Hitting Your Mark covers information that is very difficult to come by, yet every actor is expected to know it all the first time he or she sets foot on a set. A veteran of TV and Film, Steve Carlson deals with the problem that virtually all actors are trained on stage. There's very little opportunity to get to know and understand the workings of a film set until they are already shooting something. Of course, they are already in the belly-of-the-beast by then.

The first edition book did a good job in letting the actor know what to expect… and what's expected of them. This revised 2nd Edition goes further, focusing on the realities of life as an actor.

The technical information from the first book is still there but here we get into the intellectual and emotional sides of acting for a living — answering questions the author has been asked hundreds of times by readers of the 1st edition: How far can you go? How good can you get? How do you deal with the rejection and the lack of security? How do you prepare to give yourself the best chance of success and actually enjoy yourself along the way? …and much more. And so this new book is an even more indispensable guide to one of the most unique journeys you can take.

What they say:

"Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, HITTINGYOURMARK: MAKING A LIFE — AND A LIVING — AS A FILMACTOR is a 266-page, hard-hitting, factual, complete reference and how-to book for the aspiring media actor. HITTINGYOURMARK should be required reading for all would-be film actors. All imaginable Actors' 101 questions are dealt with up front, and some that are tough to imagine. Author Steve Carlson has drawn on his thirty eight years of experience TV and films to create an excellent textbook for actors. Because it is a second edition, it is divided into Book one, which deals with introductions to the basics of camera, set, and stage, technical areas, marks and blocking, camera awareness, working to 'please' the camera, love scenes, editing, teleprompter and cue cards, light and sound, and unique situations and positions, plus auditions on camera. Book Two contains more information about the actual life and experiences of a media actor and the requirements and expectations that make a professional actor successful, or at least, likely to be rehired. The author refers to learning that all production is a team effort, to developing professional POV, or point of view, by which he means ATTITUDE. ATTITUDE can be all-important in determining an actor's level of success and even whether or not they will enjoy their success. The following statement sums up much of what the author believes: "A seasoned professional uses his experience to anticipate problems before they occur and help others on the set who may not be as comfortable as they (p. 191)." Carlson goes on to cover readiness, competing, success and failure, finances (or show busine$$), life off the set, and wrap-up. Some of his closing Thoughts to Live By are priceless: "Do not act like a ‘star… Be good and true to the people who are being good to you… Keep your word… Keep your personal life as simple as possible… Keep good care of money matters… Never be in a position where you HAVE to have this part. Do not borrow money from anyone except the bank and even then, only in dire necessity or when buying a house. (After your career is off and running.) Don't ask, or even permit, someone to do for you what you wouldn't do for them… No one was ever hired out of pity and never will be. You have to be good to play this game (pp. 259-260)." HITTINGYOURMARK is an actor's friend. It does not pretend to be an actor's teacher, that will be experience, but it provides the information to allow an actor to make the most of his or her experience." — Mid-West Book Review

"An absolute must for the library of any beginning actor, seasoned pro, or cinema buff. You'll laugh and learn a great deal from this book!" — Sally Dennison, Casting Director: Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, The Accused, China Syndrome

"As a Director of Photography, my life is made considerably easier when dealing with actors who know about the workings of a film set. Steve Carlson's book, HITTINGYOURMARK supplies much needed information to the new film actor. Most actors pick up a working knowledge of the film set over years of working on it. Steve Carlson's book has shortened that learning curve considerably. The actor, crew and the final film all benefit from this knowledge." — Ken Lamkin, ASC
Director of Photography: Frasier, Wings

"Steve Carlson's book offers a complete, no-nonsense approach to learning the ins and outs of television and film technique from the actor's point of view. It should be required reading by anyone beginning a career in this field." — John C. Zak, Supervising Producer: The Bold and the Beautiful

"I so appreciate, as my students will, the solid coaching and positive approach combined with a realistic appraisal of the actor's life when working and when preparing to work. The sense of humor makes it most appealing and readable, and the depth and breadth of experience makes its content extremely valuable." — Diane Carson,
Editorial Vice President, University Film and Video Association

"HITTINGYOURMARK is the only source I know of for an actor to learn about the set and filming process from an actor's point of view. A very needed addition to the new film actor's library." — Danny Goldman, Actor-Hollywood Casting Director

About the Author:

Steve Carlson has been a working actor for thirty-eight years. In his varied career he has been a regular on the three TV series; General Hospital (ABC), The Young & the Restless (CBS) and A New Day in Eden (Showtime). He has appeared in scores of others, has provided hundreds of hours of television and starred or co-starred in ten feature films.