Synopses & Reviews
Do you know what a gimbal stage is, or a gaffer? What is the Alexander technique? And what does it mean when a director says, Back to one or Stop thinking ? Does a film director want a piece of fruit when he or she asks for a half apple, or says, Give me a banana ? Do you know what a soundie is? (No relation to a techie ) All these terms and countless more are defined in the remarkable Blumenfeld's Dictionary of Acting and Show Business. Author Robert Blumenfeld combines his expertise from years of working in show business with meticulous research to present a work that is comprehensive and user-friendly. This complete reference book on the art, craft, and business of entertaining is a must-have for every fan, teacher, student, amateur, and professional. Oh, and a half apple? Well, an apple box is an eight-inch high wooden platform an actor stands on to appear taller. (The term dates to the silent film era when an actual fruit crate was used.) A half-apple is four inches tall - half the height of an apple box. But when a film director says Give me a banana, she's telling the actor to walk in front of the camera in a smooth, gentle curve, as if he were tracing the shape of a banana on the floor. (Of course, in vaudeville slang, a banana is a comedian, and his sidekick is a second banana.) All these entries and 4000 more are defined, including slang, idioms, acronyms, historical terms, common expressions, and legal language in Blumenfeld's Dictionary of Acting and Show Business.
Synopsis
Do you know what a gimbal stage is, or a gaffer? What is the Alexander technique? And what does it mean when a director says, Back to one or Stop thinking ? Does a film director want a piece of fruit when he or she asks for a half apple, or says, Give me a banana ? What is an air-to-air shot? What is the alienation effect? And what is wire removal? Do you know what a soundie is? (No relation to a techie ) If you have to go for ADR, can you use a cough drop? Hint: it's not something you swallow. All these entries and 4200 more are defined, including slang, international, and historical terms in the remarkable Blumenfeld's Dictionary of Acting and Show Business. Longer entries on acting in film; professionalism in acting; and microphone, reading, stage, vocal, and verse technique summarize the essentials succinctly. And the invaluable index of subjects by category covers 17 topics, including lighting, commercials, contracts, drama, professional organizations, the media, and theatre. This concise guide to the art, craft, and business of entertaining is one every professional, teacher, stude nt, and entertainment fan will want to own and consult constantly.
Synopsis
The first complete entertainment dictionary to be published, this work contains entries on acting in film, professionalism in acting, verse technique, and more. An invaluable index of subjects by category covers 17 topics, including lighting, commercials, contracts, drama, professional organizations, the media, and theater.