Top 5 Showbiz Sites That’ll Help You Sound Smart!

How well do you really know the acting business?

Do you know the highest grossing movie at the box office last week?  Do you know the studio is behind it?  Can you name 3 Hollywood producers?

These questions are asked to gauge how well you know the industry you are a part of.  No matter what business you find yourself in, it is imperative to keep your finger on the pulse.

Your journey on the road to a successful acting career is a long one.  It will have its ups and down.  You will find yourself discouraged one minute and elated the next.  The sooner you understand the nature of the business, the better off you’ll be.

It is also always helpful to remember that this is Show Business.  Your business knowledge and skills will always be called into question.  You are selling the powers that be on you.  How do you market yourself?  Package yourself?  Carry yourself?

To help nurture your business side of things, we’ve compiled 5 leading web sites that you should read on a regular basis.  Stay on top of details like box office charts and trends, films in development and production and behind the scenes industry news.  This knowledge will prove itself invaluable as you move along this road to success.

1) Backstage (Nielsen Business Media) is a weekly publication both online and in print. On the scene for over 45 years, Backstage offers a healthy dose of features including 800+ weekly casting calls, a place to post your acting resume, headshot and reel at no charge, message boards and celebrity interviews. The Advice Column gives actors the ability to submit questions directly to a working professional while also dishing out career advice on the art and business side of acting. http://www.backstage.com

2) The Hollywood Reporter (Nielsen Business Media) gives an in depth view on the business side of things. With the honor of being the first entertainment trade on the web, this website provides movie reviews and box office news with industry blogs and podcasts. Current sections include film news and production listings, tv ratings and charts, and a music calendar with featured interviews. First on the scene in 1930, you can be sure they still get it right. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com

3) Variety (Variety Inc.) is printed in a daily and weekly format and is the top choice of entertainment leaders and executives across the land. They are wonderfully chart-happy and list distributors, networks, production companies and studios (and that’s under just one tab!). You can also find film festival info, charts, video and no less than twenty blogs and columnists. As the most widely circulated entertainment business magazine, you’ll find the same data used by the most professional pros. http://www.variety.com

4) Show Business Weekly (Show Business Inc.) is a New-York based weekly publication guiding actors, singers and dancers through their careers. With plenty of auditions and casting calls to keep you busy, you’ll also enjoy the listings of indie films that are in development and in production all over town. Their classifieds section can be a handy tool if you are in New York and on the hunt for headshot photographers, acting classes or singing lessons. http://www.showbusinessweekly.com

5) Playbill (Playbill Inc.) is not only the informative mag you’re handed at Broadway shows. The Playbill website offers a detailed review of all things stage. Browse the site for ticket discounts and other member benefits while getting your complete Broadway news, reviews, celeb buzz and listings fix. Features include a week in review, Broadway box office totals, and an Ask Playbill section. What industry site would be complete without a jobs section? Head over to the Casting & Jobs section and search for your dream job. http://www.playbill.com

Most parts of these sites are free to use.  Get into a habit of browsing through the pages and you’ll quickly find yourself immersed in the biz.  And you’ll feel and sound like a pro when you can speak intelligently around talent agents, casting directors and producers.

2 Comments to Top 5 Showbiz Sites That’ll Help You Sound Smart!

sarah may lee on May 19th, 2009
1. 

   you site is amazing and should be put on this list and this list should be put on every acting info website, thank you very much!

   you will be listed on the top 15 list of best acting info on my site, which is updated weekly, however it tends to crash, so check up on it, if you want to of course, once again thank you =]
Joshua on May 19th, 2009
2. 

   Well thank you, Sarah! We appreciate your comment, and are thrilled to learn you are enjoying the site.

   The link you provided is not working, as you pointed out. Is there a direct link to your website?

   -Joshua

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