Acting for Dummies is the silliest name for a book on acting (There is one, I

checked!) because acting is certainly NT for dummies! It takes a real

education to look natural in front of an audience or camera! As an acting
coach, my teaching style consists of a myriad of techni"ues learned o#er the
years from some #ery gifted teachers in the industry! This mi$ is also
re%ected in my reading list! &et'een my (indle and my bedside table, I ha#e
)erused and read far too many books to list in one article! *o'e#er, I+d like to
recommend si$ must ha#es for as)iring and 'orking actors alike!
,! -Audition- by .ichael /hurtle0
I consider this book to be the bible for as)iring actors! If you are 1ust
beginning your acting career, this is a great )lace to start! It co#ers
e#erything you need to kno' to get the )art! .r! /hurte0+s t'el#e infamous
guide)osts ha#e in%uenced my o'n 'ork in de#elo)ing my sim)le techni"ue
to hel) actors learn ho' to direct themsel#es! 2rom relationshi)s to 3nding
the lo#e and humor in the scene, /hurtel0+s ste)s 'ill hel) you nail your
audition e#ery time!
4! -.eisner on Acting- by /anford .eisner
.eisner or .ethod5 That is the "uestion! 6ell, it may not really be an
either7or! It+s often insightful to kno' both! Although I did not train 'ith
/anford .eisner, I 'as fortunate enough to study 'ith many teachers,
including 6ynn *andman, 'ho 'ere .eisner disci)les! In this gem, .eisner
gi#es it to you straight on ho' to li#e truthfully in the moment under
imaginary circumstances! 8our library is not com)lete 'ithout this one!
9! -:es)ect for Acting- by ;ta *agen
/im)le and straightfor'ard, ;ta *agen+s )rofound book has hel)ed
generations of actors hone their craft! /he introduces series of e$ercises to
hel) the actor connect to the moment, fello' actors, and the audience! 6ho
am I5 6hat do I 'ant5 and 6hat is my relationshi)5 are three of the nine
"uestions e$)lored to de3ne your character+s role s)eci3cally! *agen also
includes in#aluable ad#ice about stage ner#es and ho' to stay fresh in a long
run!
<! -An Actor =re)ares- by >onstantin /tanisla#sky
2unny at times, this book takes the actor through /tanisla#sky+s self?
de#elo)ed -system- 'hich hel)s the actor to master his craft as 'ell as
stimulate creati#ity and imagination! No' referred to as -method acting,- -An
Actor =re)ares- includes a #ariety of e$ercises and some autobiogra)hical
e$)eriences that focus on rela$ation, concentration, and techni"ues that 'ill
hel) get the actor into character! @motional memory and the magic if
e$)lored in his book laid the ground'ork for much of the great acting today!
A! -Im)ro#isation for the Theatre- by Biola /)olin
>onsidered the mother of im)ro#isation, Biola /)olin de#elo)ed a series of
acting e$ercises and theater games to free the actor+s creati#ity, allo'ing
)lay beyond the scene! .any modern im)ro# grou)s such as /econd >ity
utiliCe /)olin+s techni"ues! If you 'ant to learn truthful acting and ho' to be
in the moment,++ add this to your library to make it com)lete!
D! -ActionsE The ActorFsF Thesaurus- by .arina >alderone
Acting means T D! Thousands of action 'ords are al)habetiCed and
categoriCed to hel) you 3nd 'hat you are doing in e#ery beat! This book 'ill
hel) you )lay s)eci3c actions and get a'ay from making general choices!
/o there you ha#e it! Denise+s fa#orite si$ to) )icks no actor should be
caught 'ithout!
.aster your craft, em)o'er yourself, and en1oy the 1ourney!
Denise /imon is an acting coach and career consultant 'ho has been
in#ol#ed in the entertainment industry for more than 4A years as an actor,
teacher, director, and )ersonal talent manager! 2or ,G years, she 'as an
associate 'ith 2o$ Albert .anagement, one of the leading talent
management com)anies in Ne' 8ork, 'here she managed such clients as
/carlett Hohansson, Academy A'ard 'inner .ira /or#ino, Iacey >habert
(=arty of 2i#e), and Hudy :eyes (N&>+s /crubs)! Denise has coached
hundreds of children and young adults a))earing regularly on &road'ay and
in tele#ision and 3lm, as 'ell as educating )arents on the business of sho'
business!