Actor's Alchemy : Finding the Gold in the Script

by Miller, Bruce

• ISBN13: 9780879103835
• ISBN10: 0879103833
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-02-01
• Publisher: Hal Leonard Corp

Summary

An actor's script is both a gold mine, and the map to discovering it: if properly read, a script will reveal its riches to you. Unfortunately, most actors never learn to efficiently read the map, or master how to convert what they find in a script into playable gold. Why? Because this aspect of the acting process is seldom taught in a simple and tangible way in the classroom or studio. Acting can - and should - be more than guesswork and instinct. Actor's Alchemy: Finding the Gold in Your Script examines the relationship between the script and what an actor ultimately does on the stage or on screen. Here is a straightforward guide filled with useful information to help actors learn to use their scripts in a specific and analytical way to solve the problems of the scene and bring their elusive characters to life. In learning how to decipher the script, actors will be equipped to make the choices that lead to delivering a gold performance.

Author Biography

Bruce Miller is an associate professor and the Director of Acting Programs at the University of Miami, where he teaches acting and script analysis. His articles on acting appear regularly in Dramatics magazine and Teaching Theatre. He has conducted acting workshops nationally and internationally, including a series for the Educational Theatre Association's Professional Development Program.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. ix
Acting on the Script	p. 1
Mining for Physical Action	p. 13
Digging for the Story	p. 23
Collecting the Story Pieces	p. 33
Sifting for Character	p. 45
Reading the Map-Script to Gold	p. 63
Following the Map-Conflict to Objectives	p. 73
Objective Playing-Tool Number One	p. 97
M-Ore on Objectives	p. 109
Finding the Smaller Nuggets	p. 125
Analysis, Action, and Listening for Gold	p. 137
Processing the Gold-A Review	p. 149
Assaying the Gold	p. 163
Acknowledgments	p. 165
Glossary of Acting Terms	p. 167
Bibliography	p. 187
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