The Acting Biz: A Career Guide to the Twin Cities [Perfect Paperback]

Beth Chaplin (Author, Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 9, 2009

This is a comprehensive, honest and practical handbook for anyone seeking work as an actor in the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul market. The author leaves no stone unturned, she writes thoughtfully and informatively on virtually every aspect of film and commercial performing, guiding new and seasoned artists alike through the confusing, often mysterious, business of being an actor. Her experience in the field as talent and agent, her dedication to research detail and clarity, her impeccable honesty and integrity, and her genuine caring and respect for actors, shines through to benefit everyone in the Biz. The Acting Biz is about the business side of the acting world, not the artistic side. it is about where the work is and how to best go about getting it. The primary emphasis of this book is the business of acting in the broadest sense in other words, getting work: agents, auditions, unions, commercials, industrials, voice-overs, video shoots, finances, etc. The appendices contain some of the most important information in the book. It is a listing of who s who, what s what, where they are, and how to find them.

Editorial Reviews

Review

. I just finished reading Beth s and my response is incredibly positive! I wish I'd had this book two years ago when I moved to the Twin Cities, it would have saved me lots of stress, fear of asking questions, and probably some money. The majority of my training has been in theatre so this book has tons of great information for those looking to break into on-camera work, and even now as I am more experienced in that area-- i still learned new things. I plan to immediately revamp my resume and take better records. This book should be on the shelf of every actor, even the seasoned ones, as a reference for successful habits in the business. --Megan Kelly, Actress

This book is a treasure a long-hoped-for and much-needed resource for Minnesota actors essential for newbies and a welcome refresher for the experienced actor. --Cheryl Moore Brinkly, actress, Director, teacher

About the Author

For nearly 20 years Beth Chaplin has made her living in the acting biz of the Twin Cities. She has been both the on-camera and voice talent for hundreds of radio and TV commercials and over a thousand industrial and corporate training programs. Twin Cities theater audiences have seen her on several local stages, including Theatre in the Round, Park Square Theatre, and Theatre Unbound. She coaches local actors in the business of acting, ear prompting, acting for the camera, and voice-overs.

Product Details

• Perfect Paperback: 354 pages
• Publisher: Kirk House Publishers (November 9, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933794178
• ISBN-13: 978-1933794174
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #215,892 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have for Any Actor in the Twin Cities, November 19, 2010

By 

Movie Guru - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Acting Biz: A Career Guide to the Twin Cities (Perfect Paperback)

Beth Chaplin's book is a must have for any experienced actor or aspiring actor in the Twin Cities. Beth has done something truly spectacular: she has combined information on how to get started in any field of acting. Whether you are interested in pursuing a career or just learning more in the acting scene in MN, this book can and will help you. A detailed list of theatres, both professional and community is included as well as fantastic recommendations about acting classes to help improve your skills for the stage, on camera, or for voice-over work. She shares helpful tips on how to get an agent, how to deal with them, and how to market oneself as well as the benefits of being union vs. non-union talent. In addition to her own expertise, she includes tips from other top professionals in the market. Beth shares her years of knowledge in an informative, easy to read, and interesting format. It's a great how-to manual, a refresher course, and source of encouragement all rolled into one. It's written in a way that you can read it cover to cover or just go chapter by chapter as needed. Speaking personally, her book helped me navigate the theatre, voice-over, and on-camera markets in the Twin Cities after arriving in MN with no clue how to get started. Although tailored specifically for the Twin Cities, the lessons contained in the book can easily be applied to just about any market. You can't go wrong with this book!