Acting for Film [Paperback]

Mel Churcher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2003

The author uses her wide experience as an acting and voice coach an major movies to offer insights into the film acting process. She provides tasks, techniques and tips that are designed specifically for film: there's advice to make the first-time film actor feel at home on set, tips on the casting process, how to cope with auditions, on-camera techniques, schedules and shooting order, as well as specific advice from film crews to help an actor's performance. This practical workbook combines exercises and anecdotes in an informal and accessible style, making it the indispensable guide for anyone wishing to light up the silver screen.

Editorial Reviews

Review

An extraordinary achievement. This is consummately the film actor’s bible. -- Society of Speech & Drama Teachers Journal May 2003

Mel Churcher has the distinct advantage of extensive personal experience and has produced a quarry of useful tips and resources. -- Direct: The Magazine of the Directors Guild of Great Britain, Spring 2003

This is now on the required reading list -- London Academy of Music and Drama (LAMDA) 2004

From the Publisher

Having already published Cicely Berry's acclaimed series of books on theatre acting it seemed only natural to turn our attention to film and screen acting, a very different, though connected, discipline. As one of only two film acting coaches listed in the trade directory, Mel Churcher was the perfect candidate to write this insightful guide, to which she brings her expert knowledge of acting for film along with her experience of working with some of the biggest movie stars and directors around. She has worked internationally as a coach for actors and runs regular acting for film workshops. This guide is easy to follow and combines practical exercises with anecdotes of her own and other people’s experiences.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Virgin Publishing (February 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0753507234
• ISBN-13: 978-0753507230
• Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 6 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,357,815 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hallo there - I'm Mel and I've been fascinated by the process of voice, words, acting, theatre and film-making since I was old enough to read. I went to drama school at 17 and was an actor for around 20 years - I did some fascinating work including playing the girl in Equus at the National Theatre in 1975, playing Richard Harris's daughter in 'Cromwell' (about 6 lines!) and being in 'Upstairs, Downstairs', as well as a lot of radio & commercials and waiting at tables!
I became a director and teacher in the late eighties and did 2 MAs on route - one in Performing Art at Middlesex & one in Voice Research at Central School of Speech & Drama. I worked in drama schools for about 10 years & was on the voice team at the Royal Shakespeare Company & resident voice coach at The Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park '96-2007.
I did my first feature film as a coach in 1992 - it was 'The Secret Garden'. My next one was helping Milla be an alien in 'The Fifth Element'. Since then I've worked on over 40 major films and have had the pleasure of working with, amongst others, Angelia Jolie, Keira Knightley, Milla Jovovich, Daniel Craig, Clive Owen, Jet Li, Rachel Macadams, Michelle Yeoh, Ray Winstone and Jeremy Irons - who has kindly written the forward to my new book, 'A Screen Acting Workshop + DVD' published by Nick Hern Books, 2011.
If you get this book (and I hope you will!) do watch the DVD. It has real clips from workshops & over 65 brave actors on it. The main reason I wrote a second acting book was to show you the work!
(The first book is a comprehensive overview of the whole business of 'Acting for Film - it really has to be 'truth 24 times a Second'!)
Enjoy the acting journey - I have!
If you want to know more, my webpage is www.melchurcher.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Attention All Actors, March 12, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Acting for Film (Paperback)

At last. A book that actually treats film acting seriously, not just as a poor relation to acting in the theatre. Most Acting Schools devote little or no time to this branch of the acting profession. So where is a rising new professional to learn their craft? Or a wannabe? Or even a seasoned old hand?

In 'Acting for Film', that's where.

Mel Churcher brings a wealth of experience on major movie sets to bear on the problem and comes up with a book that is both a practical guide and a good read. She has worked with some of the top directors, many big stars and a host of actors, coaching them in voice and accents as well as acting. In this book she shares the secrets she's discovered in the process. Here you'll learn how to trust the camera and how to make the camera love you.

'Acting For Film' has highly practical exercises to hone film acting technique. There are pointers, hints, anecdotes and stories. But there's much, much more besides. Tips on casting and auditions to help land the part. Advice about working on camera to make sure what the actor puts in comes out on the screen. Ideas from other top members of the film crew on how to get the most from a performance. A guide through the jungle of weird language, strange equipment and stranger people that make up a film set.

If you're an actor, a director, a film professional or just someone with an interest in the craft of film acting I do urge you to try this book. 'The truth 24 times a second' is Mel's subtitle and this book really does explain how the best film actors use the concentration and energy needed to achieve that.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Attention actors and directors, April 11, 2003

By 

Klingsor Tristan (Suffolk) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Acting for Film (Paperback)

At last. A book that actually treats film acting seriously, not just as a poor relation to acting in the theatre. Most Acting Schools devote little or no time to this branch of the acting profession. So where is a rising new professional to learn their craft? Or a wannabe? Or even a seasoned old hand?

In 'Acting for Film', that's where.

Mel Churcher brings a wealth of experience on major movie sets to bear on the problem and comes up with a book that is both a practical guide and a good read. She has worked with some of the top directors, many big stars and a host of actors, coaching them in voice and accents as well as acting. In this book she shares the secrets she's discovered in the process. Here you'll learn how to trust the camera and how to make the camera love you.

'Acting For Film' has highly practical exercises to hone film acting technique. There are pointers, hints, anecdotes and stories. But there's much, much more besides. Tips on casting and auditions to help land the part. Advice about working on camera to make sure what the actor puts in comes out on the screen. Ideas from other top members of the film crew on how to get the most from a performance. A guide through the jungle of weird language, strange equipment and stranger people that make up a film set.

If you're an actor, a director, a film professional or just someone with an interest in the craft of film acting I do urge you to try this book. 'The truth 24 times a second' is Mel's subtitle and this book really does explain how the best film actors use the concentration and energy needed to achieve that.