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| Acknowledgments | |
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| An Overview of Los Angeles | |
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| A Basic Understanding of How Actors Get Work | |
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| It All Starts with You, The Actor | |
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| You'll Need an Agent or Manager | |
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| Off to Auditions! | |
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| The Casting Director | |
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| The Director | |
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| The Producers | |
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| Getting the Part | |
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| Other Ways In | |
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| Starting Your Life in L.A. | |
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| Where Is the Entertainment Industry Located? | |
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| Hollywood/West Hollywood | |
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| The Westside | |
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| The San Fernando Valley | |
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| Renting an Apartment or House | |
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| Transportation in L.A. | |
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| Finding Ways to Support Yourself | |
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| Common Jobs Actors Hold to Support Themselves | |
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| Getting Your Feet Wet with "Extra Work" | |
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| What Is "Extra Work"? | |
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| How Does One Become an Extra? | |
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| Are There Fees When Registering? | |
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| What and How Are Extras Paid? | |
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| Overtime for Extras | |
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| Now That I'm Registered, How Do I Get Work? | |
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| When You Are Booked | |
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| Getting Booked Is a Part-Time Job Itself | |
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| Industry Interview: Advice from Bill Dance, Owner of Bill Dance Casting, on Extra Work | |
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| Industry Interview: Advice from Linda Poindexter, Associate Casting Director for Days of Our Lives, on Soap-Opera Extra Work and Under-Fives | |
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| Becoming a Union Member | |
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| The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) | |
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| SAG's Eligibility Requirements | |
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| Industry Interview: Advice from Bill Dance, Owner of Bill Dance Casting, on Becoming SAG-Eligible | |
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| What to Expect When You Join | |
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| Regarding AFTRA | |
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| The Benefits of Being in the Unions | |
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| A Final Note about Gaining Union Status | |
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| You'll Need a Great Headshot | |
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| How to Find a Photographer | |
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| Choosing the Right Photographer | |
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| Appropriate Wardrobe for Pictures | |
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| The Day of Your Shoot | |
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| The Best Pictures and Current Styles | |
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| Three-Quarter Shots: A Recent Trend | |
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| Reproducing Pictures | |
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| Where to Have Them Reproduced | |
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| Industry Interview: Advice from Michael Helms, Photographer, on Taking Good Pictures | |
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| Putting Together a Professional Resume | |
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| Your Name | |
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| Union Affiliations | |
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| A Contact Number | |
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| Your Web site, If You Have One | |
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| Your Stats | |
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| Film, Television, and Theatre Experience | |
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| Commercials | |
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| Training | |
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| Special Skills | |
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| What to Do When You've Got Limited Experience | |
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| The Finished Product | |
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| Studying Your Craft | |
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| Acting Classes and Workshops | |
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| Choosing a Teacher | |
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| A Checklist of Questions to Ask Before Enrolling in a Class | |
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| Don't Be Fooled by False Promises | |
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| Keeping Up-to-Date with the Biz | |
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| Industry Interview: Advice from Eric Morris, Acting Coach, on Acting and Acting Classes | |
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| Industry Interview: Advice from Julian Neil, Acting Coach, on Acting and Acting Classes | |
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| Finding an Agent | |
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| What Agents Do and Why You Need One | |
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| Getting an Agent to Represent You | |
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| When an Agent Calls You In: The Interview | |
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| Signing with an Agent | |
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| Once You Have an Agent | |
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| A Final Note: Remember to Keep Hustling | |
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| Industry Interview: Advice from Mark Measures, Head of Commercial Division at Abrams Artists Agency, on Actors and Commercial Success | |
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| Industry Interview: Advice from Chris Nassif, Former Owner of CNA & Associates, a Talent Agency, (Now "The Diverse Talent Group") on Succeeding in Hollywood | |
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| Industry Interview: Advice from Buzz Halliday, Owner of Buzz Halliday & Associates, a Talent Agency, on the Business of Acting | |
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| Industry Interview: Advice from Jay Bernstein, Star-Maker, on Succeeding in Show Business | |
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| Building Your Credits and Gaining Exposure | |
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| Student Films | |
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| Non-Union and Independent Projects | |
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| Public Access Television | |
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| Putting on a Showcase | |
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| Joining a Theatre Company | |
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| Volunteering Your Services | |
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| Sending Out Postcards | |
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| The Academy Players Directory | |
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| Getting Online with Castnet | |
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| The Audition Process | |
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| The Elements of an Audition | |
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| Auditioning Tips and Suggestions | |
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| After Your Audition | |
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| A Few Words about Open Calls | |
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| Industry Interview: Advice from Mike Fenton, Casting Director (E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark, Back to the Future, Total Recall, Aliens, Getaway, Arachnophobia, Congo, and many other successful films), on Actors and Auditioning | |
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| Industry Interview: Advice from Mark Teschner, Casting Director for ABC's General Hospital and Port Charles, on Actors and Auditioning | |
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| Industry Interview: Advice from Sheila Manning, Commercial Casting Director, on Acting in Commercials | |
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| Getting the Part | |
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| Your Contract and How It's Negotiated | |
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| Understanding How Deals Are Made | |
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| Determining Your Salary | |
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| What About Billing? | |
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| A Per Diem | |
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| Getting Ready for Your Job | |
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| The Day You Go to Work | |
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| Working on Television is Different from Film | |
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| You're On! | |
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| That's a Wrap! | |
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| Publicizing Your Success | |
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| The Snowball Effect | |
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| Reality Television: A Recent Trend | |
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| The Good News | |
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| The Reality TV Application Process | |
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| Other Ways to Get on Reality Television | |
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| The Bad News | |
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| Pertaining to the Wallet | |
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| Handling Your Taxes | |
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| The VITA Program | |
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| Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft | |
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| Living Within Your Means | |
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| Unemployment | |
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| Saving Money in L.A. | |
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| Creating a Positive Existence | |
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| A Healthy Physical Body | |
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| A Balanced and Focused Mind | |
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| A Healthy Emotional State | |
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| A Spiritual Self | |
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| You Are Here to Have Fun! | |
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| Advice from Established Film Actors | |
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| Industry Interview: Advice from Mariette Hartley, Actress | |
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| Industry Interview: Advice from William McNamara, Actor | |
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| Industry Interview: Advice from Michael Harris, Actor | |
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| Advice from a Writer/Producer and a Publicist | |
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| Industry Interview: Advice from Earl Hamner, Writer/Producer (The Waltons, Falcon Crest) | |
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| Industry Interview: Advice from Michael Levine, Publicist, Owner of Levine Communications Office, Inc. | |
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| More Advice from Working Actors | |
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| Industry Interview: Advice from Max Alexander, Comedian and Actor | |
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| Industry Interview: Advice from Jimmy Wlcek, Actor | |
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| Industry Interview: Advice from Veanne Cox, Actress | |
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| Industry Interview: Advice from Brad Greenquist, Actor | |
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| Extensive List of Los Angeles Talent Agencies | |
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| Soap Opera Contacts | |
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| SAG Contract Summary | |
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| Sample Audition Sign-In Sheet | |
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| Game Show Contacts | |
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| Studio Locations and Contact Numbers | |
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| Glossary | |
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| Index | |