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Breaking Into Acting For Dummies

 (Google eBook)
Front Cover
3 Reviews
John Wiley & Sons, Mar 10, 2011 - Performing Arts - 360 pages
Provides the expert advice you need to get your big break!

Jump-start your career and land that paying part

From preparing for auditions to finding an agent, the acting business is a challenging and competitive field. This indispensable guide is what every aspiring actor needs to get a foot in the door. Discover how to market yourself, choose a dynamic head shot, create a stellar acting resume, join unions, and pay the bills while you pursue your acting dreams.

The Dummies Way
* Explanations in plain English
* "Get in, get out" information
* Icons and other navigational aids
* Tear-out cheat sheet
* Top ten lists
* A dash of humor and fun
  

What people are saying - Write a review

Review: Breaking Into Acting for Dummies

User Review  - Natalie Cidon - Goodreads

This book is a wonderful book with lots of tips and pointers on how to become successful in the world of show biz. For example, it taught me to market myself and to always look for opportunities to ... Read full review

Review: Breaking Into Acting for Dummies

User Review  - Jeszlene - Goodreads

Paints a very realistic picture about what an acting is, pretty good for starters and for periodic grounding purposes. Might not be sufficient if one's looking for craft related reads though. Read full review

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Selected pages

Contents

Introduction
Conventions Used in This Book
Figuring Out the Business of Acting
The Part of Tens
Part I
Chapter 1
Understanding the World of Acting
A fivestar acting resume
Recognizing Commercial Patterns to Improve Your Performance
The spokesperson commercial
The dialogueless commercial
Understanding the Market for Commercials
Chapter 12
Gearing Up for a Theatrical Career
The academic route
The poundingthepavement route

Taking Your First Steps in Show Business
An agent
Managing Money A Little or a Lot
Knowing What to Expect from an Acting Career
Chapter 2
Taking It From the Top It All Begins with an Idea
Producing a Script
Going into Production
Its Showtime
Cleaning Up in PostProduction
Distributing the Product
Chapter 3
The Champions of Every Project
The Bosses on the Set
The Ones Who Make It All Possible
Financing a project
The Gatekeepers
Your Door to Show Business
The Guiding Forces Behind the Scenes
An Actors Best Friend
The Screen Actors Guild SAG
Actors Equity Association
American Federation of Television Radio Artists AFTRA
Part II
Chapter 4
Examining Variations on the Standard
The theatrical shot
Creating the Perfect Head Shot
Picking the right look
Making the most of your photo session
Adding or eliminating borders
Choosing a finish for your head shot
Publicizing Your Head Shot with a Twist
Distributing Your Head Shot
Is that really you?
Your head shot doesnt match your personality
You look great but your head shot still stinks
Chapter 5
Tackling the Basics of Creating a Resume
Identifying the Info to Include
Your name union membership and contact information
Your acting experience and education
Your knowledge of special skills
Avoiding Resume NoNos
Examining Sample Resumes
The beginners resume
The intermediate actors resume
The veterans resume
Customizing Your Resume for the Part
Part III
Chapter 6
Benefiting from an auditioning class
Improving Your Performing Skills
Standup comedy workshops
Improvisation classes
Singing and dancing lessons
Improving Your Unique Skills
Chapter 7
Use the actors unions
Browse the Internet
Contact casting directors on your own
Advertising Yourself
Showcasing Yourself
Chapter 8
Getting the Ball Rolling
Contacting potential agents
Calling for an appointment
Interviewing with a Prospective Agent
Preparing for your interview
Arriving for your interview
Conducting yourself during your interview
Ending the interview
Signing On with an Agent
Working with Your Agent
Following your agents advice
Leaving Your Agent
How to leave your agent
Chapter 9
Attending casting auditions
Preparing for an Audition
Planning for the audition
Deciding what to wear
Arriving at the Audition
Impressing a Casting Director
What to Expect
Speaking your lines
Minding your auditioning manners
Preparing for the Next Audition
Evaluating yourself
Getting on with your life
Dealing with Rejection
Part IV
Chapter 10
Film and Television Acting Versus Theater Acting
FineTuning Your Performance on Film
Acting consistently with different takes
Successfully acting scenes out of order
Hitting your mark
Dealing with closeups
Performing on a Set
A typical day on the set
What to do when your scenes done
Gaining Experience and Exposure by Working in Different Markets
Options in the film market
Options in the TV market
Chapter 11
Preparing for a Career in Commercials
Taking a class or workshop
Hiring a commercial agent
Fitting the part
Preparing your part
Auditioning for Theater
Familiarizing Yourself with Stage Types
Thrust stages
Arena stages
Readthrough
Blocking with stage directions
Runthroughs
Dress rehearsals
Working in Different Markets
Chapter 13
What You Need to Succeed in VoiceOver Acting
Playing to the microphone
Training for a VoiceOver Career
Preparing Your Demo Tape
Laying down the tracks
Recording subsequent demo tapes
Getting an Agent
Getting Paid as a VoiceOver Actor
Chapter 14
Recognizing types of extras
Getting work as an extra
Examining a day in the life of an extra
Appreciating the Advantages of Being an Extra
Investigating the technical business of show business
Studying the acting side of filmmaking
Making a little emphasis on little money
Advancing Your Career Beyond an Extra
Chapter 15
Considering the Commitment
Do you really want to do this?
Exploring the Acting Options
TV commercials
Film and TV shows
Theater
The Business of Child Actors
Watching out for your childs welfare
Educating on the set
Managing all that money
Helping Your Child Deal with the Ups and Downs of Show Business
Part V
Chapter 16
Identifying the Elements of a Con Game
taking your money
Fake screen tests
Shoddy photographers
Worthless acting schools
Sleazy casting directors
Useless 1900 casting hotlines
Shady getrichquick schemes
Dealing with Dishonesty
Unscrupulous business managers
Missing residuals
Being Your Own Worst Enemy
Dealing with drug abuse
Dealing with alcohol addiction
Avoiding criminal activities
Handling emotional and psychological problems
Chapter 17
Deciding Between a Fulltime and a Parttime Job
Getting temporary work
Getting full or parttime work
Getting a Job That Pays You to Be Entertaining
Teaching traffic school
Amusing patrons at an amusement park
Working in a film or television studio
Winning big on a game show
Do a song and dance in a casino
Acting in an interactive play
Getting extra time in the studio
Chapter 18
Saving it
Dealing with income taxes
Digging yourself out of debt
Investing your earnings
Living Well Without Going Broke
Eating cheaply
Buying clothes
Part VI
Chapter 19
Its Who You Know Not What You Know
Only the Young and the Beautiful Get Work
Plastic Surgery and Body Implants Get You Work
You Have to Sacrifice Your Principles
The myth of sleeping with someone famous or powerful
The Right AgentManager Coach Can Get You Work
Chapter 20
Planning Ahead
Being Flexible and Adaptable
Being Professional
Acting professionally with casting directors
Being Yourself
Being Persistent
Avoiding MindAltering Substances
Believing in Yourself
Chapter 21
Knowing How to Audition and Act for the Camera
Acting for the camera
Developing a Sense of Humor
Understanding Human Psychology
Developing Your Voice and Improving Your Body
Maintaining a Reliable Source of Income
Staying Sharp
Chapter 22
Join a Community Theater Group
Join an Improvisational Group
Volunteer at Your Local School Drama Department
Appear in a Student Film
Volunteer at Your Local Museum
Appear on Public Access TV
Further Reading
Copyright

Other editions - View all

Breaking Into Acting For Dummies
Breaking Into Acting For Dummies
Larry Garrison,Wallace Wang
No preview available - 2002

Common terms and phrases

acting career acting classes acting experience acting resume acting roles acting skills actually AFTRA agents and casting appear artist aspiring actors audience callback camera can’t cards casting audition casting director chance Chapter character child actors client cold reading comedy community theater consider costume day job demo tape doesn’t Dummies earn Equity Equity Association extra face fellow actors film and television film or television front getting give head shot hire isn’t keep land a role look makeup movie never open casting calls particular person photographer play problems production company professional receptionist rehearsals scene Screen Actors Guild script show business situation comedies someone Sometimes stage stand-up comedy star Steven Spielberg studio sure talent television acting television show temp agency theatrical TV show types union voice workshops world of show you’ll you’re

About the author (2011)

Larry Garrison is a producer and has worked as an actor in both film and television. Wallace Wang is a successful stand-up comedian and the author of numerous bestselling For Dummies books.

Bibliographic information

QR code for Breaking Into Acting For Dummies
TitleBreaking Into Acting For Dummies
--For dummies
AuthorsLarry Garrison, Wallace Wang
PublisherJohn Wiley & Sons, 2011
ISBN1118053907, 9781118053904
Length360 pages
Subjects › 

Performing Arts / Acting & Auditioning
  
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