Bryan Hidalgo and Gail O’Donnell have amassed a collection
of over 100 interviews of Hollywood’s top contemporary talent from the acting
community, along with screenwriters and directors.Each interview is structured with a head shot
of the person, their short bio, and a dozen or so revealing questions asking
what factors have contributed towards their success in their profession.Their answers are soberly articulated both humbly
and modestly, but a common thread exists – it takes hard work and never giving
up!
Hidalgo and O’Donnell queried professionals from both sides
of the camera lens.The common question first
asked was always, “How did your career begin?”For screenwriter Wesley Strick, he began writing as a rock critic and
journalist in Berkeley. Many actors such
as: James Rebhorn, Marcia Cross, David Paymer,
Alex O’Loughlin, Michael Emerson and scores of others studied acting in
school.For Joe Penny “It just
happened,” as he went to pick up a friend taking an acting class and sat down
to watch what was going on, thinking “I can do that.”Elizabeth Perkins was at a barbecue in
Chicago when someone asked her, “What do you do?”“I’m an actor,” she replied, thinking to
herself that’s what she’d like to be; allowing the self-actualization of the
candid remark to then pull her into her career.My favorite was David Zayas, best known for
his role as a cop, actually was a cop.
In a fashion reminiscent of James Lipton’s famous interviews
from Inside the Actors Studio, Bryan
Hidalgo and Gail O’Donnell each follow their structured guideline; allowing the
commonality of the questions to paint an even backdrop for their readers, thus
allowing the nuances of the replies to be easily perceived.“It’s a tough profession,” actor Joe Mantegna
points out. “There are 140,000 members
of SAG and less than 1 percent make a decent living,” Mantegna continued.You have to love the journey, as in his case,
“I was a fifteen-year overnight success…”Auditions, for example, are either loved or hated, but nobody treats
them with disregard.Jason Alexander
said, “Most actors think auditions are hell, I love them.To me they are a one-night-only performance
of a role I think I can do better than anyone else.”
In a way, Making It in
Hollywood is like squeezing People
Magazine into a 400 word periodical; the “espresso press of just the
thoughts” of the entertainment industry’s contemporary finest, sans hype and advertising.My surprising observation was although I
only recognized many actors from their professional characterizations, each of
their personal interviews were riveting.I found myself glued to the book, turning pages and going from actor to
screenwriter to director seamlessly, realizing the symbiotic relationship they
all have towards one another.
Making It in Hollywood
is a must read for all those taking acting classes, or aspiring to “get tape”
in the industry.It’s a great gift as a
graduation present to those that like to be on the receiving side of the
lights, as well as those more comfortable writing or making movies. It’s a book that crosses genres from reference
to philosophy, from self help to anecdotal humor.This is an invaluable book for not only
people seeking work in the entrainment industry but for fans of the magic of
Hollywood. This book is easy to read,
filled with actual stories of those who've found success and is literally a
blueprint on how to build your career.It can best be summed up with the song lyrics from New York, New York, “If you can make it there, you can make it …
anywhere.”
