Customer Reviews

You Can Act!: A Complete Guide for Actors

5 star:		(61)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
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This is an amazing work of art about the process of art. What struck me most as I read it was the author himself -- this is someone who is truly dedicated to teaching an actor how to strip all his layers to become a naked soul and shine in his performance and touch people's hearts. A must-read for anyone who wants to learn, be inspired, and excel as an actor.

This book is a great survival guide for actors. Deep, essential information is laid out in a coherent, simple-to-navigate form with a sly wit that makes it a joy to read. D.W. Brown's book lays out both over-arching principals of acting as well as specific "how-to" for specific character work. This book will be a great reference for actors who are interested in auditioning for and working in the television and film industries, because it gives a fantastic short-hand for actors to use when they have to work on short notice, as is often the case in those media.

*disclosure* I have known D.W. Brown for many years and have studied at his school, the Joanne Baron/D.W. Brown Studio in Santa Monica. I did not study under him directly.

For an actor just starting out, this book covered alot. Im new to the Acting world and this book provided good solid information. It broke things down to sometimes painfully detailed. But thats Good! This book was a good read, a little dry in some sections for me, but recommended. Good Luck, and Enjoy!

D.W. Brown's book, "You can Act" is by far the most detailed acting manual I've ever used. He takes you through the entire process of breaking down a script; he helps you find your place in the material, develop your character (if you're playing one), shows you how to find and carve out each action, and when the ground work is laid, he explains how to live truthfully in every moment. D.W. also includes an extensive list of actions and character handles which I have found extremely useful to breaking down all sorts of material. This book is a must for anyone who is serious about becoming a true artist in the entertainment industry.

PS: For all you writers out there you'll find this material to be very useful in creating interesting characters, tightening up the flow of your work, and much more.

PPS: The book is an easy read. D.W. is a funny guy!

There's certainly no scarcity of books on acting, but let me assure you this is the one to purchase, read and re-read. Unlike many of the other acting books I've read, D.W.'s brilliant guide engages, inspires AND INSTRUCTS the reader on how to act. While that may sound simple, most actors know it's not, and this book will keep you coming back again and again for expert guidance and practical, actionable tips. If you're like me, your copy of "You Can Act" will become filled with notes and worn from good use. Sure to become a "classic" on the craft.

Being a professional actor who has dedicatedly studied acting for over 15 years, it's hard for a new acting book to not only captivate me, but teach me something new. D.W. Brown's "You Can Act!" did more than both these things. It revitalized my passion for my art while feverishly aiding me in toning and redefining my craft.

Other reviewers have stated that this book is the nuts and bolts of acting, and I think that's a pretty accurate statement. For any actor who has ever gotten a script, and wondered where to start, "You Can Act" lays it out for you. From determining what kind of piece you'll be performing in to HOW to make specific character choices, Brown lays it all out there in a clear and humorous way. It's like having an actual coach with you while you go through your material, reminding you of certain pitfalls to avoid in your acting. Plus, there's something for everyone. Many acting books are vague, and therefore can never clearly address what it is the individual reader needs to work on. "You Can Act" on the other hand, takes the time to explain what kinds of actors fall into certain traps. Some won't apply to you. Some will, and Brown tells you how to fix these bad habits.

The book also goes through the vital aspects of maintaining a career, as well as how to get started. From how to work on oneself to the importance of perseverance, this book challenges the actor to get serious about their work, and stop looking for excuses as to why they're not where they want to be in their careers. "Be seen and be good" is the motto, and Brown tells the reader what it means to be a good actor, and how to get there. Plus there's lots of insightful artistic quotes at the end of the book to remind the reader of their love for their art, and why we actors immerse ourselves in our art in the first place.

This is a real acting book. It teaches you HOW to be a better actor. I stress the HOW because that always seems to be the mystery when it comes to the actor's craft. It's one thing to be able to theorize and talk about acting with a removed critical eye, it's another thing to actually be able to do what the actor is being asked to do. Even when it comes to playing a character with a character addition or impediment (someone with an accent, disability, stutter, etc) it's all laid out on how to accomplish this.

Lastly, since I'm sure I've already taken up a good chunk of your time reading this, the book lays out some really handy dandy lists that are a great reference tool (like actions, what you should be thinking while actually giving a performance, themes, and a step-by-step on how to break down material). Plus the bold headings, and bullet points, makes it really easy to go back to a particular section when you want to review something.

Highly recommended for the experienced and unexperienced actor. It's all here.

A comprehensive tome on every facet of acting that covers script breakdown, emotional preparation and research, performance, character work, getting work as an actor, and working professionally. Renowned acting instructor and author D.W. Brown's instructive volume details, down to the most specific points, and expounds upon the acting approach created by the late Sanford Meisner. The job of the actor is to always keep his/her attention on the other object or person so that "What are you doing and how do I feel about it?" becomes the mantra. This method, as explained and taught by Brown, is a highly effective system that very quickly transforms non-actors into believable performers and bad actors into compelling ones. As he does with his students, Brown helps the reader "unlearn" that which closes us off, working towards reverting back to a more open, childlike (not childish) state in human development that precedes the repression we develop as a response to societal cues. His approach is to rewire the reader into living in a more "animalistic" way rather than the way in which one's society teaches - to suppress, compartmentalize, check out, etc. A must-have companion book for any student at Brown's studio, but a thorough, one-size-fits-all manual for any aspiring actor or professional actor looking to transform not only as a performer but as a human being.

The contents of this book ARE the 'Brick and Mortar' for everyone that seeks to build a world within themselves and OF themselves; where every 'ANIMAL' of TRUTHFUL emotion, act of doing and construct of character are given names, purposes and most of all inspiration. "You Can Act", is as SINCERE, HEARTFELT and UNIVERSALLY THOROUGH as the man behind the words. I would recommend it to all actors weather they are starting from the ground up or are seasoned in the craft of acting and only want to DEFINE and sharpen their skill to it's MAXIMUM POTENTIAL.

I hate squandering my time, don't you? My BIGGEST fear growing into the art acting was - to spend to much time in the wrong studio or with the wrong coaches and half ass people. I didn't want to make that mistake!

I've read this book and as I write this I now travel 43 miles each way to study with the Author in Santa Monica, Ca!

It's amazing how sophisticated and developed you and your performance becomes as an actor and person when you read the right material and study with the best.

You Can Act is, quite simply, the best acting guide I have ever encountered. DW Brown acknowledges his publisher for encouraging him to write in his own voice, and therein lies the success of this manual, I believe. It is both heartfelt and practical, a no-nonsense nuts and bolts approach to acting that both inspires and informs. I can't recommend this book too highly. I myself look forward to returning to it again and again.