Friendly Enemies: The Director-Actor Relationship (Paperback)

~ (Author) "What really happens between the director and actor?..." (more)
Key Phrases: organic acting, scene before the scene, pre production rehearsals, New York, Rehearsing the Cast, Marlon Brando (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The best-kept secret in the entertainment industry is how much actors, including award-winning major stars, distrust directors and how directors, in turn, fear actors. UCLA professor, acting coach, and actress Delia Salvi addresses this problem in her book Friendly Enemies: Maximizing the Director-Actor Relationship.

Based on a course the author designed in the mid-1970s, and still teaches at UCLA, the book guides young directors in film and television in how to work with actors, as well as how to analyze scripts. Friendly Enemies is divided into seven chapters focusing on key topics such as understanding the actor, the director's self-knowledge, the language of the actor, the director's preparation, casting, rehearsal, and working on the set. An additional chapter includes directors' notes for the script, character analysis, and a scene breakdown from a section of the classic movie On the Waterfront.

The book also includes author interviews with entertainment professionals Burt Brinckerhoff, well-known producer and director of the successful television series 7th Heaven, and director of over 46 TV shows, including episodes of Touched by an Angel, Beverly Hills 90210, Magnum P.I., Moonlighting, and The Bob Newhart Show; Todd Holland, Emmy-winning director of the comedy series Malcolm in the Middle as well as The Larry Sanders Show, Felicity, My So-Called Life, and Twin Peaks; Alexander Payne, director of the award-winning film Election as well as Citizen Ruth; Mark Rydell, director of such films as On Golden Pond and The Rose; Brad Silberling, film director of the box-office smash City of Angels, with Meg Ryan and Nicolas Cage, as well as television director of such shows as Judging Amy and NYPD Blue; Audrey Wells, director of the films Under the Tuscan Sun and Guinevere, and screenwriter for such films as The Kid, starring Bruce Willis, The Truth About Cats and Dogs, and George of the Jungle; Geena Davis, star of The Accidental Tourist, Thelma and Louise, and A League of Their Own, as well as three television series; Anthony Franciosa, star of stage, screen, and television; and Barry Primus, who's recently appeared in such films as Life as a House and 15 Minutes as well as on such television shows as The Practice, X-Files, and Law and Order.

About the Author

Delia Salvi is a full professor at the UCLA School of Theatre, Film, and Television. She is also a professional acting coach whose students include Geena Davis, Craig Berko, and Mia Sara. Salvi has conducted master classes in California, Oregon, and Washington, as well as in many countries in Europe. She lives in Los Angeles.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Billboard Books; 1 edition (January 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823079449
• ISBN-13: 978-0823079445
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #582,099 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "FRIENDLY ENEMIES" IS A FRIEND INDEED, May 28, 2003

By	Pegarty Long (Venice, CA USA) - See all my reviews

STUPENDOUS. INSIGHTFULL. WONDERFULLY SIMPLE. NECESSARY. Those who have the good fortune to be able to direct actors will keep "Friendly Enemies" by their side. It will be my companion whenever I go to meet, and work with, my own friendly enemies.

--Pegarty Long, Writer-Director: "Incision" "Irreversible"
"The Irish Vampire Goes West"

5.0 out of 5 stars Director's Direction, September 11, 2003

By	Cliff Gravel "Writer/Actor" (Albuquerque, NM, USA) - See all my reviews

May the Gods of the Arts bless Prof. Salvi for writing a guide that is not bogged down in esoteric theory. Practical, concise, comprehensive. A definitive road map for stage or screen directors, with value to actors and writers too. The most useful book on the topic that I have read in years.

5.0 out of 5 stars Enthusiastically Recommend, July 29, 2003

By	Martin Landau (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

"Friendly Enemies" is so full of valuable information and illuminating insights that everyone, even people who are not in theater and film, will benefit from what is offered here by Delia Salvi.
It is a new, and much needed, deeply probing investigation covering every conceivable variation and possibility which might, could, or has occurred within the intricate and complicated working relationships between directors and actors. There is no other book like it. It is a welcome addition and learning tool for those just starting out, as well as old-timers like me. It is really a primer on how to get along with others, while getting the most out of yourself.
I enthusiastically recommend this book to anyone who can read!

Martin Landau