Customer Reviews

The Art of Film Acting: A Guide For Actors and Directors

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Jeremiah's ability to convey such a clean and concise approach to film acting is endlessly refreshing, especially to the working actor overhwhelmed by the endless masses of techniques and methods out there. He strips acting down to its very essence and truth through his emphasis on being in the moment and on developing ones skills of observation and listening. His simple wisdom reminds us of what we already know-- what we knew as children and chose to forget-- the endless wonder of a human face, the natural expression of unjudged emotion, how to live openly in the present without expectation, to trust unwaveringly in the given circumstances. Truly a great work and one every actor, director, artist or film enthusiast should have. I will read this book again and again and I do not doubt that one day it will be a staple in any serious actor's collection. Excellent.

Jeremiah has an honest approach when presenting this book. It is very useful, and a definite book to have on your shelf. I have found myself unable to put it down. I would recommend this book for any type of actor wanting to understand and practice his craft too the best of his ability.

It is a great book for any actor who wants to do stage and film acting. Ever since I've read the book I've booked two films in a matter of weeks. My acting has improved dramatically! I'm not kidding. I learned to come out of myself and see what's around me. It sounds simple and it is simple! Comey gives us techniques to observe what's around us, hence we're less nervous, and we perform better. His technique makes acting more fun, less mind work, though I do feel you still need to do the homework, but then when you're there you just have to let it go and respond what's in front of you. Trust me, it works. I checked this book from the public library and now I'm going to have to buy it myself. Good luck and hope the best in every actor!

In "The Art Of Film Acting: A Guide For Actors And Directors", Jeremiah Comey draws upon his more than 25 years of experience and expertise in teaching film acting (include the several years in Hollywood he spent acting in feature films, television sitcoms, soap operas, industrial films, and commercials, as well as directed several short films) to provide a definitive instructional manual for training performers to act from their core -- whether they are doing a cold read, auditioning, or performing. Aspiring actors will learn how to manifest honest and believable emotions before the camera, relate to other actors and the their circumstances as those cameras roll. Enhanced throughout with exercises and script examples, students of acting are provided with an easily accessible resources designed for practicing the outlined principles as they pursue a mastery of their craft. Practical, "user friendly", informed and informative, "Guide To Naturalization Records Of The United States" is a core addition to any personal, professional, or academic Theatrical Studies resource and reference collection.

Loved this book! The author's writing style is easy to understand. A lot of the book is an actual script of what happened in his class - the students dialog and his (the teacher). The students read scripts with each other and he instructs/helps them improve their acting. Highly recommended for the beginning actor!

"The Art of Film Acting" sneaks up on you. It is so readable, common sense, talks with you and not at you, you will probably find yourself shocked and surprised when you suddenly realize you're learning and absorbing a highly sophisticated but simple approach to the craft that delivers curiously complex results that will claim the attention of the most accomplished of actors and critics of film art. Lavish with new and unique approaches to the art but spartan and hard hitting in its "bottom line" delivery. Lush with the requirements of providing a variety of valid information, actual value for its intended use, content of new information or a better understanding of the existing, and the contemporary term, "performer friendly." Jeremiah Comey has accomplished a truly professional achievement, and it's for one reason: It's the same way he approaches his craft.

A couple of years and a few feature films later, I can truly say that Jeremiah Comey's Art of Film Acting is the corner stone of my craft as an actor. Since I first picked his book up in a book store somewhere in the center of London 5 years ago, I've been exposed to many other techniques, books and acting styles - and although each of them have been valuable in their own way, none of them has rung as true for me as what you'll find in between these pages.

Although I've been pursuing my acting career many many thousands of miles away (at the tip of Africa), Jeremiah and the Art of Film Acting have been like a personal coach to me, and when I got to meet him on a trip to L.A. I found the incredibly talented, sincere and accessible person I imagined him to be.

This book translates the essence of film acting simply, clearly and profoundly. You wont be sorry you bought it.

When something arouses passion in us, we are sometimes lucky enough to sleep with it. That is exactly what I have done with Jeremiah Comey's "The Art of Film Acting". The book rests on my nightstand, and I frequently turn to it for inspiration and knowledge. I have never found a more direct, simple and understandable explanation for this very complicated art known as acting. And if teaching art is so difficult, how does Mr. Comey make it seem so easy? I have a bachelor's degree in acting and more than 30 years in the business. It took me this long to find my "bible". This amazing book could also be titled "The Art of Teaching". Thank you, Maestro!

Jeremiah Comey's film acting method makes an incredible book for actors & instructors. It distills Meisner's theory and refines it, much as Lee Strasberg served to adapt Stanislavski's method decades ago. I saw a video interview with Jack Nicholson who claimed that Comey had revolutionized his acting. That is high praise indeed for this magnificent teacher. Comey starts with the basic exercise of emotional copying, discusses how focus of concentration on the other actor is the key to creativity and then enlarges the concept to an acceptance of circumstance. Major emphasis is put on the skill of sight reading and getting off the page. Comey further defines the art of concentration, the art of not knowing, the art of acceptance and the art of giving and receiving. For actors stuck in their heads, Comey unlocks the key to real choices that may or may not be married to the obvious emotions of the text, which creates subtext, the medium in which film is told. Comey then gives a great detailed discussion of how his approach differs from audition technique & how the technique can enhance good auditions. Comey uses many examples from well-known films and some of the best actors and top stars. In the Acting for the Camera course I teach in North Carolina, I started with three books including Benedetti & Tony Barr, but found that while other books add helpful points, Comey's approach is the meat and potatoes, forever contradicting thespians who relegate film acting to theatre-lite. While not all of my young acting students have been able to get out of their heads, some have shown amazing progress in a 16-week semester, proof of the great effectiveness of this technique. Comey's book will augment Meisner-based approaches and is amazingly clear and to the point. Wow! Bravo! Thank you!

As an actor who is very comfortable on stage, I've always been surprised by my difficulties in front of the camera. This book not only identified what I was doing wrong but has given me very helpful and practical ideas about how to work in the medium of film. What a great find!