See How Easily You Can Track Your Character’s Emotional Arc in a Scene
By JEANE CAVELOS. Helping Writers Become Authors: January 9, 2015
In my research last spring, I came across a fascinating guide called Book on Acting. The title arises from the author’s name, Stephen Book. He’s a famous acting teacher. Book directs actors to consider how their characters’ emotions develop over a scene. He calls this the character’s emotional arc. I quickly realized this was great advice for writers too.
Stephen Book Remembers George Carlin
By STEPHEN BOOK. George Carlin’s long time acting coach speaks at his memorial: June 29, 2008
In 1985, George decided he wanted to do films and felt it was time to become as good an actor as he was a comic. He joined my acting class and for two years attended every Tuesday night. I also became his private coach for the next fifteen years helping him prepare his movie roles.
Book Reviews
By PAUL HABER. Backstage West: March 29, 2007
“Interviewing doesn’t come naturally to many actors. We want the job, we want to impress or please our auditor or interviewer – and it’s this very mindset that prevents us from either booking the job or being remembered favorably when the next one comes along. Why are we so self-conscious when meeting a new agent? Why do we blow a callback by trying to ingratiat ourselves with the director? STEPHEN BOOK’s The Actor Takes a Meeting addresses these questions head-on…”
The Business of Acting
By STEPHEN BOOK. Backstage West: Jan 11, 2007
“I have an interview tomorrow with an agent I would love to sign with, and I’m so nervous. I never do well in these interviews. Help!” Or, “Four months ago I had a general meeting with a top casting director, and I thought it went well, but she has never called me in for an audition. What am I doing wrong?”
By The Book
By JEAN SCHIFFMAN. Backstage West: Feb 6, 2003
L.A. teacher STEPHEN BOOK’s Improvisation Technique challenges accepted Method acting assumptions. I don’t know if I’d want to call Los Angeles teacher Stephen Book’s approach to acting revolutionary, but, in adapting improvisation exercises to script work, he challenges some of the received wisdom of modern American training and offers a practical method to infuse your performance with spontaneity.
Book Chat
By JEAN SCHIFFMAN. Backstage West: Feb 20, 2003
The second part of a discussion of STEPHEN BOOK’s Non-Method method. In the last “Craft,” we discussed some of the acting techniques taught by STEPHEN BOOK, a Los Angeles, teacher who runs workshops for professional actors who want to learn how to infuse their work with spontaneity.
Taking Directions
By JEAN SCHIFFMAN. Backstage West: March 3, 2002
Los Angeles acting teacher Stephen Book, who has also directed and acted, was forthright: “Forget whatever you heard about crossing out stage directions,” he said. “It used to be the rule [in order] to keep actors from arbitrarily acting them out. But over the years that has changed into a [habit] of disregarding the author’s intent.” Book believes stage directions are the writer’s gift to the actor.
You Say You Want a Revelation
By LAURA WEINERT. Backstage West: March 22, 2001
Having a breakthrough in acting class is a moment you’ll never forget – and never expect.
Cry If You Want To
By KIMBERLY LEWIS. Backstage West: Nov 14, 1996
Picture this scenario: Your agent calls and says, “Hey kid, I got an audition for ya.” (About time, you think.) “You’re a shoo-in. They’re not just looking for your type – they’re looking for your exact height, weight, and astrological sign. Believe me, kid. This one’s in the bag!” Then the other shoe falls. “By the way – You can cry on cue, can’t you?”
Playing Tag for Better Communication
By BARBARA DELATINER. New York Times: Nov 28, 1976
“Theater games energize both the teacher and the students so that the classroom experience comes at a time when learning can take place at the highest level,” said Stephen Book, the executive director of the Spolin Theater Games Center in Los Angeles
Workshop Aids Communication Skills
By SUSAN LINDBERG. Illinois State University Vidette: Sept 16, 1976
“Space Walk,” “Follow the Follower,” and “Explosion Tag.” Sound like kids games. They are, but they were also a part of a Theare Games Workshop which was conducted for students and teachers in CVA Gallery I and 301 Centennial West Monday and Tuesday evenings.
Improvisationist Stephen Book
By GAYLE THOMAS. Michigan Journal: Feb 2, 1976
Silence. Space pressing in on you. Heavy. No air. Can’t breathe. So hard… to move. Until STEPHEN BOOK snaps his fingers and brings you back again.
