If you want to Go to page Express yourself on the big or flat screen Actor5 Capture the action as it happensCamera Operator9 Dress actors in a dazzling range of outfits Costume Designer13 Create some drama in your lifeDirector17 Amaze audiences with your daring stunts Special Effects Artist 21 Jump from moving cars and fall off buildings Stunt Person25 Imagine a starring role for your future Write a Fun Career Adventure 29 Get help with tricky wordsGlossary31 Locate specific information in this book Index32 TABLE OF CONTENTS 4
Looking for your big show-biz break This could be it Fabulous Films is looking for a fresh new face to star in an action-adventure comedy film about a scary ghost gerbil Must be able to film on location for three months in the Canadian wilderness Ability to act with small animals a plus Send resume and head shots to casting agent Difficult divas need not apply Ready to take on this challenge Turn to page 6 Want to explore a career as a Camera Operator instead Go to page 9 Rather consider other choices Return to page 4 Explore the performing arts at http artsedge kennedy-center org students ACTOR 5
You Nailed It It’s the role that can make you a star Hundreds of actors tried out for the part but all your hard work and experience paid off finally after so many auditions And so many disappointments You knew when you came to Hollywood it wouldn’t be easy but you stuck with it going to audition after audition Some you nailed and many you failed Sometimes the role just wasn’t the right fit for you and that’s OK Over time you’ve built a great resume with appearances in small-budget films You’ve learned to memorize lines and how to get so into character that an audience believes you really are that character Ready on the Set Now here you are on set filming your first big scene You can tell this is a quality production A crew spent weeks building what looks like a room in a haunted house It is so spooky The lighting and sound crew are in position waiting for the director to shout Action The makeup artist applies matte and powder to make you look pale and tired The hairstylist gives your hair a tousled just-climbed-out-of-bed look Your costume is rumpled You look nothing like you But you do look like a character who’s being tormented by a scary ghost gerbil 6
Because of your focus you have your part totally rehearsed You are also in tip-top shape Like in many movies this one requires lots of physical action In this scene you are frightened by a ghost fall out of your chair and run from the room You repeat the scene several times in a row because the director does not like the first take or the second Sometimes movie directors ask actors to repeat lines dozens of times Exhausting Indeed Glamorous Not always It’s a Wrap You spend several weeks filming on location When you return to Hollywood there’s more work to be done in the studio It’s a great experience as you’ve really enjoyed working with the cast and crew It’s hard to say good-bye when the director finally says It’s a wrap You can’t wait to see how audiences and critics react when the movie hits the big screen in theaters Hearing audiences applaud and seeing your name as the credits roll at the end of the film never gets old 7
