You can act! : a complete guide for actors

341 Pages·2009·2.19 MB·English

by  Brown

“Reading D.W. Brown’s lovely and miraculous book, and seeing acting through
his brilliant eyes, I found myself again passionate for the nuts and bolts of craft
and the simple beauty of expression he so gorgeously clarifies. You Can Act
proves the theatrical endeavor to be a brave act of pure being and soul.”
— Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic Park, Independence Day)
“If you’re serious about being an actor, read this book. D.W. Brown knows what
he’s talking about and he communicates it with inspiration, humor and
simplicity.”
— Leslie Mann (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up)
“D.W. has a way of communicating complex actions with such simplicity and
clarity that the heartbeat of the scene suddenly appears thrillingly within you. He
guides you to the tools you are already holding, and then reminds you how
exciting it can be to really use them. Under his direction I felt inspired, safe, and
capable of anything.”
— Olivia Wilde (House, Alpha Dog)
“I remember feeling a sense of security from D.W. He provided an atmosphere
within which the insecure, novice actor could safely strive, explore, and even
fail.”
— Robin Wright-Penn (The Princess Bride, Forrest Gump)
“D.W.’s commitment to push his students to achieve the absolute best they
possibly can, was a major factor in helping me understand the level of
dedication, perseverance and effort it takes to succeed in this business at any
level. D.W. has an uncanny ability to make one feel comfortable and safe, while
at the same time pushing for excellence and creativity. It is an experience that
undoubtedly helped me find work, and keep working in this unpredictable
industry, instilling in me a sense of pride and confidence that I otherwise
lacked!”
— Michael Vartan (Alias, Never Been Kissed)
“I owe D.W. Brown so many thanks for teaching me the craft of acting. The
work I did with him changed my life and my career.”
— Jamie Kennedy, actor, writer, producer
(Three Kings, The Jamie Kennedy Experiment)
“D.W. Brown’s manner as a film director captures the essence and class of Old
Hollywood directors. When giving input to his actors, he gracefully tackles the
most complex issues with the utmost simplicity, and always with his signature
charming smile.”
— Shoreh Aghdashloo (Academy Award® nominee,
Best Supporting Actress for House of Sand and Fog)
“D.W. Brown guided me in how to work with actors. I‘ve incorporated the basic
premises he works under and he gave me a lot of tips. We’ve spent time talking
about character and he raises interesting questions and suggests approaches we
might take in pulling off certain scenes. He has really helped me a lot.”
— Sam Raimi, director (Spider-Man 1, 2 & 3)
“D.W. Brown is one of the world’s foremost experts in the craft of acting and
the school where he teaches is the finest in Los Angeles. I always look to cast his
well-trained actors in my films.”
— Martha Coolidge (Real Genius), President of the Directors Guild
of America
“D.W. Brown trains beginning actors and makes them working actors, and he
takes working actors and makes them stars.”
— Valerie McCaffrey, Head of Casting for New Line Cinema
“Working with D.W. Brown is the most important thing I have done for my
career. He has a gentle, disarming way about him which helped me break down
my social veneers and limitations, and allowed me to expand my capabilities as
an actress. This method gave me a road map to follow and all of the tools I
needed to continue to develop my instincts so I could take on any role and feel
confident about it.”
— Sharon Case (six-time nominee and winner of the Daytime Emmy
for Outstanding Actress, The Young and the Restless)
“DW directs with much skill and an intuitive knowledge of character. He seems
to excel at various creative forms. He’s a fine actor, writer, and director. These
are all forms of storytelling, and, above all that’s what I would call D.W. — a
great storyteller.”
— Nick Stahl, Actor (Terminator 3, Carnivale)
“I am amazed by just how much my training with D. W. has impacted my work
as a host/journalist during the past 14 years. Whether sitting for an in-depth
interview or delivering copy directly into camera, the tools and skill set I
established years ago while studying Meisner with him continue to serve me
today. Listening, being curious, staying in the moment, and reacting have helped
me develop into the best interviewer I can be. I approach my on-camera reads
with an open heart so I can allow the story I am communicating to my audience
to effect me and flow through me, allowing an emotional reaction the audience
can connect with.”
— Mark Steines, host of Entertainment Tonight
YOU CAN ACT!
A COMPLETE GUIDE FOR ACTORS
D.W. BROWN
Published by Michael Wiese Productions 12400 Ventura Blvd. #1111
Studio City, CA 91604
tel. [phone]
fax [phone]
[email protected]
www.mwp.com

Cover Design: MWP
Interior Book Design: Gina Mansfield Design Editor: Paul Norlen
Printed by McNaughton & Gunn, Inc., Saline, Michigan Manufactured in the United States of America
© 2009 D.W. Brown

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without
permission in writing from the publisher, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Brown, D. W., 1956-You can act / D. W. Brown.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-932907-56-8 (alk. paper) 1. Acting. I. Title.
PN2061.B765 2009
792.02’8—dc22
2008051689
This book is dedicated to my dad,
Richard Brown
&
my wife,
Joanne Baron-Brown.
Together they made a man of me.
Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
SECTION 1. Acting a Role
Chapter 1. Breaking Down the Material
The Piece as a Whole
The Specific Character
The Specific Scenes
A. Before the First Moment
B. During the Scene
Summary
Chapter 2. Working Toward Performance
Preset Responses
Set the Actions
Set the Character Additions
Set Work with the Physical World
Set the Technical
Memorize the Lines
Allow the Performance to Develop
Try Special Methods
Use Ritual
Take Direction
Summary
Chapter 3. Doing the Performance
Live Through the Experience
Improvise
Focus on What’s Important
Express
Do Things Truthfully
Be Audacious
Be Vulnerable
Execute
Trust
Accept the Pressure
Stay Joyful
Summary
Chapter 4. Obstacles to Acting Well
Chapter 5. Ways of Doing Things
Chapter 6. Table of Characters
SECTION 2. Principles for the Actor
Chapter 1. Work On Self
Know Yourself
Nurture Confidence
Experience
Improve Your Physical Life and Speech
Chapter 2. Persevere
Don't Quit
Embrace Failure
Practice Hard and Well
Chapter 3. Develop Good Work Habits
Build Self-Discipline
Follow a Standard
SECTION 3. How to Get a Job
Chapter 1.Reasons You Get a Job
Chapter 2. Be Seen and Be Good
Conclusion