The Working Actor’s Toolkit

How does an actor handle the challenge of performing under heavy make-up?
What are the special requirements of acting in a docudrama?
How does a nonsmoking actor tackle smoking for a role?
How do actors deal with the director from hell?
And what about nudity?

Jean Schiffman knows. In The Working Actor's Toolkit, she amasses the information she garnered after years of interviewing professional actors, master teachers, and directors.

Each of her chapters explores a clearly defined craft topic. Because there is neither one way to act nor one approach that works for every actor, each topic is discussed from a variety of perspectives-in often humorous ways. Together, Schiffman's chapters offer a nontraditional set of techniques to fill the gaps left by more academic acting primers. Her approach is eccentric, her range of subjects eclectic, her bottom line indisputable: there are certain truths about the elements of acting-the need to dig deep and personalize, to be specific, to avoid cliche, to take risks, and to remember that, in most cases, less is more.

For beginning, mid-career, or longtime professional actors-or devoted fans who are curious about "How do they do it?"-Schiffman provides lively and provocative prose, but most of all practical ways for actors to hone their craft, solve unexpected acting problems, and make themselves marketable.