Description
Advanced Consciousness Training for Actors: Meditation Techniques for the Performing Artist explores theories and techniques for deepening the individual actor’s capacity to concentrate and focus attention. Going well beyond the common exercises found in actor training programs, these practices utilize consciousness expanding "technologies" derived from both Eastern and Western traditions of meditation and mindfulness training as well as more recent discoveries from the fields of psychology and neuroscience. This book reviews the scientific literature of consciousness studies and mindfulness research to discover techniques for focusing attention, expanding self-awareness, and increasing levels of mental concentration; all foundational skills of the performing artist in any medium.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Chapter 1: A Brief History of Consciousness and Actor Training in the West
Chapter 2: The Actor’s Instrument
Chapter 3: Consciousness Explorers—Postmodern Practitioners on the Leading Edge
Chapter 4: Why do Actors Need Advanced Consciousness Training or A.C.T.?
Chapter 5: The Distracted Actor—Techno-cultural Proliferation of Mobile-digital Technology
Chapter 6: What Does Meditation Actually Do?
Chapter 7: Guided Consciousness Exercises
Chapter 8: Mantra, Movement, Chanting
Chapter 9: Core Practice—Focused Awareness and Open Monitoring Exercises
Chapter 10: Conscious Considerations
Chapter 11: A.C.T Program Design and the Enlightened Actor
