Showing results by publisher "-emdashery books-" in Acting & Auditioning

The door to magic is closed, but it’s not locked. And now Joshua Jay, one of the world’s most accomplished magicians, not only opens that door but brings us inside to reveal the artistry and obsessiveness, esoteric history, and long-whispered-about traditions of a subject shrouded in mystery. In 52 short, compulsively listenable essays, Jay describes how he does it, whether it’s through the making of illusions, the psychology behind them, or the way technology influences the world of magic.

Access Accents bring the highly sought-after voice techniques of top voice coach Penny Dyer to the actor's audio device. They offer a unique opportunity to prepare for auditions at short notice.

Want to become an audiobook narrator, but don't quite know where to start? This is the guide you've been looking for!

What do you do when actors won't do what you tell them to? Remembering his own awkwardness and terror as a beginning director working with actors who always had their own ideas, director John Badham has a bookload of knowledge to pass along in this inspired and insightful must-listen for cinema fans as well as actors and directors at all levels of their craft.

The master acting teacher Richard Boleslavsky presents his acting theory and technique in a lively and accessible narrative form. Widely considered a must-have for beginning as well as established actors, Boleslavsky's work has long helped actors better understand the craft of acting and what it takes to grow as an artist. He has taught generations of some of the best stage and screen actors and actresses. Written in the form of a series of dialogues, these lessons aim to inform and instruct the budding actor on some of the basic principles of acting and learning to act.

There is no general consensus about how Shakespeare "should" be played. There are no rules. But, while the Bard created superhuman characters and placed them in situations that stretches the imagination to its limits, he also provided his actors with the keys to playing them.

How to Develop a Powerful, Clear, and Resonant Speaking Voice is a straight-to-the-point, no-nonsense guide to simple techniques you can employ immediately to improve the quality of your voice. This audiobook, made for men and women, shows how to develop resonance, speak in the proper pitch, and use what’s called diaphragmatic breathing to magnify the power and expressiveness of your voice.

As a casting director for 23 years, Holly Powell witnessed the casting world from three different points of view: as an independent casting director, as head of casting for a studio, and as a network casting executive. From this unique perspective she formed Holly Powell Studios, with her mission being to demystify the audition process for actors.

Learn the ins and outs of how to get started in Voice-Over, including: microphone etiquette, how to make some of the most common noises and sounds (you might be surprised), working with copy, creating a demo reel, what to expect in the studio, the business of the business and much more. This is, hands down, the most comprehensive book on Voice-Over available. From beginners to pros, you’ll find value in Debi’s wealth of knowledge. Her tips and advice are the gems that only a true industry veteran and hard-working professional would know. Now she’s sharing it all with you!

Professional stage actors are expected to have ready knowledge of a multitude of unwritten yet well-established protocols. Traditionally, this knowledge was passed along from one generation of stage actors to the next via word of mouth, or were learned by having one’s missteps corrected—until now.

When Lin-Manuel Miranda’s groundbreaking musical Hamilton opened in London’s West End in December 2017, it was as huge a hit as it had been in its original production off - and on Broadway. For Terera, though, his journey as Burr had begun more than a year earlier, with his first audition in New York, and continuing through extensive research and preparation, intense rehearsals, previews and finally opening night itself. Throughout this time he kept a journal, recording his experiences of the production and his process of creating his award-winning performance.

In seven years of blogging only to the community of voice actors, specifically on the subject of voice acting, I've educated myself and others on the challenges of being a freelance voice artist. My first diplomatic answer to my caller is: being a success in voice acting requires more than just a voice. I've had to gingerly explain the real secret to voiceover success so often that it became clear: somebody needed to tell the truth about being a voice-actor. It's hard work! It's a business and should be approached as a business.

The Aspiring Actor's Handbook is written for curious and want-to-be actors, and designed to help them make informed decisions about pursuing an acting career. Veteran actresses Molly Cheek and Debbie Zipp have culled the wit and wisdom of a wide array of successful actors from Dee Wallace to Beth Grant, to bring aspiring and new actors the kind of mentoring perspective so many in the business wish they had had when they were starting out.

Veteran character actor David Dean Bottrell draws on his 35-plus tumultuous years of work in the entertainment industry to offer a guide to breaking in, making a living, and making a life in the fabulous trenches of show business. Mixing prescriptive advice with wisdom drawn from Bottrell's own professional highs and lows and those of his acting compatriots, this book's humorous, tell-it-like-it-is tone is a must-have guide for anyone hoping to successfully navigate show business.

In Character Breakdown, Zawe scrolls through a version of her life. Or is it a version of her art? Or something in between. In it, she encounters glamour, horror, absurdity and questions like: is a life spent more on performance than reality any life at all?

In Behind the Star: A Guide to Mastering the Craft of Stand-In Work and Thriving Beyond the Set, Chad Gregory delivers a lean, gritty love letter to the unsung grinders of Hollywood—the stand-ins who keep the cameras rolling while stars sip coffee. A veteran stand-in for an A-list titan, Gregory doesn’t just lift the veil on this overlooked craft; he rips it down with a mix of raw memoir, practical know-how, and a life philosophy that hits like a well-timed mark.

Learn how to become a successful working actor in TV commercials in Los Angeles in this fun step-by-step guide by top casting session director and commercial actor Shaan Sharma. The audiobook covers everything you need to know about the business, what you need to get started, how to get the right training, and walks you through the entire process of auditioning, booking and shooting projects - all from an insider's point of view. Even veterans will learn useful tips for converting more auditions into bookings.

Emmy-winning editor Jordan Goldman, ACE, takes you inside the cutting room and pulls back the curtain on how and why directors, showrunners, and editors decide whether your performance makes it to the screen. He explains the key things actors should do—and shouldn't do—to avoid getting cut out. Topics include what an editor does, how editors evaluate your work, why actors get cut, what you can control, and what you can't control.

Voice actors across the globe rely on commercials as a good source of income, but success in this area of the voice over industry can be tricky. VO talent need a strong understanding of the many elements involved in delivering captivating, original commercial reads. Commercial Voice Over Strategies: Tell a Story, Land the Job is the answer. Veteran voice talent Chris Agos walks you through a step-by-step way of ensuring your reads will resonate with talent buyers.

There are plenty of people earning great money from home as professional voice-over artists, but if you’re not already in the business, it can seem impossible to break in. In this book you’ll gain access to the exclusive world of professional voice-over in seven simple steps. Voice-over actor Chris Agos walks you through the most effective ways to earn money in today’s professional voice-over industry.