One Less Bitter Actor: The Actor's Survival Guide

by Markus Flanagan

An invaluable reference for anyone who is a working actor, or wants to be. Learn how to make it in the day-to-day business of acting and stay sane and focused while attempting to merge art and commerce. This book covers everything the author wishes someone had told him about how casting decisions are made, what rejection really means, how to behave on a set, the two factors the business is built on, and much more. Markus Flanagan offers encouraging, highly useful pointers on such vital matters How do you combat getting typed?, Understanding the people you are auditioning for, Bad habits to avoid in the audition waiting room, The two deadliest questions you may be asked before starting your reading, What are they looking for in the call back?. One Less Bitter Actor offers sage, pragmatic, anxiety-calming advice on how to succeed in acting from one who has.

Genres: Nonfiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published December 6, 2007

Reviews

[Tommy Kendrick]

For the past several years I’ve been recommending Markus Flanagan’s One Less Bitter Actor to every actor who asks me for advice about ‘the business’ about pursuing the life of a professional actor. The book really is THAT good.

Let me quote myself from a Review I wrote of One Less Bitter Actor for a blog post from 2008:

Just the chapter on Auditioning is more than enough reason to purchase ONE LESS BITTER ACTOR. How I wish I’d had this book thirty years ago. I had no mentor, no acting guru and no relative in the business.

The information and insight in this one chapter could have saved me a lot of angst, anger and agony along the way. And it is a book that every actor, particularly every actor at the beginning of his/her career should read and should keep handy for review during the tough times.

Read more and listen to my (audio only) interview with actor-writer Markus Flanagan here: http://www.actorstalkacting.com/31