Film and Television Acting, Second Edition: From stage to screen [Paperback]

Ian Bernard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 25, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0240803019 | ISBN-13: 978-0240803012 | Edition: 2

Film and Television Acting offers solid techniques for creating a natural, believable performance for film and television. The reader will discover techniques for listening and reacting, blocking and business, character, focus, the closeup, and comedy as they pertain to acting in front of a camera. The book analyzes the differences between theatre, film, and television acting, providing the theatre trained actor with specific approaches for making the transition to on-camera work.

This second edition is thoroughly revised and updated. The book contains numerous scenes and exercises, including sample scenes from Cheers and Seinfeld, which provide the reader with ways to practice the specific techniques outlined by the author. Included are interviews with well-know actors and directors: Don Murray, Norman Jewison, and Emmy award winner, Glenn Jordan, to name a few. These interviews illustrate how the professionals apply their training and technique to filmed performances. There is also a chapter-length interview with John Lithgow, in which the actor provides a first-hand account of the differences of acting for the theatre and for the camera.

Helps actors transfer skills from the theatre to the camera.
Updated with new scenes from Cheers and Seinfeld.
Includes interviews with Don Murray, Norman Jewison, Glenn Jordan and other actors who've made the transition from stage to screen.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I suppose if I had to say that someone discovered me, it would be Ian Bernard."
Harrison Ford, Actor

"{Film and Television Acting} is extremely valuable and rare. There really is a need for it. My first experience with film was quite difficult and I've seen that over and over again with actors who have never been on camera before."
John Lithgow, Actor

From the Publisher

This second edition is thoroughly revised and updated. The book contains numerous scenes and exercises, including sample scenes from Cheers and Seinfeld, which provide the reader with ways to practice the specific techniques outlined by the author. Included are interviews with well-know actors and directors: Don Murray, Norman Jewison, and Emmy award winner, Glenn Jordan, to name a few. These interviews illustrate how the professionals apply their training and technique to filmed performances. There is also a chapter-length interview with John Lithgow, in which the actor provides a first-hand account of the differences of acting for the theatre and for the camera.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 2 edition (December 25, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240803019
• ISBN-13: 978-0240803012
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #970,597 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ian Bernard began his professional career as a musician. He was musical director for Dick Haymes, Vic Damone, Rosemary Clooney, June Christy as well as the TV show, Laugh In. In 1964 he wrote a screenplay called Synanon which was produced by Columbia Pictures. After that he wrote a comedy called Oh Dad Poor Dad for the same studio. At the same time, (1968) he was music director for Laugh In he began teaching writing at UC Irvine. The second year there he taught Film and Television acting. After moving to Santa Barbara he became chair of the Film and Video department at Brooks Institute. Now retired, he is playing jazz piano and working on a novel.
Born 1930 in Windsor Ontario Canada.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Film and Television Acting, September 29, 2000

By 

Don Murray (Santa Barbara,CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Film and Television Acting, Second Edition: From stage to screen (Paperback)

FILM AND TELEVISION ACTING by Ian Bernard

Reviewed by Academy Award and "Emmy" honored actor/writer/producer/director, Don Murray.

FILM AND TELEVISION ACTING belongs on the bookshelf of anyone who aspires to a career in motion pictures or is inquisitive about how the process of motion picture acting takes place. Author Ian Bernard, who has distinguished himself as an actor, writer, musical composer and director, adds to his well deserved laurels with this book that leads the actor through the technical steps and creative nuances of acting for both big screen and small.

Most actors begin their careers in amateur stage theatrics. No matter how competent their stage training may be, the transition to the screen can be disconcerting. Some aspects of screen acting make the transition easier: Voice projection, vital on the stage, doesn't come into play in screen acting. The "three quarters front" body position on stage is replaced by direct alignment, but exact positions become more vital in front of the camera, in order to remain in focus and within the lights. Much is made of "retakes" in film; if you don't get it right in take one there is take two, and twelve, and twenty if need be. But those extra takes are more often given to correct technical errors than to improve performance (especially in television where time restraints make compromise in the realm of performance common place).

Perhaps the most difficult aspect of switching from stage to screen performance is the lack of continuity in shooting a movie. One often performs the love scene before the scene where boy meets girl and since there is no build up of emotion that carries from one scene to another as on stage, the screen actor usually has to stimulate his emotions by his own solitary devices.

Mr. Bernard's book is a blueprint for building a bridge between stage and screen acting by providing theory and technique for making the transition.

For both aspiring screen actors and those of the motion picture audience who are interested in enhancing their enjoyment through a deeper understanding of the acting process, Ian Bernards's FILM AND TELEVISION ACTING belongs on the b ookshelf right next to Constantin Stanislavski's AN ACTOR PREPARES.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FINALLY...A 'HOW TO' ACTING BIBLE, October 1, 2000

By 

Greg Morrison SAA (Los Angeles, CA. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Film and Television Acting, Second Edition: From stage to screen (Paperback)

It's taken till the new millenium for someone to do a "how to" book about acting that plainly and simply zeroes in on just what it takes to be a great performer in front of a camera. Whether you're young or old, male or female, rookie or pro - if you are, or ever intend to act in film or television - you owe it to yourself (AND your future audience) to read this book. GREG MORRISON, Adjunct Professor, LOS ANGELES FILM SCHOOL