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'Acting Lions' Launches in NYC

Acting-Lions-Book-Cover-Front-and-Back-2011_2
Acting teacher Penny Templeton's new book, "Acting Lions," promises to adapt the techniques of master teachers such as Stanislavski, Adler, Strasberg, Meisner, and Uta Hagen into "vibrant accessible tools for today's underrehearsed and overstressed actor" while exploring the nature and business of artistry.

An "Acting Lions" launch party and book signing will be held June 8, from 6-8 p.m., at The Drama Book Shop, 250 W. 40 St., NYC. And the second part and signing will be held July 6, from 6-10 p.m., at Penny Templeton Studio, 344 W 38 St., Ste 203, NYC.

Continue reading "'Acting Lions' Launches in NYC" »

May 31, 2011 in Books, New York City Events | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: Acting Lions, Acting Techniques, Books, Penny Templeton

'Casting Revealed: A Guide for Film Directors'

Casting-Revealed-Book-Cover-2011In her new book "Casting Revealed: A Guide for Film Directors" (published by Michael Wiese Productions), author Hester Schell explores the intricacies and importance of the casting process.

The book's primary goal is to help filmmakers navigate the casting waters, including tips and step-by-step instructions for handling union paperwork, announcing auditions, running casting sessions, contacting agents, and finding the best actors. However, actors and aspiring casting directors should find plenty of insights here as well, since the book promises "insider know-how" that will shed light on the entire casting process.

Currently a teacher at Film Acting Bay Area and the proprietor of BayAreaCasting.com, Schell's diverse range of expertise includes work as an actor, writer, director, producer, casting director, and puppeteer. She was previously a professor of theater arts at De Anza College in California and taught classes at Notre Dame de Namur University, the University of London, San Francisco's Film Arts Foundation, and the San Francisco School of Digital Filmmaking.

The following are some brief excerpts from "Casting Revealed," along with a video interview with the author:

Continue reading "'Casting Revealed: A Guide for Film Directors'" »

January 24, 2011 in Books | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Talking "Inventory" with The A.V. Club

Av club_inventory book cover On Monday night, writers and editors of the popular pop culture site The AV Club came from New York and Chicago to descend on Union Hall in Brooklyn, where they celebrated the release of their new book "Inventory" with a full house of adoring geeks who treat film, TV, and music critics like rock stars. In readings from "Inventory," the new book of pop culture lists, AV Club members Keith Phipps, Josh Modell, Kyle Ryan, Tasha Robinson, Nathan Rabin, Andy Battaglia, and Amelie Gillette told us what songs should never be covered again, alternate film endings we should be glad we haven't seen, unconfirmed celebrity rumors (in PowerPoint form), bonding with Bronson Pinchot, and more live excitement on stage.

We spoke with AV Club editors Keith Phipps and Josh Modell this week about "Inventory," making lists, and why theater isn't considered "pop culture":

Blog Stage: The place was packed Monday night! I underestimated how popular you guys are.

Keith: I did too. (laughs) I had no idea that we’d have that crowd. That was awesome.

Have you had that kind of response in other cities?

Keith: I think this was the biggest crowd we’ve had, and certainly the heartiest response I think we’ve had too. I actually was polling everyone, and a lot of people were not from Brooklyn. People came in from Queens and New Jersey, which was awesome.

During this book tour, you've been forced to make the transition from writers, who tend to hide behind the scenes, to being the center of attention on stage. Can you describe that experience?

Keith: It’s been really weird. I wasn’t expecting it at all, and I guess one thing I’ve learned is that any fear you have of public speaking kind of gets negated by the need to perform once you're on stage. Not that we didn’t have our nervous moments or whatever, but when it's sink or swim, you better swim.

But in terms of the reception, it’s just been really cool. I think we’re faithful to our readers, and in some ways our readers are faithful to us so, it’s really cool to meet those people.

Continue reading "Talking "Inventory" with The A.V. Club" »

December 11, 2009 in Books | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

A Book Discussion with Susan Quinn

Susan Quinn, the author of Furious Improvisation: How the WPA and a Cast of Thousands Made High Art out of Desperate Times is part of The Play Company's event series, Idea Lab.Fuious Improvisation

Quinn will use archival footage from the National Archives to tell the story of the 1930's Federal Theatre Project. Through a talk with slides and films, Quinn brings to life the challenges of this era when Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Harry Hopkins improvised programs to get millions of hungry, unemployed people back to work.

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June 19, 2009 in Books | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Roger Moore Recalls His Theatrical Past

Roger Moore_Autobiography The New York Post's Michael Riedel took a break from Broadway gossip mongering this week to speak with Roger Moore (who played James Bond on film from Live and Let Die in 1973 to A View to a Kill in 1985), whose new memoir My Word Is My Bond looks back at the actor's career on stage and screen.

Even though Moore is best known as Bond in the movies, the classically trained actor -- he studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London -- has some fond memories of his early career on stage.

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December 08, 2008 in Books | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Tragic Headshots (Some from Back Stage readers) Showcased in New Book

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In 2004, Patrick Borelli produced Entertaining the Young, a variety show featuring elderly people. To find talent, he placed an ad in Back Stage. Within two weeks he'd received more than a hundred headshots. The variety show was a big success, but it was the headshots that left the biggest impression on Patrick.

Holy Headshot authors Patrick Borelli and Douglas Gorenstein pored over 50,000 headshots to put together this remarkable gallery, which showcases everyone from aspiring amateurs who are striving to live out their Hollywood dreams to seasoned professionals that you might recognize from the big screen. If you go to the website, you can submit your own headshot for consideration in future editions of Holy Headshot.

Continue reading "Tragic Headshots (Some from Back Stage readers) Showcased in New Book" »

November 18, 2008 in Books | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Holy Headshot!

Holy headshot_cover If you're thinking of getting new headshots to further advance your acting career, you might be looking for examples of good, successful headshots after which to model your own. Well, you probably don't want to use Holy Headshot!, the new book from comedian Patrick Borelli and actor/photographer Douglas Gorenstein, as a reference. Instead, think of the book as a cautionary tale.

Holy Headshot! A Celebration of America's Undiscovered Talent is a collection of some of the funniest, strangest, and most captivating headshots and resumes ever put together in one volume, from aspiring amateurs and seasoned professionals alike. The book gives a sort of behind-the-scenes look at some of the many submissions flooding into casting directors' offices every day, and will more often make readers ask "What were they thinking?," rather than "How can I make my headshots look like that?"

Think cross-dressing will make your pic stand out? Well, it might. How about a prop? Weapons are always cool, right? Maybe a Santa costume? A shot of you sitting on the toilet on the beach? No, seriously, that's all in this book.

Continue reading "Holy Headshot!" »

October 28, 2008 in Books, Comedy | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)




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