Breaking into Commericals: The Complete Guide to Marketing Yourself, Auditioning to Win, And Getting the Job, 2nd ed. [Paperback]

Terry Berland (Author), Deborah Ouellette (Author), Jason Alexander (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 2006

Every year, over 60,000 commercial roles for all ages, physical types, and ethnic backgrounds are cast by ad agencies, producers, directors, and casting directors across the country. This book will show you what it takes to get one of those roles and give you an edge over the competition. This essential guide provides untapped opportunities in regional markets and abroad, and shares valuable insights into developing a competitive edge. In "Breaking into Commercials", you will discover how to: Get the best head shots; create a resume and cover letter that opens doors; fine-tune your craft to develop a competitive edge; find a good agent; give an audition that will result in more call-backs and jobs; prepare for a commercial shoot; make the most of working in regional markets; move from regional to major markets; break into voice-over work; cross over from modelling to commercials; and launch your child's commercial career. A glossary of industry terms and an appendix of regional and national resources rounds out this comprehensive text on breaking into the lucrative field of acting in commercials.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The wisdom of a veteran casting director and the viewpoint of a photographer-writer mix well to give newcomers to commercial acting all the how-tos, tips, and references to break in. After all, the reasoning goes, more than 60,000 commercial roles are cast each year, so why not get in on it? On the basis of their collective experience and interviews with more than 75 industry pros, Berland and Ouellette completely debunk some of the myths surrounding success: that talent is the only quality that matters; that you can pay to get on camera; and that all you need for voice-overs is a great demo tape. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Here, aspiring actors are walked through every stage of the process, from resumepreparation and getting head shots to residual and contract explanations. Summaries at the end of chapters help focus on what has been learned, and straight text is interspersed with question-and-answer interviews. A good reality check about acting for both kids and adults. Barbara Jacobs --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Terry Berland is an award-winning casting director and the former head of casting for the third largest ad agency in the world, BBDO in New York. She now heads her own casting company and teaches Acting in Television Commercials workshops throughout the country. Deborah Ouellette is an award-winning entertainment-industry photographer and writer who often serves as a judge and guest speaker at regional and national modeling competitions.

Product Details

• Paperback: 251 pages
• Publisher: Silman-James Press; 2 Rev Upd edition (April 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1879505835
• ISBN-13: 978-1879505834
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #106,718 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #48 in Books > Business & Investing > Industries & Professions > Performing Arts

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dead On, July 23, 2000

By 

Cynthia St John - See all my reviews

This review is from: Breaking into Commercials: The Complete Guide to Marketing Yourself, Auditioning to Win, and Getting the Job (Paperback)

This book is dead on. Don't worry about the publishing date being 1997--these are the basics and they still apply. Having appeared in a national commercial, relocated to Los Angeles after four years of regional experience, and now going on several auditions for principal parts each and every week, the authors capture the experience "dead on" and offer invaluable advice. As you read the book, make sure you have a highlighter or pad and pencil handy to jot down specifics that apply to you. I've already updated my resume based on the authors' suggestions and have arranged for a more appropriate headshot. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Acting Tool, January 28, 2001

By 

Donna Grayson "Donna G. Grayson" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Breaking into Commercials: The Complete Guide to Marketing Yourself, Auditioning to Win, and Getting the Job (Paperback)

This book is a very thorough introduction to Commercial Acting. Perfect for a beginner who wants to learn how to start acting in commercials. The book will teach you about getting your commercial headshots, how to put together an acting resume, and what training you will need. There is also a valuable chapter on avoiding Scams. If you want to know what to expect on a commercial audition and how the casting of commercials is done - this book is for you. A very useful resource for any commercial actor.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breaking into commercials, January 17, 2000

By 

Kasey Sixt (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Breaking into Commercials: The Complete Guide to Marketing Yourself, Auditioning to Win, and Getting the Job (Paperback)

The most valuable information I have ever read about getting into and being successful in the industry! A must read for all actors.