Actor for Life: How to Have an Amazing Career Without All the Drama

by Connie de Veer, Jan Elfline

Actor for Life: How to have an amazing career without all the drama is the map actors and acting teachers are searching for. Its upbeat tone and easily readable format belie the profound power of its content. The fun, expertly crafted exercises use the latest methods from the science of learning. They show readers how to break negative patterns of thought and behavior and reprogram the neural pathways of their brains. The result is lasting positive change.

With contributions from: Duane Boutte (Brother to Brother), Gary Cole (The Good Wife), Suzzanne Douglas (The Parent Hood), Emmy award-winner Sean Hayes (Will & Grace), Judith Ivey (Devil’s Advocate), Paul Kampf (Paul Kampf Studios), Julia Murney (Wicked), and Emmy award-winner Jeff Perry (Scandal)

This the only acting book I've ever known to address practical ways of dealing with the emotional challenges of being an artist.

Genres: Nonfiction

184 pages, Paperback

Published September 30, 2018

About the author

Connie de Veer, M.F.A., is a Professor of Acting and Voice at Illinois State University, where she regularly directs and serves as the voice, text, and dialect coach for School of Theatre and Dance productions.
Connie is the co-author of the book Actor for Life: How to Have an Amazing Career Without All the Drama (Smith & Kraus Publishers, 2018). She is certified as a teacher of the Alexander Technique, and as a Professional Co-Active Coach. She is the recipient of a Robert R. McCormick Foundation award to integrate civic engagement into theatre and theatre training, and a Coleman Foundation Faculty Entrepreneurship Fellowship. She has been a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association for over thirty years. Her mission is to empower others to share their voices with the world. Visit www.conniedeveer.com.

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A uniquely helpful acting guide with tips for staying revitalized and connected to all areas of life, not just craft. So many actors burn out early, and this book addresses how to make lifestyle choices that nurture creativity and career longevity. With helpful interviews interspersed throughout the book with leading names in Hollywood and Broadway, actors just starting out, or decades into their careers, can find something to love about Actor for Life!

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've ever been interested in an acting career, this book is a great resource for learning how to break in to the industry and stay there!

[Csimplot Simplot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent cook!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! This book is so refreshing. Connie does a great job of giving advice in a way that's accessible and, most importantly, encouraging. There's so much negativity in the acting field that it's wonderful to have the tools from Actor for Life to stand strong and continue acting!

[Books Forward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Instead of providing lessons on acting technique or know-how on the business of “the biz,” Actor for Life spreads the positive philosophy that how we think is a powerful engine that either supports or undermines an actor’s success. Emphasizing the need to nourish the mental and emotional needs of actors, de Veer and Elfline teach readers how to develop resilience, motivation, and courage.

[Maxwell Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A refreshing perspective for anyone pursuing acting on any level. An acting guide that comes with a map to navigating the acting world's litany of emotional hurdles!

[Marissa DeCuir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Working actors, acting teachers, students of acting, workshop leaders, and even non-actors can appreciate the clear tutelage and practical advice of this book. “All the world’s a stage,” after all.