The Actor's Guide to Creating a Character: William Esper Teaches the Meisner Technique

One of the finest acting books I’ve ever read. It’s a necessary read! And it’s the second book from Dimarco & Esper.

William Esper and Damon DiMarco have done it again! After reading the collaboration's first book (The Actor's Art and Craft) on the first year of Esper's acting training program (primarily developed out of Esper's training with the renowned teacher Sanford Meisner as well as his own experiences) I was eager to read the sequel. I was very excited to read this book about the second year of Esper's training which addresses a Meisner approach to character acting. The book touches on period and style, acting for the camera, physical impediments, pain, and more! If you enjoyed The Actor's Art and Craft this book is a nessecary follow-up. If you haven't read The Actor's Art and Craft stop reading this review, navigate over to that page, order yourself a copy, and get to reading it asap! This book has really expanded and clarified my understanding of the Meisner technique and challenged me in my thinking about acting as a whole. As an actor, these two books are two of the best acting books I've ever read! To actors interested in creating truthful behavior, living in the moment, making real contact with the other actors in the scene, and succeding in roles with challenging characteristics: READ THIS BOOK! To anyone interested in acting or acting training: READ THIS BOOK! To anyone who's read this review to the end: READ THIS BOOK!

In Meisner, it’s you plus a point of view. Esper’s first book (and Meisner’s own book on acting) was about building you as an actor and artist (first year). This book is about building the character’s point of view and adding it to you (second year). No other book touches upon second year work of Meisner. William Esper was a wonderful teacher in his own right and had his own innovations to the Meisner technique.

Having taken the training that this book describes, I can attest to the accuracy of what the authors have provided here. A great companion to the first book, "The Actor's Art and Craft: William Esper Teaches the Meisner Technique" If you've gotten far enough to seek this book out, don't cheat yourself by not owning a copy, so many things to remember lie within its pages.

Thanks for writing the follow up to the first book The Actors Art and Craft! I have both Meisner technique books by William Esper and Damon DiMarco, excellent resource and a huge fan of their writings. If considering Meisner technique, I recommend both books. Also, ‘Rest In Peace’ Mr. Esper, you will be sorely missed. My condolences to friends and family to Mr. Esper. He is indeed a legend.

I love this book and the one written before it. It explains the techniques clearly and offers so many helpful tips to create a character that would come out of you originally.

By writing a book about the second year, Esper is sharing the real magic of the Meisner technique. (Do make sure to read the first book that covers year one.) While it naturally cannot stand in for training, it would certainly help prepare someone for an acting workshop. I love the format of the book as different class sessions that build off each other and provoke a real look at emotion and the reality of doing.I've been shopping around for the right acting philosophy around Method Acting and have learned so much along the way! From the Moscow Art Theatre and Stanislavsky in the 1900s, NYC theater groups of Boleslavsky (Acting: The First Six Lessons), to Lee Strasberg and Sanford Meisner... we get to Master Teacher William Esper, thought to be Meisner's "most authentic protege".Meisner believed that acting was "living truthfully under imaginary circumstances" or being as natural as possible. To bring this philosophy into practice, a lot of his exercises emphasize listening to the present and reacting with current rather than past emotions. The Buddhist in me really connects with this!

It’s all about the pursuit of the truth. That’s what acting is and this book explains how Bill Esper’s students achieved it with character work that includes different styles and time periods. The concluding chapter is a sobering one for those wanting to act for a living. All and all, a great read for those wanting to refresh what they have learned in their respected Meisner class. Loved it.