Books for Actors

There are many books that I recommend for actors. There are those that are written about acting for actors and then there are others that to me seem to be all about acting yet aren’t written that way. The latest in this series is called The Conversations Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film. It’s as much about the artistic process as it is about editing film. I found it both affirming and inspiring. Also penned by the incomparable Michael Ondaatje.

smile.amazon.com/Conversations-Walter-Murch-Editing-Film/dp/0375709827/ref=sr_1_1?crid=W2LRTUPSYDWM&keywords=the+conversations+walter+murch&qid=1642465447&s=books&sprefix=the+conversations%2Cstripbooks%2C56&sr=1-1

Other Books not necessarily about acting but so about acting:

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

https://smile.amazon.com/Bird-Some-Instructions-Writing-Life-ebook/dp/B000SEGI8Q/ref=sr_1_1?crid=33KTNPGBFBMNR&keywords=bird+by+bird&qid=1642465710&s=books&sprefix=bird+by+bird%2Cstripbooks%2C53&sr=1-1

Screenplay By Syd Field

https://smile.amazon.com/Screenplay-Foundations-Screenwriting-Syd-Field/dp/0385339038/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3Q37K7S78N92M&keywords=screenplay+syd+field&qid=1642465801&s=books&sprefix=Screenplay%2Cstripbooks%2C55&sr=1-1

Books for actors about acting:

Thinking Shakespeare by Barry Edelstein

This is the book to get above all others for the aspiring or even established classical actor. Barry is a master if Michelangelo makes marble flow, Barry makes Shakespeare sing. Check it out.

https://smile.amazon.com/Thinking-Shakespeare-Revised-directors-interested/dp/1559365749/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3J5IIZX6GW3MG&keywords=thinking+shakespeare&qid=1642465946&s=books&sprefix=Thinking+Shakespeare%2Cstripbooks%2C51&sr=1-1

The Intent to Live by Larry Moss

This is a book by a man who understands the cost of artistry.

https://smile.amazon.com/s?k=the+intent+to+live+by+larry+moss&i=stripbooks&crid=C02WT6VGA98B&sprefix=The+intent+to+%2Cstripbooks%2C69&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_14

The Actor and the Target by Declan Donnellan

Simple, practical and completely on point.

https://smile.amazon.com/Actor-Target-New-Declan-Donnellan/dp/1559362855/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3J7KYHVSIMJPC&keywords=the+actor+and+the+target&qid=1642466091&s=books&sprefix=the+actor+a%2Cstripbooks%2C48&sr=1-1

Ian Hersey