The Sanford Meisner Approach Workbook II : Emotional Freedom [Paperback]

Larry Silverberg (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1575250748 | ISBN-13: 978-1575250748 | Publication Date: June 1, 1997

Shortly before his death, Sanford Meisner arranged for Larry Silverberg to create a written legacy of his teaching techniques. This book is the second of four books in the Sanford Meisner series.

In this extraordinary new book, Silverberg demystifies the emotional demands of acting and leads the actor through a process aimed at tapping into and deepening his own emotional instrument. Not only will actors gain insight into the whole realm of the emotions, they will see very clearly the traps most actors fall into when it comes to "being emotional" on stage. A healthier and more effective way of working will be taught -- a way of working which brings the actor powerful and unique creativity to every part.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Silverberg's writing is concise and insightful throughout and makes the technique accessible to any committed student. --Library Journal

About the Author

Larry Silverberg is founder and Artistic Director of the Belltown Theatre Center in Seattle, WA. He is also on staff at the University of Washington where he teaches Master Classes in the Meisner Work, while continuing his own acting career. Larry is a past winner of the Warner Bros. Filmmaker of the Year Award for his film, Flight in Masquerade, and has also been busy directing for the stage. Larry is a graduate of the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theater in New York City where he studied with master acting teacher, Sanford Meisner.

Product Details

• Paperback: 116 pages
• Publisher: Smith & Kraus (June 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575250748
• ISBN-13: 978-1575250748
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #420,780 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Visit Larry at:

http://www.trueactinginstitute.com

Larry Silverberg is one of the world's foremost authorities on the Sanford Meisner technique of acting through his internationally acclaimed four volume series, "The Sanford Meisner Approach: An Actors Workbook," and his book, "Loving To Audition." Larry's first book for teen actors, "The 7 Simple Truths of Acting for the Teen Actor" was released last year.

Larry's newest book is now available! It is called "Meisner For Teens: A Life of True Acting" and is published by Smith and Kraus Publishers.

Larry is a graduate of the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre where he studied with legendary acting teacher, Sanford Meisner. Since then, Larry has worked professionally as an actor and director across the United States and in Canada. Most recently, he received high praise from the New York Times for his performance as "Don" in Athol Fugard's "People Are Living There" at The Signature Theater in New York City, and he won the Seattle Critic's Association "Stellar Acting Award" for his portrayal of "Teach" in the Belltown Theatre Center production of "American Buffalo".

Larry is Founder and Director of The True Acting Institute at Eckerd College where he offers his "Teaching The Meisner Approach Certificate Program" for acting teachers and his "College Actor Master Class." Learn more about these programs at this link:

http://www.trueactinginstitute.com

Larry has been very busy touring Europe, Canada, South America and the US, teaching acting in his renowned professional actors training program, "The Meisner Master Class" which he brings to universities, colleges and professional acting studios around the globe. Larry has also been teaching his "Teen Actor Master Class" at high schools all across the United States.

Larry is available to lead symposiums and key note lectures on the Meisner technique and the craft of acting. The photograph on this page is Larry leading a symposium to more than 500 Brazilian actors, film directors and screenwriters, at renowned FAAP University in Sao Paulo Brazil, where Larry was brought in to introduce the country of Brazil to the Meisner Approach. And Larry just returned from Berlin where he trained 45 professional actors from all around Europe as well as leading two public symposiums on the Meisner Approach and The Art of Directing. Larry is also happy to lead symposiums and master classes at the wonderful TETA conference in Texas and many thespian conferences around the United States.

Larry also leads ongoing master classes at The International Institute for the Performing Arts in Paris, European Act which takes place in London, Paris and Berlin and at the Munich Film Academy.

Learn more about Larry's many international programs at this link:

http://www.trueactinginstitute.com

Larry's has also been busy leading his newest workshop, "The Way Back Out" an empowering and transformational seminar aimed at freeing the authentic expression of people in all fields. Please visit the website to learn more about this exciting event. The link is:

http://www.thewaybackout.com

Larry has also recently launched "College Acting Programs.Com", his website devoted to helping high school actors find the best college acting programs. The website address is:

http://www.collegeactingprograms.com.

Larry can be contacted through his own web site address, http://www.trueactinginstitute.com or emailed at [e-mail]

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At Last! Acting without Psychotherapy, May 30, 2000

By 

Jeanne Everton - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Sanford Meisner Approach Workbook II : Emotional Freedom (Paperback)

Larry Silverberg clarifies his mentor's theories and provides us with a systematic, effective approach to acting's emotional component. Gone are the exercises dealing with the actor's personal emotional trauma--no more teacher as therapist. Meisner's approach is in the "now" and works in the fertile field of the actor's imagination. With practice it works every time. Larry Silverberg has crafted a treasure.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Antithesis of Strasberg, November 10, 2008

By 

Dean F. Lundquist - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Sanford Meisner Approach Workbook II : Emotional Freedom (Paperback)

In my opinion, Lee Strasberg's indefatigable attachment to "Emotional" or "Affective Memory", a technique that Stanisklavski later disregarded as unusable, has done more to harm the training of an actor than it did good. This misconception was the basis for "The Method". Both Sandy Meisner and Stella Adler knew that Strasberg got it wrong. This was partly the reason for the rift in The Group Theatre. Sandy knew from his experience as an actor, that using memory to re-create emotion on stage would disconnect the actor from his environment, and done night after night, would lead the poor fellow to madness or a nervous breakdown. Dustin Hoffmann's performance in "Death of a Salesman" on Broadway are living proof. While "The Method" might sometimes work for the camera, it doesn't work for the rigor demanded of the stage. Meisner's approach relies on and nurtures the actor's imagination to put him or herself into the appropriate emotional state for the imaginary circumstances of the drama. Silverberg's book is practical and essential. It is a workbook, not a textbook. It contains practical exercises, frank anecdotes and the underlying theory behind the exercises. Great work, Larry. I am certain that Sandy would be very proud of his star pupil.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkable Book, September 21, 2011

By 

Matthew Hamner - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Sanford Meisner Approach Workbook II : Emotional Freedom (Paperback)

I have a MFA in acting from the University of Central Florida, and I teach acting at Christian Brothers University in Memphis Tennessee. I studied with Larry Silverberg for two summers. He is as remarkable a teacher as he is a writer. Even though one might think it is extremely difficult to explain the Meisner technique in a book, Larry has accomplished that. Like many, I believe you need to study acting in a class to learn the craft, but these series of books are a rare exception. Not only do they teach the technique using a step by step process which allows the actor to really understand what s/he is doing, but they reveal the essence of the Meisner approach which is to specify a role until it has ULTIMATE MEANING for YOU!

Also, if you didn't know by now from reading the other reviews, "Meisner gave Larry and Smith & Kraus written permission to publish these books.