The Actor's Life: A Survival Guide

by Jenna Fischer

Steve Carell (Foreword)

Jenna Fischer's Hollywood journey began at the age of 22 when she moved to Los Angeles from her hometown of St. Louis. With a theater degree in hand, she was determined, she was confident, she was ready to work hard. So, what could go wrong?

Uh, basically everything.  The path to being a professional actor was so much more vast and competitive than she'd imagined.  It would be eight long years before she landed her iconic role on The Office, nearly a decade of frustration, struggle, rejection and doubt.

If only she'd had a handbook for the aspiring actor. Or, better yet, someone to show her the way—an established actor who could educate her about the business, manage her expectations, and reassure her in those moments of despair.

Jenna wants to be that person for you.   

With amusing candor and wit, Fischer spells out the nuts and bolts of getting established in the profession, based on her own memorable and hilarious experiences.  She tells you how to get the right headshot, what to look for in representation, and the importance of joining forces with other like-minded artists and creating your own work—invaluable advice personally acquired from her many years of struggle.  She provides helpful hints on how to be gutsy and take risks, the tricks to good auditioning and callbacks, and how not to fall for certain scams (auditions in a guy's apartment are probably not legit—or at least not for the kind of part you're looking for!).

Her inspiring, helpful guidance feels like a trusted friend who's made the journey, and has now returned to walk beside you, pointing out the pitfalls as you blaze your own path towards the life of a professional actor.

• ISBN10: 1944648224
• ISBN13: 9781944648220
• Publish Date: 14 November 2017
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: BenBella Books
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 252
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9781944648220

Reviews

[lindsey]

I'm not the intended audience for this book, but I loved Jenna on "The Office," and the book was on sale, so I decided to pick it up anyway. While I'm not an aspiring actor, I still enjoyed reading about the behind-the-scenes stuff that actors go through. It gave me a whole new appreciation for the creation of TV shows and movies. Most of her advice is geared towards actors, of course, but she also gives good general advice for anyone wanting to chase a dream.

If you're interested in becoming an actor, I would definitely recommend this book! Even if you're not planning to become an actor, this is still an interesting read, especially if you're already a fan of Jenna's.