Truth: Personas, Needs, and Flaws in The Art of Building Actors and Creating Characters

Susan Batson is a Genius! A new, refined approach that crystallizes thousands of years of our art and puts it into perfectly clear and solvent steps. Once you've done the work, THROW IT AWAY! Freedom of art and flight bound in blue.

Brilliant, generous, unique teachers have the potential to change a student's life. Rarely does a student (or even reader) have the sheer luck to come across a teacher who possesses it all: a "coach" with the unique ability to be sensitive to each individual's particular needs; a mind like a steel trap (with an expansive body of knowledge, references, and even more important, real-world experiences unmatched by her competitors; an almost altruistic sense of service and generosity to one's "students" (students in life and in acting); and of course, a no-nonsense backbone that kicks a novice in the pants when s/he needs it, but just as easily provides a hug (or money for dinner) when s/he needs that, instead. Nicole Kidman is exceptionally successful as an actor, so it's fitting that her words grace this book's Introduction. But anyone who has ever met Ms. Batson or had the great fortune of knowing/studying with her personally knows firsthand that the kind, flattering, almost hyperbolic description provided by Kidman is completely accurate. The heart, wisdom, humility, and power that define Ms. Batson, as well as what she provides to those lucky enough to learn/have learned from her in person, seems to be as meaningful to Oscar winners (Kidman, Juliette Binoche, etc.), as to the hundreds of anonymous actors and former actors to inhabit her classrooms. Buying/possessing this book is a good idea for anyone concerned with "truth," anyone with a penchant for the performing arts, or really, anyone interested in the important, sometimes painfully difficult art of introspection and living life more authentically. As a former acting student of Ms. Batson's (I'm a college literature professor now), I always listen for her name when one of her more famous "students" receives an award on television. Once, perhaps at the Oscars, Kidman referred to Ms. Batson as her "guru" and a "spiritual godmother." For those fortunate few of us who can also boast former classroom experience with Ms. Batson, we nod our head in agreement - she is just that. The lessons she offered me nearly ten years ago (lessons about acting, I suppose, but more so, about life, about growth) are still a part of my daily life, how I practice living. For that reason, anyone with an interest in learning more about "truth" would certainly benefit from buying this book.

My acting instructor recommended Susan's book and I have to say that it was worth its weight in gold. As a working actor, I've continually been on the search for practical techniques to help me build characters and breakdown scripts. Susan's book shows you exactly how to do that in a very clear, precise way. What I particularly liked was her use of the need-persona-tragic flaw paradigm that has helped me create characters quickly for cold reads. I almost don't want to give out this secret because I want to be selfish and keep it to myself, especially in this highly competitive industry, but I can't deny that this book is one of the best. I've already recommended it to several of my actor friends before even writing this review.

Loved this passionate, practical guide to dramatic acting, either for the stage or film acting. Ms. Batson writes in a clear, wonderful way that ably explains the dynamics behind generating a great performance through thorough understanding of character, self and the technical aspects of playwrighting.

Susan Batson's book 'Truth' is amazing! It is the best book on acting available today. Ms. Batson follows a long line of prodigious acting teachers, Lee Strasberg, Sanford Meisner, breaching today's world with an amazing grasp of the technique of acting and its history. Her mastery of the craft of acting is genius. She is the ONE modern teacher to follow if your dream is to work in the world today as an actor. This book is a revelation on the craft of acting and creating characters. Susan is a master teacher with a firm hold on the jugular of today's film world. Susan is behind some of modern cinema's most truthful performances. She is the creative force behind a power house acting studio, Black Nexxus, located in LA and New York. Buy it and change your life!