what are the best books for new actors?

Question

what are some good books to read for an aspiring actor with no expirience but is really looking to learn and start?

Answer 1

Audition by Michael Shurtleff

Answer 2

Best Books For Actors

Answer 3

The almost "standard" texts are "Respect for Acting" by Uta Hagen and the trilogy by Konstanin Stanislavskii, "An Actor Prepares," "Building a Character," and "Creating a Role."

That said, everything I've learned about acting has come through practical experience on stage and in class.

Answer 4

Respect for Acting by Uta Hagen is often referrred to as the Actors' Bible. There are also books by Constantin Stanislavsky, but those tend to get a little difficult to read if you're just starting out and don't have a teacher to help you through them.

Answer 5

Hi,

Sanford Meisner on Acting by Sanford Meisner, Dennis Longwell
Respect for Acting by Uta Hagen
The Art of Acting by Stella Adler
An Actor Prepares by Constantin Stanislavski
A Dream Of Passion by Lee Strasberg

The interesting thing about these books is that you will see and get a feel, not only for what they think acting should be, but also how they teach it. You will get a feel for how an acting class will be and of the different types of methods that there are.

I can't tell you about my book, otherwise it is considered solliciting, but I can tell you about another book I think will enlighten you and that is Acting As A Business: Strategies For Success by Brian O'Neil. This book will help you start to understand what it will take for you to be successful in running your "business" as an actor.

You will want to start studying at a really good school with a really good teacher. But make sure that it's not just ANY school or teacher that will do. Have some criteria. Have a point of view about what you want out of your school and teacher. Here are some ideas on the following link/page. Here you will see my criteria when choosing a school/teacher, which are based on my learning and past experience:

http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/acting_classes.html

You will also want to begin to study the industry:

Have a look at:

www.backstage.com or the trade paper
www.rossreports.com or the trade paper
www.actorsaccess.com
www.nycastings.com
NY Agencies booklet
Hollywood Reporter
www.showbusiness.com or the trade paper

The major unions:
www.sag.org
www.aftra.com
www.actorsequity.com

They will help you to see and get a feel for what 's going on in the industry, who's casting what, what the issues and trends are in the industry, etc. It's valuable information that you will need to begin to BUILD YOUR BASE.

With regard to the things I write about, I want to "Inspire actors to build a base and position themselves for success."
To do that, aside from studying the craft and studying the industry, there are four things you will need as an individual to be successful. As a matter of fact, if you have an opportunity to speak with successful actors (not the few who happened to get lucky and get 'discovered' on a fluke, but those who have worked hard to get where they are, which is most likely what you will have to do too.), working actors and people who are successful in different walks of life, you will see that they have the following things in common:

1) KNOWING YOURSELF as best you can and FIGURING OUT EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT first in your life and then in your career: greater knowledge of yourself: strengths, weaknesses, resources you have at your disposal (financial, intellectual, social and physical!)
Clarity of your vision for the future of your career in a very detailed way. If you can do that, your actions will be more focused and you will waste less time and energy. To put it in a positive sense, you will optimize your efforts and probably get results faster.
2) DEVELOPING YOUR MOTIVATION & CREATIVITY: The ability to keep yourself motivated to do what is necessary daily to further your career. Knowing how to do that will help you tremendously!
The creativity and innovation to apply in promoting yourself and helping you to stand out. You can imagine how important that will be with all the competition there is!
3) PUTTING TOGETHER A PLAN: a solid and detailed plan for how you intend to achieve that vision. Many people think that planning is writing some stuff down on a piece of paper and doing those things. There’s much more to it than that!
4) MANAGING YOUR BUSINESS: essential business skills that will help you to be successful as the free-lance professional that you are as an actor. Unfortunately many actors don't realize that they are in business, with a product to sell and promote, that is themselves. In my opinion there are 21 essential business skills you need to know to further your career.

I hope this information helps!

Good luck!

Tony
http://www.actingcareerstartup.com

Answer 6

"Do," don't read. Join an acting class. Acting is about "doing,"