Percy Lifar', a Play in Two Acts, 1986, as represented by Curtis Brown Ltd., London and performed by The Hot Toddy Theatre Company (Mark Normandy, Director), The Photographers' Gallery, London, 198

A comprehensive training course in screen acting by an internationally renowned teacher and acting coach who has worked with actors of all backgrounds and experience - from drama school students at the start of their careers to Hollywood stars, including Daniel Craig, Angelina Jolie and Keira Knightley. Mel Churcher has developed a series of five workshops which take actors step by step through the process of creating, developing and delivering assured performances on screen. Accompanied by ninety minutes of online film clips, showing all of the work in action, this book builds on these workshops and lets you progress through them at your own pace: Workshop 1: Keeping the Life encourages you to find what is unique about yourself and how you can preserve this vitality when acting on screen Workshop 2: Inhabiting the Role focuses on the emotional and psychological steps required in preparing your performance Workshop 3: The Physical Life introduces a series of practical exercises to develop the physicality and imagination of the actor Workshop 4: Through the Eye of the Camera explains the technical skills you must master to act in front of a lens Workshop 5: Off to Work We Go covers how to prepare for auditions and then how to handle specific challenges when you get the job Each exercise, technique and tip is vividly illustrated in online film clips taken from the author's actual workshops. The result is a vital masterclass in every aspect of acting on screen. Foreword by Jeremy Irons. 'When the whole business seems to have gone loopy, dip into Mel Churcher's book; somehow she always makes sense' Bob Hoskins

Breath in Action looks at the significance of breath to human life - not just the simple fact that if we stop breathing, we die, but also the more subtle ways in which our breath interacts with our voice and our being. Written by experts in vocal and holistic practice, the book is divided into four sections: Breath and the Body; Breath and the Mind; Breath and Holistic Practice; Breath and Performance. It offers the latest theories from a variety of disciplines on how we can be taught to breathe better so as to communicate better, act or sing better, feel better, live better. Combining theory with practice, many of the chapters also offer clearly laid out breathing exercises and techniques. Interdisciplinary in its focus, Breath in Action adds to specialist knowledge in the performance field, whilst also offering enlightening information for those interested in therapeutic and healing processes, movement, and voice and speech sciences.

Why do some actors compel our attention on the screen while others never catch our imaginations? What makes film acting different from acting on stage or TV? This book is a guide designed for actors already working in film, for those who want to, as well as for directors, teachers and anyone interested in film acting.;The majority of young actors have ambitions to succeed in the motion picture industry. But how do you do it?;The author uses her wide experience as an acting and voice coach on major movies to offer insights into the film acting process. She provides tasks, techniques and tips that are designed specifically for film - there's advice to make the first-time film actor feel at home on set, tips on the casting process, how to cope with auditions, on-camera techniques, schedules and shooting order, as well as specific advice from film crews to help an actor's performance. This practical workbook combines exercises and anecdotes in an informal and accessible style, making it a useful guide for anyone wishing to light up the silver screen.