About the book
Eight years of frustration, rejection and doubt separated Jenna Fischer's move to Los Angeles from her role on The Office. She arrived from St. Louis at 22 with a theater degree, and here she offers the kind of guidance she wishes an established actor had given her. Drawing on her own experiences, many of them funny, she covers choosing the right headshot, assessing representation, why to team up with like-minded artists and create original work, how to take risks, how to handle auditions and callbacks, and how to spot scams.
Jon Hamm praised its honest view of breaking into acting and hoped every young actor arriving at LAX would be handed a copy, and Christina Applegate endorsed it for showing what the industry holds, practically and emotionally, without sugar-coating or cynicism.
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This book has 5 recommendations
Jon Hamm (Actor / Mad Men)
I loved reading Jenna's honest and sincere appraisal of the actualities of breaking into, finding one’s way, and then thriving in this business. I hope it is given out as a guidebook of sorts to any young actor when they land at LAX.
Christina Applegate (Actress / Married with Children)
In The Actor's Life, Jenna Fischer lays out exactly what aspiring actors can expect from this crazy, unpredictable industry both practically and emotionally. Nothing is sugar-coated, nor is it cynical. It's just reality, plain and simple. At every level of success, we are all just artists trying to figure it out day by day. That’s the truth.
Julianna Margulies (Actress / The Good Wife)
If I had Jenna's book when I was a struggling actor it would have eased the pain and encouraged my journey. This is an insightful, funny, sweet story from one actor to another; we all need a leg up, a hand to hold, and the encouragement to keep going when we truly find our passion. Jenna manages to do that and more in this very helpful guide for an actor finding their way into the business.
Matthew Weiner (Creator / Mad Men)
How lucky for those who dream that Jenna Fischer has written this book and candidly explained the hard work, persistence, and delusion required to become a working actor. This book is generous, practical, and in the right hands will be a talisman for the deserving few who refuse to give up.
Allison Jones (Casting Director)
Jenna Fischer's story is an excellent resource for anyone who is involved in the life of an actor. Much of this information was new to me; I have always respected the actor's journey, but now I am in awe of it. It's also entertaining from beginning to end.
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Jon Hamm, Christina Applegate, Julianna Margulies, Matthew Weiner, Allison Jones