Acting Is Everything
Judy Kerr's encyclopedic guide to the practical business of acting in Los Angeles
Overview
Acting Is Everything by Judy Kerr is a comprehensive reference guide covering every practical aspect of building an acting career, particularly in Los Angeles. It includes information on headshots, classes, agents, unions, and marketing.
The book reads like a detailed manual, with specific recommendations for photographers, coaches, and services, along with pricing information and practical tips. Kerr updates it regularly to keep the information current.
How It Works
Best for actors who are new to Los Angeles or planning to move there and need a thorough orientation to the market. The specificity of the recommendations makes it a valuable reference even for actors already working in LA.
Available in paperback from major booksellers, typically priced between $18-22. Updated editions are released periodically to reflect changes in the industry.
Who Uses It
Recommended as a reference guide that actors can consult as needed throughout their careers. While some specific recommendations may change, the overall framework for career development in LA remains valuable. Kerr's book stands apart from most acting books because it focuses almost entirely on the business side — the practical logistics that determine whether talent translates into a working career. For actors relocating to Los Angeles, this book can save months of trial-and-error by pointing them directly to vetted resources, neighborhoods, and industry contacts. The level of specificity is remarkable: rather than saying 'get good headshots,' Kerr names photographers, discusses their styles, and provides approximate pricing, which is the kind of practical detail that most career guides lack.
Pricing & Plans
Acting Is Everything is available in paperback, typically priced between $18 and $22 for the most recent edition, with older editions available used for significantly less. Digital editions are available for Kindle at around $10 to $15. Kerr has released multiple updated editions over the years to keep pace with industry changes, so it is worth seeking out the most recent version, though even older editions contain valuable foundational advice about career strategy and professional conduct. The book is self-published through Kerr's own company, which means it may not be available at every major retailer but can be ordered directly from her website. Given the breadth and specificity of information it contains, the price is very reasonable compared to what actors typically spend on trial-and-error during their first year in Los Angeles.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
Acting Is Everything's greatest strength is its encyclopedic specificity — Kerr names names, gives prices, and provides contact information for photographers, coaches, agents, and services, saving actors countless hours of research and potentially thousands of dollars in wasted investments. The book covers virtually every practical aspect of an acting career in LA, from finding an apartment in a good neighborhood to choosing acting classes to preparing for different types of auditions. Kerr's decades of experience as an acting coach give her recommendations genuine authority and firsthand knowledge that generic career guides cannot match. The book is regularly updated, which means the information remains more current than most published resources about the entertainment industry. The organizational structure makes it easy to use as a reference guide, dipping in for specific topics rather than requiring cover-to-cover reading. Kerr's writing is warm, encouraging, and practical, making even the most daunting aspects of building an LA acting career feel manageable.
What Could Be Better
Because the book is so LA-specific, actors based in other markets will find significant portions of the content irrelevant to their immediate needs, though the general career principles still apply. Some specific recommendations — particular photographers, coaches, and services — inevitably become outdated between editions, so readers should verify current information before acting on specific suggestions. The self-published format means the production quality and editing are not quite at the level of major publishing house releases, though this is a minor cosmetic issue. The book's practical, reference-guide approach means it lacks the inspirational narrative arc of memoir-style acting books, which some readers may find dry. At over 400 pages, the sheer volume of information can feel overwhelming for actors who are just starting out and do not yet know which topics are most relevant to their immediate situation. Additionally, the book's emphasis on traditional industry pathways may not fully account for newer digital-first approaches to building an acting career.
Our Recommendation
If you are moving to Los Angeles to pursue acting or have recently arrived and feel overwhelmed by the logistics of building a career in this market, Acting Is Everything should be one of your first purchases — it will save you significant time and money by pointing you toward vetted resources and away from common pitfalls. It is also valuable for actors already established in LA who want to ensure they are not missing important career-building opportunities. If you are based outside of LA and have no plans to relocate, the LA-specific recommendations will be less useful, though the general career strategy sections still apply. For actors in New York, there is no single equivalent guide, but K Callan's books on the acting business provide a broader, less market-specific alternative. Pair this book with a technique-focused text for a comprehensive approach to both the art and business of acting.
Pro Tips
Start by reading the chapters most relevant to your immediate career stage rather than trying to read cover to cover — use the table of contents and index to find topics that address your current needs. Before following any specific recommendations for photographers, coaches, or services, verify that the information is still current by checking websites and reviews. Create a personal action plan based on Kerr's recommendations, prioritizing the three to five steps that will have the most immediate impact on your career. If you are new to LA, pay particular attention to the chapters on neighborhoods and logistics, as where you live significantly affects your ability to get to auditions and classes. Use the book as a reference that you return to periodically as your career evolves — the chapters on agents and managers will become more relevant once you have built up credits and training. Supplement Kerr's LA-specific advice with online resources like Backstage and ActorsJunction for the most current industry information.