The Actors Survival Guide

Jenna Fischer's Hollywood journey began at the age of 22 when she moved to Los Angeles from her hometown of St. Louis. With a theater degree in hand, she was determined, she was confident, she was ready to work hard. So, what could go wrong? Uh, basically everything. The path to being a professional actor was so much more vast and competitive than she'd imagined. It would be eight long years before she landed her iconic role on The Office, nearly a decade of frustration, struggle, rejection and doubt. If only she'd had a handbook for the aspiring actor. Or, better yet, someone to show her the way—an established actor who could educate her about the business, manage her expectations, and reassure her in those moments of despair. Jenna wants to be that person for you. With amusing candor and wit, Fischer spells out the nuts and bolts of getting established in the profession, based on her own memorable and hilarious experiences. She tells you how to get the right headshot, what to look for in representation, and the importance of joining forces with other like-minded artists and creating your own work—invaluable advice personally acquired from her many years of struggle. She provides helpful hints on how to be gutsy and take risks, the tricks to good auditioning and callbacks, and how not to fall for certain scams (auditions in a guy's apartment are probably not legit—or at least not for the kind of part you're looking for!). Her inspiring, helpful guidance feels like a trusted friend who's made the journey, and has now returned to walk beside you, pointing out the pitfalls as you blaze your own path towards the life of a professional actor.

An invaluable reference for anyone who is a working actor, or wants to be. Learn how to make it in the day-to-day business of acting and stay sane and focused while attempting to merge art and commerce. This book covers everything the author wishes someone had told him about how casting decisions are made, what rejection really means, how to behave on a set, the two factors the business is built on, and much more. Markus Flanagan offers encouraging, highly useful pointers on such vital matters as: How do you combat getting typed?, Understanding the people you are auditioning for, Bad habits to avoid in the audition waiting room, The two deadliest questions you may be asked before starting your reading, What are they looking for in the call back?. One Less Bitter Actor offers sage, pragmatic, anxiety-calming advice on how to succeed in acting from one who has.

"The Hollywood Survival Guide reveals the insider information necessary to navigate each step of your acting career in L.A. Aussie actress Kym Jackson explains how each facet of the film and TV industry works and how it affects you. From visas to auditions, from getting an agent to what happens behind the casting curtain ... it's everything you need to become a successful actor in Hollywood". -- Back cover.

The third edition of The Actor's Survival Kit gives the actor fresh research and today's experience, new lists of country-wide contacts, and input from current success stories.

The Actor's Survival Guide: How to Make Your Way in Hollywood is a handbook and essential guide to the business of living and working as an actor in the Los Angeles area. Exploring the experience of relocating to L.A.; the casting process; and how to identify – and find work with – the key players in the film and television industry, the book offers a business-centered road map through the industry. It seeks to navigate the challenges and identify the pitfalls and wrong-turns that hinder too many promising careers and frustrate even the most dedicated of actors. In doing so, the book seeks to provide an extra-competitive edge of experience and know-how for those actors who have the skills and determination to persevere. This second edition features a number of new sections and topics including: Recent census data for the Los Angeles County Neighborhood Statistics Updates on casting diversity with the most recent SAG/AFTRA data Changes in contracts for film, television and stage, including information on AEA's new Hollywood Equity Waiver policy Details on new contracts for film, television and new media; ongoing contract negotiations for video game content; and the ramifications of the SAG/AFTRA merger The role of computer-generated images (CGI) and motion capture (MOCAP) Renewed emphasis on set safety, especially for stunt performers Audition workshops Recent prosecutions of casting directors for "Pay for Play" violations Emerging role of social media in an actor's marketing strategy Dos and don'ts of video self-taping of auditions Expanded glossary to include new media and performance capture vocabulary Written from the perspective of working actor and experienced career-guidance teacher Jon S. Robbins, this unique guide will help aspiring actors bridge the gap between training in drama schools and working in the epicentre of the film and television industries.

Everyday Law for Actors is a resource and reference book, providing both professional working actors, and those who aspire to be, with clear, easy-to-read information about the everyday laws they need to know. The book is intended for actors just starting out, for those who have been making a living at acting for a long time, and for every actor in between. All actors can benefit from knowing more about the everyday law that affects their trade. Even well-established "stars" with a full team of lawyers, agents, managers, and business managers will still find this book useful because they can learn all about that "legalese" and "business mumbo jumbo" that maybe they never fully understood. Everyday Law for Actors features short chapters, numerous examples of legal principles in plain, understandable language, practical explanations about contract provisions and how to negotiate them, and useful and concise information about actors' unions, working with agents and managers, employment laws, landlord-tenant laws, and more. Actors are artists. But actors must also be smart business people. They don’t call it "show business" for nothing. With this book in hand, actors will be much better prepared to work the "business" side of "show business," and will have easy reference in one manageable volume to the wide variety of legal information they need to advance their careers.

Theater veteran and acting teacher Joanna Merlin has written the definitive guide to auditioning for stage and screen, bringing to it a valuable dual perspective. She has spent her career on both sides of the auditioning process, both as an award-winning casting director who has worked with Harold Prince, Bernard Bertolucci, and James Ivory, and as an accomplished actor herself. In this highly informative and accessible book, Merlin provides everything the actor needs to achieve self-confidence and artistic honesty–from the most basic practical tips to an in-depth framework for preparing a part. Filled with advice from the most esteemed people in the business, such as James Lapine, Nora Ephron, and Stephen Sondheim, and charged with tremendous wisdom and compassion, this indispensable resource will arm the reader to face an actor's greatest challenge: getting the part.

Based on 20 years in the industry as an actor, producer, writer and director, Know Small Parts is real life advice from someone who's lived it. The Foreword is written by Academy and Golden Globe Award winner Richard Dreyfuss and the book contains behind-the-scenes stories of Quentin Tarantino, Leonardo DiCaprio, Shirley MacLaine, David Carradine and Tony Scott, among many others. This clear-eyed, realistic step-by-step guide offers wisdom on breaking down a scene, standing out at an audition, talking to celebrities, how to work without representation, developing marketing materials, landing commercials, creating your own momentum, what to do when it all goes wrong, working outside Los Angeles, surviving rejection, how to get clothing for the red carpet and much, much more. With information for beginners and pros alike, it's not just invaluable insight for actors looking to mark their mark in the industry, it's great advice for anyone looking to take control of their destiny. Filled with specific examples from movies and television, the book also reveals personal, often funny, stories from the author's own journey through successes and blunders turning minutes into moments and moments into a career. "She is a role model... and a true leading lady. Enjoy what she has to say and see if you can see yourself in her journey." Kevin Costner (Academy and Golden Globe Award Winner) "She's nailed the daily life of an actor in LA about as perfectly detailed as it gets." Richard Dreyfuss (Academy and Golden Globe Award Winner) "She has literally figured out a way to bottle lightning. I'm sure that her observations and guidance will be invaluable to the actor who is looking to make his or her mark in the film world and to build a career, moment by moment." Lou Diamond Phillips (Golden Globe Nominee) "She knows what a director wants and what an editor needs to tell the story. She's the real deal." Dennis Christopher (Golden Globe Nominee) "Laura has strength, courage and the conviction and - pardon my French but, the balls - to hold on to her place in this business. Read her book and you'll find out how." Joanna Cassidy (Golden Globe Winner) "After 30 years in casting....I feel like Laura was sitting on my shoulder all these years. She has expertly explained key notes for an actor to know and understand pursuing their career. An Actor is in "SHOW" and 'BUSINESS." This book helps the Know How!" Victoria Burrows (Casting Director: Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, Cast Away) "Laura Cayouette is a working actress that also has a happy, well-balanced life. Figuring out how she manages this feat is certainly worth a read." Reginald Hudlin (Producer: Django Unchained; Director: Boomerang) "I write off most of these books. But this one I can't. It stands far above most giving smart, logical, realistic and poignant advice." George W. Perkins (Executive Producer: Desperate Housewives, 3-time Emmy Nominee) "Laura's smart, sensible and no nonsense step by step approach to achieving a career as an actor is certain to be the new bible for everyone yearning to break into the biz." Adam Rifkin (Writer/Director. Showtime's Reality Show, Detroit Rock City, Mousehunt) "A must read gift for actors. Laura Cayouette, a successful actor and renowned journalist thoroughly lays out a path to artistic fulfillment and success. Bravo! The Dude Abides." Jeff "The Dude" Dowd (Producer, movie marketing maven) "A clear eyed, detailed, no nonsense guide to the often mysterious world of TV/Film auditioning and performing. Laura's experience as an actor and producer gives her a 360 view of the process which she shares in the voice of your audition guru; she's been to the mountain and returned with all the wisdom you'll ever need." Alicia Ruskin (Agency Partner: Kazarian/Spencer/Ruskin & Assoc.)

Do you have to be an extrovert to succeed as an actor? This book offers ideas to create inclusive acting environments where the strengths of the introverted actor are as valued as those of their extroverted counterparts. As this book shows, many introverts are innately drawn to the field of acting, but can often feel inferior to their extroverted peers. From the classroom to professional auditions, from rehearsals to networking events, introverted actors tell their stories to help other actors better understand how to leverage their natural gifts, both onstage and off. In addition, The Introverted Actor helps to reimagine professional and pedagogical approaches for both actor educators and directors by offering actionable advice from seasoned psychology experts, professional actors, and award-winning educators.

A step-by-step process designed to help people become a working actor or actress, explaining every aspect of becoming an actor from start to finish.