True confessions from an honest-to-goodness working actor in Hollywood and tips from showbiz professionals in casting and directing come together in this invaluable resource for movie-star hopefuls looking to break into the industry. Recognizing that the last thing someone from Los Angeles needs is one more impossible-to-navigate roadmap, this handbook is presented like a textbook, complete with a large glossary and an extensive list of online resources. Standing firmly behind his advice, the author includes a diary section in which he gives each tip and tactic a test run and writes candidly about the results.