In Stores Now:

Confessions of a Casting Director: Help Actors Land any Role with Secrets from Inside the Audition Room 
by Jen Rudin
It Books
Trade Paperback


The phone call came out of the blue from a guy I knew from high school.  The guy and I had recently reconnected because he had opened a comic book store and was also writing/drawing his own comic book.  He asked me to edit the book for him and I did.

Teddy was a nice guy if a tad weird.  O.k. a lot weird.  But today I'm talking about the nice guy part.

So as I was saying, he called me one day and told me that there was a movie filming in town and they needed warm bodies.  He was not calling me because of any acting expertise on my part but because the filmmakers had put out the word that they needed extras for one day only.  They apparently were desperate and that's where I came in.  Teddy sweetened the pot by telling me I'd actually get paid and get a free meal.  Hell yeah! I would get to watch a movie get made and eat for free!  Not to mention, finally get discovered and become the huge movie star I was destined to be.

I was in two scenes, none of which made the final cut.  I refuse to claim any responsibility for the omission of these scenes, as I'm sure it was one of the other 50 guys who messed up the shot.

My brush with Hollywood fame and fortune was the movie Love Potion No. 9, starring BookDude.  Also in the movie was someone you've never heard of named Sandra Bullock.  Tate Donovan was also in the movie, and dating Bullock at the time.  A couple of the other extras and I were treated to an impromptu non-sexual invitation to Donovan's hotel room (my scenes were shot in a grand hotel in Chattanooga) for what amounted to a look at his own copy of the script and its annotations.  He was a nice guy.  My only interaction with Ms. Bullock was when she stepped over my outstretched legs as I lounged on the floor of the aforementioned grand Chattanooga hotel waiting for my next scene to chew.

If only this book had been available then....


From the publisher website:

Confessions of a Casting Director is a must-have for any aspiring actor or stage parent—the definitive guide to breaking into film, television, theater, and even YouTube from longtime casting director and studio executive Jen Rudin.

Packed with information that aspiring actors want, her up-to-the-minute expert advice is essential for anyone pursuing an acting career. Jen Rudin demystifies the often intimidating and constantly changing audition process, sharing insider tips on preparing for every type of audition: musical theater, television (including commercials and reality TV), and film to voiceovers, animated movies, and even web series.

In this comprehensive guide, Rudin covers everything today’s actor needs to succeed, including finding an agent or manager; using technology to your advantage; the demanding world of child acting; the pros and cons of New York vs. LA; turning a callback into an offer for the role, and much more.

Every actor should walk into an audition room feeling confident and prepared, and this book is full of the Dos and Don’ts, sure-fire tricks, and must-have information to help turn rejection into that first big break.

Complete with checklists, easy-to-follow game plans, and advice from real actors, agents, and entertainment industry professionals, Confessions of a Casting Director is like having your own private audition coach.