For over three decades, director Ken Kwapis has charted a career full of exceptional movies and television, from seminal shows like The Office to beloved films like He’s Just Not That Into You. He is among the most respected directors in show business, but getting there wasn’t easy. He struggled just like everyone else. With each triumph came the occasional faceplant. Using his background and inside knowledge, But What I Really Want To Do is Direct tackles Hollywood myths through Ken’s highly entertaining experiences. It’s a rollercoaster ride fueled by brawls with the top brass, clashes over budgets, and the passion that makes it all worthwhile. This humorous and refreshingly personal memoir is filled with inspiring instruction, behind-the-scenes hilarity, and unabashed joy. It’s a celebration of the director’s craft, and what it takes to succeed in show business on your own terms. "Ken Kwapis always brought out the best in the actors on The Office. Whenever Ken was directing, I always felt safe to go out on a limb and take chances, knowing he had my back. Every aspiring director should read this book. (I can think of several 'professional' directors that should read it too!)" -Jenna Fischer "A vital, magnificent manifesto on the art and craft of directing, written with emotional, instinctual and intellectual depth by one of America's most beloved film and television directors" -Amber Tamblyn "In the years that I was fortunate to work with Ken on Malcolm in the Middle, he had an uncanny ability to guide actors right to the heart of a scene and reveal its truths. He admits that he doesn’t have all the answers, he’ll make mistakes, and at times he’ll struggle, but as he says in the book, 'It’s the struggle to get it right that makes us human.'" -Bryan Cranston "Good luck finding a more kind, passionate, and talented director alive than Ken. Seriously, good luck." -Tig Notaro “'Action!' is what most directors bark out to begin a scene. But Ken Kwapis starts by gently intoning the words 'Go ahead...' That simple suggestion assures everyone they’re in smart, capable, humble hands. That’s how you’ll feel reading this book. And so, if you’re anxious to discover how a top director always brings humor, honesty, and humanity to his work, all I can tell you is...Go ahead." -Larry Wilmore

Becoming a TV director is nothing like other professions. There is no road map. Traditionally, the only way to break in was through access to a powerful mentor to show you the way, but today creative people with a drive to direct are finding their own ways into the industry. In this book of interviews, working TV directors show you exactly how they did it. No two stories are exactly alike. These deeply personal interviews with a racially and culturally diverse range of eight women and eight men are candid and full of practical insights. For the first time in the 100-plus year history of the entertainment industry there are increasing opportunities to rise into the director's chair. This book reflects the hope and promise of a new era. Open the cover and discover the mentor you deserve.

Go Hollywood—with a complete, insightful look at the biggest jobs on the movie set. What I Really Want to Do on Set in Hollywood is one-stop shopping for anyone who wants to work in film. It's the only behind-the-scenes title that offers a detailed look at the industry explores more than 35 jobs from around the film industry. A must-have for anyone interested in Hollywood.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A life-changing guide to finding your direction—and your passion—in a world of seemingly limitless options “For those who want to find their passion . . . a step-by-step guide for restructuring one’s life so that it has meaning, direction, and joy.”—Ellen Kreidman, author of Light His Fire and Light Her Fire If you suspect there could be more to life than what you’re getting, if you always knew you could do anything—if you only knew what it was—this extraordinary book is about to prove you right. No matter what your age, no matter how “unattainable” your dreams, you can create and live a life you love. I Could Do Anything If Only I Knew What It Was reveals how you can recapture “long lost” goals, overcome the blocks that inhibit your success, decide what you want to be, and live your dreams forever. You will learn: • What to do if you never chose to be what you are. • How to get off the fast track—and on to the right track. • First aid techniques for paralyzing chronic negativity. • How to regroup when you've lost your big dream. • To stop waiting for luck—and start creating it. A life without direction is a life without passion. I Could Do Anything If Only I Knew What It Was guides you not to another unsatisfying job but to a richly rewarding career rooted in your heart’s desire.

Presents a selection of interviews with some of the entertainment world's most important directors, creators, writers, actors, and musicians who discuss their unique careers.

We believe that direct sales is more than any one platform, or any one modality. It's a network of platforms and strategies that form a foundation for your author business. When you try to define direct sales across any one axis, you lessen its impact. We didn't want to do that. We wanted to show you the full scope of what is possible with direct sales, which ended up being a lot of words. The book became so long that we actually split it into two books. When we looked at what we've already written, and what we have planned, we realized this really is the definitive guide to direct sales for authors. Direct Sales Mastery for Authors Volume 2 This volume dives deep into the StoryUrge Messaging Framework, which helps authors create strong marketing messaging that actually helps them sell a book. This goes far beyond a blurb or some ad copy. (Though it can be used to make those pieces better too!) The book then shows you how to apply the StoryUrge Messaging Framework across all five areas of direct sales: Website Landing Pages, Website Storefronts, Crowdfunding Launches, Subscriptions and Memberships, and Live Events and Signings. There are three major pieces of the StoryUrge Messaging Framework: Excitement - Why people should be excited about your project. This can include telling them about the tropes, characters, relationships, settings, special features, special offers, and more. Objections - Why people are holding back from your project. This includes general objections to your genre or niche, but can also include specific objections to you or your books. With direct sales, it is particularly important to include objections to the platform, method of sale, or business model as readers may not be as familiar with it as they are at retailers. (For example, we always advise our students to talk to their readers about why Kickstarter is not “begging for money” or similar to GoFundMe.) Psychological Triggers - Why people buy. Russell and I have extensive experience in marketing and sales and have collected these over the years. We have shared our secrets to creating exciting offers and messaging in one chapter of Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter—Chapter 6—but we are greatly expanding on that in the second volume of Direct Sales Mastery for Authors to help answer all the awesome questions we’ve gotten on this topic in the last few years. Our psychological triggers section offers nearly 50 different buttons to push to bring people into your work across six categories: The X-Factors - These help you position yourself or your characters in a leadership position or several steps ahead of your readers Connection Deepeners - These help you position yourself or your characters as a peer to your readers (making you or your characters relatable and sympathetic) The Button-Pushers - These encourage action at a subconscious level Pleasure and Pain Inducers - These evoke visceral and resonant emotion in your readers Core Wounders and Healers - These take the audience on a transformational journey with you (for memoir), with themselves (for nonfiction), or with your characters (for fiction) Emotional Fantasies and Nightmares - These allow the audience to explore a different life in safety We teach how to use these triggers in the book itself (yes, even for fiction!), in the offer you are trying to sell, and in the marketing messaging you use to sell the offer. When all of this is in alignment, sales happen more easily!

Working up the courage to take a big, important leap is hard, but Jabari is almost absolutely ready to make a giant splash. Jabari is definitely ready to jump off the diving board. He’s finished his swimming lessons and passed his swim test, and he’s a great jumper, so he’s not scared at all. “Looks easy,” says Jabari, watching the other kids take their turns. But when his dad squeezes his hand, Jabari squeezes back. He needs to figure out what kind of special jump to do anyway, and he should probably do some stretches before climbing up onto the diving board. In a sweetly appealing tale of overcoming your fears, newcomer Gaia Cornwall captures a moment between a patient and encouraging father and a determined little boy you can’t help but root for.