English | February 19th, 2019 | ISBN: 0399581901 | 234 pages | EPUB | 7.06 MB

Veteran character actor David Dean Bottrell draws on his 35+ tumultuous years of work in the entertainment industry to offer a guide to breaking in, making a living, and making a life in the fabulous trenches of show business.

Covers every facet of the business, including:

 Capturing the perfect headshot

 Starting (and maintaining) your network

 Picking an agent

 Audition do's and don'ts

 Joining the union(s): SAG-AFTRA and Actors Equity Association (AEA)

 On stage vs on screen

 Paying the bills

 Self-promotion

 Late bloomers

 When to get out

David Dean Bottrell has worn many different hats during his decades in showbiz: television actor with appearances on Boston Legal, Modern Family, The Blacklist, Mad Men, True Blood, NCIS, and Days of Our Lives; screenwriter for Paramount and Disney; respected acting teacher at UCLA and AADA; and regular expert columnist for esteemed acting site Backstage. In Working Actor, Bottrell offers a how-to manual jammed with practical information and insider advice, essential reading for any artist (aspiring or established) in need of insight or inspiration. Mixing prescriptive advice ("Getting Started," "Learning Your Craft," "Finding an Agent") with wisdom drawn from Bottrell's own professional highs and lows and those of his acting compatriots, this book's humorous, tell-it-like-it-is tone is a must-have guide for anyone hoping to successfully navigate show business.