Acting PA

by Schreiber,Terry

• ISBN13: 9781581154184
• ISBN10: 1581154186
• Edition: 00
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2005-06-17
• Publisher: FRWHEEL

Summary

Actors who want to get inside the script and make it come alive now have a step-by-step guide from a Broadway director and renowned acting teacher. Honed by the authorís 35 years of teaching, this advanced book offers different warm-up exercises concentrating on the actorís sense of smell, sound, sight, and touch; sensory tools for conveying the climate and environment of the text; tips for suggesting a characterís physical conditions; and much more. Individual exercises will help actors to free the voice and body, create a character, find the action and condition of scenes, and explore the subconscious for effective emotional recall. Readers will also find meticulous guidelines for best using rehearsal time and preparing for in-class scene work. The foreword is written by two-time Academy Award nominee Edward Norton. Those who act, direct, or teach will not want to miss the acting lessons that have made T. Schreiber Studio a premier actor training program.

Author Biography

Terry Schreiber is the founder of T. Schreiber Studio

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	vi
Foreword by Edward Norton	viii
Preface	x
A Note on Personal Pronouns
Methodology	xiii
My Experience
No "One" Technique
An Actor's Toolbox
Mind, Heart, Will
PART I: PROCEDURE	1	(38)
Chapter 1: Relaxation	3	(18)
Tension-The Enemy of the Actor
"To Be Seen" Body Work
"To Be Heard" Vocal Work
Warm-Up Program
Chapter 2: Concentration	21	(4)
The Senses-Five Powerful Tools
Chapter 3: Imagination	25	(4)
Sidebar: Finding Emotional Resolution
Chapter 4: Preparation	29	(10)
Body and Voice
The Actor's Notebook
Memorization
Sidebar: Backward Way to Construct a Sentence
Monologues
Class and Rehearsal Space
A Note for Leaders
PART II: GROUP EXERCISES	39	(44)
Relaxing into the Floor
"Hard" Chairs
Chapter 5: General Sensory Exercises	41	(14)
Height
Floating
Beach/Sunning/Water
Animal Exercises
Sidebar: The Snow Leopard
Meal
Cave
Sidebar: Alone in a Cave
Mixed Sound/Smell
Chapter 6: Personal Sensory Exercises	55	(12)
Baby Exercise
Age Exercise
The Place Exercise (Room/Closet/Chest/Attic/Basement)
Face
Shower
Chapter 7: Physical-Condition Exercises	67	(16)
An Actor's Secret
Cold
Sidebar: One Hundred Degrees, and I'm Freezing
Heat
Drunkenness
Drugs
Pain
Sidebar: Pain, Shin Splints, and the High School Basketball Bench
Blindness
Deafness
Don't Go Alone
Other Impairment
Insanity
Sidebar: Insanity, Anger, and My Hair
Conclusion
PART III: INDIVIDUAL EXERCISES	83	(94)
A Note for Leaders
Chapter 8: Creating A Character-The Spoon River Exercise	85	(18)
Spoon River, Part One-Introduction to the Character
Sidebar: Mrs. Sibley Said Nothing, and Everything
Spoon River, Part Two-Animal Work and "Psychological Center"
Sidebar: Rose Ritz, Fancy Peacock
Chapter 9: Making A Scene: The A.C.T. (Action/Condition/Telephone Call)	103	(10)
Activity
Physical Condition
Sidebar: Sisterly Love
Preparation and Rehearsal
Telephone Call
A.C.T. in Class
Sidebar: Cleaning Up, the Hangover, and the Confession
What We've Learned
Chapter 10: Freeing the Instrument-The Fallout and the Song Exercise	113	(28)
A Note for Leaders
Fallout
Sidebar: The Fallout-A Way to Warm Up
Song Exercise
A Note on Leading the Fallout and Song Exercise
What We've Learned
Chapter 11: Exploring the Subconscious-Emotional Recall	141	(18)
Emotional Recall, Part One
Sidebar: Blowout on the Soccer Field
Emotional Recall, Part Two
Emotional Recall, Part Three
Emotional Recall, Part Four
A Note for Leaders
What We've Learned
Chapter 12: Validating The Self-The Private Moment	159	(18)
Practical Purpose
Before Class-Choosing Private Moments-The Storyboard
What Is a Private Moment?
Parts One and Two
Private Moment-Preparation
Sidebar: Opening Up a Sensual Side
Performing the Private Moment, Parts One and Two
Private Moment, Part Three
Sidebar: The Private Moment, Years Later, On Stage
Sidebar: Tipping Point of a Career
Character Private Moments
Sidebar: A Gut-Wrenching Moment
What We've Learned
PART IV: SCENE STUDY	177	(40)
Chapter 13: Assigning Scenes	179	(6)
Rules for Rehearsal
Chapter 14: Road Map	185	(12)
Working Title
Objective
Beats
Sidebar: Relearning
Actions (Also Called 'Intention')
The Givens
Essential Scene Preparation
Chapter 15: Scene Work Rehearsal Process	197	(6)
Preliminary Meeting
First Rehearsal
Second Rehearsal
Third Rehearsal
Chapter 16: Scenes in Class	203	(6)
Sidebar: Putting It All Together
First Time
Second Time
Chapter 17: Application of Exercise Work	209	(8)
Relax and Prepare
Where Have You Been?
Sidebar: Preparation at 6th and 9th
Don't Predict
Fight Against Emotions
Scene Problem-Personal Problems
Handling Dangerous Emotional Acting Situations
Sidebar: Using the E.R. to Go to Pieces
It All Comes Down to Text
Conclusion	217	(4)
Appendix A: Recommended Reading	221	(2)
Appendix B: Playwrights Suggested for Study	223	(1)
Glossary	224	(6)
About the Author	230	(1)
Index	231