The Real Life Actor: A comprehensive discussion about the best approach to acting, working professionally, flying a plane, and being a champion.

by Jeff Seymour

There is a sense that permeates most acting classes which promotes the idea that acting is hard and you need to do a bunch of traditional steps if you’re ever going to get anywhere. The flame of this concept is kept lit for two reasons. One is tradition. Successful actors and teachers in our theatrical history supposedly believed in or espoused such ideas and two; it is easier for teachers and actors to follow a path that is well worn. Actors feel intimidated to challenge the ideas and teachings of past masters. But isn’t that exactly how every field of endeavor evolves? Think of where we’d be in science or medicine or sports if no one questioned past methods or tried to discover new ones.



This book will show you an approach that is direct and to the point, an approach that will be far easier to remember and utilize. We’ll use real life. We call it acting only because people are watching.



"If you're an actor, this book will restore your sanity." Steven Pressfield, Author: The War of Art, Turning Pro, The Legend of Bagger Vance

Genres: Nonfiction, Theatre

196 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 2, 2014

About the author

Jeff Seymour is an American-Canadian actor, best known for his roles in Canadian television series such as Jeff Ltd., The Eleventh Hour, Show Me Yours and Being Erica. He began his career in the entertainment industry in 1979. He was seen shows such as Knots Landing, Hill Street Blues and Bosom Buddies. He began teaching acting in 1980. Early on, while working in television as an actor, he designed and built The Gnu Theatre which went on to become one of LA’s most awarded and respected theaters. Jeff directed and produced all the shows there. He later moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, where he made guest appearances in numerous Canadian-produced series such as First Wave, Level 9, Da Vinci's Inquest, The Immortal, Smallville, Witchblade, Mutant X and Sue Thomas F.B.Eye. He spent a total of 11 years in Canada working in the film and television industry and starred in three different T.V. series, Bury The Lead, Show Me Yours and Jeff Ltd., which he co-created and co-wrote. Jeff was also one of the directors and executive producers. He won the "Gemini Award" (the Canadian Emmy) for Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role as Kamal Azizi in Bury The Lead. Jeff was nominated a total of three times for that role and once for Best Comedy Series as Executive Producer for Jeff Ltd.. Jeff has been an acting coach for 34 years. He has traveled the country as well as in Canada and Australia teaching his highly successful Acting and the Business seminars. Jeff recently finished a new book on acting, The Real Life Actor.

Reviews

[Kate Lingoni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devoured this book! So much "Yes! Yessss!" - I highly recommend it. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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"If you want to behave like a human, you need to think like one. If you think like an actor, you're going to behave like an actor." One of his key points is that when we overanalyze scenes and break everything down into calculated moments (thinking like an actor), we kill spontaneity and squash our human, instinctual responses - which is what really brings life to the roles we play. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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He suggests that we focus on obtaining the minimal amount of information that a real person would have in a given moment by asking 9 questions, which, when combined with the factual info of the scene and clear intentions, will give us a focused path with room for spontaneity. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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A selection of what resonated with me:
+ The info an actor fills their head with should be as close as possible to what a real person would have in their head. There is an ease to real life that is missed because actors work far too hard at trying to be convincing.
+ It takes far less energy to suspend disbelief that it does to believe; don't try to convince yourself that something is true, just accept that it is true and move on.
+ Always use yourself; never be preoccupied with creating characters. Your essence & point of view is what you are bringing to the table. Your lines and situation will dictate character, and your characterization will take care of itself.
+ Choose to authentically care about what you need to care about in the scene; stop with the meticulous preplanning of how you will fool the audience into believing you care. If you can allow the conflict in a given scene to be more important to resolve than your need to be convincing, you will never need to worry about being convincing. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

[Branden]

Probably the #1 out of all acting books I have read. It doesn't make me intellectualize so much. It's very simple. I have read The Intent to Live, You Can Act, The Art of Acting, A Challenge for the Actor, The sanford Meisner Approach Series, The Acting Bible, The Power of the Actor. This is my favorite one

[Kym Bidstrup · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the Show to the Business, this book delivers

I'll be brief.
This is the best book on acting -- and just as importantly, working aa an actor -- that I have ever read.
Inspirational, de-mystifying, intensely practical, grounded, life & art-affirming.
And so much more.
Buy it. Read it.
Thank you so much, Jeff.

[David B · Rating 5 out of 5]

best acting book I’ve ever read

I’ve read a lot of them. Studied with many teachers. 2 decades as a working actor. This book will be the 1st book I give to anyone who is starting out. This is all signal. No noise. Thank you Jeff! - David Walton

[Franco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sobering and refreshing.

I am going to make it a point to go through this book at least twice a year for as long as I am involved in pursuing acting. So insightful and grounding.

[Nicole Fairbairn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read for all young actors and a wonderful refresher for seasoned pros. Jeff simplifies the process and teaches you to approach your career as a warrior.