Breaking into Acting For Dummies

Larry Garrison is President of SilverCreek Entertainment. He’s worked as a producer/actor in TV and film in Los Angeles for more than 30 years. His company has produced news stories for ABC and NBC News.Wallace Wang is a stand-up comedian and the author of more than 10 bestselling For Dummies books. He focuses on screenwriting, movies, and comedy.

• Introduction 1About This Book 1Foolish Assumptions 2Icons Used in This Book 3Where to Go from Here 3Part 1: Figuring Out the Business of Acting 5Chapter 1: Staying on Top of the Changes in Show Business 7Understanding the World of Acting 8What You Need to Succeed 8An attention-grabbing head shot 9A five-star acting resume 9Polished talent 10Taking Your First Steps in Show Business 11Marketing yourself 11Finding your first ally: An agent 11Showcasing your talent: Auditioning 12Discovering the Many Ways to Make Money as an Actor 12Managing Money (A Little or a Lot) 13Knowing What to Expect from an Acting Career 14Chapter 2: Discovering How Show Business Has Changed and Adapted 15Understanding the Business of Show Business 15Taking It “from the Top” — It All Begins with an Idea 16Selling an Idea 17Producing a Script 18Going into Production 20Action: It’s Showtime! 21Cleaning Up in Post-Production 22Distributing the Product 23Chapter 3: From Agents, Managers, and Unions: Introducing the Movers and Shakers 27Producers: The Champions of Every Project 28Directors: The Bosses on the Set 29Writers: The Idea Makers 29The Studios: The Ones That Make Everything Possible 30Financing a project 31Marketing and distributing a project 32Casting Directors: The Gatekeepers 33Agents: Your Door to Show Business 34Personal and Business Managers: The Guiding Forces Behind the Scenes 34Actors: The Talent in Front of the Spotlight 35Unions: An Actor’s Best Friend 36The Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) 37Actors’ Equity Association 38Part 2: Packaging and Marketing Yourself 41Chapter 4: Making a Great First Impression with a Head Shot and Samples of Your Work 43Introducing the Head Shot: An Actor’s Calling Card 44Examining Variations on the Standard 46The commercial head shot 47The theatrical shot 47Creating the Perfect Head Shot 48Hiring a professional photographer 48Picking the right look 50Making the most of your photo session 50Getting Your Head Shot Ready 51Publicizing Your Head Shot with a Twist 52Avoiding Problems with Head Shots 52Is that really you? 52Technical problems: You look great but your head shot still stinks 52Using Film to Represent Your Work 53Chapter 5: Creating a Five-Star Acting Resume 55Tackling the Basics of Creating a Resume 56Creating an Online Resume 56Identifying the Info to Include 57Your name, union membership, and contact information 57Your physical characteristics 58Your acting experience and education 59Your knowledge of special skills 60Avoiding Resume No-Nos 61Examining Sample Resumes 62The beginner’s resume 63The intermediate actor’s resume 63The veteran’s resume 66Chapter 6: Training to Improve Your Acting Skills 69Mastering the Art of Auditioning: Taking Classes 69Benefiting from an auditioning class 70Advancing your auditioning skills 70Improving Your Performing Skills 73Stand-up comedy workshops 75Improvisation classes 75Speech and accent coaching 76Singing and dancing lessons 76Developing Physical Fitness Skills 77Improving Your Unique Skills 78Part 3: Taking Your First Steps into Show Business 79Chapter 7: Representing Yourself, Networking, and Promoting Yourself on Websites 81Looking for Your Own Work 82Relying on the actors’ unions 82Staying in touch 82Reading trade publications 83Using casting websites and social media 83Contact casting directors on your own 84Advertising Yourself 86Showcasing Yourself 86Chapter 8: Seeking Representation: An Agent, Manager, and/or an Entertainment Attorney 89Differentiating between Agents, Managers, and Entertainment Attorneys 90Getting the Ball Rolling to Find Representation 91Discovering potential representation 91Contacting potential representation 93Calling for an appointment 94Staying determined and be positive 96Interviewing with Prospective Representation 97Preparing for your interview 97Arriving for your interview 98Conducting yourself during your interview 99Ending the interview 102Signing On with an Agent 104Working with Your Agent 106Staying in touch 106Following your agent’s advice 107Sharing auditioning information with your agent 107Releasing Your Agent 107Letting your agent go: Why you’d want to 108Leaving your agent: The how-to 110Chapter 9: Auditioning: The Art of What You Need to Know 113Looking at the Types of Auditions 114Going to open casting calls (cattle calls) 114Attending casting auditions 115Auditioning from Home 116Preparing for an Audition 118Planning ahead of time 118Deciding what to wear 119Grooming 120Arriving at the Audition or Callback 120Impressing a Casting Director 121Auditioning: What to Expect 122Speaking your lines 123Making your exit 124Preparing for the Next Audition 124Evaluating yourself 124Getting on with your life 125Hoping for the Best That Can Happen: The Callback 126Dealing with Rejection 127Saying Thank You 128Chapter 10: Understanding Diversity Challenges in Show Business 129Defining Who You Are in the World of Diversity 130Finding Representation 131Seeking Diversity in Casting 132Acknowledging Diversity in the Academy and Emmy Awards 134Chapter 11: Adapting to Difficult Personalities 137Dealing with Professionals 138Treating the casting director with respect 138Showing respect to the director on set 139Considering other professionals 140Respecting Your Fellow Actor 140Respecting Everyone on the Set 142Part 4: Scoping Out the Markets 143Chapter 12: Acting in Film and Television 145Landing a Job 146Filming from Different Locations Using Your Computer and Phone 146Acting in Front of the Camera Versus Acting on the Stage 147Fine-Tuning Your Performance on Film 148Playing to the camera 149Acting consistently with different takes 151Successfully acting scenes out of order 152Hitting your mark 153Recognizing different shots 154Dealing with close-ups 154Performing on a Set 156A typical day on the set 157What to do when your scene’s done 161Participating in Post-Production: Looping 161Gaining Experience and Exposure by Working in Different Markets 162Chapter 13: Acting in Commercials 165Understanding How a Commercial Gets Made 165Preparing for a Career in Commercials 167Taking a class or workshop 167Studying working actors 168Hiring a commercial agent or manager 169Auditioning for a Commercial Role 169Fitting the part 170Preparing your part 170Handling yourself during the audition 171Understanding the Market for Commercials 173The Wonderful New World of Commercials 175Chapter 14: Acting in Theater 177Mastering Your Skills Onstage 178Gearing Up for a Theatrical Career 178Taking the academic route 179Pounding the pavement 180Auditioning for Theater 182Finding auditions 182Being prepared 182Familiarizing Yourself with Stage Types 184Proscenium stages 185Thrust stages 187Arena stages 187Rehearsing for a Play 189Read-through 189Blocking with stage directions 190Scene work 191Work-throughs 191Run-throughs 192Technical rehearsals 192Dress rehearsals 193Working in Different Markets 195Chapter 15: Performing without Being Seen: Voice-Over Acting 197What You Need to Succeed in Voice-Over Acting 198What’s that you say? Speaking clearly 198Voice versatility 199Testing testing: Playing to the microphone 200Training for a Voice-Over Career 201Finding Voice-Over Work 201Preparing Your Demo 202Including all the right stuff 202Laying down the tracks 204Recording subsequent demo 204Getting an Agent or Manager 205Auditioning for Voice-Over Work 205Getting Paid as a Voice-Over Actor 206Chapter 16: Working As an Extra 209Delving into the Glamorous World of an Extra 210Recognizing types of extras 211Getting work as an extra 211Examining a day in the life of an extra 213Appreciating the Advantages of Being an Extra 215Investigating the technical business of show business 216Studying the acting side of filmmaking 217Networking with fellow actors 218Making a little (emphasis on “little”) money 218Advancing Your Career Beyond an Extra 218Chapter 17: Getting Your Kid into Show Biz 221Considering the Commitment 222Does your kid really want to do this? 222Do you really want to do this? 223Setting goals for you and your child 225Exploring the Acting Options 226Modeling 227TV commercials 228Film and TV shows 228Theater 230Investigating the Biz of Child Acting 230Starting as a proud parent of a child actor 230Procuring the paperwork 231Watching out for your child’s welfare 231Restricting time on the set 232Educating on the set 233Managing all that money 234Helping Your Child Deal with the Ups and Downs of Show Business 236Part 5: Managing Your Money as an Actor 239Chapter 18: Don’t Get Ripped Off! Avoiding Con Games, Scams, and Self-Destruction 241Identifying the Elements of a Con Game 242The hook — Baiting the suckers 242The line — Exploiting your trust 242The sinker — Taking your money 243Exposing Common Show Business Con Games 243Fake screen tests 244Phony agents 244Shoddy photographers 247Worthless acting schools 247Sleazy casting directors 249Meaningless beauty pageants 249Shady get-rich-quick schemes 250Dealing with Dishonesty 251Potential problems with non-union productions 251Unscrupulous business managers 252Casting and networking parties 252Missing residuals 253Protect Yourself: Beating the Con at His Own Game 253Being Your Own Worst Enemy 255Dealing with drug abuse 255Separating sex from show business 256Dealing with alcohol and drug addiction 257Curbing excessive spending 257Avoiding criminal activities 258Handling emotional and psychological problems 258Chapter 19: Working to Pay Your Bills until You Hit It Big 259Considering What Kind of Employment You Want 260Getting temporary work 261Getting full or part-time work 263Considering supplemental work 263Working for Yourself 263Getting a Job That Pays You to Be Entertaining 264Teaching traffic school 265Performing on the street 265Amusing patrons at an amusement park 266Entertaining the kiddies 266Catering to the public or the acting crowd 267Working in a film or television studio 267Reading scripts for payment 267Winning big on a game show 268Doing a song and dance in a casino 269Performing on a cruise ship 269Acting in an interactive play 270Reading for actors during auditions 271Getting “extra” time in the studio 271Chapter 20: Managing Your Finances 273Handling Your Money 273Saving it! 274Dealing with income taxes 275Digging yourself out of debt 276Investing your earnings 278Living Well Without Going Broke 279Dealing with housing expenses 280Eating cheaply 280Buying clothes 281Deciding When to Quit Your Day Job 281Part 6: The Part of Tens 283Chapter 21: Ten Myths Debunked about Show Business 285Myth #1: Show Business is Closed to Outsiders 286Myth #2: It’s Who You Know, Not What You Know 286Myth #3: Only the Young and the Beautiful Get Work 287Myth #4: You Have to Move to L.A., Vancouver, or New York to Succeed 287Myth #5: Plastic Surgery and Body Implants Get You Work 288Myth #6: You Have to Sacrifice Your Principles 289Myth #7: You Can Break into Show Business by Taking Off Your Clothes 289The myth of posing nude 290The myth of sleeping with someone famous or powerful 290The myth of appearing in adult movies 290Myth #8: You Can Be Discovered and Made into a Star 291Myth #9: The Right Agent, Manager, Coach Can Get You Work 291Myth #10: Show Business Will Destroy You 291Chapter 22: Ten Traits of Successful Actors 293Respecting Other People’s Time 294Planning Ahead 294Being Flexible and Adaptable 295Being Professional 296How a professional actor behaves 296Acting professionally with your agent 297Acting professionally with casting directors 297Acting professionally on the set 298Being Yourself 299Being Well-Groomed 299Being Persistent 300Avoiding Mind-Altering Substances 301Being Willing to Improve Yourself 301Believing in Yourself 302Chapter 23: Ten Tips for Improving As an Actor 303Mastering the Art of Auditioning 303Knowing How to Audition and Act for the Camera 304Auditioning for the camera 304Acting for the camera 305Expecting the Unexpected: Improvising 305Developing a Sense of Humor 306Overcoming Stage Fright 307Understanding Human Psychology 307Developing Your Voice and Improving Your Body 308Your voice 308Your body 308Maintaining a Reliable Source of Income 309Avoiding Guaranteed Failure 309Staying Sharp 310Chapter 24: Ten Ways to Act Just for the Fun of It 311Join a Community Theater Group 312Become a Storyteller 313Join an Improvisational Group 313Volunteer at Your Local School Drama Department 314Put on a Play for a Charity 314Appear in a Student Film 315Work as an Extra 315Volunteer at Your Local Museum 316Appear on Public Access TV 317Produce Your Own YouTube Show 317Index 319