Acting Is a Job: Real Life Lessons about the Acting Business [Paperback]

Jason Pugatch (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2006

• How to cope with the realities of life as
an actor—if you don’t laugh, you'll cry


• In-depth interviews with actors, agents, casting directors


In this hip, warts-and-all look at acting, author Jason Pugatch shares his insights as a working "day player" to give an unvarnished look at theater, film, and television: how to be "discovered," what to expect from training programs, the grunt work of starting a career, how to keep going despite constant rejection, and much more. Packed with myth-shattering anecdotes and told in an intriguing personal tone, Acting Is a Job is the backstage guide that every aspiring actor must read.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A sassy and lively trip through the acting business." -- Roger Berlind, Broadway Producer

"Acting Is a Job offers practical and invaluable advice to anyone interested in pursuing a career as an actor." -- James Lapine, Playwright and Director

"What a wonderful book. I learned things from it I didn’t know before. A must-read for young and established actors!" -- Kate Burton, Actress

From the Publisher

The acting business is filled with people dreaming of a career in the field. Unfortunately, many would-be professionals seeking advice and sound insight often find books that merely sell the acting dream. To those wanting clear-eyed business advice, a new resource takes a new approach. With Acting Is a Job: Real-Life Lessons About the Acting Business, Jason Pugatch goes beyond the perceived glamour of acting to provide a hilarious, heartrending, and honest overview of the acting life.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 225 pages
• Publisher: Allworth Press (March 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581154380
• ISBN-13: 978-1581154382
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #968,633 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jason Pugatch is a writer and actor. His first book, Acting is a Job: Real Life Lessons about the Acting Business was recently published by the Allworth Press, and has received early acclaim for its candid look at the acting industry. He has published short stories in fiction magazines, and has written reviews for the London Review of Books. As an actor, Mr. Pugatch has appeared in plays Off-Broadway, regionally, and the television shows Numb3rs, Law & Order, Conviction and The Guiding Light. He holds a BA in Liberal Arts from Sarah Lawrence College, where he focused on literature, theater, and writing, and an MFA from Harvard and the Moscow Art Theatre. He lives in Los Angeles.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read!, July 21, 2006

By 

Linda "Lulu" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Acting Is a Job: Real Life Lessons about the Acting Business (Paperback)

This is the most helpful book about acting I have ever read. It is honest, candid, funny and so true! No sugar coating, no "just do this and you will make it!" It's a truthful look at how hard a business acting is, and how long it takes to build a career but also how rewarding it can be if it is your passion and you are patient and willing to stick through the tough times. This book shows you that it's okay to be an artist and a business person, and once you meld the two, you can have a career.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for all actors in the biz!, June 11, 2009

By 

E. Carmona (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Acting Is a Job: Real Life Lessons about the Acting Business (Paperback)

A smart, funny and realistic view into the business of Acting, that should be a must read for new and veteran actors a like!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Covers everything you'll need to know about the industry, August 18, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Acting Is a Job: Real Life Lessons about the Acting Business (Paperback)

ACTING IS A JOB: REAL LIFE LESSONS ABOUT THE ACTING BUSINESS provides both humor and solid insights as it covers the basics of the acting world and uses interviews with other working actors, agents, and directors to fill in any gaps. From a review of lie theatre, film and TV opportunities and experiences to the basics of locating good-paying work and how to handle training programs, ACTING IS A JOB covers everything you'll need to know about the industry.

Diane C. Donovan

California Bookwatch