BACK TO
THE BODY
Infusing Physical Life into
Characters in Theatre and Film
Jack Black, actor
"Now THIS is an amazingly
comprehensive roadmap
to
creating a character."
A groundbreaking, must-have book for
theatre and film students and professionals
that outlines the acting techniques and tools
used by award- winning actors Margot Robbie,
Ke Huy Quan, Juliette Binoche, and many more.
Develop a fully realized character.
Use the power of your entire being.
Create unforgettable performances.
A step-by-step guide to systematically integrate your entire self into one seamless performance.
Whether you are an actor, musician, or public speaker, BACK TO THE BODY will help you effectively communicate and perform with an enhanced level of awareness and depth.
BACK TO THE BODY is your step-by-step guide to systematically integrate your entire self into one seamless performance.
If you’ve already read the book, then you’ve learned about Constructive Rest. This exploration is one of Alexander’s fundamental, simple procedures to connect with yourself, rid yourself of unnecessary tensions, and organize yourself. Here is the audio Jean-Louis references in the book on page 7:
Media
The Authors
Jean-Louis Rodrigue
Jean-Louis Rodrigue is an internationally recognized acting coach, movement director, and specialist in the application of the Alexander Technique to film, theater, and television. For more than four decades, Jean-Louis has taught at the UCLA School of Theater, Film & Television, and the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. He has coached countless actors, including Christian Bale, Juliette Binoche, Matt Bomer, Helena Bonham Carter, Josh Brolin, Leonardo DiCaprio, Zoey Deutch, lan McKellen, Ke Huy Quan, Keanu Reeves, Margot Robbie, and more.
Scott Weintraub
Scott Weintraub is an actor, director, and educator. For nearly 40 years, Scott has taught and directed theatre at Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences in Santa Monica. Former students include Maude Apatow, Jack Black, Emily and Zooey Deschanel, Maya Erskine, Simon Helberg, Jason Ritter, and Maya Rudolph. He has appeared on Curb Your Enthusiasm and Deadwood, among others. Scott has directed over 40 productions, including the west coast premiere of This is Our Youth and the World Premiere of Freak the Mighty.
Jean-Louis was honored to be on the Jury for Short Films & Animation for the 47th Denver Film Festival. 🎥 He also led a conversation exploring the skills and tools required for the extraordinary creation of characters and performances geared explicitly for the camera: "Creative Conversation: Embodying the Character in Film."
@thedenverfilm
#denverfilmfestival #filmfestival #denverfilm #jeanlouisrodrigue #actingcoach #film #colorado #festivals #films #acting #cinema #movies #filmmaker #movie #filmlife #indiefilm #filmmaking #filmmakers #actor #filmmakerslife #cinephile #filmcommunity #indiefilmmaking #filmmakinglife
Jean-Louis was honored to be on the Jury for Short Films & Animation for the 47th Denver Film Festival. 🎥 He also led a conversation exploring the skills and tools required for the extraordinary creation of characters and performances geared explicitly for the camera: "Creative Conversation: Embodying the Character in Film."
@thedenverfilm
#denverfilmfestival #filmfestival #denverfilm #jeanlouisrodrigue #actingcoach #film #colorado #festivals #films #acting #cinema #movies #filmmaker #movie #filmlife #indiefilm #filmmaking #filmmakers #actor #filmmakerslife #cinephile #filmcommunity #indiefilmmaking #filmmakinglife
Last month Jean-Louis attended a preview performance of Thornton Wilder’s @ourtownbroadway to see his student @zoeydeutch play Emily Webb opposite @therealjimparsons as The Stage Manager.
Zoey worked with Jean-Louis to prepare for her Broadway debut. As part of her warmup, she learned to connect with and involve her whole body in being at the Barrymore Theatre while "gazing at the horizon." Because she has not worked in a large house prior, warming up her body and voice has been fundamental for her beautiful performances. 💫
Jean-Louis` thoughts after the show:
"Zoey`s incandescent Emily tells the truth directly to the audience with simplicity and with an open heart. Her performance was exceptional and founded in Zoey’s constant search for the truth in all her work. She allowed her sharp intelligence, curiosity, and quirkiness to integrate into her interpretation of Emily Webb. It is always a joy to work with her."
Go and experience OUR TOWN on Broadway at the Barrymore Theater until Jan. 19, 2025. 🎫
(Photo: Zoey & Jean-Louis on the stage at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on the set of OUR TOWN (The Cemetery up the hill in Grover`s Corners)
#ourtownbroadway #ourtown #zoeydeutch #newyork #actingcoach #actingtraining #actingprep #actorslife #stage #theater #nytheater #nytheatre #acting #actor #actress #alexandertechworks #alexandertechnique
Last month Jean-Louis attended a preview performance of Thornton Wilder’s @ourtownbroadway to see his student @zoeydeutch play Emily Webb opposite @therealjimparsons as The Stage Manager.
Zoey worked with Jean-Louis to prepare for her Broadway debut. As part of her warmup, she learned to connect with and involve her whole body in being at the Barrymore Theatre while "gazing at the horizon." Because she has not worked in a large house prior, warming up her body and voice has been fundamental for her beautiful performances. 💫
Jean-Louis` thoughts after the show:
"Zoey`s incandescent Emily tells the truth directly to the audience with simplicity and with an open heart. Her performance was exceptional and founded in Zoey’s constant search for the truth in all her work. She allowed her sharp intelligence, curiosity, and quirkiness to integrate into her interpretation of Emily Webb. It is always a joy to work with her."
Go and experience OUR TOWN on Broadway at the Barrymore Theater until Jan. 19, 2025. 🎫
(Photo: Zoey & Jean-Louis on the stage at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on the set of OUR TOWN (The Cemetery up the hill in Grover`s Corners)
#ourtownbroadway #ourtown #zoeydeutch #newyork #actingcoach #actingtraining #actingprep #actorslife #stage #theater #nytheater #nytheatre #acting #actor #actress #alexandertechworks #alexandertechnique
Learn to use your Breath Efficiently in Everyday Life and Voice Production.
www.alexandertechworks.com/schedule-overview/. #acting #singing #publicspeaking #breathwork #breathe #voiceover #losangeles
Learn to use your Breath Efficiently in Everyday Life and Voice Production.
www.alexandertechworks.com/schedule-overview/. #acting #singing #publicspeaking #breathwork #breathe #voiceover #losangeles
Jean-Louis is having a wonderful time as part of the Jury at @thedenverfilm Festival. Pictured here with friend & Film Director @lynnhamrick1248. ♥️♥️
Jean-Louis is having a wonderful time as part of the Jury at @thedenverfilm Festival. Pictured here with friend & Film Director @lynnhamrick1248. ♥️♥️
In New York and ready for our 3-day workshop that begins tomorrow: Embodying the Character with Animal Studies & Images. 🐯 🐵 🐶 🐿️ Looking forward to seeing you all!
#alexandertechworks #actingworkshop #nyactor #nyactors #nyacting #nyactingclass #jeanlouisrodrigue #kristofkonrad #newyork #animalstudies #alexandertechnique #actinglife #actingclass
In New York and ready for our 3-day workshop that begins tomorrow: Embodying the Character with Animal Studies & Images. 🐯 🐵 🐶 🐿️ Looking forward to seeing you all!
#alexandertechworks #actingworkshop #nyactor #nyactors #nyacting #nyactingclass #jeanlouisrodrigue #kristofkonrad #newyork #animalstudies #alexandertechnique #actinglife #actingclass
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you, Lynn, for sharing your thoughts on the book! 🙏🏼
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#backtothebody #backtothebodybook #acting #actingbook #performance #performers #body #movement #movementexpert #jeanlouisrodrigue #alexandertechworks #actingbooks #bestactingbook #actingtraining #actingtools #instabook #read #reader #books #booklover #bookstagram #reading #bookworm #bookish #bookaddict #booklove #bookstagrammer #booklovers #instabooks #booksbooksbooks
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you, Lynn, for sharing your thoughts on the book! 🙏🏼
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#backtothebody #backtothebodybook #acting #actingbook #performance #performers #body #movement #movementexpert #jeanlouisrodrigue #alexandertechworks #actingbooks #bestactingbook #actingtraining #actingtools #instabook #read #reader #books #booklover #bookstagram #reading #bookworm #bookish #bookaddict #booklove #bookstagrammer #booklovers #instabooks #booksbooksbooks
"Every gesture has enormous implications in telling a story and creating a character. Acting is visceral. It`s literally in your organs. It`s primitive and raw. The key to authenticity is for the actor to commit to the character as if their life depended on it."
(Jean-Louis Rodrigue)
#actingcoach #jeanlouisrodrigue #quotes #actingquotes #craft #movement #authenticity #character #acting #theatre #actress #actor #musicaltheatre #actors #actorslife #performingarts #quotesforactors
"Every gesture has enormous implications in telling a story and creating a character. Acting is visceral. It`s literally in your organs. It`s primitive and raw. The key to authenticity is for the actor to commit to the character as if their life depended on it."
(Jean-Louis Rodrigue)
#actingcoach #jeanlouisrodrigue #quotes #actingquotes #craft #movement #authenticity #character #acting #theatre #actress #actor #musicaltheatre #actors #actorslife #performingarts #quotesforactors
Yes, you`re going to experience transformation in our workshops -- and yes, you`re going to have fun. 😉
📣 3-DAY INTENSIVE WORKSHOP 📣
Embodying the Character using Animal Studies & Images
October 18-20, 2024
10:00am - 6:00pm
@ripleygrierstudios in NY
This 3-day intensive with Jean-Louis Rodrigue & Kristof Konrad is an advanced workshop specifically designed to teach actors how to transform into and embody a character.
The study of animals enables actors to:
✔️ act and react in new ways
✔️ enrich and expand their own physical and emotional world
✔️ discover new, surprising ways of moving and acting
✔️ transform into and embody the character
Click the link in bio to register now. 🔗
#alexandertechworks #embodyingthecharacter #characterworkshop #animalworkshop #animalstudies #weekendworkshop #actingworkshop #newyork #actingclass #jeanlouisrodrigue #kristofkonrad #voice #acting #voicework #bodywork #body #movement #movementcoach #actingcoach #actortraining #alexandertechnique #nyworkshop #newyorkworkshop
Yes, you`re going to experience transformation in our workshops -- and yes, you`re going to have fun. 😉
📣 3-DAY INTENSIVE WORKSHOP 📣
Embodying the Character using Animal Studies & Images
October 18-20, 2024
10:00am - 6:00pm
@ripleygrierstudios in NY
This 3-day intensive with Jean-Louis Rodrigue & Kristof Konrad is an advanced workshop specifically designed to teach actors how to transform into and embody a character.
The study of animals enables actors to:
✔️ act and react in new ways
✔️ enrich and expand their own physical and emotional world
✔️ discover new, surprising ways of moving and acting
✔️ transform into and embody the character
Click the link in bio to register now. 🔗
#alexandertechworks #embodyingthecharacter #characterworkshop #animalworkshop #animalstudies #weekendworkshop #actingworkshop #newyork #actingclass #jeanlouisrodrigue #kristofkonrad #voice #acting #voicework #bodywork #body #movement #movementcoach #actingcoach #actortraining #alexandertechnique #nyworkshop #newyorkworkshop
Praise for Back to the Body
“Jean-Louis and Scott continue to bring the focus back to the body, breath, and kinesthetic expression. Their perspective brings to life explorations of the actorʼs use of body, space, environment, costumes, props, and, most importantly, imagination. Every actor, artist, and personwith an interest in creativity should own a copy of this exciting new book.”
“Jean-Louis Rodrique was instrumental in helping me bring to life three distinctly different ‘Waymond’s’ in ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once.’ His book will serve as an excellent resource for all actors.”
“Back to the Body contains excellent advice on character research and invaluable suggestions for going deep and specific through physicality . . . I’ve worked with many outstanding actors who start by making these same kinds of choices, but I’ve never seen the process laid out so clearly, so helpfully, and so entertainingly as Scott and Jean-Louis have done in this indispensable book. Potent secrets finally revealed!”
Contact
To arrange an interview or book signing with the authors, please fill out the form below or contact Jian Huang at (310) 293-3121 or [email protected].