Creating a Character: A Physical Approach to Acting

By Moni Yakim

Book Overview

A vital part of the acting process is knowing how to use the body to bring out a character's unique traits and behaviour patterns. In this book, an actor and mime artist reveals his techniques and step-by-step exercises for physically evoking a character.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0823075524
• ISBN13: 9780823075522
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: Applause Theater
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.96 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.9" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

So this is what they do at Juilliard

I loved reading this book but I failed it. I couldn't get through the first exercise. I can't go around for a whole week emphasizing my biggest physical flaw. I have auditions to ruin with my acting, God forbid my looks. There's got to be a milder version of Moni's Vulnerable Self exercise. Anyone know him and can ask? I'd love to get to the cloud exercise.

Who are you?

Once the voice has done its job, how does the body go on from there? How can we make our characters as real as we can? Every actor asks these questions of themself, but there's one question that Yakim asks about every character--Who are they? Boiled down? In two words, even? This book defines the different types of characters as basic archetypes, or "selves": The Vulnerable Self, The Trusting Self, The Instinctive Self. It then goes on to list ways of developing these Selves from a purely physical standpoint. I have only used parts of this book in developing some of my characters, and already, I feel more confident about my presence on stage. I believe myself now, and that's the hardest audience to convince.