How to Succeed in ...

‘The Business of Acting’

Want Your Name in Lights in Movies or Television?

Are You the Parent of the Next Child Star?

Want to Avoid the Scams & Pitfalls of the Learning Curve?

‘If You Want to Make it in Show Business ...’

... you need to know everything about the profession.  Not just how to act, or how to write, or how to model.  You need to know everything!  It puts you on the silver screen, not just in the audience watching the show.

That's why I've created this manual.  It will guide you step-by-step through the maze known as Hollywood.

You'll even discover ‘Insider Secrets’ the film schools won’t share with you.

For instance:

• Who to cultivate because they may be responsible for your Academy Award
• The #1 reason why it's so hard to get a good agent in Hollywood or New York when you're first starting out
• What having a full resume of student films, stage, minor roles and training tells an agent
• Why you should never list your home address or phone number on your resume
• How to do a market survey that will determine your "type"
• How to present your portfolio
• Types of headshots and how to choose
• What never to put on your portfolio, and why
• What to include in your child's portfolio
• Why you shouldn't use headshots for a child under 5 years old
• Why you should never sign with an agent who isn't a SAG Franchised Agent
• How to find out about casting calls
• Why you should watch those attorney phone calls
• The exception you need to know to get your union card
• Which is the most prestigious of the acting unions & the hardest to get into
• How your salary is calculated - including over-time
• What you need to consider in your motion picture deal
• What you need to know about your television deals
• Why even stars do commercials
• Who is entitled to residuals
• How to avoid being exploited
• Where to find the best training

Just Take a Look at the Table of Contents

 

What is needed to Succeed? Training and experience Talent Courage Patience Common Sense Good Work Ethic Above the Line Who is Considered ‘Above the Line?’ Job Descriptions Below the Line Who is Considered ‘Below the Line?’ Job Descriptions Types of Roles Definitions of Types of Acting Roles Other Types of Acting Jobs Jobs You May Not Have Thought About Agents There are Agents, then, There are AGENTS! Big Agencies vs. Small Agencies What do Agents do? Do Agents Get Their Clients Work? Do Agents Recognize Creative Talent? Getting Your First Agent Courting an Agent Getting Agents to Work for You Things an Agent Will Want to Know Managers Do You Need to Sign a Contract? Power of Attorney Business Managers Lawyers A Necessary Evil? How Early Should You Look For a Lawyer? Finding an Attorney Publicists and Press Agents Who Needs a Publicist? When to Get a Publicist Casting Director The Casting Directors Job What Powers do They Hold? The First Contact Where and How They Find Talent What THEIR Survival Depends On Personal Trainer Don’t Overlook this Team Member The Most Important Person in Hollywood Bar None, This Person You Must Get to Know Headshots The Photographer’s Job Who is in Control? Headshots that Work Determining Your ‘Type’ Portfolio What it is and What it’s For Characters You Can Play Commercial Composite Resume What Should & Should Not Be on Your Resume Unions Screen Actors Guild American Federation of Television and Radio Artists Actors’ Equity Association American Guild of Variety Artists American Guild of Musical Artists Directors Guild of America Writers Guild of America International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Other Industry Unions The Business Side Association of Motion Picture & Television Producers National Association of Theater Owners Association of Independent Commercial Producers Association of Talent Agents American Society of Cinematographers Casting Society of America Getting your Union Card Working Non-Union The Trades What They Are Which Ones are a ‘Must’ Letting Them Know You're in Town Demo Tapes Student Films Stand-up Comedy Industrial and Educational Films The Porn Industry Contracts Difference Between Movie and TV Contracts Pay or Play Tax Indemnity Gross Participation Net Participation Breakeven Deferment Studio Accounting Off the Tops Distribution Fees Interest Negative Costs Gross Participants Overhead Motion Picture Deals Basic Components of a Motion Picture Deal Pre-production and Post-production Compensation Structure Typical Production Schedule Overtime Television Deals Basic Components of a Television Deal Episodic Deal Compensation Scale Major Role Commercial Work Pay List of Jobs and Scale Payments Non-union Compensation Residuals Credit Surviving the Hard Times When Will I Work Again? Your First ‘Real’ Job Exploiting the ‘Break’ Avoid Being Exploited Scams True Stories Avoiding Scams Common Sense The Breakdowns The Way it Works in Hollywood and New York Who Gets Them? Training Teachers Seminars Film schools Acting schools

‘The Business of Acting’ will answer all of your questions and give you step-by-step directions if you want to work in the ‘Business.’  Like anything else, the better educated you are, the better chance you have of making it BIG!

Dear Steve, Thank you so much!  If anyone is serious about making it as an actor, they need your manual.  I used your technique for finding my 'type' for my new headshot.  I've doubled my audition calls.  I thank you, and my agent thanks you. David Leslie Thomas, Nashville, Tennessee

Steve, ... the advice, as you say, is priceless ... Kate Danaher Parks, Wilmington, Delaware

Dear Steve, I really appreciate how simple and straight forward your book is.  I’ve never thought about how important it is to know the business side.  I feel very confident, that with your book by my side, my four year old is going to be a STAR! Carlye Creamer, Orlando, Florida

Hi Steve, I joined the union (AGVA) at 15 and worked in the entertainment business for 20 years.  It was fun, exciting and glamorous, no doubt about that.  But, had I known all the material in your course when I started, a lot of blood, sweat and tears would have been avoided.  This is a "must read" for anyone starting out in the business!  Amazing job! jl scott, ph.d. Orlando, Florida

Dear Fellow Artist,

My name is Steve McChesney.  That’s my real name.  I used to go by another name.  My professional name was Mac Stephens.  ‘The Business of Acting’ isn't a book on acting technique.  It's all about the business!

I’ve spent most of my life in the entertainment business.  I’ve been an actor, a stunt man, a writer, a producer and a director.  Oh, I was also a personal manager handling celebrity talent.