The Actor's Life: A Survival Guide

Jenna Fischer's "The Actor's Life: A Survival Guide" is an absolute gem! Even if you're not pursuing a career in acting (like me, a community theater enthusiast), this book is a delightful read. Steve Carell's foreword is wonderful, and the photos from Jenna's early acting days are a treat. Her writing style is so casual and engaging, it feels like having a conversation with a friend. What I loved most is how honest Jenna is about her experiences. She doesn't sugarcoat the challenges of the industry, sharing her own rejections and the eight years it took to land her big break on "The Office." This honesty makes the book relatable and inspiring, whether you're a seasoned actor or just starting out. The book is packed with practical advice on everything from creating headshots and resumes to nailing auditions and networking. She even includes sections on the not-so-glamorous parts of an actor's life, like managing finances and juggling side hustles. Jenna also dives into the emotional side of acting, discussing the toll that rejection and self-doubt can take. Her advice on staying motivated and maintaining a healthy perspective is truly invaluable. "The Actor's Life: A Survival Guide" is more than just a how-to guide; it's a heartfelt and humorous exploration of the acting world. Jenna's passion for acting and empathy for her fellow actors shine through, making this book a must-read for anyone interested in the craft.

I've read loads of actor-help books over the years. Los Angeles "survival" guides, actor biograpies, autobiographies, memoirs, etc., and not one of the authors ever opened up this much about their professional experiences, and related so accurately what it's like being a new arrival in L.A. - not knowing anyone, doing extra work to be on set and try to get into the union, being reluctant to get involved in unpaid projects, only to realize that you have to do unpaid projects to meet people and become more involved in the industry, and get footage for your reel, which will eventually lead to better paid and bigger jobs. She has large helpful chapters on headshots, resumes, self-submissions sites, everything. She talks about going through multiple agents at the beginning of her career, and how easy it is to lose them - they close their doors, leave L.A., or die, and you're onto the next one. Am I reading about my own life?! This book is half autobiography, half actor-help, and I loved it. I couldn't read it at night because it got me all riled up, wanting to be productive and create something, which isn't conducive to sleeping. Jenna includes detailed descriptions of her many years struggling to be seen, to get the meeting, to get the next part, which is something that most of the actor-written books I've read failed to do. Books of this nature often feature someones detailed stories of each project they worked on, but tend to leave out any career struggles or roadblocks they encountered, making it seem like they were an overnight success. Nobody is ever an overnight success. Jenna's tale is relatable for every actor, and her warm mix of information, humor, and encouragement made me feel like I was having a conversation with a good friend. Reading her book felt like reading parts of my own story, reminding me that I'm not alone in my journey, and making me hopeful for what the future holds.

This is a great book. I read this after reading “The Office BFFs” and listening to the podcast. When I read this book, I can hear Jenna Fischer’s voice in my head. The writing is very natural, the info is fascinating, and the advice offered in the book is helpful advice for actors. Jenna Fischer tells you about life before The Office as a struggling actor. She gives advice about headshots and auditions and explains what an agent should do for you. She recounts a story when she tried to get into a casting call without her agent submitting her as a potential candidate first. The story is painful/embarrassing to recount, but it taught her an important lesson and she shares the wisdom gained in this book. Quote from actors and directors are sprinkled throughout the book for encouragement and to help describe the long hard road that many actors have had to endure before their name became a household name. This book has pictures which is great because it helps give you a picture of what she is discussing. She shares her headshot photos and talks about how a sultry, stunning headshot did not land her many roles because it did not fit her personality/true self. RECOMMENDATION: BUY. This is a fast, enjoyable, witty, and interesting read.

So I saw this on sale on Amazon and slightly glanced at the title. I thought it was going to be a funny memoir not an actor’s guide to survive acting. Whoops! I contemplated not finishing it but found it kinda fun to read and learn about the ins and outs of acting. Because I live in LA and in my 20’s worked in entertainment (but not as an actor) it was fun to read about what a lot of my friends had tried doing or are still doing! Also, given my experience and that I live in LA a lot of people not from here will ask me acting advice. Why? I am not sure, but they think that because I used to work in entertainment and live in LA I must know something about it. So I kept reading it to see what Jenna would tell them. I laughed out loud in some of the sections and found this book to be full of great advice to anyone wanting to act (or write) in Los Angeles or NYC. Basically if you want to be an actor please read this book. I should probably buy a few copies of this to give out to people when they ask me how to break in to acting... as if I should know just by living in LA. Lol! My only criticism is that this book doesn’t give advice to those who should quit. Jenna came close when she talked about her friend who was managing a coffee shop ... but maybe an addendum in later copies would be helpful. You know- You should quit trying to be an actor if you’re a hermit and never audition. Or you’re a temp but don’t ever audition... or you stopped auditioning because you now manage a coffee shop. Or if you don’t follow the advice here in this book you should rethink your job choice. Something along those lines. Basically if you stop fighting hard for the chance to act you should stop and find another profession. Kudos to those I know who changed courses when they realized they didn’t have the fight to keep on going and ended up being successful elsewhere. And kudos to those I know who didn’t stop and kept on going. They know it’s a hard road but they love it and fight for it! Just know it’s okay to change your mind at any point along your path. I saw too many people hang on for too many years because they didn’t want their dream to end but their heart had left the game years before. I wish they had read this book as I do think it would’ve helped them figure out if they really wanted in on the game or not. If you want to be an actor or are struggling to be an actor read this book!

Thank you, Jenna Fischer! I truly loved this book. It speaks the truth about this business from a wonderful perspective of a working actor. The real struggles. The victories that are unseen to others outside our world. I loved this book because 1) it’s entertaining as hell. Funny & honest. Jenna is likable & lovely on every page. This is not a boring how to break into acting book, nor is it some celebrity dropping names & espousing how great it all is. This real & relatable. 2) it’s a guide book. All actors have their own journey & path to follow. No 2 are exactly alike. There are no exact steps & timelines to success. But guidance is key along the way. That’s what Jenna provides. Guidance along this crazy chosen path. Letting us in on the her personal struggles, experiences, & wins along the way. As an actor, I have many days that I struggle with my career. I feel like I’ve been doing it forever but not getting anywhere. And then there are days I feel like I’m doing ok. Jenna puts a lot of things into perspective. Also it gives me drive in this new year. So if you’re a total newbie trying to break in or a veteran of the biz making headway, I know this book will be a wonderful resource for you.

Over 6 years ago, I made the trek across country to Los Angeles where, like Jenna, I was certain I'd be an immediate success! Unlike Jenna, I had the helpful words of someone who'd already been there. Someone who had already experienced the high and lows of show business, and was willing to share their arduous journey. That person was actually Jenna. Right before relocating, I was emailed a blog she wrote that served as a friendly guide on what to expect after the "big move." I used it as a constant reminder to not give up. Currently, I'm enrolled in Robert D'Avanzo's on camera acting class, thanks to Jenna's glowing recommendation. For me, the timing of this book couldn't be more serendipitous. Not only does she take you through every single detail on how to pursue an acting career, but she also shares stories from her past that make TAL so engaging that it's impossible to put down. I read the whole book in two sittings. Her voice is funny, charming, uplifting, and kind. There's also many cringe worthy stories, which helped me find peace with some of my, ahem... not so great moments in the industry. Ha! This is a very important book. Especially, when you have doubts about where you fit in this crazy world, and whether you want to continue on. Most actors have been there. Even Jenna.

As far as step by step processes go for how to go about acting, I don't think Jenna could be more clear. This book does it's best to balance the good with the bad and the potential a life of acting could offer while tempering expectations. The biggest takeaways I received from this book is to always practice your craft like an athlete or a person a who goes to the gym religiously, make sure you have other outlets outside of acting such as things that you find joy in that don't require you to be great, create a community of friends in this business who you genuinely like and you each support one another, and create your own content! Gone are the days were one has to wait for someone to "give them a chance" to be an actor. You can have a YouTube channel, a podcast, you can write your own scripts and shoot and edit your own ideas and most importantly, you can cast yourself. The Actor's Life is not a book about how to become rich and famous, but more so how to become the best actor you can be and how to build on the human experience we are all having. I would highly recommend this book to anyone in this field of all stages. I really tried to think of something that I could critique with this literature and I really couldn't find anything. Therefore, upon first read, I no doubt must give it 5 stars!

Jenna handles the ups and downs of being a "working actress" with the same honest and warm personality that made us all root for Pam Beesly-Halpert. I will say, if you're looking for an in-depth peek into what it was like to be part of the cast for one of the greatest modern sitcoms, this may not be the best book for you, as she only discusses "The Office" for about a chapter (with a few lovely anectdotes in between). But if you're looking for a true how-to on how to turn your talents into a career, this book might be just the thing! Truthfully, a lot of the lessons she offers can be applied to anyone looking for ANY job, not just one in the world of theatre (or film, or television... "dramatic arts," if you will). You'll laugh, you'll cringe (OOH, that one casting director!!), and you'll close the book with a twinge of hope. I'd recommend this book to anyone who's just turned a major page in their own story and is thinking "Now what?" You might just be inspired!

If you are an actor, this book is a letter to your heart that will keep you company along the way (no matter which stage of acting you are in). I completely recommend it! Jenna's heart is in every page of that book.

Este livro da estonteante Jenna Fischer sobre como ser um ator é exatamente isso: um manual para quem quer cumprir o sonho de viver da sua arte. Mas também é muito mais que isso: é uma ode à perseverança e à paciência. Ela mostra que a vida é dura para quem quer realizar os desejos mais verdadeiros de levar a vida de acordo com a sua vocação. O livro inteiro é inspirador e muito divertido. Ainda mais se você é um fanático da série americana 'The Office'. Vale muito a pena! Altamente recomendável.

El libro es una especie de autobiografía de Jenna Fischer (nuestra querida Pam en The Office), en principio pensado para actores o aspirantes a actores. PERO, el libro es mucho más: si te interesa el mundo del cine, series y demás, tiene muchos datos, curiosidades que te muestran ese mundo sin caer en clichés ni en realidades sórdidas. Te da consejos que de verdad sirven, y que para cualquier persona que le interese dedicarse a esto pueden sacar muchos consejos prácticos.

Really enjoyed this book. Entertaining, gave a good snapshot at what it takes to be a working actor- or at least, what it was like since COVID19 will be changing everything for the next two or three years at least. But I also felt Jenna's book had some good advice for creative people in all fields. Well written book by a very likable person. I highly recommend it.

It's a detailed book with everything an actor needs to know before getting into the business. Along with plenty with stories of Jenna's history and how her life was in LA before the Office, this book provides deep insight into the beauty and the hardships of the industry and how they're sometimes intertwined. However this book's target audience is Actors and actors only, if you're not an actor you will find a lot of information here you don't need to know at all, but might still find the book charming and enjoyable since Jenna does not hold back when telling her own stories, even the embarrassing ones are there, always with a positive outlook which I really appreciate!