Acting With Passion A Performer's Guide to Emotions on Cue

by Flacks, Niki

• ISBN13: 9781408183731
• ISBN10: 1408183730
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2015-04-23
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Methuen Drama

Summary

Based on the latest research from the fields of neuroscience and mind-body psychology, Acting With Passion offers a revolutionary new approach to the age-old problems of the actor: dealing with nerves, engaging the body, quieting the inner critic, auditioning, creating a character, and even playing comedy.
With this step-by-step guide, actors who have struggled with 'visualization' and 'emotional recall' can learn an alternative method of accessing feelings through the release of chronic, subtle muscular tensions that connect into the brain at lightning fast speed and can actually produce emotions on cue.
Written with verve and accessibility, and using practical exercises to guide the actor through each stage, Acting With Passion is the must-have text for actors seeking that magical 'state of aliveness'.

Author Biography

Niki Flaks is a director, actor, teacher and psychologist, whose career spans both sides of the Atlantic. Flaks is a frequent tutor at the Actors Centre in London’s West End and at the Algonquin Theater in New York. Her very popular workshops in Paris led to her invitation to be part of the prestigious faculty of European A.C.T. teaching actors in London, Paris and Berlin. She has been an assistant professor of theatre at Southern Methodist University and holds a B.S. from Northwestern University and an M.S.W. from The University of Texas at Arlington, USA.

Table of Contents

Introduction: The Journey Begins
Chapter One: The Holy Grail – Emotions on Cue
Chapter Two: Memorisation – A Fresh Look and No Whinging, Please
Chapter Three: Opening the Dungeon – Pain, Fear, Sadness
Chapter Four: Going Deeper – Opening the Dungeon to Rage
Chapter Five: Flacksing – When? How? Where? How often?
Chapter Six: Gesturing – Why Should It Be So Difficult?
Chapter Seven: Auditions – Your Chance to Shine
Chapter Eight: Rehearsal Strategies – Incompetent Directors and Other Obstacles
Chapter Nine: Lovely Challenges – Style, Character and Comedy
Chapter Ten: Namaste – Yoga for Actors
Chapter Eleven: The Future is Yours – The Best Revenge is Happiness