Customer Reviews

Acting Is Everything: An Actor's Guidebook for a Successful Career in Los Angeles

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I started reading this book thinking I could jot down a couple useful pieces of information and quickly advance to another book on acting. Boy was I wrong!

This book is overflowing with so many sources that you may as well toss out the Yellowpages. Judy Kerr did a flawless job of providing step-by-step instructions regarding the business-side of acting and how you can get started.

Sure, there are useful quotes from all kinds of big names and experienced veterans about the technique, but Judy was very wise to simply refer readers to all types of classes, coaches and workshops rather than attempt to write a book on how to act. Experience is the only way you truly learn, not by reading about others who experience it.

I'm currently saving up to take the 2-week trip to Los Angeles to research the city which is mentioned in the book with detailed stops to make.

If you're wondering whether or not this book should be on your bookshelf at home, buy it now. No, don't continue reading my review!! You're not listening and I feel disrespected. You could've been entering your shipping address and credit card info by now you lazy bum! Ya wanna act? Okay, your character is shopping for a book by Judy Kerr... ACTION!!!

I am an actress who recently moved to LA from Seattle (a tiny market compared to LA). Judy's book provided me with invaluable information - preparing me for what to expect, what to do, where to look for a 'day' job, and this is only the beginning. After having the same hairstylist in Seattle for 3 years, her book even led me to someone in LA I could trust to cut my hair.

This is the most comprehensive book on building an acting career that I have ever read. The information contained in this book, is, in and of itself, worth 100 times the cost. It is true, there are lots of books out there that do provide information, but the personal quality Judy gives her book is what really makes it. The tone throughout is positive, and supportive. You feel like she really wants you to succeed in this business!

I find something new and helpful at least once a week in "Acting is Everything". I highly recommend this book to all, whether you are a working professional, or someone who is mildly interested in getting involved in acting.

There is no greater source book out there. For actors and other industry professionals, "Acting Is Everything" is a magnificent compendium of information covering all aspects of pursuing your acting career - from arriving in LA, to agents and managers, to your pictures - and it's wrapped up with motivational and inspiring advice. I have been recommending this book to not only actors but all entertainment professionals that I speak to including seminar attendees, my UCLA Extension students, and my own clients. Owning this book is like having a professional adviser at home with you 24/7.

I seldom use that word to describe any book. Bible. Not because the use of it makes me blasphemous but simply because I am a complete non-believer. So I simply don't use it in my vocabulary. But if acting was a religion or spiritual endeavor (it is actually! minus the dogma, yes?) and you were in the hard journey of pursuing it, then this book would be your BOOK OF LAW.

If you left home, from wherever to come over here and pursue this sometimes-so-close and sometimes-so-unattainable dream, without it, you don't know what you're doing. If you are already here and have not yet read it twice and kept it in your backpack you are a FOOL. This book covers EVERY question you will ever have about the aspect of being in this town pursuing this dream. No, it won't teach you acting but it will lead you the best in town, from coaches to photographers to what-to and what-not-to do when on set, to agents to the often IGNORED and NEGLECTED business aspect of this business. Yes, hello! this is a business despite the fact that some bohemian souls still believe this profession beats working or that is simply and SOLELY about having the ability to, which is absolutely essential and necessary I might add, channel the human condition.

Judy, I wish I could create a written language, compelling, convincing enough for me to THANK YOU for the monumental effort you have put - and still do as we speak - to compile and revise ACTING IS EVERYTHING and its, and not limited to, useful information but also the amount of wonderful advice you, and your contributors, give in this book. The amount of time and money and 405-drive-of-shames moments you saved me are incalculable. Caryn West led me to your book and you to Tom Todoroff - another best-kept secret in Hollywood - and so on. Your book and the wisdom in it are making my transition from Hong Kong to Hollywood very EVENTFUL; in the good sense of that word that is. So, Amen.

The back cover of this book has a very good summary of what its all about: 'Where to Go, Who to Call, What to Spend, What Not To Do!' Acting is a really hard business. The hints & tips, things that work & those that don't, will become well known to you after a time. But when you are new and trying to break into the biz the more of these things you know the more time you'll save.

One point she makes I'd do differently. She says that it's a good idea to participate in theater and theater groups. Truth, absolute truth. Unfortunately it's not that easy. In your home town, the little theaters needed and probably eventually used everyone who showed up for the auditions. In New York and LA, it's just about as hard to get into an 'amateur' production as it is a professional one. There are so many 'currently unemployed' who want to be on stage that it's difficult. Solution - start your own. Perform in your church, or the Y, or the back room of a restaurant. Just do it. As she says, you never know who will be in the audience.

Finally, the title of the book just about says it all -- Acting is Everything. Acting is not something that you want to do, it's something you have to do. Use the book as you can, but go for it.

Having already owned the hugely inspiring and knowledgable Acting is Everything book which helped me tremendously with my move to Los Angeles from Australia, I was delighted to see the latest "gold edition" which is just as wonderfully encouraging, informative and packed with even more knowledge. Anytime I was feeling lost in my career, this book renewed my faith.

Joanne Rose

www.joannerose.com

This book is freakin AMAZING!!!!

I received it as a gift from a fellow actor about a year ago and now it is like my left foot....I can stand without it. The wealth of knowlege in this book is astounding as it is concrete. The time and care Ms. Kerr obviously put into comprising the pages of this book is amazing and bleeds right through the pages. Thank you, Thank You, and Thank you again.

Finally someone who doesn't seem to have an agenda and is who's willing to give actors the straight talk and information that we are all searching for. The answers we need in order to move forward and be successful in our careers and our lives in Los Angeles, an everywhere for that matter. The honesty she puts forth is sincere, scholarly, and speaks of someone who knows her craft and cares about those working their way up. A mentor of sorts. This actor, for one, is greatly appreciative of that fact.

Wow! This book was so good and it was packed with so much information. I loved it. It tells you everything you'll need to know about acting. It starts off answering the questions of what is acting and can acting be taught followed by many quotes from famous actors. It discusses all the different types of acting teachers, like cold reading and audition technique teachers, private coaches, voice teachers, etc. It also goes into talking about photographers and agents. It goes over resumes and pictures and has samples of resumes and pictures. What I was most pleased with was the fact that she named several impressive and skillful acting coaches and photographers,etc. Plus, if you don't already live in California it has a section on how and when to move to California. She was very honest and positive which I greatly appreciated. She had so much information packed in this one book. It's definitely worth it's money. I can't even begin to tell you how excellent this book truly is. If you don't already have it, I highly recommend that you buy it as soon as possible.

As a casting director casting hundreds of commercials a year and many theatrical projects, I recommend this to all actors. This is one of the best full spectrum books to come out in a long time, and every actor I know who has read it highly values the information it provides.

This book is wonderful! I really wanted to get an agent, but I was not sure how. I took Mrs. Kerr's advice in the book and guess what....I HAVE AN AGENT!!!!!!! She answers so many questions about the bussiness. Every aspect of acting from headshots to plastic surgery and even nudity is disscussed in this book. BUY IT! IT'S GREAT!