Where Did I Go Right?: You're No One in Hollywood Unless Someone Wants You Dead: Amazon.de: Bernie Brillstein, David Rensin: Englische Bücher

Amazon.com

"My wink is binding," Bernie Brillstein writes in the middle part of his memoir of a career in showbiz. At this point the movie-star manager has already admitted that he wanted power and prestige as soon as he started in the William Morris agency mailroom. And that he chased after a Don Corleone-ish kind of respect afterward. But even when he became a clout-carrying manager and near-mogul he kept his people-first credo. You suspect he loves it too for the way it echoes the Borscht Belt, since that's the kind of verbal energy he draws on throughout this anecdote-crammed autobiography. He calls himself "show," but in four decades he had to be "business" too, tough enough to tell clients, as he says he did, when to start their career over from scratch. The book begins with a graphically honest memory of his visit to the proctologist with his family when he was 24--something he guffaws off, but it's probably not far from the sort of reality check he regularly gave clients like Jim Henson, Norm Crosby, Lorne Michaels, John Belushi, and Brad Pitt. He cops to a gambling addiction, a love of "high class call girls," and to the way he stole from Laugh-Into invent Hee Haw. But he also brokered Lorne Michael's big break with SNL, produced Dangerous Liaisons, and eventually got News Radio and The Sopranos on the air. He candidly assesses professional pains too, including Michael Ovitz's pathology, Garry Shandling's riddling neuroses, and the loss of Belushi and Henson. "I care," he writes finally, "because that's who I am." It's easy to smile at that, but by the end of the book it's also easy to believe he means it. --Lyall Bush -- Dieser Text bezieht sich auf eine vergriffene oder nicht verf�gbare Ausgabe dieses Titels.

From Library Journal

Like The Last Mogul (LJ 12/98) and The Gross (LJ 4/1/99), this is an absorbing inside look at the film and TV industry. A New York native fascinated with show business since childhood, Brillstein has worked as an agent, a personal manager, a producer, and a studio CEO and has worked with Jim Henson, Gilda Radner, Hee Haw, and Saturday Night Live. He writes a moving account of personally accompanying John Belushi's body from L.A. to Martha's Vineyard for burial. The book's subtitle obviously refers to battles with Mike Ovitz, former head of Creative Artists Agency, as well as to Brillstein's concern about the lack of ethical behavior in Hollywood. He laments the rise of disturbing trends thereAinexperienced writers, the power of accountants, and clients making their own deals. But as he muses on retirement, Brillstein sometimes waxes optimistic. And with good reason: his production company has a new hit these days, the critically acclaimed The Sopranos. Recommended for larger public libraries and libraries with film and performing arts collections.AKim R. Holston, American Inst. for Charity Property Casualty Underwriters, Malvern, PA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. -- Dieser Text bezieht sich auf eine vergriffene oder nicht verf�gbare Ausgabe dieses Titels.

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The Boring Side of Hollywood Uncovered. 13. Juni 2000

Von "big-nasty"

Format:Gebundene Ausgabe

Let me start by admitting that I am a product of the NOW generation. That means that I need everything from food to entertainment within thirty seconds of request otherwise forget it. I have little patience when it comes to information that doesn`t make me money, entertain me by dishing the dirt, or flat out shocking me. Although Mr. Brillsteins intentions here are not to make me money, he still manages to get all three of the above wrong and in the process write a snore of a book. Don`t get me wrong if you are related to Mr. Brillstein or in his will, then I`m sure this is a masterpiece to you. However, for the rest of society this book will be an ideal replacemant for counting sheep. Who wants to read about an old man wrestling with retirement ? Who wants to read about an old manager who makes himself out to be far more succesful and important than he ever really was ? I don`t. It`s too late for me but it`s not too late for you. Do not let the title fool you. Just because it contains the phrase "someone wants you dead" in it, doesn`t mean that Mr. Brillstein ever made that much of a ripple in the water. I`m sure that if Ned Flanders from the Simpsons kept a daily diary that it would be far more exciting and cutting edge. In closing, if you are not a family member or former client of Mr. Brillsteins who thinks that their name might be mentioned in this book, then you don`t want it.

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Another guy who doesn't mike Mike Ovitz! 1. Juni 2000

Von David Smith

After reading The Operator, this story was much more positive. Mr. Brillstein has obviously had an exciting career in the entertainment business and apparently didn't need to crushing and destroy all his contemporaries along the way. Great perspectives on Saturday Night Live, John Belushi, Jim Henson and other legends. Bernie sounds like an great guy who has looked out for his clients and prospered and enjoyed his roll in the entertainment business. A neat story!

Enjoyable and educational about the entertainment biz 11. Mai 2000

Von R. Spell

This guy has fought a few wars in Hollywood and he is very candid about how lucky he has been in the business. An added plus to the book is his variety of clients from John Belushi to the Muppets. I couldn't put the book down and read it in two days as it was that enjoyable.

The book overlays his departure from his firm and turning it over to the next generation of managers. It clearly was tough for him and he seems to touch on unresolved issues without finalizing them. Read the book and draw your own conclusions on this point.