Breaking Into Acting for Dummies

by Larry Garrison and Wallace Wang

Book Overview

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...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764554468
• ISBN13: 9780764554469
• Release Date: August 2002
• Publisher: For Dummies
• Length: 332 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Gotta start somewhere....

This book opened my eyes to a lot of valuable info, and I began reading it right before my first acting class started. It put me that much further ahead of my classmates. I recommend this to anyone who has a list of unanswered questions and no clue where to begin.

Great start- here's more

This book is a great start, of course the best way to learn is by throwing yourself in there. Other things I recommend as a working actor in LA:Backstage West- for all the audtion listings"Voice Lessons To Go" by Vaccarino, hey you know we all need to sing as some audition at one time or another-these are great."The Artist Way" by, Cameron- it has helped me and so many of my friends gain confidence and clarity- love this.craigslist.org for more audition listings- free!

Great for Beginners

For anyone who has always wanted to be an actor, but has no idea where to begin - this is a great book. It covers all the basic like getting an agent, your headshot and resume, the unions. And even deals with more intermediate stuff like marketing yourself as an actor, auditioning and managing your money. I found the chapters on acting in Film and Television, Commercials and Theatre to be very helpful, since each is so different from eachother. The book also covers getting Voice-over work, and working as an Extra. There is even a chapter on getting your kids into acting. This books touches on alot of different topics and is a very good starting book for the beginning actor.

Breaking into Acting of Dummies

Outstanding Book all the way around! I was stupid and bought mine at full price ... because I was homeless and living in my car in the hot California sun with nothing better to do than to read this book while waiting for job interviews. Anyway, if you are even considering getting into acting this is a book to build your career off of! Not only does it deal with the behind the scenes stuff that the public never gets to see like headshots and resumes but also deals with the psychology of the acting game and how to deal with the ups and downs of the business. I can't say enough good things about it! Thanks for the great read and the sun tan!

Great starter...

The book is called "Breaking Into Acting" and it tells you how to do just that. It gives you the information you need to know to get started and some information to keep going. The format of the entire book is ESPECIALLY helpful! Each chapter is basically an in-depth outline, and the print was easy to read. I especially find the chapters on how to make a resume, how to get an agent, and what to expect on a set helpful.It covers almost everything--film, theatre, commercials, kids in acting, directors, auditions, etc. It is a great book for people who are starting out, wanting some direction, or are just plain curious about the business. I find this book a helpful one that I look back on once in a while.