Being and Doing a Workbook for Actors [Paperback]

Eric Morris (Author)

Book Description

A fun and exciting workbook for actors to use in establishing a daily work schedule. Designed to help the actor integrate the two parts of the process, THE INSTRUMENT AND THE CRAFT. Which gives spontaneity, dimension, and authenticity to his performance. The numerous daily exercises deal with every aspect of acting including the actor's relationship to the business. Blank pages provide the actor with space to document his or her own involvement and progress. Being a workbook, every page is filled with a daily assignment and directions to practicing the exercises and applying them to dramatic material. Numerous photographs depict some recognizable actors involved in the work process. This is the second book by Eric Morris that chronicles his system of acting. It is a wonderful companion to "NO ACTING PLEASE" since it continues where that book ends

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"If you want to be still and full, Eric teaches the stuff.” -- Jack Nicholson

"When I read No Acting Please, it put it all together for me.” -- Johnny Depp --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Eric Morris is one of the most controversial and exciting acting coaches in the history of American theater. With his unique approach to acting from a BEING place, he is revolutionizing the concept of performance. Eric Morris began his involvement in theater at Northwestern University, where he graduated with a degree in Dramatic Arts. His acting career of over one hundred Equity plays, twenty major motion pictures, fifty network television episodes, and running roles on two syndicated TV series led him on a search for new and workable acting techniques. His inherent passion for truth has resulted in the development of a process of work that is very specific in exploring the origins of individual talent and that encourages each actor's unique statement. Eric Morris lives and teaches in Los Angeles but also travels regularly to New York and other cities around the country to conduct workshops. He has founded the American New Theater, a company of bi-coastal actors who have a common approach to acting and a common goal of carrying that approach into theater and film. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam~trade
• ISBN-10: 0399510656
• ISBN-13: 978-0399510656
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #460,302 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good book, but could use more, December 30, 1999

By 

D. A. Ross (Minneapolis, Minnesota USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Being and Doing: A Workbook for Actors (Paperback)

Having read this book in my acting class, I feel I gained little in the way of learning about acting. It's really just a collection of preparations, such as overcoming fear, and learning how to relax. The exercises are great, but that's about all this book is good for. The author tends to repeat himself over and over throughout the book. So, if you're looking to learn how to act, don't get this book. If you want to learn exercises to deal with fear, tension, and other "blocks," get this book.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Acting that makes sense..., December 13, 2005

By 

Doron Toister "dtoister" (Hollywood) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Being and Doing: A Workbook for Actors (Paperback)

I'll admit that at first glance Eric Morris's System can seem scary and misaligned. But I believe it to be a very misunderstood system.

I too was skeptical in the beginning, but after studying this technique (with Eric, but mostly with Anthony Vincent Bova in NYC, Eric's protégé), and after seeing the difference from "acting" and what this Work creates, there's no way I'd ever go back to the "acting" form.

Eric Morris teaches the actor how to react honestly and in the moment, including everything that's going on inside and out-the other actor, the props, the imagined objects that one might be working for-that impels you to "do" whatever the character is required to "do", but out of a real reaction, not just because you're doing it.

I've studied Adler, Strasberg, Meisner, and with Robert Lewis. I've hashed through the process of verbs, actions, objectives, obstacles, and onward; and they're all good and dandy for figuring out what's going on in a script, what the characters are doing and why; but other than that, these techniques never helped me figure out HOW to make it real to ME... How to get to a place where I'm actually functioning from a real, organic, truthful state ... How to get to the point where I am "doing" all the script tells me to do, fulfilling the "actions," out of an honest REACTION to what's going on.... Not just "playing" as if I am; how, in essence, creating the realities of the character....

No matter where you go, all the great teachers (and actors) say the same thing, "Acting is reacting." Even the most used and cherished word in the actor's language, LISTENING, is about focusing outside of yourself and REACTING to what is there. This Work trains the actor to create the stimuli that will fulfill the demands of the piece, specifically, wholly, and with Truth.

For the most part, plays and movies are imagined circumstances, and we as actors, have to create stimuli to react from, so we're not just faking, or indicating our performance. I'd rather watch two people have a relationship on film or on stage, than two actors reciting words, no matter how well they "act" it. If they don't believe it, I won't. This System trains you to create those stimuli and REACT to them honestly, fully and truthfully.

A crucial part of Eric's System is based on Instrumental Work, which is the process of identifying blocks and fears and tensions to expression and, one-by-one, through the use of hundreds of exercises, eliminating them. It's really about self-awareness-learning about yourself and how you function, so you can "get out of your way" and function truthfully on stage or film and get to where you need to get to in a scene. I think this is the aim of every method, but I feel that this System is the only one to address the issues of the actor on a personal level. If I'm tense and depressed (in real life; me the actor), I'm not going to be able to REACT truthfully in a scene where the character has just won the lottery and is jumping with joy. If I push for the emotion, I'll be faking and will "act" that I'm joyful. If this is enough for you, then Eric's work is definitely not your thing. But if you're looking for creating reality and REACTING with truth, nothing surpasses this Work.

I know that Meryl Streep, Brando, Ed Norton, Johnny Depp, Jack Nicholson, Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro, and a handful of other amazing actors don't fake it, don't just indicate the realities of the character and the circumstances. They create them. Be it imagined stimuli they are creating, or through the available stimulus around them, they open themselves up and REACT truthfully to everything -the other actors, the set, the space, the props, the object or person via Sense Memory, etc. I KNOW they do this for a fact! They've talked about it for years.

Eric helps you get to the place that they do-where you can function truthfully, where your instrument is accessible and available, where you are open and are willing to go where the character needs to go, emotionally, psychologically, and physically.

My advice is read Eric's books. If they pique any interest in you, if they strike a cord, study with Eric or Anthony, or at least contact them for further information about the system. I think you'll be quite surprised and utterly amazed at the tools this Work can provide you as an actor.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Workbook filled with Great Exercises., February 20, 2002

By 

D. Goldberg (LA , Ca) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Being and Doing: A Workbook for Actors (Paperback)

This is a wonderful workbook--easy to follow with great exercises. If you do the exercises, I guarantee you will improve your acting and accessibiltiy to your emotional instrument. I use them in my classes when I teach acting.
The results are phoenomenal.

If you just read them-- and let them sit there they won't do diddly squat. This book is the beginning of an eye opening approach to acting by Eric Morris. The exercises are powerful, will deepen your intensity and provide access to your emotional instrument. Do read this book in conjunction with No Acting Please which better explains Eric's work. Follow it with Irreverent Acting. The three act as a powerful acting trilogy and together form some of the best books on acting ever written.