REsources for the working actor
A collection of Resources
ACTING TECHNIQUE
ACT: The Modern Actor’s Handbook
David Rotenberg
This little book is a one-stop shop for true-to-life acting technique, auditions and the business of acting. I found it stood up to its name, “the Actor’s Handbook,” and I refer to it often for acting reminders.
From the publisher:
Act: The Modern Actor’s Handbook is the result of 30 years of one of North America’s most renowned acting teachers teaching some of the world’s most talented screen actors. This is a full tour through the concepts at the heart of Rotenberg’s techniques: states of being, primaries and secondaries, images that you elaborate up or distill down, modifiers, actions and beats, and more.
100 PROJECTS TO STRENGTHEN ACTING SKILLS
Jona Howl
Not just for drama school hopefuls. This little how-to book will take you ‘back to ones’ and provide insights on how to create a process on your own terms. It is practical, with tips and routines on acting, vocal and movement development. It offers daily and weekly routines to stay sharp.
The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity
Julia Cameron
This modern classic is in its 30th Anniversary edition. This “course in discovering and recovering your creative self” is for all the burnt-out adults out there looking to awaken (or reawaken) the life within them. It is a 12-week program to rewire your thinking about what it means to be an “artist”. If you ever buckled under the weight of the title, this book is for you. It is composed of rock-solid philosophy and a three-tiered approach: daily stream-of-consciousness writing, the “Artist Date,” and weekly creative exercises.
The Emotional Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression Second Edition
Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi
Buy this book. Buy this Book. Buy this Book. Don’t let the name fool you - It’s not just for writers. If you want to understand humans (including yourself), then this is your guide. You could use it to understand your own feelings and responses - if you dare! It lists over 150 emotions in alphabetical order, providing a breakdown of each, including its physical signals and behaviours, internal sensations, mental responses, acute or long-term responses, signs it is being repressed, what it could escalate or de-escalate to, and associated power verbs. Playing a grieving widower? An agitated mother? Look up it up and see what you can find. It will open your acting toolbox and give you a real look at how we present ourselves.