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A top pick for any who want a taste of show business in their lives Oct 12, 2009
If you can sell something, you can make money. "Lights, Camera... You!: Make Money Doing TV Commercials in Los Angeles of Any Town, U.S.A." is a guide to breaking into the world of commercials, an avenue that doesn't require a Hollywood residence, or even acting dreams. Written by a veteran of many commercials who has turned her success into a storied film and television career, there is much to learn for any television aspirant. "Lights, Camera... You!" is a top pick for any who want a taste of show business in their lives.
A Detailed (and Fun) Manual Jul 28, 2009
Lights, Camera... You by Renee Ashton is a detailed manual for the person who would like to work in commercials. She describes what you need to know from pictures, to agents, to getting a manger and how to have fun while doing it. She explores why you may need these or why you may not need those services. Going even farther, she takes you through activities you will need to work on before and during the audition and call backs.
While being entertaining this book is also everything you would wish for if you wanted to break into this business. Although the author injects her own special humor into the book you also get the serious information you will need to search for auditions and audition effectively. She tells you the good parts and the parts that have tried her nerves. The book also contains ideas about what to do during those situations.
This information is shared by someone who has obviously worked and lived the life necessary to continue this work. The author shares pictures and details of her struggles and successes in this profession. She describes her mistakes and tells the reader how to avoid them.
Ms. Ashton also shares the fact that she owned a business managing actor and actresses. She did this while she continued to work in commercials. Because of this she has unique insights into the hard work an actor and actress need to do to stay current in their craft. She also shares insight into what must be done to continue to seek work. She does all of this while also describing the fun she has had at this profession.
At first Lights, Camera...You seems to be a book for beginners but it is not. The author goes into great detail about the techniques she uses to prepare for auditions. She also describes the lengths she goes to in making her auditions memorable. Ms. Ashton takes pride at bringing more to the audition than a warm body of a certain type. She generously shares information on how to do this with the reader.
In addition this book and the website she gives the reader access to is a wonderful resource. The book lists resources to find auditions, an agent, a manager, and many other types of help someone looking to break into the field does not even know they need yet. With the addition of the website access the reader has the opportunity to access the most current information.
When Lights, Camera...You uses technical terms the reader is quickly given a definition of the term. The definition is in everyday language so everyone can understand. Many of the explanations used in the book are hilarious-especially the continuing explanations of residuals.
This book is such a great resource for someone who is considering working in commercials. It even includes wise information for parents with children wishing they could work in television. I would definitely buy this book.
 Ashton's effusive personality and love for the craft drive her book off the beaten path. Jul 28, 2009
The nuts and bolts of Rene Ashton's process for making a living by acting in television and internet commercials manage to become more than the simple how-to that they were meant to be. Ashton's effusive personality and love for the craft drive her book off the beaten path and become as much a memoir of her personal experience in Hollywood as it is a reference for up and coming actors. The fusion can make the ride a bit shaky at times, but those flaws are easy to forgive when you consider the strength and talent of the driver.
Rene Ashton is hilarious, and her digressions on life are so frequent throughout "Lights, Camera... You!" that you're likely to learn just as much about her as you are about yourself. But that's not a problem when you discover just how likable Ashton is. She has the mad genius personality of somebody who's won already, even before the race starts. She's chic, and writes with a colloquial style that's as natural as if she were chatting with you in a bar. At the same time, she's able to keep the instructional process moving along through a rigid formatting structure which keeps sections short and sweet, highlights specific terms, and uses lots of graphics that keep you focused.
That's not to say that her style is flawless. Her personality is so strong that it can obscure the point she's making at times and cause sentences to be ambiguously phrased. Even the subtitle of the book, "Make money doing TV commercials in Los Angeles or Any Town, U.S.A.", isn't entirely clear. By "doing", Ashton means strictly "acting", not directing, or writing (which provoked my initial interest), or lighting, or stage design. These kinds of flubs will clamp down on your ankles a few times in the book, tripping you up in places, but they seem almost necessary in order for Ashton to achieve her off-the-cuff aesthetic that's so pleasing throughout.
It's clear that the main advice Ashton has to offer is in the positive tone that she wields almost as if it were magic. Attitude is your greatest weapon in Hollywood, and this book is positively dripping with it. Her anecdotes about mistakes she's made on the set and the side jobs she's had throughout her career make her both relatable and deeply sympathetic to the plight of the burgeoning actor or actress. She carries the burden as though it were a feather in her hair and for those who know of the daunting challenges that come with that kind of lifestyle it's hard not to be in awe of her triumph over the industry. (I have only had an inkling of the acting life, and it was enough to send me under my bed.)
On top of this, Rene Ashton includes interviews with industry professionals (more than I've ever seen, in fact), lists commercial agents, provides sample headshots, and indexes casting directors and books for further reading; an absolute total package for the up-and-comer. Although it's worth mentioning that the photos are all in black and white, which is a slight issue when you consider that the trend in Hollywood is color. This wouldn't be so much of a big deal, but the author makes a big deal out of it, apologizing and incessantly reminding you to "just imagine it in color". Also, while the book will enlighten you on the process of how commercial acting works and what to know about the industry, it doesn't stray too far outside of Hollywood. That's where Ashton made her dreams come true, but for those of us in "Any Town, U.S.A.", we'll have to move to L.A., New York, or Chicago to make any kind of dent in the industry. I can't vouch for how these techniques work in Moultry, Georgia, or Fargo, North Dakota, and I doubt that Ashton can either.
What is most remarkable about "Lights, Camera... You!" is that it's an exceptional book not just in spite of its flaws, but largely because of them. It's clear that the author isn't trying to cut corners by refusing to print in color, or trying to lengthen her bottom line by marketing to actors in Frankenville, Missouri. Everything about Rene Ashton is utterly genuine, and her optimism is such a powerful force that it transforms every city and state in the nation into her Los Angeles, every audition is a success, and every day is an adventure. It's hard to believe that Rene Ashton's methods won't work no matter where you live, or what you do, as her most potent advice is about life behind the set of the commercials, which is where most of us live.
I'm ready to try! Jul 22, 2009
Lights Camera action made me consider doing something I had not previously considered. Rene provided up front information about the book's format so I knew what to expect. Vocabulary is explained in plain English. The chapters are easy to follow and is written in a conversation format that is almost like having Rene in your room. The reader is told what to do and why it will benefit them. Some of the dangers are minor and some can halt a career: all of the information is useful for someone ready to try acting. Many of the suggestions are supported by people in the industry and links on the Internet.
Get the Inside Scoop Above Your Competitors! Jul 19, 2009
The author, René Ashton, has an amazing and inspirational personality and it shows throughout this book. I am grateful for all of the insider tips and information she shared with the reader. You will learn what to expect and what will be expected of you, what to wear to your audition, the difference in union and non-union commercials, and so much more. This book truly is priceless.
I am highly interested in getting my son into acting as he is interested in this field of work. With all of the fantastic information I read I feel my son will have a cutting edge in winning each part.
A big thank you to the author for making this possible.
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