This book isn’t just for gamers. It rests on sincerity and authenticity as the foundation of true prosperity. In the foreword to Bernard Hiller’s Acting Guide to the Future, Peter Farrelly, a two-time Oscar winner for best picture and best original screenplay for Green Book, highlights this point to anchor the work in practical, real-world artistry.
Yes, it’s a collection of acting exercises. Yet it also offers methods for interpreting art in a way that builds personal and professional empathy. Hiller is known on stage for decades of acting success, but his reputation is strongest as a dynamic instructor in artistic performance. His workshops, including a notable program with Palestinians and Israelis at the Peres Center for Peace in Tel Aviv, have turned into symbols of productive collaboration among artists.
Gladiators of change by Joan-Carles Martí
Bernard Hiller, born in Buenos Aires in 1962, is the child of Holocaust survivors who lived in Germany and New York. He trained as an actor, singer, and performer at the prestigious High School of Performing Arts and the Alvin Ailey Dance Studio, becoming a sought-after dancer on Broadway and in Europe. He later rose to prominence as a sought-after instructor in artistic performance, dynamic communication, and success strategies. He is widely known as a coach whose influence stretches from the performing arts into business and personal development. He writes, “I have striven to live life in the most artistic and original way I could, and it has provided me with a life that is rich, interesting, fulfilling, and adventurous.”
The book unfolds through nearly forty chapters linked by a coherent progression—from initial introspection to the essential act of self-knowledge that unlocks one’s best emotions. The reading experience stands out because it moves beyond the conventional self-help format, presenting a practical essay on the artistic medium that can prove useful in many fields beyond the stage.
When thinking of celebrated actors such as Meryl Streep, Jodie Foster, Al Pacino, Tom Hanks, Penélope Cruz, or Luis Tosar, one notices their versatility in embracing antagonistic roles and making them credible. Behind this admiration lies a craft built on hours of study and rehearsal. The author argues that the dividing line between an actor and an artist runs between a legendary performance and a forgettable one. To be an artist, regardless of their field, one must explore the unknown and push beyond familiar boundaries to discover the true self.
Attention is given to what he calls the “openness” factor for performers. The guide suggests five steps to think outside the box: present a performance with more character; pursue unique creative effort; remain spontaneous and imperfect; commit consistently to the craft; and seek the best possible education, while recognizing that time and money are not insurmountable barriers—“you always overcome problems.”
The transformative exercises recommended by Hiller begin the moment one wakes up. Stand before a full-length mirror, take a deep breath, separate the mind, and quietly say, “I feel….” After a short pause, continue with, “It makes me upset…,” and dedicate about eight minutes to detoxification before proceeding: “It makes me upset….” After a few moments of stillness, shed the negativity and switch to joy: “I will give my talent, my passions, my love, my energy, my heart, my creativity.” Finally, beat the chest, extend the hand, and declare with growing energy, “My name is ______ and here I am, natural!” Repeat three times with increasing power. Then jump high and affirm, “You more or less like it, that’s who I am!”
The guide is replete with positive aphorisms, making the reading engaging and therapeutic while serving as a practical training manual for the performing arts industry. One of Hiller’s core messages is that artists can change the world with their art, their talents, and their voices. To him, artists are the gladiators of life, the drivers of social and cultural transformation.