Acting for Young Actors: The Ultimate Teen Guide by Mary Lou Belli, Dinah Lenney

Product Details

Synopsis

Do you know a teen that's been bitten by the acting bug? Here's just the book they need! Acting for Young Actors, aimed at teens and tweens, lets kids hone their skills and develop their craft. It begins with the five W’s: WHO am I? WHAT do I want? WHY do I want it? WHERE am I? WHEN does this event take place? Sounds basic—but many young child actors are told simply to “get up there and act.” This book explores each of these questions, using helpful exercises to allow young actors to work through problems of character identity and motivation. With comprehensive chapters on auditioning, rehearsal, and improvisation, plus a primer on how young actors can break into film, theater, and television, Acting for Young Actors is every kid’s ticket to the big time.

VOYA

Belli and Lenney, an Emmy-winning director of Girlfriends and a Yale-educated ER actress, offer stagestruck teens trunks-full of sound advice packaged with a conversational tone and grounded experience. Unlike many previous acting texts, this book does not begin with a history of the theatre nor does it ignore acting for film and television. It does, however, distinguish between "celebrity" of reality programming and acting. The authors offer a series of questions for character analysis; suggested readings and viewings abound. "Tips from the Pros"-those in Los Angeles and New York practicing their craft-reinforce and extend suggestions, along with lists of dos and don'ts. Although students who want to better their auditioning skills for school plays will benefit from the text, much of the book focuses on teens who truly want to launch careers; references to agents, coaches, and classes promote proactive, practical ways to approach career development. Activities echo Meisner strategies. Playlists and a glossary encourage further study. Although Chekhov and Shakespeare are not ignored, neither are writers who have penned Joan of Arcadia or Gilmour Girls. Actor Jason Ritter, son of John, writes a heartfelt, inspirational foreword. The handbook succeeds at communicating clearly without talking down to readers; engaging prose makes it an ideal text for classes and teens who want commonsense career prep and insight.

Biography

Mary Lou Belli is the coauthor of The Sitcom Career Book, published by Back Stage Books. An Emmy Award–winning director, she has worked on Girlfriends, The Hughleys, Major Dad, and Charles in Charge, among many other shows. She is the mother of two children who act professionally. She lives in Los Angeles.



Dinah Lenney is an adjunct professor at UCLA's School of Theater, Film, and Television. An actor as well as an acting teacher, she is currently appearing on ER as the no-nonsense nurse Shirley. She lives in Los Angeles.