El. knyga: Acting on the Script

Mastery of craft depends on repetition: the more opportunities student actors have to be guided through analyzing scripts, the more likely they are to develop a reliable process for making choices when the time comes to work independently. That's why Acting on the Script contains eight short plays, which can be used independently or as parts of one full-length play, giving aspiring actors the practice they need to tell the story of the play and of their characters.

This book for actors describes a method and techniques for analyzing a script and then translating that analysis into performing choices. Author Bruce Miller, a professor and acting teacher, believes in the primary importance of making acting choices based on a clear and accurate analysis of the play. He defines good acting as acting that is believable and which tells the best possible story while serving the script. The method involves, first, using a number of analytical tools, such as given circumstances, story, arc or throughline, conflict, objective, moments, physical actions, as lenses to make good choices for the character. Secondly, Miller lays out a notation system for breaking down a script into objectives, which is to be learned and practiced. The book includes eight short plays for practice, seven of which together constitute a full-length script. Annotation ©2015 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)

(Applause Books). Mastery of craft depends on repetition: the more opportunities student actors have to be guided through analyzing scripts, the more likely they are to develop a reliable process for making choices when the time comes to work independently. That's why Acting on the Script contains eight short plays, which can be used independently or as parts of one full-length play, giving aspiring actors the practice they need to tell the story of the play and of their characters clearly, believably, and compellingly. With each new scene, readers are given the opportunity to think through the analysis and synthesis process independently, then they are guided clearly through that process. The first section reintroduces the basic elements of acting craft. The book then lays out how these elements relate to a script in general and then more specifically by using a short play to illustrate the basic principles. The second section focuses on specific analysis and synthesis problems using original scenes especially composed to help students develop their analysis and choice-making skills and to address individual acting issues. The plays, already tested in classes and two productions (one professional and one college), are filled with the kinds of acting problems that beginning actors often have trouble with and need to learn to solve. In addition, specific problems that actors might have with certain types of material are addressed as well.