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RESOURCES/LINKS
Books | Bookstores
| Periodicals | The
Internet
Story for you:
So I'm in Boston, in the Kenmore Square Barnes & Noble (which also, conveniently,
serves as the Boston University Bookstore). It's
in the forties outside – warm for winter in Boston –
but grey and raw, perfect for one of my pilgrimages to the store's
film and theatre section. Unlike its New York counterparts this
B&N is warmly cozy; its arts section, tucked into a far back
corner, seems to invite long visits. I'm almost there when I
hear them: two male voices, young ones, quiet and quick, their
silences punctuated by short hushed outbursts.
Without making out their words I know what secret they're sharing.
They're sitting on the floor, backpacks and coffee cups scattered,
each with a stack of plays and monologue books by his side.
They're devouring the scripts, flipping faster than they can
read, and now and then one of them strikes gold: "dude, listen
to this..." and launches into a monologue as if, like the retelling
of a first date, this one were The One.
I move past them, around the corner to Shakespeare, and I listen
to these two visions of myself twenty years ago, these college
kids discovering Sheperd and Mamet and Shanley as if they'd never been read before. I'm overcome with the urge to join them, to
turn them on to Curse of the Starving Class or The Water Engine,
but I understand that I am to them That Older Guy Hanging Around
the Shakespeare, so I remain silent, and remember. I remember
sitting on the floor in front of the library stacks until my
ass was numb (my First Time was in a campus library), and I
marvel at how little this one thing, at least, has changed.
So you see I love books. Physical, tangible books. And if you're
serious about your craft you, too, will develop a love of books
and a habit of haunting the drama section of bookstores. What
follows is a partial list of titles I recommend. Most are available
in paperback; some may be out of print. Find them anyway.
Acting In Film - Michael
Caine
I had the opportunity to re-read this recently. Lucky me. In
the book, gathered from a series of BBC interviews, Caine offers
straightforward, practical advice on matters from whether to
smoke on-camera to how to work in close-up without the presence
(physically or emotionally) of the other actor, all of it supported
by experience.
Hot Tips for Cold Readings -
Nina Finburgh
Don't be fooled by the silly title. This thin, fun little book
is, page for page, the most practical Êand insightful guide
to auditioning I've ever read.
FOUR
ACTING BOOKS
Audition - Michael Shurtleff
An acting book as much as an auditioning book, this has been
around for over 25 years and is almost a bible. Much of it is
more applicable to theatre than film, but an entertaining read.
An Actor Prepares - Constantin
Stanislavski
A giant volume. One of a trilogy (including Creating a Character
and Building a role) upon which much modern acting theory
is based. A long, complex, compelling read. Also recommended:
My Life in Art.
Sanford Meisner on Acting
- Sanford Meisner
Written in diary form, this follows Sandy through a year at
the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York, which makes it, at times,
a novel-like page-turner. I agree wholeheartedly with his focus
on listening and awareness as the foundation for acting.
Respect for Acting - Uta
Hagen
A seminal volume, passionately written. I don't agree with all
she says, but an essential part of any actor's library nonetheless.
And I'm inspired by the title.
FOUR
MOVIE BOOKS
(wonderful reads for the film actor)
On Directing Film
- David Mamet.
Spare, precise, to the point. Great stuff and not a wasted word.
Like his plays.
Also: True and False
Making Movies - Sydney Lumet
Like Mamet's book, above, the title tells the story.
Four Screenplays - Syd Field
He also wrote Screenplay, a bible for many aspiring screenwriters,
now thought by some to be too formulaic. I don't agree. Here
he uses four scripts as models to explain what constitutes a
great script. Read this book for its passion as much as its
insights.
Four Sreenplays - William Goldman Yes, it's the exact
same title as above. I recommend
this simply because I love his writing, his introductory essays
as well as the screenplays themselves. Read these and weep every
time you've got to slog through a poorly written script.
Also highly recommended: Adventures in the Screen Trade
and Which Lie Did I Tell?.
In terms of "how to be a working actor" or "making it in
New York or LA" -type books, there are titles too numerous to
mention. I like the any of the ones written by K Callan. A bonus:
for writers, check out her The Script is Finished, Now What
Do I Do?; for directors, check out her Directing your Directing
Career. I love 'em both.
SOME
PERIODICALS:
American Theater
What's up in the world of non-profit theatre. They sometimes
publish full-length plays here-- it's where I first read Angels
in America and Three Days of Rain. It's part of TCG (Theatre
Communications Group) in New York.
Backstage
A weekly trade newspaper, out of New York. (And, of course,
Backstage West for those of you in LA) Lists auditions, among
other things. See their blurb in the INTERNET section.
The Ross Reports
An industry phone book, of sorts. This small publication for
actors lists agents, managers, studios, casting directors, with
an information key to let you know whether or not they're interested
in what you got. They focus on LA and New York, but they sometimes
list regional work as well. Call to order: (800) 745 8922 (they're
part of backstage.com on the internet)
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FINALLY,
SOME BOOKSTORES
Although you may do your book-buying on the web, I strongly
urge you to spend some time in one of these stores. They all
ship promptly if you call with a credit card for a small additional
fee. Also, most of these stores have websites, although a phone
call and a credit card is still the quickest way to go.
The Drama Bookstore
212 944 0595 - 250 W. 40th. The place to go when in NYC, and
now open seven days.
Applause Theatre and Film Books
(212) 496 7511 - 211 W 71st., West of B'way. Another great spot,
this on the Upper West Side. No website, but open 7 days, inlcuding
Saturdays 10-9 and Sundays noon to five.
The Strand Bookstore
Broadway @ 10th St.
No, it's not an arts bookstore, per se, but it's just so huge and has lots of hard-to-find, out of print books. Always work a visit.
BOSTON
Pix Poster Cellars
617 864 7499 - 1105 Mass. Ave., Cambridge www.pixposters.com
Film scripts. Xeroxed. Browse by title.
Baker's Plays
617 745 0805 - 1445 Hancock St., Quincy www.bakersplays.com
The best source for plays and acting books in the Boston area
(the city's version of the Drama book Store), a knowledgable
and helpful staff, but only open 9 - 5 M-F, Saturday 11AM -
4PM.
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THE
INTERNET
The e-world, as we all know, is changing so rapidly that
lists such as this are never truly current; I'm entirely certain
that by the time you read this there will be new sites that
would make valuable additions to this list. If there's an omission,
let me know.
www.imdb.com
The Internet Movie DataBase. Go here to research cast and crew
credits, filmographies for actors, writers, directors, etc.,
and much more. Indispensable.
indiewire.com
the best e-newspaper for the world of independent film. A subscription
(free) gets you a daily posting featuring highlights from the
site.
mandy.com
auditions, baby! The most popular open film & tv audition site I know of in NYC.
drew's script-o-rama.com
Still the best site for screenplays on the web, but there's
also...
simplyscripts.com
The site title pretty much says it all. Some actors actually
reference this site before script-o-rama. Up to you. Between
the two of them, an overwhelming number of screenplays.
ain't-it-cool-news.com
Can't get enough of the eternal Mark Hamill/Ewan MacGregor/Hayden
Christiansen debate? Then Aint-it-cool-news is for you. In addition
to offering lengthy, often interesting, always intensely-personal
reviews of current films, the site is renown for its first-in-Hollywood
gossip, scoops on television series finales, advance buzz on
the blockbuster films, etc. It also seems to have a devoted
and vocal following. Not my cup o' tea. If it's yours, this
site looks addictive.
backstage.com
The comapnion site to Backstage, the trade paper. Also hosts
the Ross Reports site. Although I don't subscribe, actors I
know who do say it's well worth the ten bucks a month.
And,of course...
www.variety.com
www.hollywoodreporter.com
www.ew.com (Entertainment Weekly)
www.sag.org
(the Screen Actors' Guild) And finally, for New Englanders....
FINALLY, TWO FROM NEW ENGLAND
newenglandfilm.com
Lots of news, resources-- and, of course, audition listings.
cpcasting.com
the site for CP casting, the largest casting office in Boston,
as well as for the Studio at CP casting, the place in Boston
where I teach. Make sure to find the button that puts you on
their e-mail list.
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