- Paperback: 384 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins; 2nd Revised edition edition (13 Jan 1997)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0060928190
- ISBN-13: 978-0060928193
- Product Dimensions: 20.8 x 13.6 x 2.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 271,633 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Description
Review
"So clear and informative I read it like a novel. And when I finsihed it I learned a thing or two."--Karl MaldenA"One of the most helpful, most outstanding books for actors."--Eva Marie SaintA"The actor searching for practical advice on the technique of acting for film will be hard-pressed to find a more comprehensive and inspirational volume.""--Drama-Logue""A first-class book for the beginner and refreshing review for any pro.""--Los Angeles Times""Tony Barr has made [acting] eloquently simple with "Acting for the Camera . It is fast reading, easily understood, and beautifully laid out."--Ed Asner, from the foreword
Product Description
Culled from Tony Barr's 40 years' experience as a performer, director and acting teacher in Hollywood, this handbook provides readers with useful practical knowledge for performing in front of the camera. This updated edition includes new exercises for honing on-camera skills; additional chapters on imagination and movement; and additional material on character development, monologues, visual focus, playing comedy, and working with directors. Inside tips on the studio system and acting guilds should make this guide particularly helpful for people new to the business. Numerous anecdotes from actors such as Morgan freeman and Anthony Hopkins, and examples from current films illustrate the book's many lessons.
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First Sentence
The actor' primary function is to communicate ideas and emo to an audience. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
The actor' primary function is to communicate ideas and emo to an audience. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am just about to go into a film for the first time and I found that Tony Barr's book was an essential help. He explains in great detail about the film set and what to expect. I can now walk in to the set for the first time with some confidence and really create a great character on screen. The set wont be a scary place any more and I will be able to keep up with all the, 'lingo'.
I love that Tony also addresses the all important need of acting. He could of sold a book purely on his first section. I recommend any actor to buy this book purely for that section alone!! On top of this you are given a fantastic set of exercises to practice to truly understand the principles he talks about.
This is an acting book primarily and a good one at that. It truly bridges the gap between theatre and camera acting and helps you understand all genres. It personally tells you everything that you could expect when walking in front of the camera for the first time.
Truly recommended. If you have any doubt about it - GET IT!!! Then you can make your own mind up :-)
First Rate,
Eamon Yates
I love that Tony also addresses the all important need of acting. He could of sold a book purely on his first section. I recommend any actor to buy this book purely for that section alone!! On top of this you are given a fantastic set of exercises to practice to truly understand the principles he talks about.
This is an acting book primarily and a good one at that. It truly bridges the gap between theatre and camera acting and helps you understand all genres. It personally tells you everything that you could expect when walking in front of the camera for the first time.
Truly recommended. If you have any doubt about it - GET IT!!! Then you can make your own mind up :-)
First Rate,
Eamon Yates
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
25 reviews
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful
This book has become my "Acting" bible.
21 Jan 1999
Format:Paperback
The first two sections of the book alone increased my abilities in front of the camera 100%. It became that I would read it over each week on my way to acting class. Tony Barr examines all areas of acting, tools, preparation, working on set and putting what you have learned into practice. It is to the point, intelligent and easy to read. It is a book to be studied, underlined and reread. I really feel it is a must for anyone wanting to act in front of a camera, regardless of your talent level.
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Want To Be in Pictures?
13 Dec 1997
Format:Paperback
Well, got a camcorder? I'm not being funny. The Eric Kline exercises at the end of the book will teach you things, with the aid of a camcorder that no amount of talking or reading can. But first, read the book.
Economy is its keyword. Tony Barr gleans, from years of teaching since he founded The Film Actors Workshop in 1960, the most effective and easiest techniques for both the novice and the pro to truthfully "communicate ideas and emotions" through the camera.
Correctly relegating exercises to exercises rather than as a response to the director's shout for "action," Barr recounts the need for listening, sensing and learning to respond to stimuli moment to moment. He divides the book into sections. The first two, "Acting" and "Working on the Role", he tells us are enough for anyone to create a strong performance. The next, "Tools," he warns are extras, only to be approached after you have mastered the first. The last part of the book gives the never-been-on-a-set-before actor everything he/she needs for that first role, the understanding of the mechanics of movie making that directors expect from actors.
Want to be in pictures? This is a must-read for you.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Great general book on acting, with emphasis on TV/Film
12 July 2006
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I obtained this book to read while taking an "Audition For Camera" class at my acting school. I'm a relative novice, but had read some books on general acting before, such as Uta Hagen's "A Challenge For The Actor," and really wanted a book that talked about specific aspects of acting in front of a camera.
This book, Tony Barr's "Acting For The Camera," is a little different from what I was initially hoping it would be, in that it basically is a book about general acting, with more than the entire first half of the book devoted to that. I remember often thinking "when are we going to get to the part about camera work?"
Mr. Barr's general thoughts on acting are actually quite good, though, which encouraged me to read through the whole of the first section, and I would say that there are many excellent insights there. It's also a relatively quick read, as opposed to Uta Hagen's book, for example, and many things are presented in ways I hadn't read in other books before.
When I finally got to the "camera" section of the book, I sort of realized that the reason he probably spent so much time with the "general acting" stuff is because ... well, the most important part of "acting for the camera" is the ACTING, not the CAMERA! Of course there are many specifics that he addresses, but all the specifics and terminology etc. aren't going to help you if you can't act.
Plus, the section on "exercises" at the end of the book was helpful to read, even though I haven't tried any of them myself yet ... they seem like well-thought out exercises to improve ones' camera work.
The groundwork and advice on acting that he gives, though, is excellent all-around and seems appropriate to apply to ANY type of acting, not just camera acting.
So, all in all, I'd say that the book would more accurately be titled "ACTING, with a special section on Acting For The Camera!" That isn't quite as marketable though, I suppose!!
This book, Tony Barr's "Acting For The Camera," is a little different from what I was initially hoping it would be, in that it basically is a book about general acting, with more than the entire first half of the book devoted to that. I remember often thinking "when are we going to get to the part about camera work?"
Mr. Barr's general thoughts on acting are actually quite good, though, which encouraged me to read through the whole of the first section, and I would say that there are many excellent insights there. It's also a relatively quick read, as opposed to Uta Hagen's book, for example, and many things are presented in ways I hadn't read in other books before.
When I finally got to the "camera" section of the book, I sort of realized that the reason he probably spent so much time with the "general acting" stuff is because ... well, the most important part of "acting for the camera" is the ACTING, not the CAMERA! Of course there are many specifics that he addresses, but all the specifics and terminology etc. aren't going to help you if you can't act.
Plus, the section on "exercises" at the end of the book was helpful to read, even though I haven't tried any of them myself yet ... they seem like well-thought out exercises to improve ones' camera work.
The groundwork and advice on acting that he gives, though, is excellent all-around and seems appropriate to apply to ANY type of acting, not just camera acting.
So, all in all, I'd say that the book would more accurately be titled "ACTING, with a special section on Acting For The Camera!" That isn't quite as marketable though, I suppose!!
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