Breaking Into New Hollywood: A Career Guide to a Changing Industry

by The Los Angeles Times

ISBN: 9781668050033

Published: 2025-08-12

For the millions seeking to pursue their Hollywood dreams, this is the definitive guide to breaking into the entertainment industry that explores and demystifies dozens of careers from acting to post-production, and also takes into account changes brought by the rise of streaming and AI. Everyone loves a captivating Hollywood rags-to-riches story. Take Charlize Theron, who was on her last paycheck and in a heated discussion with a bank teller when a kind stranger—who happened to be a talent agent—stepped in to help her cash an out-of-town check. Or consider Rosario Dawson, discovered right on her front porch by filmmakers looking for fresh talent for Kids. And then there’s Leonardo DiCaprio, the son of a secretary and a writer and distributor of underground comics, who saw acting as a way out of poverty. But that’s not how it usually happens for the tens of thousands of people who work in the entertainment industry. For many just starting out, and even those already in the...