The Way of the Actor: A Path to Knowledge and Power - Hardcover

Bates, Brian

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0877733848 ISBN 13: 9780877733843

Publisher: Shambhala, 1987

Synopsis

Drawing on the experiences of actors including Marlon Brando and Meryl Streep, the author illustrates the art and practice of the actor's craft, interpreting the actor's work as a journey of self-discovery

About this title

About the Author

Brian Bates is a psychologist who spent seven years researching the psychology of acting with students at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. He is now Director of the Medical Psychology Project at the Department of Psychology, University of Sussex, England.

Reviews

Shamanism and the primitive power of magnetic actors is the subject of psychologist Bates's book. Working with Royal Academy of Dramatic Art actors, he succeeded in heightening their ability to communicate personal energy. Bates demonstrates the training needed to draw from deep within their lives the concentration needed to intensify, enlarge, and focus actors' emotional tools. With a willing audience, that energy can be released in a way similar to that of primitive spiritual leaders. Extensive interviews with major actors lends the weight and persuasiveness needed to address a skeptical audience, because Bates goes well beyond actor-training here. His practice of trance-inducement and "out-of-body" travel left this reviewer doubtful, but his portrait of the work and powers of actors is authoritative and accurate. Controversial, but most important.Thomas E. Luddy, English Dept., Salem State Coll., Mass .
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Shambhala
• Publication date: 1987
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0877733848
• ISBN 13: 9780877733843
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 216