How To Avoid Mistakes and Achieve Success as a Working Actor
"Humorous and witty... Actors everywhere who are trying to succeed
in the business, young or old, on stage or on camera,
in New York or anywhere in the world, take note: This is your roadmap!"
-- BERNARD TELSEY, casting director (Rent, Wicked)
(Video above: Excerpt from an interview with Paul Russell and talent agency owner,
Jack Menashe of Independent Artists; a contributor to Paul's book.)
Published by Back Stage Books (a division of Random House) and written by award-wining casting director, director and former actor, Paul Russell, ACTING: Make It Your Business is the NEW, first and only, truly blunt industry-insight how to book for actors on how to survive and thrive as a professional, working actor and pursue acting as a business. Pros and stars of Broadway and Hollywood speak out.
"All the right questions asked and answered and with a generous portion of good humor."
-- SUZANNE RYAN
casting director
(Law & Order)
“Entertaining,
insightful, well-written.
Paul Russell has a keen
eye, razor-sharp insight
and a big heart. I urge all
actors young and old to
read this book!
-- MARCIA MILGROM DODGE
director (RAGTIME B'way), playwright, teacher
An imprint of Watson-Guptill Publications
a division of Crown Publishing Group /
Random House
About the book...Best Acting Book: ACTING Make It Your
“Paul's book
made me proud to be a part of this
community we call
'show'
."
--KAREN ZIEMBA, actress
Tony & Drama Desk award-winner
ACTING: MAKE IT YOUR BUSINESS
How To Avoid Mistakes and Achieve Success
as a Working Actor
Acting: Make It Your Business puts the power to land jobs and thrive in any medium – stage, film, TV, or the Internet – directly into the hands of the actor. Well-known actors, powerful agents of Broadway and Hollywood make cameos throughout, offering newcomers and working professionals alike a clear-eyed, uncensored perspective on survival and advancement in the entertainment industry.
“Paul's book
book has been very
helpful to me. I've been
cast in a 4.9 million
dollar movie for Universal Pictures. No agent too, it's unbelievable."
--JAMES MATARAZO, Jr., actor
The best-selling, blunt, acting book for actors featuring up to date info on:
How to Improve Audition & Interview techniques
How to Find & Keep a talent agent
The business of acting: How to Be A working Actor
Best Actor training: The Industry Approved Schools
Actor marketing for the digital age
Fifteen chapters including advice from well-known Broadway actors, LA screen stars, power talent agents, and casting director Paul Russell. All offering in-depth guidance on how to be a better working actor.
Chapter titles...
Introduction: Cows & Greasepaint - Journey Begins
Working Actors Speak Out: Candor & The Business
Being an Actor: A Tough Love
Training for the Actor: Tend Your Dreams
The Picture and Resume: An Actor's Business Card
Cover Letters: Covering Your Assets
Actor Marketing: Set Yourself Apart from the Crowd
Auditions Actors Encounter: Are Your Auditions Safe?
"Paul Russell's
words are not only
blunt and accurate,
they zero in on all the
questions every actor
wants to know
but is afraid to ask."
-- KEN MELAMED
talent agency owner
Bret Adams, Ltd.
About the author...
how to be a working actor
Paul Russell's career as a casting director, director, and former actor has spanned nearly thirty years. He has worked on projects for major film studios (20th Century Fox, Warner Bros), television networks (NBC, CBS, HBO), Broadway, and is a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers directing at TONY award-winning theaters. Some of the many talented individuals he has worked with include: Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Anniston, Cynthia Nixon, and Bill Cosby.
When not behind an audition table or guiding actors in a rehearsal you’ll find Paul on a distant road exploring places new and familiar; preferably on his way to the Pine Barrens of South Jersey or to the nearest roller coaster. Paul lives in a small Jersey town with many trees, quiet streets, and his two rambunctious cats that he parents with his partner.
“A necessity
for any actor
.
Read it again and again.
Listen...
and learn.
”
--RICHARD ROSE, artistic director
Barter Theatre
Paul Russell has guest lectured at universities and colleges nationwide including:
Temple University
The University of The Arts
Northeastern University
James Madison University
Emory & Henry College
And on the campuses of NYU, Boston University, DePaul University and the University of Pennsylvania. His national book launch tour included Barnes & Nobles Booksellers in New York, Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia.
(Above: Paul Russell on his
ACTING: Make It Your Business book launch tour)
Click on Image Below To Order Now from Amazon.com!
ACTING: Make It Your Business is published by BackStage Books a division of Random House; Crown Publishing Group
"Full of great
advice, examples,
anecdotes, laughs - yes,
laughs - and a real heartfelt concern to make a
difference for actors.
Thanks Paul!"
Paul Russell's career as a casting director, director, and former actor has spanned nearly thirty years. He has worked on projects for major film studios (20th Century Fox, Warner Bros), television networks (NBC, CBS, HBO), Broadway, and is a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers directing at TONY award-winning theaters. Some of the many talented individuals he has worked with include: Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Anniston, Cynthia Nixon, and Bill Cosby.
