Confessions of a Casting Director: Help Actors Land Any Role with Secrets from Inside the Audition Room

If You are a Mom/Dad/Child/Adult in the acting business this book is seriously the BIBLE. Not only should the Parents read the book, but the kids should too. I bought this book in May 2014 right after my kids took another class with Jen. When your kids (my daughter was 12 and my son was 9) come out of a bootcamp acting class saying, "WOW, that was great class I learned so much and she's really nice" that makes your day as a parent especially when classes are really expensive and if they truly love doing this they must take them. When you are a working Mom, as Jen puts it in her book of what her Mom did for her, I am a "Schlepper" too. I work around their schedules; getting my kids to Performing Schools never missing an audition that their Agent sends them on and most of all being prepared(bringing the raincoat). I couldn't wait to read her book after I saw how much my kids got out of her classes. I should have written a review then because I truly value this book and wish I had it when my kids started many years ago. My kids are so Professional that they go on each audition putting 150% in it and after they leave they never ask they just go on to the next. audition. As a Mom, it gets really tiring and you feel burnt out so much because you get so close to Booking than it doesn't happen and you start to question it all. This happened recently so I decided to read Jen's book again and it gave me such a wonderful perspective of the business and validated my feelings the way Jen writes about her experience. Hearing her story since she was a child shows how resilient you really have to be and to think out of the box and be creative by becoming such a successful Entrepreneur. SO for the 4th time I just read the book and I'm still learning what NOT to do and WHAT to do. I am ready just like my kids are for their next audition. Thank you for all those great websites too. I have the book highlighted and will be reading over it weekly. Thank you SO much Jen for being so real. Michele Rosen

Whether you are a new or an experienced actor, Jen Rudin’s, "Confessions of a Casting Director," has something for everyone! An award-winning casting director (and former actor), Ms. Rubin covers all aspects of the business, from auditioning in tv/film/broadway/reality shows/voice overs/commercials to working with managers/agents/new technology. As an actor who is currently auditioning for tv/film roles in a smaller market and planning to transition into the NY market, I found the insider tips and real-life stories very insightful. It was also a confidence booster to read about what I am already doing right! In addition, the chapters are easy to navigate; any specific topic you are looking for can easily be found in the table of contents. Save yourself the years it could take you to figure out this information on your own—READ THIS BOOK FIRST!!

I just finished this book while accompanying my minor daughter on a TV set for a few days. Whether you're a seasoned actor, child actor or parent of a minor actor, there's something in here for everyone! Jen has even more credibility having been on the other side of the camera, as a very successful child actor, for many years. She provides tips on what to expect in the audition room, how best to prepare and all around practical advice for navigating this often confusing world of professional acting. I also really enjoyed the side bar stories from actors about their experiences and learning from their wins and losses too. Acting is a highly competitive field and arming yourself with knowledge is one of the best ways to forge ahead to success. THANK YOU Jen for putting together this great info and sharing your own experience and the lessons learned from your numerous casting and actor friends. This is a gem!

I finished this book in two gulps--easy, entertaining read with lots of first-person stories from actors and casting directors. Explains what you need to start a career in acting, how auditions work, what the role of each player in the mix is (i.e. actor, agent, manager, casting director, producer, director) etc.... Get it--you'll like it! And, BTW, if you ever have the pleasure of meeting Jen in person (or via Zoom as I did during the COVID quarantine) you'll find that she writes just like she talks--with animation, wit, and wisdom!

I am a talent agent in the Midwest and always looking for opportunities to book the actors I represent as well as information to educate them on the process of auditioning. I bought this book and spent my whole Saturday reading it cover to cover. So many great chapters! Such great advice. Lots of personal experiences and quotes from actors and industry peeps.Some favorite sections: Chapter one: The Initial Investment. Acting is a business that requires some basics like Head shots and training. Jen outlines these for you and includes a sample budget. You can't do it with dreams and a camera phone selfie. Chapter nine: Don't tweet us, we'll tweet you! There are many opportunities open to talent outside NY and LA with the technology available via computers and cell phones. Master the ability to self tape auditions. Jen gives some great tips.. also covers the dos and don't of social media.She covers auditioning for Broadway shows, reality shows, commercials, films, and more! This is a great book! GET YOURS TODAY!

I puts her this book shortly after I had a consultation with Jen, and I cannot even begin to tell you how much Jen knows, and how much you could obtain from this book, and how much more insight you can get as to how you approach anything in the industry, and also the difference between NY and LA, and what to expect when living in either one. In this book you will learn things from both an acting and business perspective, and what to expect from the industry. Top 2 favorite books I’ve ever read.

If you're brand new to castings, young and American it's probably useful!

This book has minimal information to say the least. If you’re a brand new actor with little to no training, perhaps this could be a useful tool. Most of these ‘tips’ are common sense and could be found for free online. I suggest buying a more reputable book and saving your money on this one