Behind the Lines

"Behind The Lines: What it Really Takes to Make It as an Actor" is a collection of interviews with some of Hollywood's top agents, managers, casting directors, teachers, and actors, providing valuable insight into what it takes to have a successful acting career. Written for actors at any stage in their careers and for parents of child actors, this book is a must-read!

A former successful commercial actor with over 20 years in the entertainment industry, Jordan Ancel has maintained an impressive number of relationships with some of Hollywood's top professionals. Jordan understands first-hand how actors can struggle on their journey, and he strives to provide valuable and useful information so one may avoid the common pitfalls and obstacles that stand in the way of success. "Behind The Lines: What it Really Takes to Make It as an Actor" is a collection of interviews with some of Hollywood's top agents, managers, casting directors, teachers, and actors, written for YOU— the Actor— and provides valuable insight into what it takes and what you must do to be more successful, happier, and more fulfilled while striving for your dream. Written for actors at any stage in their careers and for parents of child actors, this book is a must-read!

Jordan Ancel is a former actor who’s had the privilege of being personally mentored by Mike Nichols and the late-great Paul Sills. He was a founding member of the award-winning Off-Broadway theater company, The Greenwich House Theater Company, in The West Village of NYC, whose members included (the late) Academy Award-Winning Kim Hunter, Sylvia Miles and Ellen Barkin (Board of Directors). He also achieved great success in commercials, having done major campaigns for Hertz, American Express (with Jerry Seinfeld), and Chrysler, to name only a few. After moving to Los Angeles in 1995, Jordan wrote and produced the award-winning short film, 875, in London. He then went on to become a top print casting director for major advertising campaigns including Fuji, Boost Mobile, Sony, and AT&T. Having also been a leading headshot photographer in LA, NY, SF, New Zealand and Australia, and an accomplished production stills photographer, Jordan’s had the privilege of getting to know some of the top people in the industry from agents and managers to casting directors, producers, and directors. Just for fun, in 2011, Jordan directed the award-winning parody music video, “Monday”, and soon followed with a Star Wars parody, “Episode VII: A New Conflict.” Because Jordan knows first-hand how hard it is for actors to break into the industry, he wrote this book to help those pursuing the dream by providing them with a candid look at how it works, from the experts’ and decision makers’ perspectives. Now, as a successful serial-entrepreneur and business consultant living with his wife and dog in Los Angeles, Jordan is in the process of launching an innovative new internet company, and is also a founding member of Game Nation, a new 10,000 acre theme park opening in Florida in 2017 which will revolutionize theme parks world-wide.