The Quotable Actor

1001 Pearls of Wisdom from Actors Talking About Acting

Damon DiMarco

• Publisher: Santa Monica Press
• Year: 2009
• ISBN:
  9781595808752
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Acting & Auditioning

Collecting advice, quotes, essays, and observations from hundreds of famous actors and highly regarded acting teachers, The Quotable Actor covers a wide range of topics on the art and history of acting.Entertaining, instructive, and informative, it is organized into specific, easy-to-search categories, such as "On Why We Act"; "On Auditioning"; "On Struggling and Building a Career"; and "On Gender Differences and Aging in the Biz."From art and technique to business and lifestyle, entries include fascinating anecdotes and advice from some of the greatest actors in history: Marlon Brando commenting on the rehearsal process
Meryl Streep's advice on building a character
Al Pacino recalling what it was like to be a starving young artist
Beauty tips from some of Hollywood's leading ladies
Recollections of horrible auditions from A-list stars
Musings from Jack Nicholson, Edwin Booth, and many othersAdditional contributors include Constantin Stanislavski, Daniel Day-Lewis, Ellen Burstyn, Julie Andrews, Paul Newman, and Peter O'Toole—providing insights into the actor's craft that are equally useful to young actors just starting out and accomplished professionals looking for inspiration in the words of peers.

Sources

ON WHAT ACTING IS

Chiu, Alexis. “Strange Bedfellows.” People, October 17, 2005.

Gam, Rita. Actors: A Celebration. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1988.

Esper, William, and Damon DiMarco. Actor’s Art and Craft: William Esper Teaches the Meisner Technique. New York: Random House, 2008.

Bankhead, Tallulah. Tallulah: My Autobiography. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1952.

Rockwell, Sam. “Sam Rockwell Interview, Star of Joshua.” By Sheila Roberts. Moviesonline. http://www.moviesonline.ca/movienews_12358.html.

Gielgud, John. Early Stages. New York: Macmillan, 1939.

Ullmann, Liv. Choices. New York: Knopf, 1984.

Bates, Brian. The Way of the Actor: A Path to Knowledge & Power. Boston: Shambhala Publications, 1988.

“All Grown Up and Everywhere to Go.” Special issue, People, Spring 1991.

Darrah, Brad. “Enchanting Manipulative Meryl.” Life, December 1987.

Staats, Kenneth. “Aspiring to Greatness.” Century, November 1980.

Dutka, Elaine. “Talking with Meryl Streep.” Redbook, September 1982.

Brussell, Eugene E. Webster’s New World Dictionary of Quotable Definitions. New York: Prentice Hall, 1970.

Cottrell, John. Laurence Olivier. New York: Prentice Hall, 1975.

Wallace, Terry. “Want to be a Force of Healing?” Parade, November 25, 1990.

Brussell, Eugene E. Webster’s New World Dictionary of Quotable Definitions. New York: Prentice Hall, 1970.

Bankhead, Tallulah. Tallulah: My Autobiography. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1952.

“The 128 Best Things Anyone Ever Said in People.” People, March 6, 1989.

Corsello, Andrew. “Christopher Walken Must Die.” Gentleman’s Quarterly, March 2000.

De Havilland, Olivia. “The Last Belle of the Cinema.” Academy of Achievement interview, conducted on October 5, 2006 in Washington, D.C.

Strasberg, Lee. A Dream of Passion. New York: Penguin, 1987.

De Niro, Robert. “Robert De Niro: The (Non)Interview.” By Lori Silverbush. Downtown Express. http://www.downtownexpress.com/de_207/robertdeniro.html.

Schatz, Howard, and Beverly J. Ornstein. In Character: Actors Acting. New York: Bulfinch, 2006.

Ullmann, Liv. Choices. New York: Knopf, 1984.

Gam, Rita. Actors: A Celebration. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1988.

Cusack, John. “The Total Film Interview—John Cusack.” By Jamie Graham. Total Film. http://www.totalfilm.com/features/the-total-film-interview-john-cusack.

Fishburne, Laurence. “The Mentor.” By Nell Minow. Beliefnet. http://www.beliefnet.com/Entertainment/Movies/2006/04/The-Mentor.aspx.

Rockwell, Sam. “Sam Rockwell Interview, Star of Joshua.” By Sheila Roberts. MoviesOnline. http://www.moviesonline.ca/movienews_12358.html.

Smith, Anna Deavere. “Voice of America.” By Carol Lloyd. Salon.com. http://www.salon.com/people/bc/1998/12/08/deaveresmith/index.html.

Brando, Marlon, and Robert Lindsey. Songs My Mother Taught Me. New York: Random House, 1994.

Hirschberg, Lynn. “Buttoned Up.” New York Times Magazine, January 15, 2006.

Rose, Cynthia. “John Malkovich: Profile.” Arena (UK), 1990.

ON WHAT ACTORS ARE

Rosenbaum, Ron. “Acting: The Creative Mind of Jack Nicholson.” New York Times Magazine, July 13, 1986.

Zucker, Carole. In the Company of Actors. New York: Theatre Arts Books, 2001.

Yakir, Dan. “The Future is Now.” Cabletime, April 1987.

Baker, Fred, and Ross Firestone. Movie People: At Work in the Business of Film. New York: Lancer Books, 1973.

Saturday Evening Post, May 22, 1943.

Brussell, Eugene E. Webster’s New World Dictionary of Quotable Definitions. New York: Prentice Hall, 1970.

Brussell, Eugene E. Webster’s New World Dictionary of Quotable Definitions. New York: Prentice Hall, 1970.

Brady, Shaun. “Looking for Inspiration.” Metro, March 23–25, 2007.

Adler, Stella. The Art of Acting. Compiled and edited by Howard Kissel. New York: Applause Books, 2000.

Bogart, Stephen Humphrey. Bogart: In Search of My Father. New York: Penguin, 1995.

Hagen, Uta. A Challenge for the Actor. New York: Scribner, 1991.

Dominus, Susan. “Rip Torn Won’t Go Gentle Into That Good Night.” New York Times, May 7, 2006.

Washington, Denzel. “Interview: Denzel Washington’s Difference of Opinion with Harvey Weinstein on ‘The Great Debaters.’” By Adam Feldman. HollywoodChicago.com. http://www.hollywoodchicago.com/2007/12/interview-denzel-washingtons-difference.html.

Langella, Frank. “The Demon Seesaw Actor’s Ride.” New York Times, 1989.

Artaud, Antonin. The Theatre and Its Double. Translated by Mary Caroline Richards. New York: Grove Press, 1958.

Matthews, Brander, and Laurence Hutton, eds. Actors and Actresses of Great Britain and the United States: From the Days of David Garrick to the Present Time. New York: Cassell and Company, Ltd., 1886.

Blanks, Tim. “Monica Bellucci.” Interview, September 2007.

Adler, Stella. The Art of Acting. Compiled and edited by Howard Kissel. New York: Applause Books, 2000.

Chekhov, Michael. To the Actor. New York: Harper & Row, 1953.

Hepburn, Katharine. Me: Stories of My Life. New York: Random House, 1991.

Douglas, Kirk. Let’s Face It: 90 Years of Living, Loving, and Learning. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2007.

Penn, Sean. “The Total Film Interview—Sean Penn.” By Hilary Morgan. Total Film. http://www.totalfilm.com/features/the-total-film-interview-sean-penn.

Baker, Fred, and Ross Firestone. Movie People: At Work in the Business of Film. New York: Lancer Books, 1973.

Artaud, Antonin. The Theatre and Its Double. Translated by Mary Caroline Richards. New York: Grove Press, 1958.

Malden, Karl, and Carla Malden. When Do I Start? New York: Simon & Schuster, 1997.

ON ACTORS AND SOCIETY

Grodin, Charles. I Like It Better When You’re Funny: Working in Television and

Other Precarious Adventures. New York: Random House, 2002.

Burns, Khephra. “A Love Supreme.” Essence, December 1994.

Fischoff, Stuart. “Clint Eastwood.” Psychology Today, January/February 1993.

Raab, Scott. “Penn.” Esquire, September 2007.

Alda, Alan. Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself. New York: Random House, 2007.

Rose, Cynthia. “Jimmy Smits: Law and Ardor.” British Vogue, 1991.

Cheadle, Don. “Don Cheadle Talks About ‘Hotel Rwanda.’” By Rebecca Murray. About.com. http://movies.about.com/od/hotelrwanda/a/rwanda121704.htm.

Cumming, Alan. “The 5-minute Interview: Alan Cumming, Actor.” By Sara Newman. The Independent (London), July 5, 2007.

Jenkins, Garry. Harrison Ford: Imperfect Hero. New York: Birch Lane Press, 1998.

Rose, Cynthia. “John Malkovich: Profile.” Arena (UK), 1990.

Washington, Denzel. “The Total Film Interview—Denzel Washington.” By Jan Janssen. Total Film. http://www.totalfilm.com/features/the-total-film-interview-denzel-washington.

Raab, Scott. “Penn.” Esquire, September 2007.

Moir, J...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Epigraph
• Table of Contents
• Introduction
• On What Acting Is
• On What Actors Are
• On Actors and Society
• On Why We Act
• On Conquering Stage Fright and Developing Confidence in Your Talent
• On the Actor’s Life
• On Auditioning
• On Struggling and Building a Career
• On the Importance of Technique and Training
• On the Importance of Maintaining a Healthy and Expressive Instrument
• On the Importance of Imagination, Inspiration, Fantasy, and Storytelling
• On Building a Character
• On Rehearsals and the Acting Process
• On Collaborating with Directors, Writers, Producers, Designers, and Other Industry Professionals
• On the Stage and the Screen
• On Doing Television: Soaps, Sitcoms, Episodics, and Live Broadcasts
• On Dealing with the Ups and Downs of Fame and Fortune
• On Hollywood, Broadway, and Show Business
• On Gender Differences and Aging in the Biz
• On Awards and Awards Ceremonies
• On Getting Typecast
• On the Importance of Keeping It Real and Having a Life
• Shakespeare on Acting
• Acknowledgments
• Sources