The Intent to Live

December 15, 2004
Actors have never lacked for instructional books, and these latest additions to the field by teachers Moss (Hollywood and New York City) and Pineo (Austin, TX) illustrate the variety of choices available. Moss brings his 30-year career and national reputation--he taught Oscar winners Helen Hunt and Hilary Swank--to what he calls a distillation of important techniques for beginning through advanced actors. Nearly every chapter features exercises supported by examples from both stage and film, including intensely personal recollections from Moss's own career and life; these exercises share space with advice for acting and living. Moss's tone is reassuring throughout, and he never treats his audience as less than serious about the craft of acting.In contrast, Pineo offers a more nuts-and-bolts approach. Whereas Moss begins by claiming that acting saved his life, Pineo opens by thoroughly demythologizing the profession. His techniques are more detailed than Moss's and presented with less surrounding material. Proceeding from text analysis and presentation to auditioning and cold reading, he offers invaluable instruction, especially to the beginning actor. Particularly helpful are a succinct summary of his techniques and a sample monolog and scene marked for emphases and pauses. Both authors are refreshingly candid about what their advice and techniques can contribute to an actor's success. If Moss seems to be aiming at a more sophisticated audience, this is certainly no criticism of Pineo. The two books complement each other rather nicely, and, considering their affordability, should both be essential purchases for academic libraries supporting acting programs and public libraries located near active theater communities.--M.C. Duhig, Carnegie Lib. of Pittsburgh

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.