Actor Resources

Enter the name for this tabbed section: Books | Blogs | Films

[Book] You mean "how to create a Hollywood scandal for paparazzi?" No. This wonderful kickstart lays out a roadmap for a successful career, using the fun characters of "Dick and Jane". Michael J. Wallach creates a warm & accessible page-turner I can't recommend enough.
[Book] Michael Saint Nicholas provides a page-turning overview of every facet of L.A. for Actors. I highly recommend this book if you're new to the game or to L.A. - and even if you don't live there, it's a refreshing call to get "Back To Ones" as we say.
[Book] What does an agent do? Why must these gatekeepers exist? Shouldn't I just cut out the middleman? Not if you want the big auditions, my friend. Margaret Emory demystifies this symbiotic relationship. Actors, read this book - don't be a geek off the street.
[Book] Don't be fooled into thinking this is just a list of agencies. Far from it; K Callan waltzes you through the politics of dancing with an agent. This book gives heaps of insight into a mysterious realm actors only think they know. Great for planning your attack.
[Book] Sometimes we all just need a little down-to-earth encouragement. Don't give up on your dreams - just find a way to make them possible! This collection of survival jobs may not make you hot-to-trot in the industry - but it might just keep your pilot light on...
[Book] Richard Laermer can spin tube-tops as the greatest thing since sliced bread. This book certainly clears up the world of PR & may inspire you to DIY; while I may not devote the required time to do everything myself, I now appreciate all the work Publicists do!
[Book] EVERY - ARTIST - SHALL - READ - THINE - TEXT. Don't screw yourself over. Peter Jason Riley does a fine job explaining common tax write-offs for artists using laymans terms, and keeps things light. Once you start making money - you'll need this book.
[Blog] Bonnie Gillespie has a wonderful column of advice for all aspiring Actors. Her information is free (you should buy her book, though) honest and always pragmatic; Bonnie has casted tons of Indie features, so she knows her stuff. She's funny to boot!
[Blog] Mark Sikes is on helluva straight-shooter. His casting blog is fun to read (he's seen it all - & he's not afraid to share it.) Mark cuts out the B.S. and gives it to you raw like a New York Cabbie (well, a nice one) while still offering props and encouragement.
[Film] Full of sardonic wit & sharp performances - this gem of a feature is (according to Director Jake Kasdan) an accurate portrayal of the chaos of pilot season, & the true colors of network television. Required viewing for any Writer, Director or Actor...
[Film] Not only prescient when predicting the "shock jock" news circus to hound TVs in the coming decades - this film is a brilliant piece of screenwriting chock full of moving performances. If you have an ounce of curiosity about the inner-workings of television - it's a must see.
[Film] This l'il documentary directed by Kevin Burns focuses on those in film who bring spark & attitude - and you can't quite remember their names. Character Actors - what do they do? Why do they do it? A candid & honest peek behind the curtain for any performer.

Enter the name for this tabbed section: Apps

[iOS] My favorite way to stay motivated is by listening to podcasts using Instacast on my iPhone during LA gridlock. It takes my mind off the traffic, & I learn new things about the industry every week. Instacast also allows you to pre-download podcasts over a wifi connection so you save on precious monthly data!
[iOS] Trip Cubby is an amazing mileage-tracking application for an iPhone. As most artists know, mileage is usually one of biggest deductions we can claim for taxes, & this great little log replaces that crappy paper stuffed in your glove box. Get it!
[Web / iOS] Every artist needs to keep an eye on their budgets, and with Mint for iPad / iPhone - you now have beautiful up-to-the-minute records on every facet of your finances. When you're planning for work & pinching pennies - use the automatic budget feature; set it up once & prepare to be amazed!
[iOS] Readdle Docs is a one-stop shop for document management on the iPad. Actors, Screenwriters & Directors will all fawn over the smooth page read and mark-up abilities; sync this with a Dropbox account, and you'll never be missing the latest scripts!
[Mac / iOS] Evernote is a tremendous catch-all synced perfectly between iPhone & iPad. Have releases that need to be with you on set? How about copies of your passport in case you lose it? I personally scan business receipts and upload them here. Always have a digital backup of your indispensable PDFs, notes & pictures.
[Mac / iOS] Dropbox is a smooth-as-silk way I keep all of my text documents "at the ready" between iPad & iPhone. The strength here is speed and editability; Dropbox is a great way to keep ongoing lists of things you don't want your busy brain to forget, & has been widely adopted by app developers who include this service in their helpful apps!
[Mac] So ya need a website? I've been using Rapidweaver for web design since '05, and every year it gets better and better. Imagine the lovechild of Dreamweaver and iWeb: incredibly powerful, but easy-to-use. The forums are very helpful, the plug-ins are amazing, and it's pretty affordable. What can it do? You're looking at it!

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[Book] You mean "how to create a Hollywood scandal for paparazzi?" No. This wonderful kickstart lays out a roadmap for a successful career, using the fun characters of "Dick and Jane". Michael J. Wallach creates a warm & accessible page-turner I can't recommend enough.

[Book] Michael Saint Nicholas provides a page-turning overview of every facet of L.A. for Actors. I highly recommend this book if you're new to the game or to L.A. - and even if you don't live there, it's a refreshing call to get "Back To Ones" as we say.

[Book] What does an agent do? Why must these gatekeepers exist? Shouldn't I just cut out the middleman? Not if you want the big auditions, my friend. Margaret Emory demystifies this symbiotic relationship. Actors, read this book - don't be a geek off the street.

[Book] Don't be fooled into thinking this is just a list of agencies. Far from it; K Callan waltzes you through the politics of dancing with an agent. This book gives heaps of insight into a mysterious realm actors only think they know. Great for planning your attack.

[Book] Sometimes we all just need a little down-to-earth encouragement. Don't give up on your dreams - just find a way to make them possible! This collection of survival jobs may not make you hot-to-trot in the industry - but it might just keep your pilot light on...

[Book] Richard Laermer can spin tube-tops as the greatest thing since sliced bread. This book certainly clears up the world of PR & may inspire you to DIY; while I may not devote the required time to do everything myself, I now appreciate all the work Publicists do!

[Book] EVERY - ARTIST - SHALL - READ - THINE - TEXT. Don't screw yourself over. Peter Jason Riley does a fine job explaining common tax write-offs for artists using laymans terms, and keeps things light. Once you start making money - you'll need this book.

[Blog] Bonnie Gillespie has a wonderful column of advice for all aspiring Actors. Her information is free (you should buy her book, though) honest and always pragmatic; Bonnie has casted tons of Indie features, so she knows her stuff. She's funny to boot!

[Blog] Mark Sikes is on helluva straight-shooter. His casting blog is fun to read (he's seen it all - & he's not afraid to share it.) Mark cuts out the B.S. and gives it to you raw like a New York Cabbie (well, a nice one) while still offering props and encouragement.

[Film] Full of sardonic wit & sharp performances - this gem of a feature is (according to Director Jake Kasdan) an accurate portrayal of the chaos of pilot season, & the true colors of network television. Required viewing for any Writer, Director or Actor...

[Film] Not only prescient when predicting the "shock jock" news circus to hound TVs in the coming decades - this film is a brilliant piece of screenwriting chock full of moving performances. If you have an ounce of curiosity about the inner-workings of television - it's a must see.

[Film] This l'il documentary directed by Kevin Burns focuses on those in film who bring spark & attitude - and you can't quite remember their names. Character Actors - what do they do? Why do they do it? A candid & honest peek behind the curtain for any performer.

[iOS] Trip Cubby is an amazing mileage-tracking application for an iPhone. As most artists know, mileage is usually one of biggest deductions we can claim for taxes, & this great little log replaces that crappy paper stuffed in your glove box. Get it!

[iOS] Readdle Docs is a one-stop shop for document management on the iPad. Actors, Screenwriters & Directors will all fawn over the smooth page read and mark-up abilities; sync this with a Dropbox account, and you'll never be missing the latest scripts!