Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Why Acting Class is Crucial in your Development as an Actor!

Do I really need to go to acting class; my friends think I?m a
natural performer? Isn?t acting all about knowing lines anyway??


If only acting where all about knowing lines. If it where that
simple everyone would be an actor. Acting requires skill and
discipline on many levels and to start to learn about these
skills and disciplines acting class is the PERFECT place.


An acting class is not like any other class, history or English
or pottery. There is no formula or textbook regurgitation to
passing an acting class.


Acting class is very different; really it is the study of YOU! Of the Self!


Great acting comes from a place of knowing. Knowing your truth,
knowing how to relate, knowing how to connect and communicate.


Acting class is the place where you go to KNOW more about YOU!


The way to learn more about your Self is to put yourself out
there. Try a love scene. How do you feel? What happens when I
allow myself to be funny or sad? How does it feel? Are my
instincts tuned? How do people react? What can I do to go
deeper?


An acting class should be a safe environment where you can learn
to express yourself. All of you. And even if your efforts flop
this is the perfect environment because it hasn?t cost you
anything in terms of losing a job or making the wrong impression
with the people that count.


Find an acting class or acting teacher that is supportive and
encouraging, one that is constructive and objective not critical.


Acting class, first and foremost should be FUN but also
challenging! You want it to be a place where you are
continuously discovering, going deeper, and pushing your comfort
zone.


Use your acting class to try everything. Don?t shy away from
your impulses, urges, and ideas, embrace them. This is how you
will grow as an actor.


This is the place where you can really screw up, fall flat on
your face, and it doesn?t matter. This is the place to learn to
push the boundaries, to discover who you are and how you work as
an actor.


Also I find that when you are continuously working on your craft
in such an environment you?re in a state ready to work, you have
greater confidence in your ability. You?re prepared to nail that
role!


So go out there, take an acting class and:


Express yourself


Learn the craft, Gather the tools


Find your Technique


Make mistakes


Learn the Lingo


Work with other like-minded people


Meet people and start a theatre group


See if your have what it takes


Practice, Practice, Practice


Add to your resume


Free yourself up


And most importantly;


Have fun!


To Your acting


Leanne Mauro


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Monday, October 29, 2007

Great Acting Requires Sincere Effort

One of the first true mysteries that children encounter when growing up is trying to understand what acting is all about. The idea of people trying to be other than they really are and involved in completely fictional situations?is a bit difficult to grasp. But, like moths to the flame, even confused children cannot help but watch. There is a good reason for this?a great story is always entertaining. Of course, the acting used to tell a great story is as important as the tale because the audience must be able to escape with the actors in the world of imagination and make-believe. Therefore, the actors must be able to envision themselves in extreme or remote situations and give a realistic presentation of how a person would truly behave. Great acting makes it easier for those in the audience to escape with the actor into the tale they are attempting to present.

By combining imagination, physical expression, and vocal projection, acting has taken many forms through the centuries to translate the actions and thoughts of written characters to live audiences. At the expense of social status during the Roman Empire, actors performed the poetry of great writers in open courtyards to entertain the masses. Theater troops entirely comprised of men expressed the comedy and tragedy of Shakespeare?s plays before women were allowed to perform. And, later during the early 20th century, acting was taken to new heights with the invention of cameras for use in movies and television.

Originally derived from the Latin word for ?to do?, there are many forms of expression that acting can take on. Today, actors train extensively in areas of study such as mime, singing, dancing, and improvisation to capture the true emotions of a character. Learning institutions throughout the United States and the world offer programs to develop the skills and insight necessary to perform great literary, musical, and dance pieces.

From your child?s elementary school holiday program, to your favorite television show, acting can be found in many aspects of our daily lives. Consider expanding your appreciation of acting with a trip to a local theater or operatic production for an experience that lasts a lifetime. Many local and regional theaters remain in operation and afford all aspiring actors the chance to hone their acting talents while still providing inexpensive entertainment to those in attendance.



Movies-Music-Television.com makes it easy to find information on movies, music and more. Visit our site and learn more about Performing Arts today.

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Friday, October 26, 2007

Acting Schools Teach Performing Arts

Acting Schools can be found in many fine arts departments in colleges and universities across the country. Acting Schools can also be specialized institutions for teaching the art and craft of the performing arts.

Acting Schools train students in stage, film, and television performance. Four-year degrees through intensive professional study in Acting Schools are common, however, some specialized acting schools provide programs that last just weeks. Students can choose the level of acting instruction and training they want. Private lessons are also available in some instances.

Acting School associate degree programs prepare students to convey information, attitudes, feelings, moods, and ideas through natural behavior in imaginary situations. Acting School instruction can include acting styles; script interpretation; voice, speech, and stage dialects; body movement and improvisation; theatre history; and coaching.

Admission to Acting Schools for obtaining the Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) programs often involves student application forms, academic records, portfolios, theater experience, and acting auditions. Students should contact individual schools for admission requisites.

Acting School classes can focus on overall ability of individual students, and students may choose to pursue stage, film, or television acting. Students can expect classes in acting techniques; movement; play analysis, production, and production design; and in directing. Additional courses may include theater history, theater theory, dance, and voice. Non-elective general education courses are also required for Acting School degrees.

Stage performance in Acting Schools may begin in the first semester of many Acting School programs. Master studies often include writing and directing.

If you are interested in learning more about Acting Schools and other types of schools, please search our site for more information and resources.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.

Copyright 2006 - All Rights Reserved Michael Bustamante, in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc. for SchoolsGalore.com

Please feel free to use this article in your Ezine or on your Website; however, ALL links must remain intact and active.

Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. in association with SchoolsGalore.com. Find Schools, Colleges, Universities, Vocational Schools and Online Schools at SchoolsGalore.com; meeting your needs as your educational resource to locate schools.

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Thursday, October 25, 2007

Ur Network Film/Acting Biz Support

ASCAP "Meet & Greet", Durango Songwriters Expo, Latino Screenwriter's Lab, VH1 Hip Hop Honors, Alameda Writers Group Meet, NAB New York, Gothic Pagan Halloween Ball, CMJ Music and Film Fest, Highlight October Media & Hollywood based Ur Network Alliance at http://www.urnetworkalliance.com/3.html will begin weekly networking and support group meetings featuring film and show business industry guests leading sessions where they discuss new projects, share leads and motivate serious actors, writers, and filmmakers. Meetings happen in various locations but will be situated in and around Brentwood in West Los Angeles and are limited in size so registration to email: urnetworkalliance@urnetworkalliance.com is a must. In the series titled "Anatomy Of A Script Master Class" happening in Los Angeles, Tuesdays, October 3 to November 7, Writers Guild Foundation produces a series of discussions tracking the evolution of a script. Music industry support network, ASCAP, hosts a "Meet & Greet" in Dallas on October 4 with free food and drinks and open to the public. More than 300 artists will perform as part of this year's Atlantis Music Conference in Atlanta, October 4-7, representing a wide variety of generes including Rock, Alternative, Urban/R&B, Hip Hop, DJ/Electronica, Soul, Americana, Country, Christian and more. A business primer conducted over 9 meetings, October 4 to November 29 in Westwood, explores starting an Entertainment Production Company, whether in motion pictures, television, music, or the new media sector. Durango Songwriters Expo and Conference, opening October 5 in Park City, is famously known to limit its Expo enrollment to 200 attendees to preserve that low "expert to songwriter" ratio helping to distinguish it from other music events.

Aside from presenting the best Latino films made in the US, Spain, the Caribbean, and Latin America, the 10th LALIFF holds a Latino Screenwriter?s Lab and presents the Desi Arnaz scholarship when it runs October 5-15 in Hollywood. At the Third Annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors, Ice T hosts VH1's awards show to honor Wu-Tang Clan, Afrika Bambaataa, Russell Simmons and Beastie Boys, and pay tribute to Ice Cube, at the ceremony taking place October 7 in New York City. Todd Robinson (Lonely Hearts, The Senator's Wife) leads discussions for the month's Alameda Writer's Group Meeting, October 7 in Glendale. BMI, Gibson Guitars and Billboard Magazine present the Industry Insider Series: "Where Are the New Sounds and Rhythms Taking Latin Music," October 11 in Los Angeles. SAG continues to present its Low Budget Agreements Workshop which are held the second Thursday (October 12) of every month from 6-8 pm in both New York and Los Angeles. American Cinematheque will present the 21st Annual American Cinematheque Award to George Clooney in an October 13 event taking place in Beverly Hills. Miami Digital and Cine Expo presents two days of the latest production equipment, seminars and workshops opening October 13. From October 16-28, Women In Film present "Creating Your Own Yellow Brick Road", an exploration of entrepreneurial and non-traditional Hollywood career options, held in Los Angeles. At Entertainment and Media Forum 2006 industry leaders gather in Beverly Hills, October 18 & 19, to review the challenges faced by entertainment and advertising executives to reach and engage consumers by todays leading edge technologies.

The theme at the 13th Annual Austin Film Festival and Conference, October 19-26, is "Telling Your Story By Any Means Necessary" featuring accomplished screenwriters and filmmakers participating in roundtables, panels, and with agents and producers on hand to network with. For the two day (October 20 & 21) that the 15th Annual Entertainment Law Institute will meet in Austin, a review of current legal issues, such as copyright protection for sound recordings, digital distribution of music and film distribution models are on the agenda. Nashville Songwriters Association International and Nashville Songwriters Foundation puts on an induction ceremony from Nashville October 22. When NAB New York opens October 23 it will feature more than 100 training sessions in cutting-edge production and post-production techniques and an exhibit floor that showcases the latest audio and video content creation technologies. The "Fourth Annual Los Angeles Independent Horror Film Festival and Gothic Pagan Halloween Ball" is merely a celebration of darkness in films, animation, music, art and cyber-creation, on October 29. CMJ Music Marathon and CMJ Film Fest launches October 31 running through November 4 featuring dozens of panels covering topics affecting all corners of the music industry in addition to live music and film screenings.

The above events are only a sampling of what is listed. Many of the events above have a submission process for indie and/or performing artists to take part in. Complete details are on the "Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events" page at http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html. Experience the newly relaunched message board on The Actor's Checklist which now permits user profiles and private messaging which you can find at http://actorschecklist.com/phpBB2/.



News and Networking Events Covering the Media and Show Business Industry for this Month from The Actor's Checklist News & Events page at http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html or through RSS/XML feed http://actorschecklist.com/showbiznews.rss.

Hollywood based Ur Network Alliance at http://www.urnetworkalliance.com/3.html

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Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Teleselling and Acting Like a Human who Actually Cares

If you are engaged in any type of selling career then you know that using the phone during the sales process is necessary. How you use the phone can indeed make or break the sale. These days with CRM machines, Voice Technologies and push 1 if or push 2 if automated machines, a real human voice is a plus. But not if you do not act like a human, a human that really cares that is. In Teleselling you must not only act like you are human, but Acting Like a Human who actually cares is the key.

Too many people act like order takers during the sales process the minute they get on the phone they go into rapid fire prepared sentence speech. They talk over the other person, do not hear what they said. If the client or prospect wanted that they could call the phone company, American Express or their Cell phone provider and not have to talk to the likes of you.

Would you please do your self a favor and act like a human, with real live human emotion? Emotions like empathy, caring and honest listening. And not just act like you mean it, truly caring. Because if you do the customer will respond in kind and you will be able to move the sales process forward without them hanging up on you or making an excuse to get off the line. Trust me on this in 2006.

Lance Winslow, a retired entrepreneur, adventurer, modern day philosopher and perpetual tourist.

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Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Bring Your Dreams Into Reality By Acting As If

"I pretended to be somebody I wanted to be until finally I became that person. Or he became me."

--Cary Grant

Recently a prospective client told me a little story. He had attended a party in his industry, that is, the industry, he wants to be successful in. As he drove there, he began feeling jitters and a general sense that he didn't belong. There were going to be several influential people in the field, and he started out telling himself he was a nobody.

We've all had these thoughts and emotions, especially when it's about something important. Simple insecurity in any situation is certainly no fun, but when it's in the face of something we really want, it can be debilitating. As he pulled up to the party, he reflected on the fact that he was driving his snazzy, albeit old sports car, and was dressed with a bit of flash, so he decided he'd act as if he was already a success, since he had the trappings anyway.

While he shook the hands of these "high-powered" people, something shifted in him, that he never expected. A tactic to make himself feel better about being afraid, turned around his whole perspective on the possibility of his success in his business. Just acting the part, made him realize he had what it takes to make it.

Of course, this all goes back to that bit of wisdom that has become clich? in recent years: that whatever you believe, you can achieve.

The difference here is that you don't need to sit and think great thoughts in order to change your beliefs. You simply need to open yourself to a different way of acting, even if it's only for a few hours, and then see what happens.

Think of it this way: you've heard the idea that what you're capable of is only limited to your imagination. You probably believe it's true. So why don't we always act as if it's true?

It's because we're deluded; we look around and decide that what we see is true. "I live in an apartment I can barely pay for." "I don't have that special person in my life." "I'm in a dead-end job."

Blah, blah, blah.

Your conscious mind is focused on those things, and we have all agreed to call them reality. They will be your reality if you allow them to be.

The problem there is that those thoughts are boring, and you're boring yourself by thinking them. If you don't believe me, go out and tell someone all the details of your "reality," and see how quickly their eyes glaze over.

What if we allowed our dreams and desires, the things our hearts long for, to be just as valid? What if we decided those things that live in our imagination were just as much a part of our reality as the things we take in empirically?

In fact, your unconscious mind makes no distinction between them. For that part of you, your memories, your current experience in this moment, and what you imagine about the future, all hold equal weight, all expressions of the same thing.

This is why our beliefs are so powerful. It's why people who have opened their minds to what is-and what can be-make such huge progress.

And it's what I believe the Buddha meant when he said, "We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world."

So take some time to pay attention to your imagination. Just as importantly, act as if the things you find there are already true.

Robin is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach and author of "Success, The Ezine" (offering a free worksheet each month). He is dedicated to helping others discover new ways of doing things so they move powerfully forward in their career and life. To schedule a free introductory session, contact robin at robin@robinjones.biz or visit his website www.robinjones.biz #TITLE#Great Service Requires Great Acting#/TITLE#

I came across a passage in a book today that I want to share with you, especially if you?re in customer service.

The writer was speaking about the power of concentration, that when we concentrate we become one with the object of thought and lose ourselves in it. He offered this example:

?The greatness of an actor lies in the fact that he forgets himself in the portrayal of his character, becoming so identified with it, that the audience is swayed by the realism of the performance.?

Instantly, I knew this observation was accurate. What actors strive for is verisimilitude, what the Zen folks would call the ?is-ness? and the ?such-ness? of everyday life. Actors need to seem natural in their roles.

A natural performance isn?t one that is spontaneous; it is contrived to seem spontaneous.

It isn?t ?sincere.? It is the opposite. It is a lie, a deception. A person is pretending to be something he isn?t.

A lot of effort is put into making the role seem genuine. It?s art, because the art doesn?t show.

If you ask many service reps about their success, they?ll say their customers like them, that they have close, personal relationships with them.

This is a very agreeable illusion.

They SEEM to like each other, and this fiction enables relationships to be efficient.

But customers and the reps that serve them are locked into their roles. They?re acting out a business script that has at its basis the exchanging of money, of tangible and measurable rewards.

If they were truly friends, they would be acting out a different script, still about reciprocity, but this time it might be exchanging news, jokes, affection, appreciation, and attention. The goal of a friendship generally isn?t money, but ?value? is still exchanged.

"Love" might be that state of mind or heart or communion where roles are allowed to drop, or stop, to relax, be challenged, or to be flexible. Ideally, in love we find a place where we can ?be ourselves.?

But in business, we aren?t paid to be ourselves.

We?re paid to be that always bright and cheerful helper who seems as if the most important thing in the world is the customer, that one customer with whom we?re interacting at a given moment.

Once that person leaves the line or the store, our full attention is given to the next customer, and to the next.

We can never tire or show our true fatigue, because, as actors say: ?The show must go on!?

When we?re offstage, it's a different matter. Our true feelings can show.

What I?m saying is obvious to mature businesspeople, but it must be taught to each new generation of customer service folks.

Perhaps when we hire we should ?cast? them, as the Disney people are fond of calling recruitment.

When they ask an associate to don the costume of ?Goofy? or ?Mickey? or ?Snow White,? they say your ?role is to play? one of these characters.

It?s considered ?show business? from start to finish, no matter how humble your task seems to be. And if you?re in costume you don?t let anyone peek beneath your mask to see who you ?really? are.

You?re not the star; Snow White is.

So, how would a REAL actor approach the role of playing the best customer service rep in the world?

What would he or she say, sound like, and act like, performance after performance?

It is this ideal that customers will applaud, and it?s also a performance they?ll rave about and want to experience time and again.

Moreover, they?ll be happy to keep buying tickets, and this enables us all to pay for wonderfully spontaneous, sincere, loving lives when we?re offstage.

There's nothing Goofy about that!

Best-selling author of 12 books and more than 900 articles, Dr. Gary S. Goodman is considered "The Gold Standard"--the foremost expert in sales development, customer service, and telephone effectiveness. Top-rated as a speaker, seminar leader, and consultant, his clients extend across the globe and the organizational spectrum, from the Fortune 1000 to small businesses. He can be reached at: gary@customersatisfaction.com.

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Monday, October 22, 2007

Tips and Tricks Found in Acting Books

For the last three years I have been reviewing books on acting for a drama weekly. However, I haven?t yet found a book on acting that compares to real acting experience. Now, I?m not saying that acting books are worthless because they have their place. These books contain an almost encyclopedic discussion of various acting methodologies and approaches. These books also can also provide useful contact information that might take a while to find on your own. Nevertheless, a book on acting cannot take the place of a good acting course.

Acting books can help you to take your first steps into the world of acting. After that, it is all up to you. You can study all of the books on acting that you want, and try out every acting technique known to man on your own, but they are worthless if you can not use them to impress a director. Acting may require a lot of methodology, but the methodology is not the point. Acting is about figuring out what you want to do and finding ways to do it. Some professional actors know so many techniques that they write acting books on their own, but others know very little. Diving into the mind of the character to make him or her come alive is enough for them.

You should consider getting a few drama books instead of spending hard earned money that actors tend to have in such small quantities on acting books. Classic books of plays are an actor's best friend. After all, theater is one of the original art forms. You can strengthen your acting by delving more deeply into theatrical arts. Even movie actors can attest to the benefit of reading drama books. In fact, many of the best movie actors started out with Shakespearean acting courses. Only a select few actually spend their time reading acting books.

Now, don?t get me wrong because I?m not trying to discourage you entirely. Go ahead and read acting books if you are inspired by reading them. Spending time with whatever inspires you to act is important and worthwhile. Just remember that the purpose of these acting books is inspiration and ideas. None of them will give you real acting experience, although they can be great sources. You will have to take acting courses, go to acting workshops, and hustle for jobs like the rest of the acting world if you want to gain valuable acting experience.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Acting Books. Visit our site for more helpful information about Humorous Duet Acting Scripts and other similar topics.

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Acting Auditions

Auditions - Interview for actors conducted by a director or a casting director in order to determine if the actor fits the role. The actor should prepare a monologue or in most cases read from the project's sides.

Usually after a successful audition, the actor would be asked to come again for a callback.

To learn more about acting auditions or to find actors and models, for modeling jobs and casting calls, you can register for free, and tryout our services. Act now and showcase your talent, or generate an actor search. Actors and casting directors are welcome to use our site for free.

You can find more about auditions, acting auditions, acting, actors, model, models, modeling jobs, calls, cast, free, try, tryout, act, talent, actor search, casting director free of charge at ACTORS PAGES (TM)

Ask any casting director what matters most when an actor shows up to an audition. Most will say, "They need to be prepared." (Showing up on time can't hurt either.) These should be obvious, but it's surprising how many actors make a bad impression with something as simple as inappropriate behavior. It can knock you out before you step into the ring. Remember: Casting directors already have the job ? you don't. So you need to prove yourself to them, not the other way around.

Other suggestions we heard from CDs: Avoid unnecessary chit-chat. Don't linger in the room for too long after you read. Stay away from using most props. And avoid making physical contact with the casting director during your audition.

A feeling of desperation is another sure way not to get a callback. Never view an audition as nerve-wracking nightmare, or make it look that way. Consider each audition an opportunity: A chance to perform for an audience ? albeit a small one. Or walk into the audition saying, "No matter what happens, I'll do the best I can today." Remember: The casting director is not here to judge you harshly; he or she simply wants to find the perfect person for the role. That could be you.

Actors sometimes seek out coaching for auditions, but primarily for large film/TV roles, or for admittance to an MFA program. Many believe it is worth the expense ? if only for the boost in self-confidence. In last-minute emergencies, actors even resort to phone coaching, although that's not an ideal situation.

However, with or without coaching, one trap to avoid is too much preparation. Read the sides carefully but don't freeze your approach ? you may be asked to change it. Longtime coach and acting teacher Craig Wallace says he never sends actors out 100 percent set for the audition. "If you're over prepared, you have no flexibility," he says. "And you don't know what 50 percent of the process is until you walk into the room.

"You can't have the piece controlling you. You have to leave room for the circumstances of where you're going to be."

Ruben G. www.ActorsPages.org Actors pages ? Free service for the performing arts.

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Friday, October 19, 2007

How To Break Into Acting And Commercial Modeling

They're on magazine covers, catalogues, newspaper ads and inserts, billboards, posters, brochures and even on packages in grocery stores. "They" are models. But these models are not famous like supermodels, but they can entice you to buy everything from food to shampoo, jeans to health insurance, and can earn between $25-$250 an hour across North America. These models can be drop dead gorgeous, or can look like your next door neighbor or your best friend?and the best part is, unlike fashion modeling, there are no height, weight or age restrictions to your typical modeling assignment. The opportunity is available to just about everyone.

old, had the ?perfect? height, weight, look, or if you had the time? Stopped pursuing modeling because you weren't getting the opportunities or the work you desired?

The first step to realizing your dream of modeling or acting is to find yourself a good agent. Your agent is going to be the link between you and the modeling or acting audition information that you need, so having a good agent can mean the life or death of your career.

How Do I Get A Good Agent?

1. Go to a local theater. After the performance, ask the actors for the names of the agents who represent them.

2. Call local photographers and find out which agents they use when hiring models.

3. Call your local SAG (Screen Actors Guild) or AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) office for the names of signatory agents in your area. These are agents who have signed contracts and have agreed to abide by union rules. SAG or AFTRA will give you the list of names for free.

4. Call the agent(s) of your choice, and schedule an appointment to meet with him/her. Make your appointment during working hours and meet the agent at his or her office. Avoid meeting with an unfamiliar agent anywhere else.

5. Call models who work with the agent before your interview, if possible. Do they like the agent? Do they get work through the agent? Does the agent treat them well? Are they paid on time?

6. Look around the office. Do you see pictures of ads the agent has booked for his or her models? Are the phones ringing? You should see a busy office.

7. Decide whether or not you feel comfortable with the agent. If you're not sure, call the local SAG or AFTRA office, which might have some information about the agency.

A few things to watch for:

? Agents make their living by earning a percentage of each job they book for a model or actor. Fees paid to Photographers for photos, comp cards etc., are normal. Any fees that you pay, should not be fees that you?re paying to the agent. Do not pay any up-front fees to an agent.

? If the agent lies to you, makes outrageous promises or asks for up-front money (to cover phone calls or mailing expenses on your behalf), keep looking. Legitimate agents do not ask for expense money.

? If you're not happy with the number of auditions or bookings you are getting, set up an appointment with your agent and discuss what you can do to generate more jobs.

Copyright 2006 Alexandra Warner All Rights Reserved

Alexandra Warner has been a successful Talent Scout for 8 years, and regularly advises hopeful models and actors on the pros and cons of the business. Look for more information on the industry at http://www.new-faces.biz

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Wednesday, October 17, 2007

How Meditation can Help Acting

One of my main passions in life is acting. There is something very magical about it, which is probably why it has such a wide appeal on many people. A lot of the magic in acting comes from the fact that acting allows you to create your own reality. For a few moments, minutes or hours this reality becomes alive and tangible. It is like playing God, isn?t it? On stage we become the creators of our own miniature world. A world as real as lighting, stage props, costumes, sound, the skill of the actor and the imagination of the spectator allow it to be. We can be a prince, a king, a saint or ? sometimes even more desirable ? a villain of the deepest dye.

In the three years I spent studying acting at the national acting academy in Amsterdam I learnt a great deal about this wonderful art, whose purpose, as Shakespeare put it, consists of ?holding a mirror up to nature? ? a mirror through which we may see life from a different perspective and maybe arrive at a deeper understanding of it. Here I would like to talk about what it is that creates good acting and how meditation can help in developing our acting skills.

For acting can be learned. Although some inborn tendency, knack or talent for drama is helpful, it is not indispensable. Acting is a skill or let us say a capacity that can be developed.

The key to good acting is believability. In other words, the audience has to believe in what it sees. Not only that, it has to be convinced of the reality that we try to create. Because only if the audience is convinced is our performance most successful and enjoyable. Now how does the audience become convinced? Here we touch upon one of the fundamental laws, nay the very secret of acting. The audience becomes convinced only if the actor himself is convinced. We ourselves have to believe in the role or the character we create. We have to believe in every word that he or she utters. If we doubt our performance even for a fleeting second, if we allow a rift or division to arise between ourselves and the character we play and lose our sense of identification with it, the audience will immediately notice it and the performance will lose its power. Therefore to become good actors we have to develop the power of concentration and identification and at the same time overcome our self-doubt and insecurity.

And that is where meditation steps in to help. Through the regular practice of meditation we acquire the power of concentration. Our mind becomes clearer and more able to focus. As an actor this helps us to stay in character at all times. A clear and focused mind also helps us to memorize our lines better, an often overlooked but essential aspect of acting.

Aside from that that meditation also brings to the fore the qualities of sincerity and self-confidence in us. These qualities help our acting tremendously by giving our performance more depth and power. If we can pour our own sincerity into the words our character speaks and suffuse our acting with self-confidence, we can add much more life and colour to our performance. Here self-confidence does not mean overconfidence or haughtiness, but a deep rooted and healthy faith in ourselves. The more self-confidence we have, the less insecurity there will be. And the less insecure we are about our acting, the more convincing we will become as actors.

Sincerity and self-confidence are qualities which belong to our inner life. In other words they already exist inside us, we only have to become conscious of them and bring them to the fore. This can be done through the practice of meditation. My own spiritual teacher Sri Chinmoy has commented many times that meditation can enhance our talents and capacities and that there is no limit to the progress we can make.

And last but not least, as in anything we wish to learn, we need to practise. Practise makes perfect, as they say, and that certainly holds true for acting. If you are genuinely interested in leaning how to act I would suggest you join a local amateur acting group. Or organize an evening of funny, improvisational skits with friends and family. You will be amazed by the hidden acting skills that will undoubtedly come to the fore.

Abhinabha lives in Amsterdam, Holland. He is a meditation student of Sri Chinmoy and enjoys acting and running.

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Wednesday, October 10, 2007

How Do You Start An Acting Career?

Becoming an actor is something that a lot of people are interested in, but you few actually pursue. The fact of the matter is that if you want to break into this industry you are going to have to put in a lot of time and effort. But with that being said, hard work can do a lot for your acting career. When you combine hard work with a few of the proper steps you may be able to realize your career as an actor or actress sooner than you ever thought possible.

So how do you go about starting an acting career? The first step that you must take is moving to the right area of the world. The fact of the matter is that if you want to be an actor you need to live in the areas that are famous for this. For instance, Los Angeles and New York are what you want to be if you live in the United States. This is where the majority of jobs are, and if you live in one of these two areas you will be putting yourself in good position from the start.

Next, you will want to get together your portfolio. This will include information on yourself such as past experience, as well as some photos that you can send out if need be. You may even want to look into getting an agent who can help you out along the way. He or she knows when jobs open up, and can in turn give you the inside scoop. No, you do not necessarily need an agent to break into the acting business, but it can definitely help.

Finally, go on as many casting calls as you can. Getting into acting is nothing more than a numbers games. If you go to enough casting calls you will eventually get a job. And when you get one job it will likely lead to another and so on.

Breaking into acting is not easy, but at the same time it is not impossible.

Francois Botha is the author of career descriptions. He has compiled a list of careers with all the information you need to make career choices.

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The Greatest Actors Attended Acting School

Almost every actor needs to be literate and able to understand language from a variety of eras. A good actor can become anything he or she wants to be. If you want to really stand out as an actor, you will have to make your resume stand out for you.

When you look at all the famous actors out there they all have one things in common they all were passionate about becoming an actor, you need to be passionate about acting to become and actor. Plan to study your craft and become good at it; create your talent and persevere even if you are not getting parts and then share your knowledge and learn from others who share the same passion.

When working with agents to get work you should conduct yourself professionally in a setting. Actors need to promote themselves anyway they can, they need to hone their craft, try creating your own projects or joining a community theatre, co-op productions or doing anything that will help you get your name out there in the public and will help find an agent or someone who will notice your talents. Include a small thumbnail headshot of yourself on your resume.

What does the term acting mean, the definition is a person who portrays someone else or a character either on screen or on stage. When choosing an acting school you will need to notice that they offer many different programs that allows for flexibility when choosing the time to take the class this allows the student the ability to meet the requirements. The perfect forum is acting school it embraces the actors/actresses with the ability to enhance their talents to become the best they can be. When taking classes in a Universities they teach the finer points of how act and improve students craft of acting, they sharpen your skills but they do not spend the time showing actors how to get work on a consistent basis, or how to make a living as an actor.

The range of skills that an actor must have to be effective is very wide. To prepare for the skills to act you will need the following: you will need to connect to directors, producers and other actors and to listen to all of them.

When people talk about a hidden acting agenda they are referring to a term that describes a phenomenon where actors hide a condition or some trait or a quality of theirs because one of these things was the source they use that occurred earlier in their lives.

When actors perform in theater halls they were designed to have incredible acoustics, the reason for this was to help actors and performers so the audience are able to hear them and to give the performers and actors natural reflections when performing. People watch TV, go to movies or theater to be entertained. You need to start some place when becoming an actor, you should look into short films or independent theater and you should take a few simple classes, this will help you on your way, it is just the beginning.

Although, there are some exceptions, normally agencies will not work with actors that have no experience, it is very rare that they will consult inexperienced actors or take them in as clients.

David Marc Fishman is the owner of Bornasuperstar site. The online auditions for dancers. Learn the secret of success.

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Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Watch For Scams in Acting

Is This What Acting Scams Are About?

The first of two stories about acting scams is about a commercial print agent I encountered and had met from a mailing I did. He called me one day and said he had seen my head shot and asked me to come in and meet with him. Of course I said yes, although I started to detect a bit of sarcasm and surliness in his voice. When I arrived in his office, he was very hurried and not very polite. He asked me for my headshots. I was ready but wondered why he didn?t have the one I sent him. He looked at them and told me point blank that ?they look like shit? and that he wouldn?t be able to get me work with those pictures. He told me what kind of photos he wanted and then said something that made an alarm go off in my head. On a small piece of paper, he wrote the name and telephone number of a photographer he wanted me to use to get new head shots. Hmmm. He also told me to bring the contact sheets (the pages with all the pictures taken at the shoot, or at least the best ones) so that he could help me choose the best ones to market myself. Could this be the making of an acting scam? Let's see.

Well, I went to get new headshots, but I didn?t go to the photographer he suggested. I had one already chosen. When I called him back, he didn?t seem to remember me at first. I explained that I had gotten new head shots like he suggested, and he immediately asked me who took them. I told him the photographer?s name and he blurted out, ?Why didn?t you go to the photographer I told you to go to?? I told him, ?Because I already had my photographer, and I preferred to go to him. The pictures are good.? He snapped back, ?Let me be the judge of that!? I had no intention of going to his photographer out of principle. I?m not here to feed his business; I?m looking for an agent who is really interested in working with me. As long as the pictures are good, what does it matter where I get them?

I just imagined him telling me that the pictures were no good and that he wanted me to go get the others. But here?s the funny thing. I must have talked to seven different people about this particular agent, usually starting out with the question of whether or not they ever heard of him. I swear I got five identical answers: ?Oh God, stay away from him.? I met two young women, both in their late twenties, who told me they first had to get the pictures from the recommended photographer, and then they had to pay to get into his ?book? that he presumably uses to sell his clients to his casting contacts. One girl told me about an agent she works with for print and told me all the things I just told you. I thought to myself how familiar that sounded; then I asked her who the agent was. It was the same person! Wow! I?m telling you this to let you know that things like that can happen. I don?t think that requiring a client to use a specific photographer or having clients pay to be inserted in a book are normal practices. I might be wrong, but I don?t think so. On the other hand, one could argue that paying to meet casting directors is along the same lines. I?d rather pay to meet a casting director face-to-face, especially when 95 percent of agents don?t ask for their clients to pay to be inserted in a book.

Just watch out for acting scams. They could be lurking just around the corner.

Anthony Smith left a successful corporate career as a senior manager in Nike and Levi's after 15 years to follow his dream of becoming an entrepreneur, writer, motivational speaker and actor. While enjoying success in his "new" life, Anthony shares his business insight and acting experience with young actors. Aside from acting work, he has created http://www.actingcareerstartup.com and his first book, Acting Career Start-Up: Four Key Factors For Success will hit the U.S. market in March 2007.

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What An Actor Need To Know Before Pursuing The Career Of Acting

Almost every actor needs to be literate and able to understand language from a variety of eras. A good actor can become anything he or she wants to be. If you want to really stand out as an actor, you will have to make your resume stand out for you.

When you look at all the famous actors out there they all have one things in common they all were passionate about becoming an actor, you need to be passionate about acting to become and actor. Plan to study your craft and become good at it; create your talent and persevere even if you are not getting parts and then share your knowledge and learn from others who share the same passion.

When working with agents to get work you should conduct yourself professionally in a setting. Actors need to promote themselves anyway they can, they need to hone their craft, try creating your own projects or joining a community theatre, co-op productions or doing anything that will help you get your name out there in the public and will help find an agent or someone who will notice your talents. Include a small thumbnail headshot of yourself on your resume.

What does the term acting mean, the definition is a person who portrays someone else or a character either on screen or on stage. When choosing an acting school you will need to notice that they offer many different programs that allows for flexibility when choosing the time to take the class this allows the student the ability to meet the requirements. The perfect forum is acting school it embraces the actors/actresses with the ability to enhance their talents to become the best they can be. When taking classes in a Universities they teach the finer points of how act and improve students craft of acting, they sharpen your skills but they do not spend the time showing actors how to get work on a consistent basis, or how to make a living as an actor.

The range of skills that an actor must have to be effective is very wide. To prepare for the skills to act you will need the following: you will need to connect to directors, producers and other actors and to listen to all of them.

When people talk about a hidden acting agenda they are referring to a term that describes a phenomenon where actors hide a condition or some trait or a quality of theirs because one of these things was the source they use that occurred earlier in their lives.

When actors perform in theater halls they were designed to have incredible acoustics, the reason for this was to help actors and performers so the audience are able to hear them and to give the performers and actors natural reflections when performing. People watch TV, go to movies or theater to be entertained. You need to start some place when becoming an actor, you should look into short films or independent theater and you should take a few simple classes, this will help you on your way, it is just the beginning.

Although, there are some exceptions, normally agencies will not work with actors that have no experience, it is very rare that they will consult inexperienced actors or take them in as clients.

David Marc Fishman is the owner of Bornasuperstar site. The online talent show for singers. The law of attraction works for everyone.

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Sunday, October 7, 2007

Acting And Stage Fright

One of the most common questions that gets posed before someone embarks on an acting career is how one can overcome stage fright. The shortest answer is simply to keep getting on stage. Now, that may not sound like much, but as you will see, the power of repetition is not to be missed here.

The first thing you have to understand about stage fright, especially when it comes to acting, is the root source of that fear. Very early on in the Meisner school I went to, the acting teacher presented us an acronym for F.E.A.R. that I've hung on to ever since...

False
Evidence
Appearing
Real

Now, fear is a normal part of our operating mechanism...like a steering wheel, it comes with the car, so to speak. It was further pointed out in my acting school that as babies, we have ONE ingrained fear when we show up in the world. That being the fear of loud noises. Everything else is learned behaviour, as in, we pick it up as we go. Some of those fears are legitimate and serve to protect us from harm. The problem only starts manifesting itself when those fears come from irrational places and that's exactly where stage fright comes into play.

Everyone can see the benefit of being fearful of a wild bear. There is a very rational reason to be scared if there's a big ol' bear rearing up in front of you. That bear represents an immediate threat to your physical well being, and you being scared of it is a good thing! However, let's reflect on what 'danger' you will be facing while acting.

Hmm...

Not much going on, is there? The audience isn't very likely to attack you are they? So, what's it all about? The usual worry is embarrassment...'I'm going to look stupid' or 'people won't like me' or some variation on those themes. Or, worse yet, 'I will be wrong.' Our need for acceptance to the group at large has been ingrained in us since we were children. It gets fostered by just about everyone in our lives, and socially speaking, it usually does more good than harm...but, for your acting, it's absolutely terrible! By the way, it's those same fears that con-men and crooks prey on to part you from your money. Who knows, maybe getting over your fear of embarrassment will help you avoid a con someday!

Anway, the first step to overcoming that societal 'barrier' is acceptance. You've probably already accepted that when you are acting you have stage fright, right? That part's easy...now you have to accept that it's irrational. That part's pretty easy too, because you're just admitting the truth. Now the tough part...keep getting on stage and acting. Because you know that your fear is irrational, you now need to take action to overcome it and you need to do this because it is so ingrained in all of us. This is one of the ways that psychologists help people with obsessive-compulsive disorder to overcome their irrational fears. Fear of germs? They'll make you eat out of a clean garbage bag. Fear of flying, they'll put you on a plane, over and over and over again. It becomes increasingly difficult to be afraid of something you do all the time, I assure you.

The biggest thing here is to direct your focus away from the negative feeling of FEAR and instead, focus it on the positive thing, your ACTING. Your acting class is there for precisely that reason! To give you a safe environment to work on your craft. It takes the exact same amount of energy to say to yourself 'I will sit in my seat and not get on stage because I'm scared' as it does to say 'I will get on that stage and act'. You may have to force yourself in the beginning, but sooner or later, you will come to realize that your acting has gotten better and your stage fright has gone away. And, it will, I promise you.

If you're on the fence about even going to an acting school, then I would recommend Toastmasters International. They have clubs all over the world that are highly supportive and a great way to introduce yourself to 'perfoming' in a public medium. Even if you are in acting school, this is an excellent way to build confidence and overcome stage fright, because you have the luxury of taking your 'acting' out of the picture!

Toastmasters even offer a free .pdf booklet with ten tips to effective public speaking, just look for the link on their homepage. It's funny, their 10 tips are very similar to what one should be doing before they go out to perform in a play or show and you'll find the advice is quite relevant (for the most part.)

Just remember that acting is your passion and your dream! Don't let False Evidence Appearing Real derail you from that dream. You can and WILL overcome your stage fright, and it might be a little uncomfortable while you do. Have faith and persevere, EVERYONE that acts professionally has had to overcome this malady! Keep getting up there and it will happen for you too!

D.L. White is a film and television professional with 14 years of experience. He is also the author of "Acting in the Real World" which is available for free at http://www.actingreality.com

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Thursday, October 4, 2007

Best Acting Technique

In my opinion, one of the biggest challenges in acting is how to approach 'emotional preparation', and as such, I feel that is the area that varies the most between techniques. Truth be told, this is pretty much what all acting coaches are going for...a reliable, repeatable method of achieving appropriate, realistic emotions to fit the scene.

Now, I'm quite biased here, but I have seen quite a few of these techniques put into play and I'm still convinced that Sanford Meisner's is the most effective. It is for me the most grounded, and more importantly, the most repeatable method that I've seen used.

I feel many techniques fail mostly due to two factors:

1- They are too external.

2- They are too internal.

Allow me to elaborate...in the first example, I've seen many acting schools preach the benefits of 'emotionalizing' through external means. That is, your emotional preparation is to come from 'infusing' some object, such as a scarf, or a painting, or even a room with associative memories. Now, this can work, but much like hearing a favorite song over and over, it eventually loses it's 'punch'. Not to mention the fact that if it's not working like you had hoped, you're then spent focusing your very valuable attention on an object. And, as we all know, an object is not an emotional thing.

In the second example, being too internal can work as well...just look at all the 'method' folk out there. The difference here is that instead of finding emotional preparation by infusing something external, the actor is asked to recall personal emotional memories from which to draw from. The big problem here is that, often things that really troubled us say, fifteen years ago, may not be such a big deal now. Plus, you are now placing your very valuable attention on yourself. Remember the last time you talked to someone that only thought of themselves? I think we call those people 'self-absorbed' to be nice...boring usually comes to mind for me though.

This is where the Meisner technique fills the gap. Instead of external measures, or pounding your emotional past into the dirt, Mr. Meisner suggested that you use your imagination to find your emotional preparation. Here the actor is always able to adapt, because our imagination is limitless. Plus, once imagined, we are now free to place all of our very valuable attention on our scene partner! And, if you doubt the power of your imagination, just start imagining your spouse, lover (or whatever) cheating on you.

Get specific.

Really picture it happening and with whom.

Now tell me you don't feel something! And that's just one example! The beauty here is that you know what it makes you feel, it's honest and you don't have to think about it. That gives you all the time in the world to focus on what's really important...what you need to do, why you need to do it and with whom you are dealing with.

D.L. White is a film and television professional with 14 years of experience in post production, working on hundreds of films from Paramount, MGM, Warner Bros. and Buena Vista, as well as dozens of network shows including Frasier, Seinfeld and Reba.

As a Director, D.L. White has shot and directed several commercials and music videos for clients from around the world and is proud to shoot on Kodak Film exclusively.

Mr. White's new book "Acting in the Real World: The Film Professional's Guidebook to the Job of Acting" is available as a free download at Film and Television Acting Book at ActingReality.com

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Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Acting For The Disney Channel

Many young actors and actresses (and their parents) often wonder what it takes to begin acting for shows on the Disney Channel. Unfortunately, the Disney Channel and their associated programs basically follow the same routines as any other commercial film or television endeavor. Disney does have auditions for their live shows, but they probably won't be much help for your film and television dreams.

Don't fret though, all is not lost! One thing that I think is important to realize as a young actor starting out in the business is that if you are a solid actor (or actress) that is mature, focused and professional, you stand an excellent chance of succeeding. In truth it can be quite difficult to find the right combination of traits in younger actors that will translate into a smooth working situation for the crew.

The first thing to understand before you embark on an acting career in your youth is that your parents must be heavily involved. The amount of time that is required to drive you to auditions, take you to acting classes and basically become a 'manager' to your career is tremendous. If your parents aren't just as motivated as you are, you're probably going to have a tough time of it.

Most importantly, there are a lot of people that will prey on your youth and lack of experience. Do not ever contact anyone regarding your acting career without letting your parents know exactly what you are doing and with whom. Getting scammed would be terrible, but putting yourself in danger is the more worrisome thing here, so be careful and let your parents know! Trust me, you're not going to 'make it' without Mom and Dad by your side...please don't try.

Now, assuming your parents are willing and able to provide that level of support, the next step is up to you. The second thing you will have to realize about acting professionally is that, as a general rule, the work is long, boring and tedious. As a young professional, there are rules regarding how much and how often you can work, but during the time that you are working, it can be really arduous...even on the Disney Channel.

There are a lot of responsibilities that are placed on you when you act professionally and a ton of money is riding on what you do on set. You must be willing to set aside a lot of time to learning lines, rehearsing and shooting. Once you get a job, you are contractually obligated to continue that job and as such, you are going to miss out on a lot of experiences that you may take for granted right now. Hanging out with your friends on a Friday night or going to school functions like dances and plays or participating in sports is going to become a rarity, if not non-existant in your life.

You also must be professional. When you are on a film or television soundstage, whether on a Disney Channel show or any other, you will be expected to act as professionally as any other adult on set. When it's time to roll the cameras, you have to work. Even if you're sick, bored, tired, restless...whatever, you will be expected to do your job. If you cost the production time and money by throwing tantrums or not cooperating, you will quickly gain a bad reputation and you won't get hired anymore.

And lastly, you must be able to deal with rejection constantly. Now, your chances of success are, in my opinion, much greater when you start out at a young age, but the competition is still quite fierce. You will be turned down for most of the jobs you go out for. And, by most, I mean nearly all of them. If you are booking one job out of a hundred auditions, you would be doing fantastic. Keep that in mind, becuase to continue on month after month like that takes a lot of diligence and patience from you and your parents.

To sum up, acting for the Disney Channel is going to require the same path that any other acting job would require, but if you are smart, dedicated and professional you will have an excellent chance of succeeding. Get your parents involved and let them know what you want to do. Take the time to talk with them and together you may find yourself on your favorite show!

D.L. White is a film and television professional with 14 years of experience in post production, working on hundreds of films from Paramount, MGM, Warner Bros. and Buena Vista, as well as dozens of network shows including Frasier, Seinfeld and Reba.

As a Director, D.L. White has shot and directed several commercials and music videos for clients from around the world and is proud to shoot on Kodak Film exclusively.

Mr. White's new book "Acting in the Real World: The Film Professional's Guidebook to the Job of Acting" is available as a free download at Film and Television Acting Book at ActingReality.com

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Why Method Acting Is The Most Successful Acting Technique

The Method approach to acting became famous when Marlon Brando and James Dean started to appear on the silver screen, changing the perception of what the acting profession was capable of. Their acting seemed so real you forgot they were acting. Since then, there has been a list of outstanding acting talent that has been enabled by the Method. Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Paul Newman, Daniel Day Lewis, Meryl Streep and this year ?Best Actor' Academy Award winner, Forest Whitaker, all use the Method.

But why has it been so successful?

The Method creates a reality beyond the conventional reality. This means that instead of the actor adhering merely to the conventional thought of the character and situation, they are able to stimulate themselves, and indeed the audience, on a much deeper level.

Christopher Walken was asked what he was thinking about when he shot the scene at the end of the film, ?Deer Hunter', where he plays Russian roulette and kills himself. He said that when he was younger, he went to summer camp and his parents made him go - he hated going, and the experience filled him with a sense of abandonment, loss and anger. He said that he felt his character was experiencing similar feelings, so he thought about that event during the scene. He understood that events from his own experience could expose the experiences of the character on a much deeper level.

He was using an important tool within the Method called ?affective memory'. This is when an actor recalls an event from his own life using his senses. The rationale behind this is that we all experience the world through our senses - we see, we hear, we touch, we smell and we taste. If the actor trains and uses these senses in conjunction with their own memories, they can have a powerful effect on the actors' instrument - the human body.

The Method also allows the actor to create a completely different physicality and psychology from their own, using the animal exercise. Marlon Brando famously used the animal exercise in the ?Godfather' when he played a bulldog. He stuffed his cheeks full of tissue paper in his audition to recreate the jowls of the dog; he started to move around slower and heavier with the underlying menace of a bulldog. In ?A Streetcar Named Desire' he played an ape, scratching his chest and moving objects around with his knuckles and eating like an animal. The animal exercises allowed him to create the life of another human being in a deeper more complete fashion.

Using the Method, actors can go beyond the conventional and effective way to act, and make the work more human, more alive, more exciting, more amused and entertained - not on a light level, but on the utmost level which acting is capable of.

http://www.themethodcentre.co.uk

email:info@themethodcentre.co.uk

Brian is an experienced actor, director and teacher of the Method. He established The Method Centre in London, an actors studio in the UK focused on the Method.

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