ABSTRACT

Acting for the Camera: Back to One is a "how to" book with practical steps to achieve a professional performance on camera.

The book focuses on four distinct areas: how to prepare the character, how to execute the technical responsibilities that will assist the editor in creating the on-camera performance in post-production, tips from industry professionals, and how to create effective self-tape auditions. Part One: The Character’s World is packed with tools to analyze the script and fully prepare the character before arriving on set. Part Two: The Actor’s World focuses on developing technical acting skills for the camera that assist the pre- and post-production teams to create a dynamic on-screen performance. In Part Three: The Professional World, industry professionals provide tips from inside the film/TV audition room and how to navigate a career in the acting business. The final section, Part Four: Self-Tape Like a Pro, outlines how to build a self-tape studio in the privacy of your own home and submit high-quality self-tape auditions that will help you stand out from the competition.

Written for students enrolled in Acting for the Camera courses, Acting for the Camera: Back to One explores techniques that can be practiced and mastered by actors of all levels, from the moment they audition for the part through to when they hear that director call "cut!"

chapter |3 pages

Introduction

part One|39 pages

The Character’s World

chapter 1|3 pages

Preparation

chapter 2|8 pages

Breaking Down the Script

The Value of Beats

chapter 3|7 pages

Given Circumstances and Relationships

Bring Life On

chapter 4|5 pages

Objective

Make It About the Other Character

chapter 5|4 pages

Obstacles

Character Problems Are Actor Gifts

chapter 6|5 pages

Actions

Ocean versus Pond Acting

chapter 7|4 pages

Character Notebook

Mapping out the Role

part Two|61 pages

The Actor’s World

chapter 8|3 pages

Acting for the Camera

chapter 9|11 pages

The Frame

Play the Piece of Pie

chapter 10|5 pages

Size

Scaling the Performance

chapter 11|5 pages

Action

What Do I Do Now?

chapter 12|9 pages

The Art of the Reaction

Help the Editor Make You Look Great

chapter 13|6 pages

Hitting the Mark

Skill versus Talent

chapter 14|5 pages

Physical Continuity

Acting with Props

chapter 15|4 pages

Voice

Play the Distance

chapter 16|5 pages

Camera Time

Work with the Camera

chapter 17|7 pages

The Final Beat

Focal Shifts and Cutting Points

part Three|42 pages

The Professional World

chapter 18|7 pages

Auditioning

chapter 19|4 pages

Learn from the Pros

chapter 20|3 pages

Ten Audition Tips to Help You Win

chapter 21|27 pages

Industry Interviews

part Four|24 pages

Self-Tape like a Pro

chapter 22|2 pages

Today’s Actor

Production Skills

chapter 23|3 pages

Studio Space

Find it Now

chapter 24|6 pages

Lights, Camera, and Sound

Building an Affordable Studio

chapter 25|7 pages

Filming

Slating, Intimacy, Props, the Reader

chapter 26|3 pages

Editing and Submitting

It’s an Audition not a Movie

chapter |2 pages

Final Thoughts