Synopses & Reviews
An Actor's Craft is a handbook for acting students that provides critical approaches and guidance. Speaking passionately about the art of acting, David Krasner illuminates the multifaceted job of an actor. Combining technique with personal examples, he demonstrates how to achieve excellence in performance, how to recognize quality acting, and how to use the technique of acting in an advanced way.
Synopsis
"An Actor's Craft" is a handbook for acting students that provides critical approaches and guidance.Speaking passionately about the art of acting, DavidKrasnerilluminates the multifaceted job of an actor. Combining technique with personal examples, he demonstrates how to achieve excellence in performance, how to recognize quality acting, and how to use the technique of acting in an advanced way."
Synopsis
This inspirational guide for advanced acting students brings together multiple ways of creating excellence in performance. David Krasner provides tried and tested exercises, a history of actor training and explores the complex relationships between acting theories and teachers.
Drawing on examples from personal experience as an actor, director and teacher, An Actor's Craft begins with the building blocks of mind, body and voice, moving through emotional triggers and improvisation, to a final section bringing these techniques together in approaching a role. Each chapter contains accompanying exercises that the actor should practice daily.
Combining theory and practice, this thought-provoking and challenging study of acting techniques and theories is for actors who have grasped the basics and now want to develop their knowledge and training further.
About the Author
DAVID KRASNER is Associate Professor and Head of the Acting Program at Emerson College. He is author and editor of eight books, including Theatre in Theory, 1900-2000: An Anthology and the Errol Hill Award-winning Resistance, Parody, and Double-Consciousness in African American Theatre, 1895-1910, co-editor of the University of Michigan's Theater: Theory/Text/Performance series and is past and present member of the editorial advisory board of eight journals.
Table of Contents
Introduction: What is Acting?
THE INSTRUMENT, PART ONE: PREPARING MIND AND BODY
Preparation: Relaxation, Concentration, and Breathing
Vocal Dynamics and Vocal Variety
Physical Dynamics: Michael Chekhov, Animal Exercises and Specificity
Personalizing: Sense and Emotion Memory
THE INSTRUMENT, PART TWO: PASSION AND INSPIRATION
Secrets and Sources
Physicalization and Analysis Through Action
Actions and Six Basic Actions
Improvisation and Jazz Acting: "I dont feel it the same way every time"
THE INSTRUMENT, PART THREE: PERFORMING THE ROLE
Living Through and Interstitial Scenes
Lying and Denial
The Role: Psychological Gesture, Homework and Rehearsal
Conclusion