Hollywood Rat Race [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

The King of the Really Bad Movies reveals the secrets of his, well, successsomewhat inadvertently. Wood is best known as the writer, director, and producer of such instant trash-can liners as Bride of the Monster, That Sinister Urge, Plan 9 from Outer Space, and the never-to-be-forgotten (or forgiven) Glen or Glenda? (a.k.a. ``I Changed My Sex''). The subject of an affectionate Tim Burton film that bore his name, Wood was nothing if not persistent in his desire to crack the walls of the Hollywood palace. In this previously unpublished effort, he outlines for all would-be actors and actresses the pitfalls that await them when they go west in search of the cinematic El Dorado. And it is truly a worm's-eye view. Wood manages the singular feat of simultaneously depicting the film industry as a kind of hard-earned nirvana and a cesspool of greasy-handed lechers, quick-buck artists, and con men. He does so in a tortured prose that will be familiar to anyone who has seen one of his films, littered with solecisms, bordering on a kind of hysterical incoherence. (``They never error in their delivery of lines. . . .''; ``But the guy had such a dynamic veneer. . . .,'' to offer two choice examples.) If there is a finite supply of exclamation marks in the world, this book will deplete it. As a period piece that includes advice on cheap hotels at which to stay, it has a certain stupid charm. But if you weren't suffering from ``irony fatigue'' before, the publication of this curiosity will send you over the edge. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

In this never-before- published memoir of Hollywood, Ed Wood, Jr., reveals the down and dirty about the cutthroat world of movie-making.

In this never-before- published memoir of Hollywood, Ed Wood, Jr. , reveals the down and dirty about the cutthroat world of movie-making.

An excerpt from HOLLYWOOD RAT RACE
Sex--Hollywood and You

I can tell you that very few people ever get their first break in Hollywood, New York, or anywhere else in the world, without being chased around a desk or two--or three or four--by some grubby-handed producers. That goes not only for the girls, but also for the boys. I don't mean by women producers, there are very few women producers.

Sex! It becomes all important. Sex! It becomes more important than any possible talent.

Hard? Sure it's hard, but this is a hard business. If you're not a very good-looking girl or boy, you've got less chance than a snowball in hell of even getting started.

Look in your own mirror, you can tell. Have you ever seen an ugly duckling as a young lead? It just doesn't happen. Look in your own mirror before you even think about listening to your voice on a tape recorder.

Are you presentable? This goes for the boys as well as the girls.

Character people with talent don't need to take a good hard look in the mirror. They always have a better chance--we need new supporting people. The older character people of the entertainment world are passing into eternity, faster than we'd like them to go. This past year we lost Herbert Marshall, Frank Yaconnelli, Addison Richards, Percy Kilbride, Peter Lorre. Unfortunately, Addison Richards died the same day as Peter Lorre, so Addison was lost to the back pages while Lorre commanded front-page headlines.

But back to you, the newcomer. As I said before, there are a lot of desks you are going to be chased around. Come from wherever you may, from Little Town USA to Big City USA, or anywhere in the world, but be sure to bring your tennis shoes because it will be easier to catch you if you have on high heels.

Perhaps it'd be easier on you to give in first and think about it later.

"To give in, or not to give in," that is the question. Supposing you do, and don't get the part you've been promised--you're labeled. Suppose you do get the part and can't handle it--what kind of chippie does that make you?

Being in the entertainment industry is very much like being in a dark closet. Sometimes a door opens and the light shines in, brightening your area for a time, but in nearly all cases only for a short time. In some cases, the door opens more often, and in a very few cases, the door opens and remains open. Most of the time, the door is closed as quickly as it opened. You search the darkness for even a glimmer of light.