Wikipedia
otheruses limitedgeographicscope An actor is a person who acting acts, or plays a role, in an artistic production. The term commonly refers to someone working in filmmovies, television, live Theatertheatre, or radio programmingradio, and can occasionally denote a street entertainer. Besides playing dramatic roles, actors may also sing or dance or work only on radio or as a voice artist. A female actor may be known as an actress, although some prefer the term "actor", using it as a gender-neutral term.An actor usually plays a fictional character. In the case of a true story (or a fictional story that portrays real people) an actor may play a real person (or a fictional version of the same). Occasionally, actors appear as themselves.
Etymology - "Actor" comes from Latin, from the noun ''actor'' from the Latin verbsLatin verb ''agere'' "to do, drive, pass time" + the affix ''-or'' "so./st. who performs the action indicated by the stem".
History - The first recorded case of an actor performing took place in 530s BC534 B.C. (probably on 23 November, though the changes in calendar over the years make it hard to determine exactly) when the GreeceGreek performer Thespis stepped on to the stage at the ''Theatre Dionysus'' and became the first person to speak words as a character in a play. The machinations of storytelling were immediately revolutionized. Prior to Thespis' act, stories were told in song and dance and in Perspective (storytelling)third person narrative, but no one had assumed the role of a character in a story. In reverence to Thespis, actors are formally referred to as ''thespians''. Theatrical myth to this day maintains that Thespis exists as a mischievous spirit, and disasters in the theatre are sometimes blamed on his ghostly intervention.However, this negative perception dramaticaly changed in 20th Century as acting became an honored and popular profession and art. Part of the reason is due to the rise of the popular appeal and access to dramatic film entertainment and the resulting rise of the movie star in social status and the large salaries they commanded. The combination of public presence and wealth had a profound rehabilitation to the image.In the past, only men could become actors. In the ancient and middle agesmedieval world, it was considered disgraceful for a woman to go on the stage, and this belief continued right up until the 17th century, when in Venice it was broken. In the time of William Shakespeare, women's roles were played by men or boys, though there is some evidence to suggest that women disguised as men also (illegally) performed.
Actresses in male roles - Women actors sometimes play the roles of prepubescent boys, because in some regards a woman has a closer resemblance to a boy than does a man. The role of Peter Pan, for example, is traditionally played by a woman. The tradition of the principal boy in pantomime may be compared. An adult playing a child occurs more in theater than in film. The exception to this is voice actors in animated films, where boys are generally voiced by women, as heard in "The Simpsons". Opera has several 'pants roles' traditionally sung by women, usually mezzo-sopranos. Examples are ''Hansel'' in Hansel und Gretel, and ''Cherubino'' in The Marriage of Figaro.Mary Pickford played the part of Little Lord Fauntleroy in the first film version of the book. Linda Hunt won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in ''The Year of Living Dangerously'', in which she played the part of a man. Having an actor play the opposite sex for comic effect is also a long standing tradition in comic theatre and film. Most of Shakespeare's comedies include instances of cross dressing, and both Dustin Hoffman and Robin Williams appeared in hit comedy films where they were required to play most scenes dressed as women. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon famously posed as women to escape gangsters in the Billy Wilder film ''Some Like It Hot''.
Techniques of acting - Actors employ a variety of techniques that are learned through training and experience. Some of these are:#The rigorous use of the voice to communicate a character's lines and express emotion. This is achieved through attention to diction and projection through correct breathing and articulation. It is also achieved through the tone and emphasis that an actor puts on words#Physicalisation of a role in order to create a believable character for the audience and to use the acting space appropriately and correctly#Use of gesture to complement the voice, interact with other actors and to bring emphasis to the words in a play, as well as having symbolic meaningShakespeare is believed to have been commenting on the acting style and techniques of his era when Hamlet gives his famous advice to the !players:Spea k? the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue: but if you mouth it, as many of your players do, I had as lief the town-crier spoke my lines. Nor do not saw the air too much with your hand, thus, but use all gently; for in the very torrent, tempest, and, as I may say, the whirlwind of passion, you must acquire and beget a temperance that may give it smoothness. O, it offends me to the soul to hear a robustious periwig-pated fellow tear a passion to tatters, to very rags, to split the ears of the groundlings, who for the most part are capable of nothing but inexplicable dumbshows and noise: I would have such a fellow whipped for o'erdoing Termagant; it out-herods Herod: pray you, avoid !it. Be? not too tame neither, but let your own discretion be your tutor: suit the action to the word, the word to the action; with this special observance: o'erstep not the modesty of nature: for any thing so overdone is from the purpose of playing, whose end, both at the first and now, was and is, to hold, as 'twere, the mirror up to nature; to show virtue her own feature, scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time his form and pressure. Now this overdone, or come tardy off, though it make the unskilful laugh, cannot but make the judicious grieve; the censure of the which one must in your allowance o'erweigh a whole theatre of others. O, there be players that I have seen play, and heard others praise, and that highly, not to speak it profanely, that, neither having the accent of Christians nor the gait of Christian, pagan, nor man, have so strutted and bellowed that I have thought some of nature's journeymen had made men and not made them well, they imitated humanity so !abominably. O,? reform it altogether. And let those that play your clowns speak no more than is set down for them; for there be of them that will themselves laugh, to set on some quantity of barren spectators to laugh too; though, in the mean time, some necessary question of the play be then to be considered: that's villanous, and shows a most pitiful ambition in the fool that uses it. Go, make you ready.
Acting awards - Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, for film Golden Globe Awards for film and television Emmy Awards for television Genie Awards for film Gemini Awards for television BAFTABritish Academy of Film and Television Arts Award for film and television Tony Awards for the theatre (specifically, Broadway theatre) European Theatre Awards for the theatre Laurence Olivier Awards for the theatre Screen Actors Guild Awards for film and television
See also - Movie star Stunt work :Category:Lists of actorsLists of actors Celebrities
Suggested reading - ''An Actor Prepares'' by Constantine Stanislavski (Theatre Arts Books, 0878309837, 1989) ''A Dream of Passion: The Development of the Method'' by Lee Strasberg (Plume Books, 0452261988, 1990) ''Sanford Meisner on Acting'' by Sanford Meisner (Vintage, 0394750594, 1987) ''Letters to a Young Actor'' by Robert Brustein (Basic Books, 0465008062, 2005).Category:Actors*Category:Entertainment !occupationsbg:Актьорca:A ctorcs:Herecda:Skuespillerde:S chauspieleres:Actoreo:Aktorofr :Acteurgl:Actorko:배우id:Akt orit:Attore? (spettacolo)he:שחקן !קולנועlt:Aktoriusms:Pela konnl:Acteurja:俳優no:Skuesp illernn:Skodespelarpl:Aktorpt: Atorru:Актёрsk:Herecsl:Fi lmski? !igralecsr:Глумацfi:Näyt telijäsv:Skådespelarezh:演 DEBUG REDIRECT (actor)
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Websites
www.italiansoundtracks.com
Site devoted mainly to Italian soundtrack music of the 50ies to 70ies
http://www.italiansoundtracks.com/
digital production studio for all kind of Audio Production
Any kind of broadcasting elements, jingles, commercials incl. conceptioning, custom made jingles & compositions, film music, audio books & features, website-sounds, private CD-production
http://www.toninton.eu/
OOFF.OURO
Art research collective from Sardinia. Their identity is strongly connected with the nomadism and the esploration af the territories.
http://www.ooffouro.org/
'Max and Mike On the Movies' Radio Program
Talk radio show about movies, including reviews of new releases in theaters and on DVD. Also includes the discussion old favorites, listener interaction, sound clips, and guests.
http://www.maxandmike.com/
Classic Movies
Classic Movies (1939-1969): Welcome to The Golden Years
http://www.thegoldenyears.org/
Magic Theater DiArchy
Magic Theater 'DiArchy' demonstrate various arts of illusion, magic, extremely dangerous and unbelievable tricks. Super show!!!
http://www.diarchy.lt/
Holdon Log
Software and Log Books for Performers
http://www.holdonlog.com/
PopcornMonsters.com - Movie Reviews and More!
Movie Database with movie reviews from members. Collect points by adding content to the site, and cash in the points to win great prizes!
http://PopcornMonsters.com
FilmSearch
We establish profitable ties between sophisticated investors and serious film producers. Filmsearch.net acts as the initial liaison between these parties, linking contacts with mutual needs, common interests...
http://www.filmsearch.net/
a rose is
group of performing artists and musicians
http://www.a-rose-is.org/
DARKSTARCINEMA
All about movies!
http://www.darkstarcinema.net/
Audio Smart Actors
Training, Tools, and Techniques for voice-over success with Harlan Hogan and Jeffrey P. Fisher
http://www.audiosmartactors.com/
AMP Talent Group
International talent agency that places talent, actors and commercial models in film, episodic television, legit theatre, voice, commercials and print modeling. Union association (ACTRA, Equity, SAG, AFTRA) & Non union talent. Specialize in youth talent. Talent seeking representation welcome to submit Audition/Demo reels & Portfolio for consideration.
http://www.amptalent.com/
Reelstreets - British Feature Film Locations
A site devoted to British film locations, and places where films were made in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, in the years 1920's to 1980's.
http://www.reelstreets.com/
mr. nicolai tegeler
homepage from the actor nicolai tegeler
http://www.nicolai-tegeler.de/
Screen Actors Guild
Includes information for beginning actors, a member directory, and the SAG awards.
http://www.sag.org/
Yahoo! Inc.
Provides intuitive, context-based guides to online content, Web search capabilities, third-party content and community and personalization features which enable Web users to locate and access desired information and services. (Nasdaq: YHOO).
http://www.yahoo.com/
Actors' Equity Association
Founded in 1913, Equity is the labor union representing actors and stage managers in the legitimate theatre in the United States. Equity negotiates minimum wages and working conditions, administers contracts, and enforces the provisions of its various agreements with theatrical employers. There are currently about 40,000 active Equity members. Equity is a branch of the Associated Actors and Artistes of America.
http://www.actorsequity.org/
Actors Theatre of Louisville
Distinguished as one of the few regional companies in the country which operates three diverse theatres under one roof.
http://www.actorstheatre.org/
The Actors' Fund
Help for people in the Entertainment industry when a personal or family crisis threatens their well-being.
http://www.actorsfund.org
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