These teach how to be ‘in the moment’;
to gain access to the inexhaustible storehouse of the imagination;
to access, integrate and properly use the emotions of the character;
to overcome difficulties with learning lines;
to recreate performance without conscious thought.

“An idiosyncratic, challenging and practical guide to the craft of acting, crammed with anecdotes and humorous insights”
Richard E. Grant Actor/director/writer (Withnail and I, The Player, Wah-Wah and many others)

“A truly inspirational teacher”
Julie Hesmondhalgh Actor (Hayley, Coronation Street)

“A unique figure in British theatre. Provocative, controversial, doggedly inspiring. He has been the pivotal teacher, enabler and mentor for me and countless others.
Rufus Norris Director (Festen, Cabaret, Market Boy, Tintin, Vernon God Little, Blood Wedding)

“I cannot recommend it highly enough”
Stephen Moyer Actor (True Blood, NY-LON, Prince Valiant, the RSC)

“A conversational (almost chatty) love story, a tale of a theatre company’s struggle against Apartheid, an irreverent look at life”
Alexander Siddig Actor/director (Deep Space Nine, Syriana, Un Homme Perdu, 24, Primeval, Hannibal)

“Brian Astbury was, without a doubt, the biggest influence on me. His teachings are still what I go to in trouble”
Jason Flemyng Actor (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, The Quatermass Experiment, Drum, the RSC)

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Master your facial expressions…

… complete your on-camera training…

…. change your life.

Contrary to popular belief, the camera doesn’t magically place emotion or thought on your face – YOU do.

Here’s the thing about facial communication… your face speaks an emotional, cognitive and emblematic language. Knowing how to speak this language fluently and authentically is a skill and often the difference between booking the on-camera job or not.

Is this you?

• Are you often told your facial expressions are too big, too small, too messy?
• Does your face frequently fail to represent what you’re really feeling inside?
• Do your headshots fail to capture who you really are?
• Is your face uncontrollable – Can’t stop it from moving? Can’t get it to move?
• Are you unable to figure out how to get what you feel and think on your face the way you intend?

Mastering how your face speaks to the camera starts here.

Acting: Face-to-Face, the Actor’s Guide to Understanding How Your Face Communicates Emotion for TV & Film is the first book in a two-book series about speaking what I call, “The Language of the Face.”

Our journey begins with-

• Why only a small percentage of on-camera actors get the majority of the work
• What those actors do differently than the rest
• Why acting is an art of deception and why deception is the key to truthful acting
• Why your facial messages may not be expressed the way we intend.

Then we’ll take a deep dive into-

• The science of emotions –
• The 3 ways emotions are facially expressed
• How to identify your personal emotion creating and revealing strengths and weaknesses
• The 4 steps to achieving “Emotional Alignment”- The balance between what you feel and what your face reveals.

What’s new in the expanded 2nd edition?

• Updated “Myths and Misconceptions.” chapter.
• What we’ve learned from mask-wearing.
• Deeper dive into EYE COMMUNICATION – what the eyes can and can’t say.
• 35 new photos to illustrate specificity and subtlety of emotional expression.

Also added are 3 brand NEW chapters including a mini version of the proprietary Emotion Screen Test (EST).

The EST is a guided in-depth self-evaluation of your own facial expressions. Its main purpose is to help you clearly evaluate your emotion creating and revealing strengths and weaknesses.

Are ready to finally complete your on-camera training?

I’m pretty certain you’ll love this comprehensive book on facial communication because it’s easy to follow and the information you’ll take away may not only game-changing, it may very well be life-changing.

Let the journey begin…

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This book outlines Ewan’s practical process, which allows the actor to understand their own movement and that of others by exploring one key part of Laban’s work: the ‘Efforts of Action Drive’.

This complete, stage-by-stage, working process has been developed through more than thirty years of work with actors in the studio. Clear instructions for practical exercises are woven throughout the book, as well as exciting ways to apply the work in rehearsal, performance and on set. This allows the actor to learn and apply Laban’s Efforts for themselves. Full video and audio resources allow the reader to experience the practical work in action.

‘Vanessa Ewan’s work with Laban and the Efforts, as you will find in this inspired book, provides performers with an incredibly fertile foundation from which to create. She has found an astoundingly practical way of applying Laban’s work to the quest of being a fully embodied actor. You will find tools in this book that will open door after door to your own creativity and awaken you to the endless possibility of what you can create on stage and on screen.’ Andrew Garfield, actor

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