Table of Contents
Introduction 10
A Leap Of Faith: Philip Seymour Hoffman
Breaking And Entering 20
Think Again
Waiting On Tables
Improving The Odds
When An Agent Meets An Actor
A Little Story About Being Special: Matt Damon
How It Starts 32
Did Meryl Do This To You? Or Javier?
Who's In Charge Of Your Destiny?
When Should You Start To Study?
I Want Total Acting Immersion
It's Gonna Cost You
Workshop One: Monologues 49
How Can We Use You?
Types
Imaginary Circumstances
Quarterbacking The First Workshop
Range
Your Daily Monologue Routine
The Prototype 70
Cast Me!
You Are So Many Things - How Can You Pick Just One?
Define Your Spine
Workshop Two: Prototypes 78
The Schools 82
Diplomas Are Not Keys To The Kingdom
Know Your Guru
The Showcase
Summing Up
Naming Names
From The Schools To The Business 96
Acting In Classical Theatre - A Word
Acting In The Real World
Summing Up
Workshop Three: Perfect Monologues 106
Life After The Showcase 111
How Did Showcases Become Such A Big Deal?
Moving On
Where Do You Fit?
Don't Be Clueless
Dress For The Part
Street Smarts
Catching Your Drift
Which Coast?
The Creepy Guys In The Black Suits
TV
No Coast?
Summing Up
Got A Degree, Now What? 138
Nobody Wanted To Meet Me - What Do I Do?
Step 1: Know Thyself
Step 2: Attract An Agent
The Headshot
Workshop Four: The Window Into Your Soul: The 8X10 148
So Let's Talk About Your Pictures And Resumes
A Great Headshot
Choosing A Photographer
Your Picture Needs To Look Like You - Now - Today
Enter: The Agent (And The Casting Director) 156
The Advent Of The Agency
Packaging
You Bet There's A List
Loyalty? Are You Serious?
How Agencies Really Work
"No Turned Up Noses"
Workshop Five: Walk A Mile In My Shoes 184
Large Agencies 196
"You Know I'm Going To Be A Big Star"
"I Would So Nail That Audition"
What The Hell Is Buzz?
A Real Juicy Role
Very Compelling Agents
"Honey, You Are One Of Thousands!"
When Rules Do Not Apply
Bottom Line: Not Compelling
Does The Role Speak To You?
Coverage
Poaching
Summing Up
Mid-Size Agencies 220
No Young Actor, Who Is Not A Star, Should Lose A Deal Over Money - Period
Pilot Season
The Reel
Pilot And Take Off Are Not The Same
Make Them Love You
Look Good
The War Of Art
Summing Up
Small Agencies 232
Clout. My Agent Doesn't Have Any
Other Agents Will Always Want You Because You Are Fabulous
Does Small Mean Small-Minded?
Negotiating 101
Not Famous…Yet
Tenacity
No One Works Harder Than You - For You
Practical Ambition
Can We Stop With The Bad News, Please?
Workshop Six: Agent Interviews 252
Take A Meeting
I Assume You Can Act
The Casting Director Meeting
The Audition Begins The Second You Walk In The Door
Surprise Me
Managers 271
Who Could Use A Manager?
What Exactly Does A Manager Do?
What Can A Manager Do For Someone Starting Out?
Going Places
Actor Loyalty Matters
Coastal Disturbances
After You Tie The Knot
People Who Can Help
Good Managers Work Hard…And Like It
Forces Of Nature
Auditions - The Real Skinny & Prototypes 292
An Audition Is A Chance To Act
The Audition Begins The Second You Walk In The Door
Nerves
In The Room
Feedback
Casting Directors
Are There Any Secrets?
Workshop Seven: Cold Readings 301
Omg Please Don't Ask Me To Do A Cold Reading
Quarterbacking The Seventh Workshop
Producers, Directors And Actual Work 310
The Reality Check
Real-Life Examples
Who Do You Think You Are?
Artistic Directors - The Regionals
Television - Where The Money Is (These Days)
Going To Network
Step By Step
Actually Being On Television
When You Get There… Stay There
Good To Know 328
Breakdowns
Social Media - Keep It Simple
Awards - Get Over It, Sweetheart
Diversity
Sentimental Value Doesn't Make Any Cents
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Workshop Eight: Next Stop - Your Career 347
Unions
I Wish You Smooth Sailing
Internet Resources for Actors 356
Essential Film Performances For Actors 360
Acknowledgments 365
