ACTING: A Field Guide to the Craft~Excerpts
52 years' hard-earned experience in reality based craft made simple for you.
Below you can read the Preface and Chapter Outlines for Acting: A Field Guide to the Craft. For those of you who have studied with me or whom I've directed, a lot of this will be familiar. This book is an expanded, step-by-step guide to the techniques I've been successfully teaching for the last 15 years.
Part philosophy, part "How to", and always with tongue firmly in cheek, this book takes little seriously little except the craft. It is a skill and can be learned. . .with the right attitude and guidance.
Preface
“What makes you think you have something to say that hasn’t been said before?”
Interesting question, and one that kept me from writing this book for a decade. But, after 52 years and over 300 productions—acting, directing, teaching, coaching, mentoring, creating, collaborating, loving, nurturing, and simply rejoicing in theatre—I realized that I had come to evidence an advanced degree subject matter expertise. . .even if I didn’t exactly see that at first.
One night recently, after a two-and-a-half-hour, passionate conversation about acting, a close friend suggested that I write a book on the subject.
“A book?” I asked, “What the hell would I talk about in a book?”
“That,” he responded, “What we’ve been talking about all night…THAT! The "what" you’ve spent your life doing and teaching. . .THAT!”
As I said. . .interesting question. So, I tentatively began to assess what I know to be true in the sum of my experience, to see if it added up to the kind of epiphany that leads to a book.
Epiphany? EVERY great teacher/author has had a moment of glorious transformational epiphany, right? The moment when they realize that they have an insight that can materially improve the craft, create a generational legacy of slavish devotees, and cement themselves in the firmament of acting history!
So, I listened closely to myself (insert appropriate celestial pause here) . . .and heard no angels singing, but that was the point.
With some reflection, I did have a revelation. Not as sexy as some, but more important than most, and impactful to the clarity and advancement of many whom I've taught over the last 15 years.
You ready?
Here it is: Acting is a craft.
The craft of representing organic truth in wholly inorganic circumstances.
In form and function, it is not unlike carpentry:
1. A successful acting craftsperson has a process that is explainable, demonstrable, repeatable and can be learned.
2. You need a toolbox with the right tool for the right job.
3. Good acting is built, one board at a time, from the ground up. Foundation is EVERYTHING, specifically, realism. Understand the work and have no ego about dissecting it.
4. There is a period of “apprenticeship.” It takes commitment, hard work, time, and practice to become a master.
5. Without craft there can be no art. Only through mastering craft can you be open to and shape inspiration when it comes (Van Gogh had to learn to mix paint and use brushes before he could attempt “Starry Night”. Similarly, you cannot play Hamlet or Joan of Arc until you can ask someone to pass you the salt onstage credibly.).
6. Self-definition as a “Journeyperson” is key. Let go of all pretensions of being an “Artist” and think of “Artist” as aspirational. A title earned through preparation. . .something perhaps others may say of you if you are lucky. If you realign your attitude and hope to one day become an artist, you will be more focused on the steps to get there rather than shortcutting due to your “artistic temperament”.
7. Acting is a collaborative craft. It’s not only about you. That collaboration always includes the audience. When you choose self-involved navel gazing and exclude them, not only are you cutting yourself off from a deep font of creative energy, but you are simply not interesting. An audience comes to the theater in hopes of being told a story in an inclusive manner.
ART is the moment when something universal and far more important than you reaches down, touches your forehead, and quietly says,
“You, today. YOU carry my banner. Share my common truth. Connect with everyone and everything…and electrify.”
ART is a lightning strike. It cannot be taught, only experienced.
CRAFT is the lightning rod you make of yourself to channel that moment for an audience in service of a narrative.
CRAFT, I can teach.
Welcome to Acting: A Field Guide to the Craft.
What follows is a step-by-step guide to building the acting craftsperson's skill-set. Each chapter includes conceptual overview, examples, and exercises to help you discover your strengths and minimize your weaknesses as an evolving performer.
Whether you are new to the craft or experienced and looking for an alternate view/refresher, this book will give you the perspective, tools, and guidance to become a competent acting craftsperson.
Chapters and Content
1. What’s the Point?
- A tongue in cheek overview of why human act and how that compulsion has expressed itself throughout history.
2. The Age of En-lightning-ment
- Reviewing and contrasting the “modern” schools of acting mixed with a dollop of warning about the business of teaching acting and avoiding the pitfalls of acting cults. Included here are the four pillars of the craftsperson’s technique.
3. Preparation
- Memorization, Script-mining, Scene Charting, Character Motivation, Objective, and the 3-legged stool of Character Development.
- Exercise 1: Scene Charting
4. Kinesthetics
- Physicality as informed by character research. Building a library of physical affectation. Mind-body connection in definition of character.
- Exercise 2: Physical Profiling
- Exercise 3: The Family Tree
- Exercise 4: Exploring Subliminal Posture.
5. Situational Awareness
- Definitions of “collaboration” and rules for the rehearsal road.
- Exercise 5: Aggressive Listening
- Exercise 6: Physicalize
- Exercise 7: Surfacing Subtext
- Exercise 8: 180 Perspective
- Exercise 9: Finding Humanity
6. Performance
- Some thoughts and guidelines to bear in mind when approaching performance. Best practices for the working craftsperson.
7. The Real World
- A reality check about the business of acting and the tools you will need to succeed, beyond your craft. An overview of headshots, resumes, casting websites, social media, and guidelines for self-taping.
8. Auditions and Kaizen
- Perspective and guidelines for the craft of the audition (yes, it IS a separate skill set). Audition Checklist, Monologue Worksheet, Cold Read Technique.
- Exercise 10: Specificity
- Exercise 11: Cold Read
9. Odds and Ends
- Wrap up and Final Thoughts
10. Exercises
- Practice Exercises/Forms for all In-Chapter Exercises as well as Answer Key.
Want a copy?
ACTING: A Field Guide to the Craft is in the final editing process right now, but should be available for purchase shortly.
Please click below to add your email to the Waiting List and I'll keep you posted when and where you can get your copy.
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