NOW ACT!

Insight, Advice, and Preparation Processes
from Actors, Coaches, and Casting Directors

PRE-ORDER

Introducing: Now Act!

Insight, Advice, and Preparation Processes
from Actors, Coaches, and Casting Directors

Note: this site is under construction while Now Act, Vol 1 is being published.

Why this Book

Like most creatives, actors tend to be lifelong learners who are constantly seeking new insights, tools and techniques. This collection is designed to inspire creativity, while expanding knowledge of the craft and the business today.

Now Act! offers an inclusive “many voices under one roof” approach, with contributions from working actors, along with coaches, teachers, casting directors and other industry pros.

Open to any page for insight and inspiration, tools and techniques, and career advice.

You won’t be alone: a working actor or industry expert will be by your side giving you the help and encouragement you need.

Much has changed for actors in recent years. There is more opportunity than ever, for a more diverse population than ever before.

Who is Now Act! For

Now Act! can be used by individuals and acting partners, acting coaches and private teachers, college classes and community education programs.

If you relate to any of this, Now Act! Insight, Advice, and Preparation Processes from Actors, Coaches, and Casting Directors is for you:

  • You’ve made up your mind you want to pursue acting but don’t know how to begin.
  • You have a passion for acting and want to gain insight and inspiration about both the craft and the business.
  • You’ve studied acting, but are afraid to audition and wish you could get advice from casting directors.
  • You need a more effective way to learn lines.
  • You’ve been auditioning but haven’t been cast yet – you don’t know what to do differently.
  • “It’s who you know,” but you live far from Hollywood and New York and want to make entertainment industry connections.
  • You’re an acting teacher or coach who wants to learn new techniques you can share with students or clients.
  • You’re a director who wants to learn more about actors and acting.
  • You’re a screenwriter who wants to learn more about actors and acting.

What's in the Book

Now Act! is a compilation of personal essays about the craft and business of acting. Topics include:

Getting Started & Getting Out of Your Box

Understanding a Script

Learning Lines

Creating a Character

Performance Tools & Techniques

Auditioning

Stage vs. Screen

Taking Direction

Creative Collaboration

Healthy Self-Care

Contributors candidly share their own experiences and preparation processes. They offer solutions to the challenges of racism in the entertainment industry, acting with a disability, misconduct on set, maintaining healthy self-care, and more that we need to continue discussing in modern times. 

“Acting is not about being famous; it’s about exploring the human soul.”
- Annette Bening

Who's In the Book

Over sixty Contributors, including:

Malcolm McDowell (CLOCKWORK ORANGE, TIME AFTER TIME)
Jayce Bartok (SPIDERMAN, When They See Us)
Crystal Carson (General Hospital, Jag; acting coach to the stars)
Jack O’Halloran (FAREWELL MY LOVELY, SUPERMAN I & II)
Mark Pellegrino (Supernatural, American Rust, THE BIG LEBOWSKI)
Stanzi Potenza (actress, stand-up comic, Tik-Tok sensation)
Holly Powell (Emmy-winning casting director, former CBS Director of Casting)
Kimmy Robertson (Twin Peaks, HONEY I SHRUNK THE KIDS)
Sarah Rush (BATTLESTAR GALACTICA)

Contributors

 under construction

Header image from the short film Eternal Waltz.

Small photos by IG: @jennasoard or Laurie Lamson