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Working Actor

Breaking in, Making a Living, and Making a Life in the Fabulous Trenches of Show Business

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Working Actor

Written by: David Dean Bottrell
Narrated by: David Dean Bottrell
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About this listen

Veteran character actor David Dean Bottrell draws on his 35-plus tumultuous years of work in the entertainment industry to offer a guide to breaking in, making a living, and making a life in the fabulous trenches of show business.

Covers every facet of the business, including:

  • Capturing the perfect headshot
  • Starting (and maintaining) your network
  • Picking an agent
  • Audition do’s and don’ts
  • Joining the union(s): SAG-AFTRA and Actors Equity Association (AEA)
  • On stage vs. on screen
  • Paying the bills
  • Self-promotion
  • Late bloomers

When to get out David Dean Bottrell has worn many different hats during his decades in showbiz: television actor with appearances on Boston Legal, Modern Family, The Blacklist, Mad Men, True Blood, NCIS, and Days of Our Lives; screenwriter for Paramount and Disney; respected acting teacher at UCLA and AADA; and regular expert columnist for esteemed acting site Backstage. In Working Actor, Bottrell offers a how-to manual jammed with practical information and insider advice, essential reading for any artist (aspiring or established) in need of insight or inspiration.

Mixing prescriptive advice ("Getting Started", "Learning Your Craft", "Finding an Agent") with wisdom drawn from Bottrell's own professional highs and lows and those of his acting compatriots, this book's humorous, tell-it-like-it-is tone is a must-have guide for anyone hoping to successfully navigate show business.

©2019 David Dean Bottrell (P)2019 Random House Audio
Careers Entertainment & Performing Arts Entertainment Business Acting Business

Critic Reviews

"If you're looking for guidance, here it is. David is not some guru teaching something he hasn’t directly experienced himself. If you’re serious about learning about the reality of working in this business...read this book." (Brian Fagan, director of professional programs at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television)

“It’s like practical magic...a deeply personal, yet universal guided tour into the world of acting and the business of show. Loaded with lessons for the beginner and reminders for 'the vet'." (L. Scott Caldwell, series regular on ABC's Lost and Tony-Winner for August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone)

“A witty and honest peek inside the world of show business, through the eyes of actor/comedian/storyteller, David Dean Botrell, as he recounts his three decades in the business. It’s a must read for anyone pursuing this crazy profession.” (Margo Martindale, Tony nominee, three-time Emmy winner, Justified and The Americans)

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