Acting Professionally: An Essential Career Guide for the Actor

(Paperback, 9th edition)

Available Formats

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Filled with practical advice and highlighting pitfalls to avoid, Acting Professionally gives a clear understanding of how acting careers are built and sustained. Now in its 9th edition, this book has become the leading book in the field since the first edition published in 1972. It includes an extensive new section on the industry to reflect the 21st century, including signposting new resources and insights, and considering the shifting landscape and opportunities offered by TV streaming, voiceover for gaming, internet, audiobooks, motion capture and podcasts. Critically, this new edition reflects the vital changes in the industry as a result of the Black Lives Matter, Time's Up and Me Too movements, and the Covid-19 pandemic. It acknowledges and seeks to address the challenges of the industry often faced by actors when it comes to race, ethnicity, gender and sexuality. It includes interviews with leading industry figures, including Broadway producer Brian Moreland, Broadway director LaTonya Richardson Jackson, casting director Erica Jenson and leading actors of colour. This 9th edition speaks to the changed landscape of audition practice and best practice in the industry, ensuring that it's a book that's useful, relevant and accessible to every actor starting out today.

Reviews

Of all the books on the subject, Acting Professionally is by far the most comprehensive and thorough. * Daniel Yurgaitis, Director of Theatre, Northern University, USA *
It is the leading book of its kind, and certainly the best available resource for young actors who wish to begin their professional careers. * Harold Dixon, University Distinguished Professor, University of Arizona, USA *
The most straightforward, accurate, and honest description of what the acting business is like in the United States and what it takes to break into it. * Roger Ellis, Northwestern School of Communication, US *
Where Acting Professionally differs from other texts on the market today is that it provides the most current statistics and information covering every aspect of the profession, coupled with the author's invaluably honest description of the business. * Lori Talley, Back Stage West *

Author Bio

James Calleri is an Associate Professor of Professional Practice and Co-Head of the Acting Concentration at Columbia University School of the Arts, USA.. He has taught at the NYU Tisch Graduate Acting Program and Syracuse University, as well as schools and colleges across the US and as far as the Shanghai Theater Institute. He is also the owner of Calleri Studio in New York City, and has served many years on the board of the Casting Society of America. Robert Cohen is an acclaimed professional and academic stage director, and the founding Chair of Drama at the University of California, Irvine, USA. The author of 24 books on theatre, his major awards include a Claire Trevor Professorship, the UCI Medal, Romania's Honoris Causa Medal, Poland's Medal of Honor, the ATHE Award for Career Achievement and UCI's 2015 Award for Distinguished Professor of Research.