The Camera Smart Actor (A Career Resource Book) [Paperback]

Richard Brestoff (Author), Deborah Stevenson (Illustrator), Olympia Dukakis (Introduction)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1880399768 | ISBN-13: 978-1880399767 | Publication Date: August 1, 1994 | Edition: 1st

This is it! The real story of what goes on behind the scenes. Camera Smart provides actors with an exclusive and much needed look at the inner workings of a film set. By following an actor on his first day of work you encounter the jargon, the situations, the people, the failures and successes of a real world camera job. It's the next best thing to being there. This book, written with a rare combination of humor and insight covers all aspects of the camera actor's world including a fascinating look at how the new technologies of video games, CD-ROM movies, interactive multi-media and the 500 channel universe will affect that world. Become camera smart yourself so that when you get the job you'll be ready.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The author discovered on his first day of acting for a TV movie that years of experience in stage acting and graduate education can be inadequate for the technical requirements of film acting. He wrote this book in the hopes that other actors making the transition from stage to film will be better prepared. The goal here is as much to familiarize the actor with the basics as to develop acting techniques. Two-thirds of the book is written in dialog form. A "guardian angel" introduces an actor new to movies to the artistic and technical crew and their respective roles and responsibilities. The "angel" also provides insight for the actor on how to work technically with the camera in order to meet the demands of film. While the dialog style becomes tiring, there is a lot of good information here. Recommended.
J. Sara Paulk, Satilla Regional Lib., Douglas, Ga.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Richard Brestoff is an Assistant Professor of Drama in the Claire Trevor School of the Arts at the University of California, Irvine. He is an actor with credits on Broadway, Off-Broadway, in regional theater, and in film, television and radio. He is the author of The Camera Smart Actor, The Great Acting Teachers and Their Methods, Acting Under the Circumstances, and most recently, The Actor's Wheel of Connection.

Product Details

• Paperback: 239 pages
• Publisher: Smith & Kraus; 1st edition (August 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1880399768
• ISBN-13: 978-1880399767
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #112,006 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's the best!, April 15, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Camera Smart Actor (A Career Resource Book) (Paperback)

Richard Brestoff discusses acting brilliantly and tells what we REALLY should know about acting in front of a camera and on a set/location for television/movie acting. This book was by far the most interesting, helpful, informative piece of literature about acting I've ever been so lucky to get my hands on! I only wish I could thank him personally.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved this book!!!, March 15, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Camera Smart Actor (A Career Resource Book) (Paperback)

Even as a non-actor, I found the comments and information in this book fascinating. It explains the duties of various film crew members, and details the steps involved in making a film. I'll never watch TV or movies the same again!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a wonderful book!!, May 21, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Seattle, Wa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Camera Smart Actor (A Career Resource Book) (Paperback)

I never really understood the film making process until I read this book. It is written with a real human spirit as he takes us through step-by-step. I felt as if I was on that shoot myself - nervous and anxious about everything that the character "Newcomer" was faced with and didn't understand. What a relief to have a book that finally explains all the terminology and gives specific advise on what to expect and how to meet the acting demands of working on a set. If you're in the Seattle area, you should check out his classes. He's a very gifted teacher as well.