How To Choose Acting Books For Beginners

Step 1

If you don't like to read, you are going to have a hard time making it in this business. You can only take so much time from people to learn things form them. There is still a lot you have to learn by reading it. Because at the end of the day, because if you are my acting coach and you tell me everything, well, I need to work on that at home. Now, how am I going to know everything you say, I can't take notes on everything you say. OK, fine, I have a digital recorder. I will record it. Things get erased easily. Tapes, what if they fall and go down the sewer crack? What if they get ran over? What if they get accidentally deleted or thrown out? Things can happen, but nothing can replace the printed word.

Step 2

Now, having said that, what type of things are you going to have to read? You do not need to read about history, You do not need to read about Michael Caine's book of acting. What you need to read about are audition techniques. Your technique that you are trying to perfect as an actor. I also read books - - other audition techniques, other acting techniques, because you may read a book, and it may not be beneficial, but here could be one topic, one sentence, one page that just - that you won't forget the rest of your life. Now, what is the chance that an acting coach telling you that one word? That one sentence? If you have it in the book, you have it.

Step 3

And you go onto other books. You also have to read all your plays. You have to read those time and time again, just so you know what's going on.

Step 4

Reading for me takes up, on average, on a daily average, 2-3 hours per day. I don't say I do that every day, but on the weekly average, its 14-21 hours per week.

Step 5

And that doesn't include looking up your Thomas Guide directions to an audition. That doesn't include reading your sides. That can be reading a scene. That can be memorizing lines. But, it is more so, just reading books on acting, auditions, how to conduct yourself, scams that are out there, ways to market yourself, things for your resume, things for headshots, and then last of all, but not least, probably the most important, your acting technique.