In this business it quickly becomes apparent that paralleling the entertainment industry is a whole other
industry of people who claim to have the key that unlocks the door of success, and for a (small to very large) price they'll sell it to you. You can spend thousands of dollars on pricey headshots, classes, seminars, intensives, meet and greets, showcases, you name it, without ever earning a penny as a working actor. I've learned to take a long, hard look at who's providing the product or service before whipping out my credit card.
Well a couple of weeks ago, when I was online looking for a book on the actor-agent relationship, I came across the Become a Famous Actor series of ebooks by actor David Patrick Green, available for $3.99 each and readable in about an hour. Judging from the large number of dropped words and garbled sentences, these ebooks are apparently self-published, certainly self-edited. Also, the author has played mostly minor roles in individual episodes of TV shows, despite the rather grandiose title of his book series. But I looked at the reviews, considered the price, and decided to give them a read. My conclusion? They're a terrific bargain.
Acting, and the business of acting, has so many elements to consider that it's easy to lose track of what's really necessary to get started and make progress. Green breaks it down for the actor in a straightforward, no-nonsense way, with strong emphasis on building relationships in the industry. I found shortcuts, strategies, and some real gems of wisdom that I'm already putting into practice, and in his audition book, arguably the clunkiest, I found myself experiencing more than a few "Aha" moments. They're a quick read and easy to go back and review.
Here are the titles: 20 Acting Career Questions….Answered, 5 Insider Acting Secrets They Don’t Want You to Know, and 10 Auditioning Secrets They Don’t Want You to Know.
Now the caveat: one purpose of these ebooks is to generate interest in Green's HackHollywood website, which requires a monthly membership fee of $27, with a pitch for a "Master Class" for an additional $20 a month.
I checked with an actor friend who signed up for HackHollywood, and he said the advice is all in the books. The online program has ongoing content, like video tips and interviews with actors, and an online forum that adds accountability and allows you to ask Green and other members questions. That's $47.50 a month for a program that sounds largely motivational.
Check out the books. Decide for yourself on HackHollywood. My sense is that if you need to spend nearly $600 a year just to keep yourself motivated as an actor, you're in the wrong business. My actor friend, however, has booked roles in six low-budget feature films in the past 6 months, so who's to say.
Well a couple of weeks ago, when I was online looking for a book on the actor-agent relationship, I came across the Become a Famous Actor series of ebooks by actor David Patrick Green, available for $3.99 each and readable in about an hour. Judging from the large number of dropped words and garbled sentences, these ebooks are apparently self-published, certainly self-edited. Also, the author has played mostly minor roles in individual episodes of TV shows, despite the rather grandiose title of his book series. But I looked at the reviews, considered the price, and decided to give them a read. My conclusion? They're a terrific bargain.
Acting, and the business of acting, has so many elements to consider that it's easy to lose track of what's really necessary to get started and make progress. Green breaks it down for the actor in a straightforward, no-nonsense way, with strong emphasis on building relationships in the industry. I found shortcuts, strategies, and some real gems of wisdom that I'm already putting into practice, and in his audition book, arguably the clunkiest, I found myself experiencing more than a few "Aha" moments. They're a quick read and easy to go back and review.
Here are the titles: 20 Acting Career Questions….Answered, 5 Insider Acting Secrets They Don’t Want You to Know, and 10 Auditioning Secrets They Don’t Want You to Know.
Now the caveat: one purpose of these ebooks is to generate interest in Green's HackHollywood website, which requires a monthly membership fee of $27, with a pitch for a "Master Class" for an additional $20 a month.
I checked with an actor friend who signed up for HackHollywood, and he said the advice is all in the books. The online program has ongoing content, like video tips and interviews with actors, and an online forum that adds accountability and allows you to ask Green and other members questions. That's $47.50 a month for a program that sounds largely motivational.
Check out the books. Decide for yourself on HackHollywood. My sense is that if you need to spend nearly $600 a year just to keep yourself motivated as an actor, you're in the wrong business. My actor friend, however, has booked roles in six low-budget feature films in the past 6 months, so who's to say.
No comments:
Post a Comment
I will get back to you shortly!