Title: Commercial Acting in L.A.: A Session Director’s Guide
Author: Shaan Sharma
Publisher: 2014, Shaan Sharma
ISBN-13: 9780990408000
Page Count: 203
Genre: Entertainment/Non-Fiction
Reviewed by: Anita Lock , Pacific Book Review
Book Review
Commercial Acting in L.A: A Session Director’s Guide is a step-by-step guide to successfully equip actors for commercial acting jobs. Addressing the “behind the scenes” as well as the do’s and the don’ts of the commercial acting industry, Sharma states that “the information in this book is going to be immensely valuable for a newbie, but even experienced actors will find useful tips and advice.”
Drawing from his seven-year directing experience and his personal acting blunders, Shaan Sharma has produced an atypical instructional manual. Unlike the highly structured and professional prose of basic acting textbooks, Sharma’s writing style is a mix of vulgarity and sarcasm – all within a tutorial format. Aside of his candid approach, there is no doubt that Sharma’s undercurrent message is an impassioned plea for actors to be prepared in everyway possible for the commercial acting world.
While actors may find getting ready for auditions nerve-racking, Sharma makes it clear that there is a big difference between commercial and theatrical casting. Since “the commercial world serves corporate America,” actors are often cast because corporations are trying to capture a certain look over acting skills. Actors, therefore, are told what to do, whereas theatrical casting gives actors an opportunity to participate in the creative process. This distinction is a perfect springboard from which Sharma lays out the pertinent thespian tools needed to succeed in the commercial arena.
Over a course of nineteen chapters, Sharma complements his engaging narrative with Paul Loudon’s clever graphic illustrations. Each chapter opens with a comical depiction that captures the material Sharma intends to cover. Contrary to his easy-going narrative, Sharma diligently addresses a plethora of critical topics that comprise of appearance (headshots, dress, and so forth), the importance of setting up with an agent, what to expect during interviews and callbacks, understanding the actor’s union, to name a few. Sharma also stresses the importance of acting training in the “different games that require different applications of the acting craft.” Those games, which include drama, comedy, dramedy, procedural, single-camera, multi-camera, feature, short-form, one hour, half hour, and especially improvisation, are available through audits and workshops.
Although the tools he shares are great preparation for actors no matter where they may go for commercial auditions, Sharma specially caters to actors in the Los Angeles area, where Sharma not only has his studio, but also his own workshop that he teaches from his home. In fact, he dedicates one chapter on workshops, spending much of it on comparisons between his workshop and others in the immediate area. Sharma includes all his contact information for those who are interested in signing up.
Sharma’s final chapter offers helpful tips for parents who are interested in getting their children involved in commercials. He closes with a sample resume and social media links. While Commercial Acting in L.A. may zero in on actors in the Los Angeles area, there is no doubt that Sharma’s fine-tuned guidelines are incredibly useful for actors everywhere.
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