The Actor's Life
A Survival Guide
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Narrated by:
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Jenna Fischer
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Rainn Wilson
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Written by:
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Jenna Fischer
About this listen
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.
This title is narrated by a full cast. Narrators include: Jenna Fischer, Rainn Wilson, Natalie Zea, Sean Gunn, Derek Waters, Reed Birney, and Mark Proksch.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
©2017 Andycat Productions Inc. (P)2017 Novel Audio Inc.You may also enjoy...
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A lot of overlap with their podcast
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The casting director for Chicago, Pippin, Becket, Gypsy, The Graduate, The Sound of Music, and Jesus Christ Superstar tells you how you can find your dream role! Absolutely everything an actor needs to know to get the part is here: What to do that moment before; how to use humour; how to create mystery; how to develop a distinct style; and how to evaluate the place, the relationships, and the competition. In fact, Audition is a necessary guide to dealing with all the "auditions" we face in life. This is the bible on the subject.
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Great!
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When did you last hang out with Jim, Pam, Dwight, Michael, and the rest of Dunder Mifflin? It might have been back in 2013, when the series finale aired...or it might have been last night, when you watched three episodes in a row. But either way, long after the show first aired, it’s more popular than ever, and fans have only one problem - what to watch, or listen to, next. Fortunately, writer Andy Greene has that answer. In his brand-new oral history, The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s, Greene takes listeners behind the scenes.
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Boooring
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Rainn Wilson’s memoir about growing up geeky and finally finding his place in comedy, faith, and life. For nine seasons Rainn Wilson played Dwight Schrute, everyone's favorite work nemesis and beet farmer. Viewers of The Office fell in love with the character and grew to love the actor who played him even more. Rainn founded a website and media company, SoulPancake, that eventually became a best-selling book of the same name. He also started a hilarious Twitter feed (sample tweet: “I'm not on Facebook” is the new “I don't even own a TV”).
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Great bio told very well
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A Life in Parts
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Bryan Cranston landed his first role at seven, when his father, a struggling actor and director, cast him in a United Way commercial. Soon Bryan was haunting the local movie theater, memorizing and reenacting favorite scenes with his older brother. Acting was clearly the boy's destiny - until one day his father disappeared. Suddenly destiny took a backseat to survival. Seeking something more stable, perhaps subconsciously trying to distance himself from his absent father, Cranston decided on a career in law enforcement.
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Loved it!
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The Office BFFs
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- Written by: Jenna Fischer, Angela Kinsey
- Narrated by: Jenna Fischer, Angela Kinsey
- Length: 8 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Receptionist Pam Beesly and accountant Angela Martin had very little in common when they toiled together at Scranton’s Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. But, in reality, the two bonded in their very first days on set and, over the nine seasons of the series’ run, built a friendship that transcended the show and continues to this day.
-
-
A lot of overlap with their podcast
- By Hanson on 2022-05-20
Written by: Jenna Fischer, and others
-
Sanford Meisner on Acting
- Written by: Sanford Meisner, Dennis Longwell, Sydney Pollack - introduction
- Narrated by: Jason Culp, Arthur Morey, Mark Bramhall
- Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sanford Meisner was one of the best known and beloved teachers of acting in the country. This audiobook follows one of his acting classes for 15 months, beginning with the most rudimentary exercises and ending with affecting and polished scenes from contemporary American plays. Written in collaboration with Dennis Longwell, it is essential listening for beginning and professional actors alike. Throughout this audiobooks, Meisner is a delight - always empathizing with his students and urging them onward, provoking emotion, laughter, and growing technical mastery from his charges.
Written by: Sanford Meisner, and others
-
Audition
- Everything an Actor Needs to Know to Get the Part
- Written by: Michael Shurtleff
- Narrated by: John Malone
- Length: 8 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The casting director for Chicago, Pippin, Becket, Gypsy, The Graduate, The Sound of Music, and Jesus Christ Superstar tells you how you can find your dream role! Absolutely everything an actor needs to know to get the part is here: What to do that moment before; how to use humour; how to create mystery; how to develop a distinct style; and how to evaluate the place, the relationships, and the competition. In fact, Audition is a necessary guide to dealing with all the "auditions" we face in life. This is the bible on the subject.
-
-
Great!
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Written by: Michael Shurtleff
-
The Office
- The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s: An Oral History
- Written by: Andy Greene
- Narrated by: Brittany Pressley, Holter Graham, P.J. Ochlan, and others
- Length: 14 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When did you last hang out with Jim, Pam, Dwight, Michael, and the rest of Dunder Mifflin? It might have been back in 2013, when the series finale aired...or it might have been last night, when you watched three episodes in a row. But either way, long after the show first aired, it’s more popular than ever, and fans have only one problem - what to watch, or listen to, next. Fortunately, writer Andy Greene has that answer. In his brand-new oral history, The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s, Greene takes listeners behind the scenes.
-
-
Boooring
- By Endrene Shepherd on 2020-03-31
Written by: Andy Greene
-
The Bassoon King
- My Life in Art, Faith, and Idiocy
- Written by: Rainn Wilson
- Narrated by: Rainn Wilson
- Length: 8 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Rainn Wilson’s memoir about growing up geeky and finally finding his place in comedy, faith, and life. For nine seasons Rainn Wilson played Dwight Schrute, everyone's favorite work nemesis and beet farmer. Viewers of The Office fell in love with the character and grew to love the actor who played him even more. Rainn founded a website and media company, SoulPancake, that eventually became a best-selling book of the same name. He also started a hilarious Twitter feed (sample tweet: “I'm not on Facebook” is the new “I don't even own a TV”).
-
-
Great bio told very well
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Written by: Rainn Wilson
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A Life in Parts
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- Narrated by: Bryan Cranston
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
Bryan Cranston landed his first role at seven, when his father, a struggling actor and director, cast him in a United Way commercial. Soon Bryan was haunting the local movie theater, memorizing and reenacting favorite scenes with his older brother. Acting was clearly the boy's destiny - until one day his father disappeared. Suddenly destiny took a backseat to survival. Seeking something more stable, perhaps subconsciously trying to distance himself from his absent father, Cranston decided on a career in law enforcement.
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Loved it!
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Mindy Kaling has lived many lives: the obedient child of immigrant professionals, a timid chubster afraid of her own bike, a Ben Affleck–impersonating Off-Broadway performer and playwright, and, finally, a comedy writer and actress prone to starting fights with her friends and coworkers with the sentence “Can I just say one last thing about this, and then I swear I’ll shut up about it?”
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Light Read
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Overall
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Good.
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The behind-the-scenes story of the iconic funnymen who ruled '80s Hollywood - Bill Murray, Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, and Eddie Murphy - and the beloved films that made them stars, including Animal House, Caddyshack, and Ghostbusters.
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A great listen about a great time in comedy
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Secrets of Screen Acting
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Instead of starting with what is real and trying to wrestle that onto the screen, Patrick Tucker explains how to work with the realities of a shoot and work from there toward the real. His step by step guide to the elements of effective screen acting is an extension and explanation of a lifetime of work in the field, containing over 50 acting exercises and the tried-and-tested screen acting checklist.
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Good information on camera positions.
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Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama
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Bob Odenkirk’s career is inexplicable. And yet he will try like hell to explicate it for you. Charting a “Homeric” decades-long “odyssey” from his origins in the seedy comedy clubs of Chicago to a dramatic career full of award nominations - with a side trip into the action-man world that is baffling to all who know him - it’s almost like there are many Bob Odenkirks! But there is just one and one is plenty. Featuring humorous tangents, wild characters, and Bob’s trademark unflinching drive, Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama is a classic tale told by a determined idiot.
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What listeners say about The Actor's Life
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Avery
- 2021-07-21
A great listen!
As someone who has no interest in getting into the acting world, I still found this book extremely captivating. It had me imagining myself in the actor’s world, wondering if I could ever do it. Jenna provided some great anecdotes for fans of her and The Office, along with some really helpful tips and tricks you would never think of as a non-actor. I have a newfound respect for those who act. I also really loved the cameos at the end of the book. I had never heard of Derek Waters before but I’m glad Jenna brought him in. Ge had me absolutely cracking up, and it was a great way to end the book!
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- MD Hasan
- 2019-07-25
Great listen for aspiring actors.
This audiobook was very easy to finish, because it was so interesting. Jenna Fischer gives amazing advice, and covers EVERYTHING an aspiring actor would want to know when making the move to LA or NY. And I mean EVERYTHING, even things like what to do when you get fired, which I'm sure most aren't even thinking about
Along the way, she includes lots and lots of anecdotes to personalize the advice she gives. This makes the audiobook very fun to listen to. The biggest thing is that you're listening to an audiobook by PAM! It feels unreal.
I finished the AB in about a week or 2, and I listened to it while in the car doing Uber Eats deliveries, or while on the train going from one place to another.
Seriously recommend. Even if you don't have any plans to be an actor, this book will still be amazing.
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- Ladysirwin
- 2019-05-19
Wish I Had it 10 Years Ago
I remember the biggest shock out of acting school for me what not how hard auditioning was, but how hard GETTING an audition was. No one ever talked about that, and it doesn’t matter how good you are if you can’t get in the right rooms. This book was so refreshing because it spoke to all of that and more!! As a struggling actor, it really spoke to my own adversities in a way that no other book or teacher has. I love how Jenna talks about all the nitty gritty little details that get in the way but no one ever talks about. I also love hearing the stories of perseverance from all the actors. Acting is hard, and it was so great to know I’m not alone in this. I truly love Jenna Fischer. I mean I loved her so much as Pam on the office, but after this book she is one of my idols. This should be required reading at theatre schools everywhere. Also for anyone who wants to understand the life of an actor better.
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- Joyce Chisholm
- 2022-10-26
somewhere out there
learned so much about the intricacies that test the actor's resolve. great advice for those staggering about the mine field
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- Sarah
- 2018-08-02
Great advice for actors!
I’m a Canadian actor and her advice is what I needed. There is a lot of great content in this book that every actor should learn from. She even explains how the audition process works, how it’s like to work on set and be a guest star or a series regular. Jenna also tells you straight up how it’s like and doesn’t sugar coat it for you. It’s a tough journey for everyone.
This is a marathon and hearing about her journey is inspiring and it had a lot of funny moments in between.
Don’t give up!
Thank you Jenna for motivating me ❤️
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- Beth
- 2020-10-25
Great book!
This book is a great blend of personal memoir and very helpful and specific advice for acting! Jenna does a great job reading her own book aloud. I was riveted by this book - I couldn’t stop listening to it! Fantastic book for anyone - even those who are just curious about the actor’s life.
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- Anonymous User
- 2020-06-16
Delightful
Jenna really loves actors and the craft of acting. She really gets the struggles and anxiety of aspiring actors without a rich daddy or a Godfather in the industry. This book is inspirational and super pragmatic. Love it, love Jenna ❤️
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Overall
- Karina
- 2018-02-17
Great book for all aspiring and working actors!
Loved it! A wonderful and practically guide to what acting life really is. Jenna is honest and full of great advice!
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- Kathy Westling
- 2020-06-05
Glad I’m not an actor!
So glad Jenna narrated her book. I really enjoyed the whole thing. Never wanted to be an actor but it gives you an insight into how much work; determination; persistence & thick-skin you need to pursue this career. Sad it ended.
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- Crystal
- 2023-06-03
insiteful
I'm a fan of the author so I thought I'd give the book a listen and I'm glad I did. I'm thankful she shared the hard work that goes into the job. I think I can appreciate shows and movies a little more now.
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