To become the director of your life, study acting from books

“The whole world is a theater, and the people in it are actors,” said the great William Shakespeare. And he was absolutely right, because society always requires the fulfillment of some rules: how to dress, what to say, where to move - everything is programmed by the conventions of being. It turns out that each of us plays: at work - a gray clerk, at home - a cleaning lady and a mother, in a store - a scrupulous consumer. To play these, and not only roles, books on acting skills will help.

What artist are you

Artistic techniques were necessarily taught in every aristocratic family. Monarchs, nobles, industrialists - all studied acting. It was necessary for communication, personal development, business. How does this help off stage? Acting skills at the household level are:

• set voice, the ability to manage it according to the situation;
• ease, immediacy of public existence;
• harmony of movements, speech, gaze;
• freedom, charm, openness, charisma;
• improvisation, intuition.

A rather eloquent list showing the importance, the necessity of these skills for a successful life. Conducting a deal or a lesson on established stamps, you will never get a good result. With this technique, you can easily achieve the desired return.

Where is the ability to be different useful?

Well-being, career, peace of mind directly depend on the quality of playing their roles. You can play life sincerely, openly, with joy - everything around you will respond in the same way. If you try to imitate, to cheat, society will reject you.

You can shine with artistry:

• in pedagogy, marketing, service in social structures, management - the ability to communicate, convince, sympathize in any mood, situation, is very necessary;
• in business and career - it helps to think outside the box, teaches you to negotiate correctly, easily, speak to the public, convince the team, stay confident, be positive, give out fantastic ideas;
• in the family - gives emancipation, confidence, teaches to coexist harmoniously, to educate children in creativity, sociability.
• personal comfort - having learned to control your voice, body, emotions, you can better understand yourself, achieve success in any issue, find a way out of a difficult situation, improvise in a dead-end version of negotiations.

The ability to be different, while remaining yourself, will make life brighter, more interesting, more productive. Exercises will remove fears, clamps, remove complexes. You will become more interesting to others, employers, colleagues.

Teach children to talk

In the age of gadgets, natural artistry skills are disappearing in children. Separating themselves, they lose their communication skills, self-confidence, and creativity. If before plasticity was learned from cats, the naturalness of behavior - from children, today kids themselves need help to adapt in society. The best way is acting training, of course, in a playful way.

Children off their phones are learning to:

• live communication skills;
• improvisation;
• to fantasize, to transform;
• not be afraid of public speaking;
• laugh at yourself;
• sympathize, help.

Creative lessons develop speech, improve diction, expand horizons, vocabulary, develop the child's memory. Most importantly, these skills help to show their individuality, to become a person, to choose the best direction for themselves in adult life.

Who teaches acting techniques

Today there are no problems with courses, schools, studios, trainings that teach people who do not aspire to become subjects of Melpomene. They teach to speak correctly, to understand facial expressions, gestures, to observe pauses in order to hear interlocutors, to manage emotions so as not to harm, but to improve the result of negotiations.

They will help those who aspire to get on stage or act in films, but did not come to this idea in their youth. And those who have dreamed of the stage since childhood.In parallel, this science will have a positive impact on all areas of everyday life. A confidently speaking person inspires confidence, a desire to follow him.

My own director

The higher the professional level of teachers, the more expensive the training costs. But there is another option: you can study this science on your own - a book and the Internet will help you! Among the host of manuals, brochures, tomes, there are quite understandable, effective tasks, tips, rules.

Paper, electronic, audio or video - there are textbooks for every taste. Independent study of the topic, with self-discipline and desire, will give positive results. But you need to understand that you need to improve in a team under the guidance of specialists. The principle of self-preparation looks something like this:

• Stage 1 - self-instruction manual, self-study;
• Stage 2 - a textbook of acting skills, where topics are expanded, tasks become more complicated;
• Stage 3 - a tutor or an amateur theater group;
• Stage 4 - for those who have chosen the stage profession, you can safely go to the casting or to the theater for an audition. For those who need these skills in other professions, it is enough to periodically train using their achievements.

What to believe, what to choose for self-study, we will tell you here and now. Please note: each listed author has a fairly large author's library. After reading the surname, pay attention to the expert, the teacher. If it was his program that you liked more than others, look for the following works of this teacher-director.

The Stanislavsky system is a classic

At the beginning of the 20th century, Stanislavsky's theory of stage art appeared, dividing craft and craftsmanship. A method of acting technique has appeared that helps to create the psychological authenticity of emotions and actions.All the variety of current methods is based on the system of Konstantin Sergeevich Stanislavsky. The best schools, including Hollywood, use elements of this method. For future theater stars, Stanislavsky is the beginning of all beginnings, a system that helps to discover the real talent in oneself.

Stanislavsky K.S. The work of an actor on himself

AST Publishing House, 2017. First edition - 1938. Series: exclusive: Russian classics.

143 rub.

In theater circles, this book is called the Bible of stagecraft, it outlines the essence of his world-famous system. K. Stanislavsky was the first to systematize the experience of transforming an artist into a character.

Stanislavsky K.S. Collected works in nine volumes

• Volume 2. The actor's work on himself. Part 1: Work on oneself in the creative process of experiencing: A student's diary.

Publisher: M.: Art. 512 pp., 1989.

200 rub.

Talk about accepting the character of the hero to be played. How to come to the experiences of the hero through your personal experiences, find similar emotions, feelings. The author teaches to revive the stage image so that the viewer believes in its real existence here and now. There are exercises to create artistic truth, sincerity. His famous "I don't believe it!" — in this part.

• Volume 3. The work of an actor on himself. Part 2: Work on oneself in the creative process of incarnation. Student diary.

Publisher: M.: Art. 512 pages, 1990

500 rub.

The emotional background of the role must be superimposed on the speech and plasticity of the hero, to create a physically meaningful image. Exercises on emotions, the truth of body plastics.

• Volume 4. The work of the actor on the role: Materials for the book.

Publisher: M.: Art. 624 pp., 1991.

350 rub.

This theme was not completed by the author during his lifetime.Volume 4 contains the second part of the Stanislavsky system, which deals with the creation of a stage image. The training is based on examples of classical productions - "The Government Inspector", "Othello", etc.

• any works of Stanislavsky can be purchased as a textbook and as a gift edition, the price and quality of printing will correspond;
• to buy knowledge of global importance for 200-500 rubles is cool;
• it is good that only the editorial preface changes during reprints, the texts of the Master remain unchanged.

• the books are designed for trained people who know the basics of theatrical business, who were engaged in studios. It's hard on your own.

Development of the Stanislavsky system

Mikhail Chekhov. Acting Secrets. The path of the actor

AST, Moscow. Series: Acting Gold Fund, 560 pages, 2011.

289 rub.

The great Russian artist, Stanislavsky's favorite student Chekhov emigrated to the United States, became the founder of a school for Hollywood stars (Marilyn Monroe, Clint Eastwood, etc.). There are not only memoirs, biographical stories, but also chapters on the Stanislavsky system.

It is very useful for beginners to read how Chekhov worked on his brilliant characters - King Lear, Khlestakov and many others. The stories about rehearsals with directors Stanislavsky, Sulerzhitsky, Vakhtangov are the history of the Moscow Art Theater School in the first person, this is the foundation that needs to be absorbed.

Olga Loza. Acting training according to the Stanislavsky system. Exercises and studies.

Publishing house AST. Series: Golden Fund of Acting, 192 pages, 2009.

Electronic version, download for 139 rubles.

Artists, teachers, psychologists, everyone who cares about owning their emotions will find in this manual unique exercises developed by Stanislavsky, which will help you easily change your mood, express your thoughts vividly, and speak expressively. Assignments are collected from all the works of the great teacher, director.

Elvira Sarabyan. Acting training according to the Stanislavsky system. Mood. states. Partner. Situation.

Publishing house AST. Series: Acting Gold Fund, 160 pages, 2011.

99 - 425 rubles.

To master the techniques of persuasion, the art of communication, not to be afraid of public speaking, to argue productively, achieving the desired result - the exercises from this manual will help.

• it is amazing how the classical system of the last century is transformed in the modern world: the exercises and trainings are the same, but the message and implementation are modern. Modern language is simpler and more understandable.
• I am glad that you can buy books on newsprint inexpensively, the essence is important, not the pictures;
• offset printing with colorful pictures - so you want to immediately start classes.

• small circulations, and to order the price increases three times.

Other methods

Boris Zakhava. The skill of the actor and director. Tutorial.

Lan Publishing. Series Textbooks for universities, 456 pages, sixth edition. 2025.

1666 rub.

According to this system, students of the famous "Pike" (Schukin Theater Institute) study. In the treatise - a system of exercises for a novice artist. A student of the Vakhtangov school, Boris Zakhava, talks about the main thing in the profession: attention, imagination, action. Shares best practices for working on the role.It will be useful for professionals and amateurs. Skills developed by exercises will be useful in everyday life.

Sergei Gippius. Gymnastics of the senses.

Publishing house AST. Series: Theatrical experiences, 512 pages 2017

347-956 rubles.

More than two hundred practical tasks for imagination, attention, work with partners. An excellent training textbook is accompanied by the author's reasoning on creative motivation techniques. The themes of mechanisms of perception, reflexes, practices of tempo-rhythms are isolated. The Gippius Creative Psychotechnics Training is the most popular acting textbook today.

Yuri Alshits. Forever training.

Publishing house GITIS, 256 pages, 2010.

The electronic version is free to download.

A collection of practical tasks for individual and group work, compiled by a professor at GITIS. More than 100 exercises will help you keep yourself in good shape, improve your talents. What is valuable here is that the exercises are divided into 10 sections, each with additional explanations, comments, and reflections.

• the authors are professionals of theatrical pedagogy, they can be trusted;
• no extra texts, practical tasks, tips, exercises.

• sold like fiction, expensive.

For children, teenagers and their parents

Michael Kipnis. Actor training. 128 best games and exercises.

Publishing house AST. Series: Acting Gold Fund, 288 pages, 2009.

158-182 rub.

Useful, not abstruse book for beginning actors, children, psychologists, managers. Simple but effective trainings, exercises for warming up, involvement in a group game.Professionals can update their developments in terms of group communication techniques, the development of creative thinking.

Irina Feofanova. Acting training for children.

The electronic version is free to download.

There is no file creation data.

The textbook will provide invaluable assistance to teachers, parents of children from four to 12 years old. At this age, it is easier to master the basics of stage speech, plasticity, stage movement. Quiet, silent children will be relieved of tension and shyness. All game tasks have been tested many times in the theater studio. Parents themselves can develop the creative beginning of their future stars of the big stage. And if they don’t become artists, they will learn to think, improvise, speak, communicate freely, which is very useful in any profession. It will be easy for them to find themselves in this complex world.

• very clear, simply written: in the game, children learn the skills of collective coexistence;
• written by professionals - age criteria, psychology are taken into account;
• an adult theater studio uses these games and exercises - an excellent result.

• Feofanov cannot be purchased in the printed version.

Overseas experience

Ivana Chubbuck. Actor skill. Chubbuck technique.

Publishing house Eksmo Ltd. Series: Stage Masters, 416 pages, 2013.

587 rub.

The audiobook is available online, recorded in 2015.

The famous Ivana Chubbuck, based on the system of Stanislavsky and other schools, created her own technique that allows you to quickly enter the image, organically stay in it. Her students were Brad Pitt, Jim Carrey and others. There are many techniques for reproducing emotions.How to truthfully play pregnancy, dying, anger, without cliches, sorting out passions, an American teacher explains.

Arthur Bartow. Acting skills. American school.

Alpina Non-Fiction Publishing. Genre: Cinema/Theatre, 410 pages, 2013.

379-535 rub.

Electronic version, download for 459 rubles.

The artistic director of the drama department at New York University brought together all the famous techniques from Stanislavsky to modern innovators. Here the knowledge of European and American schools is systematized. Not collected in a single system, but presented separately - from classics to postmodern teaching methods. It is possible to choose what is more suitable for a particular individual. Thanks to these trainings, we learned about Al Pacino, Mickey Rourke and many others.

Bernard Hiller. Acting Secrets in Hollywood.

Publishing house AST. Series: Pocket training, 256 pages, 2016.

403 rub.

Not only performers face emotional stress, psychological barriers, everyone needs to learn to resist uncertainty, look for opportunities to move towards the goal. There will be tips on acting techniques that are useful for everyday life. How to keep smiling in bad weather, fight insecurity, loosen up, find strength for the next step towards the goal - the answers can be found here.

Michael Powell. Acting for Beginners.

Translation by I. Naumova. Publisher: Eksmo, 2011.

Series: Gift editions. Tutorial. Genre: Cinema.

817 rub.

The main message of the author is to take your first step towards the Oscar! Tips and tasks will come in handy not only for self-preparation, but also for work in the studio, theater schools. The manual is provided with illustrations.The skills that a beginner actor should have are widely represented - from voice to physical expression.

The course is based on the Stanislavsky system, but there are topics from the “how to become famous” series, experimental training systems. Lots of advice from movie stars: Robert de Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio and others share their experiences.

• seemingly according to Stanislavsky, but foreign authors have completely different starting points, and the results are unexpectedly interesting;
• any developments from these books are suitable for ordinary life, they even helped on a date with a girl;
• psychological moments in theatrical art are more and more amenable to training, thanks to the tasks from these books.

• if the actors follow these guidelines unconditionally, the theater will turn into a craft;
• not a very budget price for foreign literature.

Oratory

There are a lot of books on voice development, techniques for dealing with fears of public speaking. Here, without navigation, it is difficult to find really valuable useful literature. The best option is a classic of the genre, authors who have confirmed the right to be teachers by the results of their work. All modern literature on oratory is somehow based on the classics, only reworked in a modern way. Therefore, you can start with recognized mastodons.

I.P. Kozlyaninova, I.Yu. Promptova. Scenic speech.

Publishing house GITIS. Theatrical art. Textbook, 511 pp., 202.

Electronic version (2010), free download.

Teachers of the Russian Academy of Theater Arts have written a textbook on speech technique for theatergoers.Starting with voice training, working with text, pronunciation, ending with semantic emotions when reproducing poetic works, the manual helps to understand not only the theory of theatrical sound, but practically master this technique. Each topic has exercises for self-study. The authors of the textbook will help you learn to speak clearly, expressively, hear the text, and work with the script.

IN AND. Annushkin. Speech technique.

Flint Publishing. Handbook for the course "Expressive reading", sixth edition, 2013.

245 rub.

One of the essential skills of an artist is stage speech, the ability to speak expressively, emotionally colored, clearly pronouncing the words. The author offers tongue twisters and other sound extraction exercises. There are also practices for setting the voice, proper breathing. It is useful to everyone who needs the skills of correct Russian speech - teachers, leaders, students of the philological faculty.

James Humes. Secrets of great speakers. Talk like Churchill, act like Lincoln.

Mann, Ivanov and Ferber Publishing. Genre: Psychology, 304 pages, 2013.

RUB 1,235

Electronic version (2012), free download.

To convince the director that you are the best candidate for a promotion, you need to be able to express your thoughts clearly, convincingly. A guide to business-style public speaking written by a speechwriter for five U.S. presidents. The book contains techniques for compiling the correct texts, strategies for their presentation. Learn to speak to the point - you can!

Arthur Schopenhauer. Eristics, or the art of winning arguments.

Eksmo Publishing. Series: Great Ideas, 128 pages, 2015.

120 rub.

The German philosopher, a lover of irrationality, proved that the winner in the dispute is not the one who is right, but the one who knows how to refute the irrefutable. Having mastered a dozen tricks, you can win an absolutely disastrous discussion, convince a person that black is white. Useful science for those who often have to negotiate, sell or acquire.

Dale Carnegie. Public speaking is the way to success.

Potpourri Publishing. Series: Psychology, 480 pages, 2008.

130 rub.

Carnegie's methods always work, the self-taught author created the institute of oratory with their help. The works of Carnegie in various areas of psychology and oratory are collected in one binding. It is useful for novice artists, businessmen, experienced professional negotiators.

• when a person speaks clearly and correctly, it is pleasant to talk;
• from the reviews: I learned a lot from Annushkin: I learned to set tasks quietly, clearly, without parasitic words, confidently - the efficiency in the team even grew;
• from the reviews: having studied the basics of speech technique, I was convinced that a word can really kill or make you happy.

• little literature is published on this topic, it should become accessible and popular.

Exclusively for businessmen

Of course, all manuals on oratory, psychotechnics of communication will come in handy for this category. There are specialized manuals for this category. They need the ability to communicate, convince, insist, and be creative for creativity of a different kind.

Patricia Madson. Improvisation lessons. How to stop planning and start living.

Mann, Ivanov and Ferber Publishing.Genre: Foreign psychology, 192 pages, 2014.

893 rub.

Audiobook (5 h. 02 m.), download on the Internet for 280 rubles.

The author is a Stanford professor and acting teacher. Her improv rules make it easy to get around life's obstacles, from parenting to boss fights. She calls to boldly take steps towards the new, not to be afraid of mistakes, to act, not to plan. Thirteen messages for a good start from the first rule - agree, to the thirteenth - live with pleasure, will help you take the first step and win.

Sergei Shipunov. Charismatic speaker.

Publisher: University of Rhetoric and Public Speaking, 288 pages, 2017.

651 rub.

Guide to the training course "Verbal Improvisation". Stage speech classes are held with humor, practical feedback will not keep you waiting. There are specific exercises for each problematic point of public introductions:

• removal of stage fright;
• eye contact with the public;
• work on timbre, intonation;
• meaningful pauses;
• fight against parasitic words;
• gestures, facial expressions.

With the help of techniques, you will learn how to hold a debate, make small talk, make toasts, tell stories in an interesting way. A bright, promising speaker - this can really be learned.

Jerry Weissman. Word masters. Secrets of public speaking.

Mann, Ivanov and Ferber Publishing. Series: Secrets of the Great, 288 pages, 2014.

744 - 1,327 rubles.

A professional teacher, an expert in oratory talks about preparing and conducting a presentation. The material is structured, presented competently, interesting, accessible.As role models - Mark Twain, Frank Sinatra, Woody Allen and other celebrities, a total of 75 practices.

Ilya Melnikov. Assessing the situation and adjusting to it.

Genre: Social psychology. Series: Acting in business, 23 pages, 2012.

Electronic version, download for 30 rubles.

Business is, according to the author, a play where any supporting actor can become the main character if he has talent. Find practical tips for managing emotions here. Smiling when it's hard at heart, being indifferent when you want to yell - is achieved through training.

• these trainings help save nerves for both parties in business;
• he created a good mood for himself, the situation in the team improved, but they should also read these books;
• tested Shipunov's ideas in practice - it worked, now I will persuade any customer.

• It is difficult to train individually, and there is no time to go to group trainings.

If you play a role, then only the main one

Life is a big stage on which scenery, partners, sounds appear and disappear. Over the years, everyone learns their roles by heart - work, family, cottage. The script repeats itself day after day. And so I want new sensations, impressions, personal growth. Here is the time to do acting practice, start improvising. To return home by a different route, to go to the park instead of watching a series, to buy flowers, to remember a school friend - to turn your usual schedule-script on its head, to be able to remain organic, positive in it.

And tomorrow everything will change again - that's what improvisation is in life.What for? Improvisation liberates our inner freedom. When a person improvises, the inner director begins to work. He, after checking the traditional roles, will expand the repertoire, offer new scenario plans. They will have to create other images, show other emotions. When a person improvises, he writes the script himself, does not what society requires, but what he likes.

Once you master the techniques of acting, you will stop playing supporting roles in other people's plays. Being the first violin and writing your own music is much more interesting!