Nonfiction Book Reviews
An Actor's Guide: Your First Year in Hollywood by Michael Saint Nicholas
Allworth Press, 2000.Paperback, 261 pages.
ISBN: 158115058X.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
Are you thinking of trying to be an actor or
an actress and moving to Hollywood? If you are going to
make the move, you should arm yourself with plenty of
information, as many before you have
failed. This guide from Michael Saint
Nicholas, an experienced actor and writer,
covers many of the
things actor wannabees (who are actually brave enough
to move to Hollywood), should know.
The book teaches budding actors everything they
need to know including life in L.A., getting work
as an extra, headshots,
resumes, getting your SAG card,
building your credentials, finding an agent and
auditioning. Other helpful advice includes a
chapter on finding ways to support yourself, which
lists common jobs actors hold to support themselves
including bartender, waiter/waitress, retail, instructor,
dancer/performer, airline employee and many others.
The book also includes a great deal of advice from
successful actors and producers. A reference section
in the book includes a directory of SAG-franchised
talent agencies, Soap Opera contact addresses,
SAG contracts, sample audition sign-in sheets,
game show contacts, studio addresses and
a glossary. This is great
reading material and advice for serious novice
actors - or anyone who has a friend or loved one who
wants to be one.
Don't Send a Resume and Other Contrarian Rules to Help Land a Great Job by Jeffrey J. Fox
Hyperion, May 2001.Hardcover, 172 pages.
ISBN: 0786865962.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
Disdaining the traditional advice to polish up your resume
and send it to as many companies as you can find, top notch
marketer Jeffrey Fox advises job seekers to throw out the
old rule book and try some new strategies for landing that
dream job. Don't Send a Resume is written in a
simple, no-nonsense style which makes for fast reading.
The chapters describe such all-important job hunting
tips as why you should never just send out
resumes blindly, why you should never go through the
personnel department, why you should delete your objective from
your resume (employers don't care about your objective, only
what you can do for them), how to write a letter which will
land you an interview, and what to do when you finally do
get asked in for the interview (for one thing, never ask for directions!)
Jeffrey Fox, author of How to Become a CEO and How to Become a Rainmaker has created a must-have book for any serious job seeker. The competition for good jobs is fierce, especially when more companies are laying off workers than hiring them. This handy little book could make the difference between landing the job of your dreams and the unemployment line.
Putting First What Matters Most by Jane K. Cleland
New American Library, February 2001.Paperback, 291 pages.
ISBN: 0451202481.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
In today's hectic world, it's no wonder that so many people feel
stressed and overworked. Putting First What Matters Most is designed
to help you get control of your life, and help you achieve your
life goals.
After completing a short quiz to determine which of four personality
types (producer, optimist, data-collector or accommodator)
describes you best, you then read the instructions which are
tailored to your profile.
The shows you how to prioritize tasks and errands; handle exhaustion;
turn crisis into solved problems; work smarter, not harder; find
resources to help out and learn how to focus on what is important
at home or work. The book also has sections which help you learn
to understand others better. The author also focuses on
communication skills and setting goals.
Author Jane K. Cleland, a featured speaker at seminars, workshops and industry conferences, believes that once you know your personality type you can use it to your advantage. In an uplifting way, Cleland teaches you how to determine your strengths and weaknesses, and how to benefit from this new knowledge and use it to improve your life at home and work. Cleland also provides outlines, quizzes, assignments, exercises and case studies to help readers. This is a great book for those who feel overly stressed, and it would also make a lovely gift for any friend who may be overworked and underappreciated.
Return to the June 2001 issue of The IWJ.
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