"ACTING: Make It Your Business, written by a veteran casting director, puts the power to land jobs and thrive in any medium - stage, film, TV, or the Internet - directly into the hands of the actor. This blunt, wise, and often hilarious guide overflows with cutting-edge audition, marketing, and networking strategies, combining traditional techniques with those best suited for the digital age. Well-known actors and powerful agents make cameos throughout, offering newcomers and working professionals alike a clear-eyed, uncensored perspective on survival and advancement within the entertainment industry."--BOOK JACKET.
The essential handbook for actors—a modern classic—in a newly updated edition. Since its original publication, Acting as a Business has earned a reputation as an indispensable tool for working and aspiring actors. Avoiding the usual advice about persistence and luck, Brian O’Neil provides clear-cut guidelines that will give actors a solid knowledge of the business behind their art. It’s packed with practical information—on everything from what to say in a cover letter to where to stand when performing in an agent’s office—including: -- Tactics for getting an agent, including preparing for the interview -- How to research who will be casting what—and whether there is a role for you—well in advance -- Examples of correspondence to agents and casting directors for both beginning and advanced professionals -- A detailed analysis of the current trend of paying to meet industry personnel -- How to communicate effectively with an agent or personal manager -- Creative ways to use the internet and social media O’Neil has updated Acting as a Business to keep up with the latest show-business trends, making this fifth edition a reference no actor should be without
Have you ever dreamed about becoming an actor or commercial model but had no idea how to get started? Or, how to take your current career to the next level? Do you live in a small market and think there is no work available, can't find an agent or afraid of being scammed? Actors and commercial models of all ages and sizes, beautiful and real looking, are cast for magazine, newspaper and billboard ads and in TV commercials, films and TV shows. From getting discovered to landing your dream audition and role, How to Become a Successful Actor and Model is the ultimate step-by-step, no luck required guide to becoming a successful actor and model. For over 34 years, Aaron Marcus has worked as a full-time actor and commercial model, booking over 1,250 jobs. Some of his many bookings includes: Gotham, House of Cards, Heart of Life, Irresistible, Thespian, Philomena, Halt and Catch Fire, Project Almanac, The Wire and Do No Harm. He has taken all of the strategies, techniques and lessons he has learned over his career and boiled them down into a simple, sensible, engaging, and fun approach to how actors and models can book the job! This book explains how he did it, and how you can too. Aaron teaches you, in a practical, honest, and economical way, his secrets and strategies for getting started and succeeding no matter where you live. Aaron has written this book to not only help those wanting to break into the industry, but also to help those actors and models who want to take their career to the next level. The chapters in How to Become a Successful Actor and Model are: 1. What is Commercial Modeling? 2. Preparation for Commercial Modeling 3. Head Shots 4. Resumes 5. Composite Sheets 6. Makeup 7. Finding a Good Agent 8. How to Get Work 9. How to Work as a Professional Model 10. Auditioning (Including – How to Shoot Home Auditions) 11. The Realities of Being a Full-time Actor and Model 12. Now What Do You Do? 13. Resources **Bonus** Free list of over 500 agents (agents from every state in the U.S.) and in other countries as well
Drawing on Ken Rea's 35 years' teaching experience and research, as well as interviews with top actors and directors, The Outstanding Actor identifies seven key qualities that the most successful actors manifest, along with practical exercises that help nurture those qualities and videos to demonstrate them. Featuring contributions and insights from Ewan McGregor, Jude Law, Judi Dench, Al Pacino, Lily James, Rufus Norris and many more, The Outstanding Actor gives you techniques that you can immediately put into practice in rehearsals, classes or private preparation. It also shows you how to increase the chances of having a more successful career. This new edition covers topical issues such as the #MeToo movement, gender balance and race issues, and how these affect working conditions and careers. There are also brand new links to video resources that bring the valuable exercises to life. The book also includes forewords by Damian Lewis and Lily James.
(Book). An Actor Succeeds is a very special collection containing all the best trade secrets of the biggest and most successful film and theater professionals. Presented in an informative format, An Actor Succeeds is a useful yet entertaining how-to, tips-and-advice book comprising nearly 900 quotes mostly from actors but also directors, writers, casting directors, and more. The book is conveniently divided into five chapters: Acting, Auditioning, Connecting, Working, and Coping. Here's a sampling of quotes from each section: (Acting) "Of course we all learn that acting is basically reacting. The least acting you ever have to do is in a close-up. The close-up may require an actor's reaction, but a small, subtle one. Generally speaking, the less you 'act' in a close-up, the better." Sir John Gielgud. (Connecting) "Acting, especially in motion pictures, is very hierarchical, like a caste system. The stars are royalty, the other actors are serfs-okay, commoners... If you're not a big shot, you gotta be careful not to push or intrude. You gotta watch what you say, how you say it, and, especially, when you say it." Bruce Dern. (Working) "Acting in front of a camera or a live audience requires intense concentration, to shut out the real world and create the character's reality. Focus is just as important for an actor as for a cinematographer." Keira Knightley. (Coping) "Partly I got into show business to become rich and famous and thus show up anyone who'd treated me badly growing up. But doesn't one evolve with maturity? My focus ultimately changed from negative to positive, as I found that I enjoyed the work, even the struggle, for its own sake." Michael Landon
A Step-by-Step Guide for the Actor Pursuing a Career in New York A great deal has changed in the industry in the last decade. In this new, third edition of An Actor’s Guide—Making It in New York City, Glenn Alterman provides everything actors need to know. You’ll discover the ten things that it takes to make it as a successful actor in the city, how to support yourself, where and how to start your life as a New York actor, understanding and marketing “your brand,” the best acting schools and conservatories, effective ways to contact agents and casting directors, and more. The author, a successful working actor, also shares many insider tips on topics such as: how to network effectively headshots, photographers, and how to have a successful photo session creating your actor websites the best Internet resources and casting sites how to give winning auditions and interviews finding and developing great monologues off and off-off Broadway opportunities TV and film opportunities voice-overs commercial print modeling commercials survival jobs appropriate behavior in the business scams and rip-offs to avoid information for actors with disabilities information on diversity and LGBTQ concerns a listing of agents, casting directors and theaters Among the book’s many interviews are legendary show business figures, such as actors Henry Winkler, Alison Fraser, Dylan Baker, Lisa Emery, and Charles Busch, as well as casting directors Juliet Taylor, Ellen Lewis, Jay Binder, Donna DeSeta, and Liz Lewis, among many others. With Alterman’s essential guide, you’ll be prepared to launch and maintain your dream career in the city that never sleeps.
The inside how-to scoop on the lucrative career of voice-over acting told by the top talents in the field, including voice-over actors from Law and Order, ABC News, The Today Show, and the Sopranos. An inspirational, real-world, practical handbook for anyone seeking a career in the highly lucrative field of voice-over acting.
Stop Acting Start Living is the culmination of 35 years of performing and teaching experience around the globe. Hollywood Acting teacher and Success coach Bernard Hiller has worked with Jeff Goldblum, LL Cool J, Lindsay Lohan, Billy Crystal, Chace Crawford, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Emilio Rivera among many others. Bernard coached Cameron Diaz for her first big audition "The Mask" with Jim Carrey, which launched her career. His revolutionary techniques have changed the course of lives and careers. There has never been a book available that takes the acting techniques of a Hollywood star-maker and teaches business people how to become stars in their lives and careers. Bernard is the only coach who combines acting technique, life coaching, and success training in an entirely new and transformative way. Leonardo DiCaprio, CAA, Samuel L Jackson and other stars recommend him as the premier acting teacher in town. April Webster-Star Wars... "I have seen first hand how his techniques instantly improves your talent." Bruce Dern.. "There is no class like it in America."
Want to use your voice to make money? Learn the ins and outs of how to get started, including: microphone etiquette, how to make some of the most common noises and sounds (you might be surprised), working with copy, creating a demo reel, what to expect in the studio, the business of the business and much more. This is, hands down, the most comprehensive book on Voice-Over available. From beginners to pros, you'll find value in Debi's wealth of knowledge. Her tips and advice are the gems that only a true industry veteran and hard-working professional would know. Now she's sharing it all with you! Plus, you'll receive access to a video library where you can learn Debi's tricks of the trade firsthand.
