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Jenna Fischer
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The Actor's Life: A Survival Guide Kindle Edition

by Jenna Fischer (Author), Steve Carell (Foreword) Format: Kindle Edition
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 2,505 ratings
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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.
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  1. Print length
    273 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    BenBella Books
  5. Publication date
    November 14, 2017
  6. File size
    17023 KB
  7. Page Flip
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From the Publisher

Jenna Fischer

Matthew Weiner

Jon Hamm

Christina Applegate

Editorial Reviews

Review

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.

-- "Allison Jones, Casting Director"

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.

-- "Jon Hamm"

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.

-- "Julianna Margulies"

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.

-- "Christina Applegate"

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.

-- "Matthew Weiner, creator of Mad Men"

Review

"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."
—Jon Hamm

"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."
—Christina Applegate

"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."
—Julianna Margulies

"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."
—Matthew Weiner, creator of Mad Men

"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."
—Allison Jones, Casting Director

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01NCYPTIG
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ BenBella Books (November 14, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 14, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 17023 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 273 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 2,505 ratings

About the author

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Jenna Fischer

Jenna Fischer

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Jenna Fischer is best known for playing Pam Beesly on the acclaimed television show The Office for which she received an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actress and two SAG Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Comedy.

After wrapping The Office, Fischer went on to star in the UK/SKY B limited series You, Me and the Apocalypse along with Rob Lowe and Megan Mullally. She also starred in the Off-Broadway play Reasons to Be Happy, written and directed by Neil LaBute. Most recently, Fischer was on stage in the world premiere of Steve Martin's newest absurdist play Meteor Shower for a record-breaking run at the Old Globe Theatre.

Fischer's film credits include The Giant Mechanical Man (which she also produced), The Farrelly Brothers’ comedy Hall Pass, Solitary Man, opposite Michael Douglas, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, produced by Judd Apatow, and Blades of Glory, opposite Will Ferrell. She is upcoming in the Mike White feature Brad's Status starring Ben Stiller.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
2,505 global ratings
Great book!
5 Stars
Great book!
I’m still reading this book and so far so good! Jenna Fischer has done an amazing job telling her own experiences whilst simultaneously giving tips to up and coming actors. I’ve noticed a few ink blotches on different pages throughout but it doesn’t interfere too badly with seeing the words.
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Top reviews from the United States

Abbey
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Look Behind the Curtains
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2023
Verified Purchase
This is a great book. I read this after reading “The Office BFFs” and listening to the podcast. When I read this book, I can hear Jenna Fischer’s voice in my head. The writing is very natural, the info is fascinating, and the advice offered in the book is helpful advice for actors.

Jenna Fischer tells you about life before The Office as a struggling actor. She gives advice about headshots and auditions and explains what an agent should do for you. She recounts a story when she tried to get into a casting call without her agent submitting her as a potential candidate first. The story is painful/embarrassing to recount, but it taught her an important lesson and she shares the wisdom gained in this book.

Quote from actors and directors are sprinkled throughout the book for encouragement and to help describe the long hard road that many actors have had to endure before their name became a household name.

This book has pictures which is great because it helps give you a picture of what she is discussing. She shares her headshot photos and talks about how a sultry, stunning headshot did not land her many roles because it did not fit her personality/true self.

RECOMMENDATION: BUY. This is a fast, enjoyable, witty, and interesting read.
One person found this helpful
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Martin Torres, Jr
5.0 out of 5 stars Aspiring Actors, Read this Book!
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2024
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What a fantastic book, full of wisdom, humor, inside stories, and inspiration for any aspiring actors following their dreams of making it in the business of acting on stage, on tv, or on film.

Thank You Jenna!
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Mariah Avery
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2024
Verified Purchase
I’m still reading this book and so far so good! Jenna Fischer has done an amazing job telling her own experiences whilst simultaneously giving tips to up and coming actors. I’ve noticed a few ink blotches on different pages throughout but it doesn’t interfere too badly with seeing the words.
Customer image
Mariah Avery
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2024
I’m still reading this book and so far so good! Jenna Fischer has done an amazing job telling her own experiences whilst simultaneously giving tips to up and coming actors. I’ve noticed a few ink blotches on different pages throughout but it doesn’t interfere too badly with seeing the words.
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KTBR
4.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected- but still enjoyed it!
Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2018
Verified Purchase
So I saw this on sale on Amazon and slightly glanced at the title. I thought it was going to be a funny memoir not an actor’s guide to survive acting. Whoops!
I contemplated not finishing it but found it kinda fun to read and learn about the ins and outs of acting.
Because I live in LA and in my 20’s worked in entertainment (but not as an actor) it was fun to read about what a lot of my friends had tried doing or are still doing!
Also, given my experience and that I live in LA a lot of people not from here will ask me acting advice. Why? I am not sure, but they think that because I used to work in entertainment and live in LA I must know something about it.
So I kept reading it to see what Jenna would tell them. I laughed out loud in some of the sections and found this book to be full of great advice to anyone wanting to act (or write) in Los Angeles or NYC.
Basically if you want to be an actor please read this book.
I should probably buy a few copies of this to give out to people when they ask me how to break in to acting... as if I should know just by living in LA. Lol!
My only criticism is that this book doesn’t give advice to those who should quit. Jenna came close when she talked about her friend who was managing a coffee shop ... but maybe an addendum in later copies would be helpful.
You know- You should quit trying to be an actor if you’re a hermit and never audition. Or you’re a temp but don’t ever audition... or you stopped auditioning because you now manage a coffee shop. Or if you don’t follow the advice here in this book you should rethink your job choice. Something along those lines.
Basically if you stop fighting hard for the chance to act you should stop and find another profession. Kudos to those I know who changed courses when they realized they didn’t have the fight to keep on going and ended up being successful elsewhere. And kudos to those I know who didn’t stop and kept on going. They know it’s a hard road but they love it and fight for it!
Just know it’s okay to change your mind at any point along your path. I saw too many people hang on for too many years because they didn’t want their dream to end but their heart had left the game years before. I wish they had read this book as I do think it would’ve helped them figure out if they really wanted in on the game or not.
If you want to be an actor or are struggling to be an actor read this book!
22 people found this helpful
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Shauna
5.0 out of 5 stars A very good book for actors going through a rough phase
Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2024
Verified Purchase
Great for beginners or working actors in a tough spot.
She writes with honesty, humor, compassion. It helped me through tough times. I recommend.
One person found this helpful
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Jaime
5.0 out of 5 stars The best actor-help book I've ever read!
Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2017
Verified Purchase
I've read loads of actor-help books over the years. Los Angeles "survival" guides, actor biograpies, autobiographies, memoirs, etc., and not one of the authors ever opened up this much about their professional experiences, and related so accurately what it's like being a new arrival in L.A. - not knowing anyone, doing extra work to be on set and try to get into the union, being reluctant to get involved in unpaid projects, only to realize that you have to do unpaid projects to meet people and become more involved in the industry, and get footage for your reel, which will eventually lead to better paid and bigger jobs. She has large helpful chapters on headshots, resumes, self-submissions sites, everything. She talks about going through multiple agents at the beginning of her career, and how easy it is to lose them - they close their doors, leave L.A., or die, and you're onto the next one. Am I reading about my own life?! This book is half autobiography, half actor-help, and I loved it. I couldn't read it at night because it got me all riled up, wanting to be productive and create something, which isn't conducive to sleeping. Jenna includes detailed descriptions of her many years struggling to be seen, to get the meeting, to get the next part, which is something that most of the actor-written books I've read failed to do. Books of this nature often feature someones detailed stories of each project they worked on, but tend to leave out any career struggles or roadblocks they encountered, making it seem like they were an overnight success. Nobody is ever an overnight success. Jenna's tale is relatable for every actor, and her warm mix of information, humor, and encouragement made me feel like I was having a conversation with a good friend. Reading her book felt like reading parts of my own story, reminding me that I'm not alone in my journey, and making me hopeful for what the future holds.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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EDGARDO A.
5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente
Reviewed in Mexico on November 21, 2021
Verified Purchase
Llegué por ser fan de The Office y terminé encontrando una excelente guía para toda persona que aspira a trabajar en algo creativo. No sólo actuación. Inspirador sin ser un texto de autoayuda. Duramente realista pero motivacional. Si estás en una crisis vocacional en este mundo capitalista, vale la pena darle una checada.
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SallyC
5.0 out of 5 stars Useful & fun to read even if you have no intention of becoming an actor.
Reviewed in Canada on August 12, 2020
Verified Purchase
Really enjoyed this book. Entertaining, gave a good snapshot at what it takes to be a working actor- or at least, what it was like since COVID19 will be changing everything for the next two or three years at least. But I also felt Jenna's book had some good advice for creative people in all fields. Well written book by a very likable person. I highly recommend it.
3 people found this helpful
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Elai
5.0 out of 5 stars Libro sorprendentemente bueno: si te gusta el cine, si te gusta the office o si eres actor
Reviewed in Spain on July 29, 2021
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El libro es una especie de autobiografía de Jenna Fischer (nuestra querida Pam en The Office), en principio pensado para actores o aspirantes a actores.
PERO, el libro es mucho más: si te interesa el mundo del cine, series y demás, tiene muchos datos, curiosidades que te muestran ese mundo sin caer en clichés ni en realidades sórdidas.
Te da consejos que de verdad sirven, y que para cualquier persona que le interese dedicarse a esto pueden sacar muchos consejos prácticos.
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Jess
5.0 out of 5 stars Buy it !!!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2021
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If your contemplating buying it don’t, just buy it.. I love this book... it’s so helpful, just buy it if your looking for tips etc and getting into the career x
One person found this helpful
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R230
5.0 out of 5 stars Conseils pour forcer le destin
Reviewed in France on February 15, 2021
Verified Purchase
C'est l'histoire d'une jeune fille simple qui s'est lancée à la poursuite de son rêve et qui a réussi à apprendre de ses erreurs, à s'adapter et finalement à percer. Ses réflexions sont valables pour tous les parcours. Cela permet également de se rendre compte de la vie de galère des figurants qui font la consistance d'un film.
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