Simply put, students are more engaged, misbehave less, and learn better from teachers who teach enthusiastically. A teacher's enthusiasm for his or her subject matter can be contagious. Since the dynamic of the classroom is similar to that of the stage in terms of speaker/listener relationships, the acting craft offers teachers a model for skills and strategies that can be incorporated into their own work to convey more enthusiasm for the material and for the students.

The classic text on the craft of Method acting by the founder of The American Laboratory Theatre. After studying at the Moscow Art Theatre under Konstantin Stanislavski, Richard Boleslavsky became one of the most important acting teachers of his or any generation. Bringing Stanislavski’s system to America in the 1920s and 30s, he influenced many of the titans of American drama, from his own students—including Lee Strasburg and Stella Adler—to Marlon Brando, Paul Newman, and many others. In Acting: The First Six Lessons, Boleslavsky presents his acting theory and technique in a series of accessible and engaging dialogues. Widely considered a must-have for any serious actor, Boleslavsky’s work has long helped actors better understand their craft.

Previously only available to Katselas' students at the prestigious Beverly Hills Playhouse, Acting Class presents the concepts and methods that have helped lead a generation of actors to success on stage, in cinema, and on television. Now for the first time, this all-encompassing book is available to the general public, taking readers and sitting them in the legendary acting class of Milton Katselas, where he not only covers techniques and methods, but also includes valuable discussions on the attitude any artist needs to fulfill his or her dream.

“I call this book The Intent to Live because great actors don’t seem to be acting, they seem to be actually living.” –Larry Moss, from the Introduction When Oscar-winning actors Helen Hunt and Hilary Swank accepted their Academy Awards, each credited Larry Moss’s guidance as key to their career-making performances. There is a two-year waiting list for his advanced acting classes. But now everyone–professionals and amateurs alike–can discover Moss’s passionate, in-depth teaching. Inviting you to join him in the classroom and onstage, Moss shares the techniques he has developed over thirty years to help actors set their emotions, imagination, and behavior on fire, showing how the hard work of preparation pays off in performances that are spontaneous, fresh, and authentic. From the foundations of script analysis to the nuances of physicalization and sensory work, here are the case studies, exercises, and insights that enable you to connect personally with a script, develop your character from the inside out, overcome fear and inhibition, and master the technical skills required for success in the theater, television, and movies. Far more than a handbook, The Intent to Live is the personal credo of a master teacher. Moss’s respect for actors and love of the actor’s craft enliven every page, together with examples from a wealth of plays and films, both current and classic, and vivid appreciations of great performances. Whether you act for a living or simply want a deeper understanding of acting greatness, The Intent to Live will move, instruct, and inspire you.

From the acclaimed author of Sabrina, Nick Drnaso’s Acting Class creates a tapestry of disconnect, distrust, and manipulation. Ten strangers are brought together under the tutelage of John Smith, a mysterious and morally questionable leader. The group of social misfits and restless searchers have one thing in common: they are out of step with their surroundings and desperate for change. A husband and wife, four years into their marriage and simmering in boredom. A single mother, her young son showing disturbing signs of mental instability. A peculiar woman with few if any friends and only her menial job keeping her grounded. A figure model, comfortable in his body and ready for a creative challenge. A worried grandmother and her adult granddaughter; a hulking laborer and gym nut; a physical therapist; an ex-con. With thrumming unease, the class sinks deeper into their lessons as the process demands increasing devotion. When the line between real life and imagination begins to blur, the group’s deepest fears and desires are laid bare. Exploring the tension between who we are and how we present, Drnaso cracks open his characters’ masks and takes us through an unsettling American journey.

ACTING LESSONS FOR LIVING will help you identify what role/s you have been playing in your life, and what it is you really want. It provides skills for discovering what is underneath the masks you wear, your secrets, and how they go unidentified and become internal obstacles to manifesting your pure potential. This book aspires to show you how the actor’s tool chest, in partnership with the Enneagram and other psycho-spiritual teachings, gives you the means to access authenticity and presence. ACTING LESSONS FOR LIVING inspires in you the development of an empathic imagination enabling you to choose your actions and reactions with emotional intelligence. It aims to guide you to set yourself free from limiting beliefs about who you think you are and to rewrite the scripts that thwart you from self-realization. Finally, when all has been integrated and consciously applied, you can feel ready to take the bow you so deserve for a well-lived life.

In order to bring a character to life, it is beneficial for animators to have a solid understanding of acting principles, and this book examines the important skills behind the artistry of creating animated characters. With a particular emphasis on a character’s motions and movement, this unique resource covers the basic elements of acting for CG animation and then progresses to more advanced topics such as internal intent and motivation. Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

I Don't Need an Acting Class explores critical aspects of the technique of acting, utilizing conversations via email with countless actors. Some are aspiring students, others are seasoned professionals. The conversations document the challenges these diverse actors face as they digest what they have learned in a class or rehearsal while exploring in practical terms how to use their growing technique. Milton Justice first began receiving emails from actors in 2008. In this book, Justice brings together email conversations between teacher and student, along with observations and commentary about acting technique and craft. Not all of the emails in the book are overly thought-out or complete. Quite the contrary, they are meant to capture the feeling of a living, breathing process as it happens. When an actor sends a teacher or director an email with a problem, be it a simple comment or confusion, it is evidence of a creative artist exploring new ground. Many years ago, Stella Adler sent Justice a letter in response to a panicked note he had written to her while lost in the weeds during rehearsals for a new play. She set a tone for him as she succinctly defined the problem and reminded him of its elegant solution. He was overwhelmed by the care she had given him. That letter still hangs over his desk, perfectly demonstrating the power of a written exchange between a teacher and a student.

"Jack Garfein's book is a touching reminder of our early attempts at creating theater without artifice. It is good to know that he is still working hard at it."---Ben Gazzara --

Stop Acting Start Living is the culmination of 35 years of performing and teaching experience around the globe. Hollywood Acting teacher and Success coach Bernard Hiller has worked with Jeff Goldblum, LL Cool J, Lindsay Lohan, Billy Crystal, Chace Crawford, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Emilio Rivera among many others. Bernard coached Cameron Diaz for her first big audition "The Mask" with Jim Carrey, which launched her career. His revolutionary techniques have changed the course of lives and careers. There has never been a book available that takes the acting techniques of a Hollywood star-maker and teaches business people how to become stars in their lives and careers. Bernard is the only coach who combines acting technique, life coaching, and success training in an entirely new and transformative way. Leonardo DiCaprio, CAA, Samuel L Jackson and other stars recommend him as the premier acting teacher in town. April Webster-Star Wars... "I have seen first hand how his techniques instantly improves your talent." Bruce Dern.. "There is no class like it in America."