Customer Reviews

The Pursuit of Acting: Working Actors Share Their Experience and Advice

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So many books on acting are simply abstract how-to's without any true-life experience in the field behind it. Starra Andrews, being an actress as well as a writer, has found real actors from Los Angeles and New York, in varying levels of success to relate their actual experiences of ups and downs, specific advice on how to keeping striving in acting, and how to survive it. I read it in one sitting! This is for anyone interested in acting, as a gift to give your acting family or friends, or just if you'd like to get a glimpse of the real world of working in theater, movies, and TV that most of us never see. I would have liked it to be even longer. Simply a must-own book!

I was totally surprised with the insight this book gave me. I have been, unfortunately, a struggling actress for years. Although you know that acting is a hard lifestyle, sometimes you think it is more difficult for you than others. This book really helped me realize I AM NOT ALONE. There were so many instances I related to, I really enjoyed seeing how others handled them. It also gave me some great ideas on how to better my professional life, as well as, my personal life. I received a renewed sense of not giving up and doing the easy thing of a 9-5 job, letting my passion take a back seat. This book gave me renewed strength and energy to believe in myself and my dreams of acting. I love "The Pursuit of Acting" the book and the experience. Thank you Starra, for helping us all pursue our passion.

Anyone embarking upon or already engaged in the pursuit of acting will find these fascinating capsules of the lives of working actors by turns inspirational, cautionary, amusing, and occasionally heart-rending. All of the interviews provide invaluable advice to the person determined to brave the challenges of this most competitive field. Starra Andrews has selected a wonderful cross section of working actors. The interviewees are delightfully candid; they are not simply indulging in self-promotion, but seem genuinely eager to share their experiences and observations on the inevitable highs and lows of the life- such as the successful soap actor who confesses to having turned down the lead in the pilot that became CHIPS for what he felt was a much better prospect- a show about space paramedics that was never seen or heard from again.