The Great Acting Teachers and Their Methods (Career Development Book)

Rating:
Summary: a great overview of how acting has been--and is--taught
Review: Anyone interested in a well-written and accessible overview of the evolution and current status of the methods of training actors could not do better than to get this book. Richard Brestoff has clearly done a thorough job of research. He seems to have trained under practitioners of virtually every extant training system, and presents them in a way which is both entertaining and readily understood, even by those with little or no background in theater or film. The final section of the book, with concise descriptions of many of the available sources of training in the United States, would be of great value to any student who wants to pursue an acting career. It is not easy to present a great deal of solid information and maintain a lively, readable style, but this writer has done it. I suspect that even those with no professional interest in acting would enjoy the book. Professional actors will come away from it with renewed respect for their art and rekindled dedication ! to improving their craft.

Rating:
Summary: nice overview
Review: Great Acting Teachers is a good resource for an overview of several styles of acting, however, it is just that. It doesn't delve too deeply into any one method, which is good, but it's also subjective because Brestoff has decided who is a great acting teacher and who is not. I personally am a fan of Mamet, but he is not mentioned at all.

Rating:
Summary: nice overview
Review: Great Acting Teachers is a good resource for an overview of several styles of acting, however, it is just that. It doesn't delve too deeply into any one method, which is good, but it's also subjective because Brestoff has decided who is a great acting teacher and who is not. I personally am a fan of Mamet, but he is not mentioned at all.

Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: I enjoyed every minute of this book. It was hard to put down. I actually have to buy another copy because the person who borrowed it from me swears I gave it to him.
Information needed for anyone in the performing arts.

Rating:
Summary: Brestoff inspires future major
Review: I read this book over the summer after reading Stanislavski's An Actor Prepares and Building a Character while preparing for a rather challenging role. I found this book to be exceptionally written, extremely clear, and entertaining. I found all of the different schools and techniques of acting so interesting that it inspired me to consider majoring in it and possibly going on from there to receive my MFA from the Actor's studio. I especially liked the way that he arranged the book so that one could go back and compare different techniques. Because of this book, I am far more ahead than most people in my IB theatre class and I am able to apply what is going on within myself as I begin building my character and and as i watch my acting coach while she is directing a school play. If anyone is interested in theatre, acting,or just wanting to learn something new, this is definitely the book. If it were possible to give this book ten stars I surely would.

Rating:
Summary: Got the Basics Down
Review: This book does an economical job of describing the major acting schools and the linear development of acting over the ages. It is a little bit boring at times while going through the different exercises. One cannot really follow the description of acting exercises, one has to have a teacher (as the book mentions). All in all, it is a well-written book that gives you the basics even if it is a little dry at times.