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THE ACTOR TAKES A MEETING How to Interview Successfully with Agents, Managers, Producers, and Casting Directors By Stephen Book (Silman-James Press, 265 pages, 6x9, 1-879505-89-6, $18.95 paper) Click here for contents Actors are always taking meetings to advance their careers. Seeking representation, management, auditions, or projects, they meet with agents, managers, producers, and casting directors. Many of these meetings are unsuccessful because the actor presents him or herself inadequately. |
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With minimal self-awareness and authenticity, actors frequently conduct themselves in a meeting as victims or manipulators. This leads to being seen as an undesirable working partner, regardless of acting abilities or credits. The Actor Takes A Meeting is the first book to address the actor's presentation of him or herself at an interview or meeting. It shows actors how to be the host of the meeting and the initiator of an exciting experience resulting in the interviewer looking forward to seeing them again. This usually results in offers of representation, auditions, and participation in projects. Stephen Book has written a must-read book for actors who don't understand why their career is not advancing or who blame it on lack of effective representation. He offers guidance and exercises in Losing the Victim Stance, Becoming Authentic, Attitude Transformation, and Creating an Experience. Actors learn startling and myth busting truths, including, you will blow it: if the interviewer looks at your resume during the meeting, or if you answer a question with a prepared riff about yourself, or if you are on your best behavior! Actual interviews of four actors are presented at the end of each chapter. Their remarkable transformation is a vivid capturing of the results and benefits found in The Actor Takes A Meeting. “Book so beautifully articulates the psychology behind the interview process that I heartily recommend his book to every actor I know—and to anyone else who interviews often but wonders why his or her success rate is so darn low.” “The Actor Takes A Meeting is an innovative and exceptional book about losing one’s fear and learning how to take charge of any meeting. It gave me tremendous insight into the actor’s process.” “If I hadn’t learned how to interview from Stephen Book, my career would not have taken off so quickly. This book is indispensable for actors on the way up.” “If you are not happy with where your career is at, it might not be your talent; it might be your meeting skills. The Actor Takes A Meeting is the first complete and comprehensive guide to insure a successful meeting. Bravo!” “The Actor Takes A Meeting is a guide to changing the actor’s fear into authenticity and presence. This book is a gift to the actor.” “Until Stephen taught me how to take a meeting, I was always shooting myself in the foot. His technique has cleaned up all that self-destructive behavior and smoothed the way for making the transition from stand-up to acting and starring in a series. Now, I can be in a room with the most powerful people in show business and shine.” “As someone who has worked on both sides of the business, I can tell you firsthand that Stephen Book gets it exactly right. If you want to walk into a meeting or an audition with the kinds of tools and knowledge that give you the confidence to be your absolute best, The Actor Takes a Meeting is a book you should study and enjoy.” "I applaud another valuable Book book. Stephen gives great advice to actors about not falling into the victim trap, owning the space and finding the right attitude for success.” "If you're not getting the representation or acting jobs you deserve, this is the book for you. Stephen Book illustrates exactly what you've been doing wrong and how to correct it. As a former agent, manager, and producer I've taken countless meetings with actors who desperately needed this advice. He even paints a clear picture of how I've been reacting to what you've been doing wrong. I had no idea it was that transparent.” "This is a wonderful book - filled with valuable information which every actor needs in order to participate within the industry without losing ones sense of self." “Stephen Book’s interview technique is one of the most valuable tools for the actor. It is a “how-to” for making an authentic connection. I vividly remember one of the best general meetings I had - It was easy, fun and the time just flew by. As we were saying goodbye and I finally glanced at her resume, I saw that she had indeed studied with Stephen Book. I was not surprised.” “This smart, practical guide to getting what you want gives the actor invaluable tools for climbing the show biz ladder.” “Powerful! Most actors don’t even know that they blow it in meetings. Read this book and see what you are doing wrong and how to fix it.” “Through reading Book’s book and doing the exercises you develop the confidence to own the meeting.” “Finally, a guide for any actor who is having difficulty with the all important meetings that are essential for a successful career. Whether it be feelings of insecurity, victimization, or second guessing one self, guidance and exercises can be found in this book to gain confidence and ease the stress in meeting with agents, producers and casting directors.” “This is a revolutionary book. To teach actors how to get what they want through honesty, presence and self-empowerment is not only bold and daring, but also healthy for the soul.” |
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BOOK ON ACTING "Stephen Book manages to articulate a technique that both allows the actor to be specific in silence and active and emotionally affective when speaking. He helps you tap into that endless well which is human." "Improvisation is essential to acting and Book is a terrific teacher." |
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The ability to improvise a skilled performance while speaking scripted and memorized lines is of paramount importance to actors working in today's film and television productions, which often allow very little if any rehearsal time. Through his innovative Improvisation Technique, Stephen Book shows the actor how to create a spontaneous performance by applying improvisation to traditional script-acting for film, theater, and television. This Improvisation Technique is then applied to exercises with scripted lines, developing sophisticated improvisation skills for enhancing character, emotions, conflict, and agreement as well as improving the actor's audition process. Also included is a unique process for breaking down scripted scenes into improvisation choices. Book On Acting contains film and television scenes in which Book-coached actors, used his Improvisation Technique to create their performances. These scenes, showing the actors' performance choices, demonstrate the use of Improvisation Technique in different genres of acting. Well-known theater and film scenes are included, as well as scenes from such TV shows as Melrose Place, Star Trek: Voyager, L.A. Law, Frasier, and The Practice. Thirteen of his present or former students either star in title roles or as cast regulars in the current primetime television schedule at the time of publication. Book's Improvisation Technique extends the work of Viola Spolin (author of Improvisation for the Theater). Book was Spolin's student, assistant, representative, and her partner in the Spolin Theater Game Center in Hollywood, where he served as executive director and principal teacher in the 1970s. |
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PODRECZNIK DLA AKTORÓW BOOK ON ACTING has been translated and published in Poland as HANDBOOK FOR ACTORS: Improvisation Technique for the Professional Actor in Film, Theater, and Television (Wydawnictwo Wojciech Marzec, 2007). For more information click here: |
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"Every director, actor, and acting coach should read and know "Handbook for Actors: Improvisation Technique for the Professional Actor in Film, Theater and Television." For a director- it would help him pull that priceless and most unpredictable performance out of an actor. For an actor- during fast paced film productions and television work it shows how to trust in your own abilities moment to moment. And for acting coaches- to understand the big picture of what your mission is as a teacher." "In this handbook I found so many extraordinarily valuable lessons for those who are beginning their acting journey. I began mine 20 years ago and I still was able to get so much from the book. This piece of work should not be missed by anyone interested in the craft of acting. I highly recommend it! BRAVO!" "It's an amazing guidebook that shows you, step by step with fascinating exercises, how to make your way from the world of imagination to the stage." "This handbook, in a remarkably thorough way, guides an aspiring actor on their journey from the most straightforward "acting exercises", to the full awareness of your own body, and to utilizing your voice through the dialogue and subtext. All of this is crucial to building an entire character for film and television." "This is an exceptional book and the only one of it's kind in Poland . In the most practical way it enlightens us to the necessary steps an actor must take when preparing for a role. It is fantastic for bringing out the buried talents of both beginners and professionals alike." "During mandatory school lectures I tend to avoid the larger textbooks. I'm happy to announce my phobia of large volumes does not apply to "Handbook for Actors" and proves that every big book does not have to be boring. It's important to remember that even the best books however will not take the place of talent, hard work and luck. Nonetheless this book is worth your time. I recommend you read it!" "During fast paced productions the actor must always be a consummate professional and be on his toes and ready for anything. Book’s "Handbook for Actors" allows you to fully realize your potential and master your own skills in this acting game we're playing." "In Polish schools we are taught to act mostly on intuition or instinct, so that's why I've really been waiting for a book like this. Book’s method is a comprehensive system- nonetheless it demands discipline and faith." "This handbook is an enormous achievement in acting! You must read it!" |
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