I don't know what I'm playing." "... cuts open every generalisation about acting and draws out gleamingly fresh specifics." Peter Brook. Softcover, 276 pp. $27.95.

Actors' Yearbook 2009
Simon Dunmore & Chris Denys
This is the essential reference guide for anyone seeking to work in television, film, theatre, and radio. Now in its fifth edition, it has been revised and expanded to include thousands of contacts in all areas of the profession, together with detailed listings and guidance on how to make your approach -- and how not to. Articles from industry experts provide invaluable inside knowledge and tips, making this the most comprehensive book developed specifically to meet the needs of actors. Softcover, 460 pp. $33.00.

The Back Stage Actor's Handbook
Sherry Eaker
Here, in one convenient volume, is everything that you need to know about launching your career and breaking into new performance venues. Included is essential insider information on: finding the best acting teacher, getting the right headshot and resume, promoting yourself on the web, getting an agent, auditioning, finding work, and much more. Softcover, 415 pp. $29.95.

Acting Characters: 20 Simple Steps from Rehearsal to Performance
Paul Elsam
Acting Characters is an introductory book for students and aspiring actors to help demystify the process of acting. The author adopts a no-nonsense, down to earth approach based on many years of teaching experience at all levels. Acting is a demanding activity and when the inspiration, energy and rehearsal time may be lacking, the author's 20 simple tools help to build confidence in developing a new role. Softcover, 175 pp. $24.95.

Ask an Agent: Everything Actors Need to Know About Agents
Margaret Emory
Actors at every stage of their careers have a lot of questions, and Ask an Agent has a lot of answers. Do I need an agent? How do I get one? What will an agent do for me? What should I be doing for him? When is it time to switch agents? Margaret Emory is the agent to ask. Step by step, Emory shares experienced agent advice on the process of career-building within the industry, especially with respect to the actor-agent partnership. Softcover, 193 pp. $22.95.

Jacques Copeau: Routledge Performance Practitioners
Mark Evans
A leading figure in the 20th Century theatre practice, Jacques Copeau pioneered work on actor-training, physical theatre and ensemble acting, and was a key innovator in the movement to de-centralise theatre and culture to the regions. This book commbines an overview of his life and work, an analysis of his key ideas as well as a series of practical exercises offering an introduction to Copeau's working methods. Softcover, 173 pp. $36.95.

The 7 Steps to Stardom
Christina Ferra-Gilmore
This user-friendly workbook, including a two-hour DVD, features the best practical information on making it in the entertainment business. Included is vital information on: how to network, finding an agent and avoiding scams, making a living while looking for acting jobs, taking appropriate headshots, writing an actor's resume, and much more. Softcover, with DVD, 95 pages. $38.95.

Casting Directors' Secrets
Ginger Howard Friedman
Technique and natural ability can only take you so far; if you don't know how to audition, you can't expect to be a working actor. Ginger Howard Friedman is a respected casting director and a leading authority on audition and rehearsal technique. In this updated and expanded edition of Casting Directors' Secrets she takes actors behind-the-scenes to hear what working casting directors have to say about preparing for and performing first-rate auditions. Softcover, 188 pp. $16.95.

Callback: How To Prepare For The Callback to Succeed in Getting the Part
Ginger Howard Friedman
The techniques used in the author's exercises can be used to prepare for virtually any role - stage, screen, television, commercials. " ...one of the most innovative and important teachers of our time." Jerry Orbach (Law & Order). $14.50.

Also by Ginger Howard Friedman: The Perfect Monologue $24.95.

Self-Management for Actors
Getting Down to (Show) Business
Bonnie Gillespie
Actors are frequently on the quest for representation. The assumption is that one needs a manager to help guide one through the process of becoming a working actor. In Self-Management for Actors, author, actor and career counselor Bonnie Gillespie offers an exciting alternative. This book guides the actor through the process of taking control of his/her career from the business side of things. Softcover, 246 pp. $23.95.

How to Stop Acting
Harold Guskin
In How to Stop Acting, Harold Guskin presents acting as a constantly evolving exploration, all the while revealing the insights and techniques that have worked wonders for the dozens of stage and screen actors he has coached, beginners and stars alike. This lucidly written text offers sound and original advice on auditioning, developing a role and keeping it fresh, adapting to the demands of film and television, playing difficult emotional scenes, and more. Softcover, 178 pp. $16.95.

The Purpose of Playing: Modern Acting Theories in Perspective
Robert Gordon
The Purpose of Playing provides the first in-depth introduction to modern critical acting, enabling students, teachers, and professionals to comprehend the different aesthetic possibilities available to today's actors. The book presents a comparative survey of the major approaches to Western acting since the nineteenth century, their historical evolution, and their relationship to one another. Softcover, 418 pp. $29.95.

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How to Get the Part without Falling Apart
Margie Haber
The successful LA acting coach has developed a unique "phrase technique" to get actors through readings without stumbling over the script. She also offers a ten step method for breaking down a scene or monologue. Softcover, $22.95.

A Challenge for the Actor
Uta Hagen
A worthy companion to Respect for Acting -- yet detailed enough to stand alone -- A Challenge for the Actor is a stunning elaboration on Uta Hagen's acting theory. Inside, the reader will learn her ideas about actor's goals, the specifics of technique, and the actor's relationship to the physical and psychological senses. Furthermore, this volume is loaded with exercises to help the actor enrich and renew their craft. $29.99.

Respect for Acting
Uta Hagen
Divided into three parts -- "the actor,""the object exercises" and "the play and the role" -- Respect for Acting is Uta Hagen's classic treatise on the art of acting. Lucid and thought-provoking, it represents the wisdom of a great actress, accumulated over a rich and diverse career on stage. Both actors and members of the audience would be well advised to read this stimulating de-mystification of the actor's craft. $24.99.

Uta Hagen's Acting Class (DVD)
Uta Hagan
Uta Hagen's Acting Class is a lucid distillation of the master thespian's thoughts, reflections, and advice, accumulated and refined during her magnificent career. Now, with this stunning 2 DVD set, you can "sit in" on one of Uta's master classes, and learn at your own pace as you watch it over and over. DVD, $39.95.

Memory Power
Scott Hagwood
Forgetting is normal but it's not inevitable. Memory Power provides the solution to unleash one's inner genius. Scott Hagwood shares the easy-to-learn techniques he used to go from average Joe to the first American Grand Master of Memory. Softcover, 202 pp. $12.95.

Actors Speaking
Edited by Lyn Hail
In the late 1980s, Peter Gill, first director of the National Theatre Studio, sent a group of young actors and directors to interview some of the most respected actors of the time about speaking on stage. Thonse conversations, with actors such as Alec Guinness, Rex Harrison and Robert Stephens, are collected here for the first time. Softcover, 156 pp. $32.95.

A Star Is Found
Janet Hirschenson & Jane Jenkins
Taking us from the first casting call through head shots, auditions, meetings, and desperate searches to fill a part, A Star Is Found gives readers behind-the scenes access to the machinery of star-making. Recounting their remarkable shared career that started at Francis Ford Coppola's Zoetrope studio, the authors tell the funny and fascinating stories of discovering and casting then-unknown stars like Julia Roberts, Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, John Cusack, Matt Damon, Winona Ryder, Jennifer Connelly, Brendan Fraser, Virginia Madsen, Joaquin Phoenix, Meg Ryan, and Benicio Del Toro, as well as share insights about the many famous directors for whom they've worked. Hardcover, 307 pp. $28.00.

The Audition Book, Third Edition
Ed Hooks
The seasoned veteran of acting,directing and teaching shares his experience with the reader who is enabled to deal with auditons of every type. He goes beyond to discuss business aspects of the acting career. He also delves into the burgeoning field of cybercasting and digital video. Softcover, $23.95.

Tackling Text [and subtext]: A Step-by-Step Guide for Actors
Barbara Houseman
Having helped the actor with basic vocal technique in her enormously successful book, Finding Your Voice, Barbara Houseman now shows the actor how to cope with the demands posed by the text [and the subtext] of the play itself. Softcover, 317 pp. $32.99.

How to Audition for TV, Movies, Commercials, Plays and Musicals
Gordon Hunt
This book features casting tips from luminaries including Richard Dreyfuss, Hal Prince, Stephen Sondheim, and others. Softcover, $19.95.

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Last modified December 28, 2009.
Please note that all prices are in Canadian dollars. All prices are subject to change without notice.