Here's what readers are saying about "I've never read anything for actors that tells the
truth and inspires them at the same time until I read Michael Bofshever's
book, Your Face Looks Familiar... Actors, keep it in your car and read
it before auditions!" "I have just finished reading your book and wanted to say I found it to be very insightful into this business. What I found most comforting is that it explains the basics of this industry, what to expect and how to cope with it. I think that was my biggest worry. Even though I'm fortunate to have an agent I was wondering where do I, myself, as an actor start? The book has helped me with that question and has given me many other insights. Its also nice to know other actors have gone through this and how they overcame it." Thank you from CHICAGO!! Feb.
6th 2007 Real Stories from Reel
Actors, Amazon,
July 14, 2006 I heard Michael Bofshever speak at a Screen Actors Guild event recently. He has a genuine respect for the craft of acting, and over many years of being a professional actor, has come to terms with the realities of a career in 'the biz'. The beginning of each chapter in this book is great at describing the various aspects of a working actor's career and everyday life. Then there are blurbs from actors whose faces really are 'familiar', like Marcella Lowery from 'The Cosby Show' or James Rebhorn from 'Talented Mr. Ripley'. The stories are fun and down-to-earth, and truly give you a picture of what the entire process of becoming a professional actor is like. Because you are reading verbatim accounts from each person, you get many different perspectives on the types of successful careers one can have. It can be a little confusing sometimes to go from story to story, but all in all it's really informative and a fascinating read, for anyone interested in what it's really like to be an actor! From Amazon.com 5/8/06: How to Get Ahead as a Working Actor I think this is a pretty good book for any actor, regardless of what stage of his career presently occupies. It is a realistic guide to the acting profession. As a professional returning to performing after 24 years on Wall Street, I found it a good reminder of many things I had forgotten. Bofshever gives knowledgeable advice on how to break in and, more important, how to stay in the acting business. Particularly valuable to me was the chapter on what to expect and how to behave once you report for work on a television or film sound stage. The book is divided into ten chapters in which Bofshever gives his views on a particular aspect of performing professionally (auditions, agents, acting teachers, day jobs, stage acting vs. film acting, mental health, etc.). At the end of each chapter, he quotes additional comments culled from interviews with other working actors about their experience. The 60 actors interviewed are all of different physical types, ethnicity and ages. Each of them has something worthwhile to say. The hardest part of the profession is the constant rejection and the long periods of unemployment. These actors have all been through it and their experience and advice is worth reading about. The life of an actor is a difficult one. Only the strong can take it. Bofshever's book can perhaps make it a little less painful. Four stars. From actress Gina Rowland
5/23/06:
by Jacqueline Bundy There are men and women who are steadily working actors despite the overwhelming odds against them making a living as a performer. You may not always know their names, but you often know their faces. One of the reasons for their success is that each of them knows, from personal experience, that it takes a lot more than just talent and a good agent to have a successful acting career. The new book Your Face Looks Familiar... offers practical advice to anyone who is interested in, or currently pursuing, an acting career - advice that is based on the cumulative experience of a broad range of professional working actors. Among those sharing their knowledge are Star Trek alumni Ethan Phillips (Neelix), Robert Picardo (The Doctor), Armin Shimerman (Quark) and Gregory Itzin (Admiral Black, Dr. Dysek). Author Michael Bofshever has drawn on his 30 years of experience as a working actor, acting teacher and director on stage, television, and in film to write Your Face Looks Familiar..., but what really makes this excellent informational title stand out are the excerpts from dozens of interviews with a wide range of working actors, each of whom share their personal experiences of learning to navigate "the business". The book is organized into ten chapters that cover the subject matter in a very thorough and matter-of-fact way. Bofshever's text is straight forward and extremely readable. His own text opens each chapter and then he lets the actors he has interviewed take it from there. The actors themselves tell you how they made their journeys. Bofshever obviously took great care in the selection of excerpts and the stories that are shared provide great insight into all aspects of successfully pursuing a career as an actor. I certainly have more respect for those individuals who choice this path after reading this book. Anyone who is interested in acting, or actors, whether or not you have any inclination to act themselves will find Your Face Looks Familiar... to be an interesting and informative reading experience.
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