Author: Kevin Page Publisher: Routledge ISBN: 1351130935 Category : Drama Languages : en Pages : 208
Book Description
Psychology for Actors is a study of modern psychology, specifically designed for the working actor and actor-in-training, that covers discrete areas of psychological theory that actors can apply to their creative process to form and connect with characters. The book investigates many post-Stanislavsky ideas about human psychology from some of the twentieth century’s most brilliant minds – from Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung to Abraham Maslow and Ken Wilber – and offers step-by-step exercises to help actors understand their characters and effectively bring them to life on stage or in front of the camera. Psychology for Actors also offers advice on how to cope with the stresses and strains of a highly competitive field, and provides tools for deeper self-awareness and character exploration.
Author: Vladimir Mirodan Publisher: Routledge ISBN: 1317527941 Category : Languages : en Pages : 190
Book Description
Transformative acting remains the aspiration of many an emerging actor, and constitutes the achievement of some of the most acclaimed performances of our age: Daniel Day-Lewis as Lincoln, Meryl Streep as Mrs Thatcher, Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter – the list is extensive, and we all have our favourites. But what are the physical and psychological processes which enable actors to create characters so different from themselves? To understand this unique phenomenon, Vladimir Mirodan provides both a historical overview of the evolution of notions of 'character' in Western theatre and a stunning contemporary analysis of the theoretical implications of transformative acting. The Actor and the Character: Surveys the main debates surrounding the concept of dramatic character and – contrary to recent trends – explains why transformative actors conceive their characters as ‘independent’ of their own personalities. Describes some important techniques used by actors to construct their characters by physical means: work on objects, neutral and character masks, Laban movement analysis, Viewpoints, etc. Examines the psychology behind transformative acting from the perspectives of both psychoanalysis and scientific psychology and, based on recent developments in psychology, asks whether transformation is not just acting folklore but may actually entail temporary changes to the brain structures of the actors. The Actor and the Character speaks not only to academics and students studying actor training and acting theory, but contributes to current lively academic debates around character. This is a compelling and original exploration of the limits of acting theory and practice, psychology, and creative work, in which Mirodan boldly re-examines some of the fundamental assumptions of actor training and some basic tenets of theatre practice to ask: What happens when one of us ‘becomes somebody else’?
Author: Elly Konijn Publisher: Amsterdam University Press ISBN: 9789053564448 Category : Performing Arts Languages : en Pages : 216
Book Description
Actors and actresses play characters such as the embittered Medea, or the lovelorn Romeo, or the grieving and tearful Hecabe. The theatre audience holds its breath, and then sparks begin to fly. But what about the actor? Has he been affected by the emotions of the character he is playing? What'sgoing on inside his mind? The styling of emotions in the theatre has been the subject of heated debate for centuries. In fact, Diderot in his Paradoxe sur le comedien, insisted that most brilliant actors do not feel anything onstage. This greatly resembles the detached acting style associated with Bertolt Brecht, which, in turn, stands in direct opposition to the notion of the empathy-oriented "emotional reality" of the actor which is most famously associated with the American actingstyle known as method acting. The book's survey of the various dominant acting styles is followed by an analysis of the current state of affairs regarding the psychology of emotions. By uniting the psychology of emotions with contemporary acting theories, the author is able to come to the conclusion that traditional acting theories are no longer valid for today's actor. Acting Emotions throws new light on the age-old issue of double consciousness, the paradox of the actor who must nightly express emotions while creating the illusion of spontaneity. In addition, the book bridges the gap between theory and practice by virtue of the author's large-scale field study of the emotions of professional actors. In Acting Emotions, the responses of Dutch and Flemish actors is further supplemented by the responses of a good number of American actors. The book offers a unique view of how actors act out emotions and how this acting out is intimately linked to the development of contemporary theatre.
Author: Niki Flacks Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing ISBN: 1408185814 Category : Performing Arts Languages : en Pages : 185
Book Description
Based on the latest research from the fields of neuroscience and mind-body psychology, Acting With Passion offers a revolutionary new approach to the age-old problems of the actor: dealing with nerves, engaging the body, quieting the inner critic, auditioning, creating a character, and even playing comedy. With this step-by-step guide, actors who have struggled with 'visualization' and 'emotional recall' can learn an alternative method of accessing feelings through the release of chronic, subtle muscular tensions that connect into the brain at lightning fast speed and can actually produce emotions on cue. Written with verve and accessibility, and using practical exercises to guide the actor through each stage, Acting With Passion is the must-have text for actors seeking that magical 'state of aliveness'.
Author: Alexa Ispas Publisher: Word Bothy ISBN: 1913926060 Category : Performing Arts Languages : en Pages : 77
Book Description
Imagine if you could learn your lines in half the time yet feel confident they will roll off your tongue when needed. Memorization for Actors provides you with a range of practical psychology tools and a bullet-proof memorization process that will put you miles ahead of the competition. Inside you will discover: · How to become a master at learning your lines · Simple tricks to learn more lines in less time · Advanced tools to turbo-charge your memorization process · Proven strategies to remember your lines in high stress situations · When to schedule your memorization sessions for maximum effect Short enough to read in an afternoon, yet jam-packed with practical advice, Memorization for Actors will transform your acting career. This is recommended reading for any actor, from acting students to experienced professionals. Alexa Ispas holds a PhD in psychology from the University of Edinburgh. The books in her Psychology for Actors Series provide actors with proven psychology techniques to thrive and build a successful career.
Author: Alexa Ispas Publisher: Word Bothy ISBN: 1913926303 Category : Performing Arts Languages : en Pages : 29
Book Description
Do you want to have a successful acting career? Discover proven psychology techniques that will transform the way you approach all aspects of your acting work. One of the most challenging aspects of being an actor is how little control you have over your working life. If you are like most actors, you don’t know where your next acting job will come from, nor how much money you will be paid for it. However, you do have control over your mindset. In Psychology Tools for Actors, I introduce you to ten psychological tools that will help you take your acting career to the next level by working on your mindset. These tools address five aspects of your life as an actor: learning lines, going to auditions, nurturing your self-confidence, building your resilience, and developing your craft. Each chapter focuses on one of these areas and includes two psychological techniques to help you nurture a positive and empowering mindset about that aspect. By the time you finish Psychology Tools for Actors, you will have ten powerful techniques under your belt that you can use to build a successful and sustainable acting career. Read this book and discover: · How to make the memorization process easier · How to boost your self-confidence before auditions · How to deal with rejections without sinking into despair · How to get better at your craft · Practical tools you can use straight away Short enough to read in an hour, yet jam-packed with practical advice, Psychology Tools for Actors will help you take control of your mindset, so you can navigate the ups and downs of life as an actor with ease and grace. This book is the first in the Psychology for Actors Series, and provides brief insights into those longer books. Alexa Ispas holds a PhD in psychology from the University of Edinburgh. The books in her Psychology for Actors Series provide actors with proven psychology techniques to thrive and build a successful career.
Author: Rick Kemp Publisher: Routledge ISBN: 0415507871 Category : Biography & Autobiography Languages : en Pages : 258
Book Description
A pragmatic intervention in the study of how recent discoveries within cognitive science can and should be applied to performance. Drawing on his experience the author interrogates the key cognitive activities involved in performance inc non-verbal communication; thought, speech, and gesture relationships; empathy, imagination, and emotion.
Author: Sam Kogan Publisher: Routledge ISBN: 1135257698 Category : Art Languages : en Pages : 293
Book Description
What is good acting? How does one create believable characters?. In The Science of Acting, Sam Kogan applies his theories and teaching to answering these questions. It represents a comprehensive and complete technique applying neuroscience and psychology to the role of acting. At its heart lies a unique and groundbreaking understanding of the subconscious, as well as an unparalleled insight into, and expansion of, Stanislavski's original Russian teaching. The book includes chapters on Awareness, Purposes, Events, Actions, Imagination, Free Body, Tempo-Rhythm, and Laws of Thinking, culminating.
Author: Deborah Gruenfeld Publisher: Currency ISBN: 1101903961 Category : Business & Economics Languages : en Pages : 272
Book Description
“A refreshing and enlightening new perspective on what it means to be powerful.”—Susan Cain, bestselling author of Quiet We all know what it looks like to use power badly. But how much do we really know about how to use power well? There is so much we get wrong about power: who has it, what it looks like, and the role it plays in our lives. Grounded in over two decades’ worth of scientific research and inspired by the popular class of the same name at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, Acting with Power offers a new and eye-opening paradigm that overturns everything we thought we knew about the nature of power. Although we all feel powerless sometimes, we have more power than we tend to believe. Power exists in every relationship, not just at the top of big institutions. It isn’t merely a function of status or hierarchy, either. It’s about how much we are needed and how well we take care of other people. We often assume that power flows to those with the loudest voice or the most commanding presence. But, in fact, true power is often much quieter and more deferential than we realize. Moreover, it’s not just how much power we have but how we use it that determines how powerful we actually are. Actors aren’t the only ones who play roles for a living. We all make choices about how to use the power that comes with our given circumstances. We aren’t always cast in the roles we desire—or the ones we feel prepared to play. Some of us struggle to step up and be taken more seriously, while others have trouble standing back and ceding the spotlight. In Acting with Power, Deborah Gruenfeld shows how we can get more comfortable with power by adopting an actor’s mindset. Because power isn’t a personal attribute. It’s a part we play in someone else’s story.
Author: Kevin Page
Author: Vladimir Mirodan
Author: Yoti Lane
Author: Elly Konijn
Author: Niki Flacks
Author: Alexa Ispas
Author: Alexa Ispas
Author: Rick Kemp
Author: Sam Kogan
Author: Deborah Gruenfeld