The Actor's Life: A Survival Guide

by Jenna Fischer

On This Page

Description

Jenna Fischer's Hollywood journey began at the age of 22 when she moved to Los Angeles from her hometown of St. Louis. With a theater degree in hand, she was determined, she was confident, she was ready to work hard. So, what could go wrong? Uh, basically everything. The path to being a professional actor was so much more vast and competitive than she'd imagined. It would be eight long years before she landed her iconic role on The Office, nearly a decade of frustration, struggle, rejection show more and doubt. If only she'd had a handbook for the aspiring actor. Or, better yet, someone to show her the way-an established actor who could educate her about the business, manage her expectations, and reassure her in those moments of despair. Jenna wants to be that person for you. With amusing candor and wit, Fischer spells out the nuts and bolts of getting established in the profession, based on her own memorable and hilarious experiences. She tells you how to get the right headshot, what to look for in representation, and the importance of joining forces with other like-minded artists and creating your own work-invaluable advice personally acquired from her many years of struggle. She provides helpful hints on how to be gutsy and take risks, the tricks to good auditioning and callbacks, and how not to fall for certain scams (auditions in a guy's apartment are probably not legit-or at least not for the kind of part you're looking for!). Her inspiring, helpful guidance feels like a trusted friend who's made the journey, and has now returned to walk beside you, pointing out the pitfalls as you blaze your own path towards the life of a professional actor. show less

Tags

Recommendations

Member Reviews

4 reviews
America's sweetheart, Jenna Fischer, takes us along with her on her journey from obscurity to the life of ... well, continued struggle and work in Hollywood. Although this book is primarily an instruction manual for young, aspiring actors, it is also chock full of interesting stories and fascinating glimpses into the (not so) glamorous life of a working actor.

I have absolutely no interest in being an actor, and doubly so now after Ms. Fischer's incredibly insightful and realistic account of her experience. This is not a puff piece - it provides an honest look and the trials and tribulations while providing advice, hope, and inspiration to those who are determined to continue down this career path. Ms. Fischer writes clearly and show more engagingly and I'm sure someone considering the acting profession will find it very helpful. show less
I have zero interest on ever being an actor so I am not the audience for this but I had an audible credit to use and I love Jenna Fischer on the Office Ladies podcast so thought I'd give this a go.

I did find it interesting - I think it would be genuinely useful for aspiring actors as she offers a lot of really practical advice. But I just enjoyed listening to her and found her voice very calming and reassuring!
This book is a trove of practical wisdom for any aspiring actor. If you have any interest in pursuing an acting career, I highly recommend reading it. It’s also a light, easy read for any fan of The Office or for someone who’s curious about the inner workings of showbiz. Just know that it is written to actors, and you won’t walk away with that feeling of “wow, this book was just what I needed” feeling unless you are one.
I'm not pursuing acting but I adore this lady. She is entertaining while doling out very valuable advice for aspiring actors. When I saw her at a book festival while she promoted this book, she said the advice she gives could cross over to many careers and I agree. Well done Ms. Fischer.

Members

Recently Added By

Lists

Actors
65 works; 5 members

Author Information

Picture of author.
6+ Works 582 Members

All Editions

Carrell, Steve (Foreword)

Awards and Honors

Classifications

Genres
Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir, General Nonfiction
DDC/MDS
792.02Arts & recreationRecreation, sports, and performing artsStage presentationsmodified standard subdivisionsTechniques, procedures, apparatus, equipment, materials, miscellany
LCC
PN2055 .F49Language and LiteratureLiterature (General)Literature (General)DramaDramatic representation. The theater
BISAC

Statistics

Members
193
Popularity
170,041
Reviews
4
Rating
(4.09)
Languages
English
Media
Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
ISBNs
7
ASINs
2