Crashing Hollywood: How to Keep Your Integrity Up, Your Clothes on & Still Make It in Hollywood

Rating:
Summary: Another book from a marketer with with zero credits.
Review: After seeing Fran Harris in an interview, the first thing I did was check Amazon's compreshensive Internet Movie Database (IMDB) for credits. There is one listing for a Fran Harris from the 1950's, which is clearly not her. Therefore, Fran Harris has been not connected to any television show or film that has gone anywhere. Not produced, not directed, not acted, not written. I checked out her website, and there was a book about how to make money writing books, and lots of self-promotion items, but nothing that lead me to believe that she offered anything of any substance at all. Lots of references to marketing and PR.

There are any number of people who want to make a quick buck off people who hope to make it in Hollywood. These are generally folk who have not actually accomplished anything themselves in town, other than just networking and showing up to parties. These are not people to learn from. I'm interested in professionals that are successful in their fields, that can share their insights and experiences with those of us who are starting out. Advice from someone irrelevant in the entertainment business is worth less than zero.

The book was standard marketing stuff, with a Hollywood twist. Check out any of the myriad other books by people who have acutally done something of value in this town.

You have to admire her marketing prowess, though. I'm sure she'll have infomercials soon.

Rating:
Summary: Crashing Gets My Two Thumbs Up!
Review: Every now and then it's nice to read a book that you can relate to. Crashing Hollywood is a fast paced, manic account of one woman's ride up the silver ladder into Tinseltown. A screenwriter, producer, new filmmaker and about 10 other things, Fran Harris lets us see what it's like to be a wannabe in LaLa land. But she's not like your regular wannabe. Already a player in television as an ESPN, Fox and Lifetime TV sportscaster, she has somewhat of an edge on most of us. But she admits that taking on the crazy corridors of Hollyood as a new producer, writer and filmmaker has not been a picnic. While other books have been written by studio execs or current powers that be, I found this unique take on breaking into the biz to be just what the doctor ordered. The author has an ease with language that made the book easy to read and digest. You actually get the feeling that she truly cares about the folks reading her book. It's part autobiographical, part self-help. Hmmmm...therapy in a book about Hollywood. Now there's a concept.

Rating:
Summary: Fun read! Great book
Review: First of all, I will allow myelf to waste one line of this review to speak to the reviewer who didn't even have the balls to leave an email address after s/he delivered such an unfair review of this book. Two things are clear: the person who wrote that review did NOT read the book. Second, clearly they knew that those of us who found it enjoyable and insightful might have a few choice words for him/her for being outright malicious--but then again that reader is from L.A. (guess that's to be expected).

In Crashing, Fran Harris represents herself in an honest light. She never makes claims to have sold a film, won an Emmy or climbed Mount Everest. That's the whole point of the book. Instead she's generously taken us inside her journey into Hollywood, which is what her book is about (anyone who's read it, will know this). She shares her ups, her downs and in betweens in a world that very few of us ever get a peek into. She takes us inside Hollywood meetings, on studio lots and never once mentions a party (as the unnamed reviewer has eluded to).

What I love about this book is that you feel that you know this author. You can feel that she's real, she understands what it's like to be out here day in and day out, trying to get closer to that Hollywood dream (even if it is a myth).

Crashing Hollywood is funny and refreshingly frank. More importantly, it's written by someone who clearly knows who she is and what she wants. Her energy is inspiring and her words encouraged me not to give up. In the book she says that one day she'll have her own syndicated talk show...don't be surprised if that one day is real soon.

Fran Harris has spoken to wannabes in wannabes language and I'm grateful. We need more books like this, that tell it like it is. Go, Fran!

Rating:
Summary: The Inside Scoop From Someone Who's Been There
Review: I love books that give neophytes lots of juicy tidbits and advise on how to break into an industry - you know, the kind of stuff most insiders won't talk about because they don't want the competition! Fran Harris's book is power-packed with information and inside scoops about everything you need to know if you want to make it in the entertainment world. She not only gives so much of her own insight and personal experience, she interviews some of the hottest movers and shakers and gets them to give up the goods for our benefit. I guarantee, reading this book will take years off your search for success!

The book is written for writers, producers, actors, musicians, directors - really anybody creative who wants to fulfill that big Hollywood dream. Yet so much of Fran's advise really applies to succeeding at ANY business or in any field. She understands the difficulties people in the world of movies, music and TV face more than most, though, and the book almost acts as a personal coach to guide you along the very rocky and often terrifying road through the Hollywood system.

With humor, hipness and honesty, Fran Harris delivers one heck of a package of goods for those of us who thought we knew what to do to get where we want to be. She keeps us from making idiots and fools of ourselves, which alone is worth the price of the book! But she also tells it to us straight, even the negative stuff, yet all the while offers us hope and encouragement by getting us to focus on our talent and ourselves as a product worthy of the best presentation possible.

CRASHING HOLLYWOOD is a must-read for anyone who wants to be a star. I plan to read it over and over again in my own pursuits as a screenwriter/author, and strongly suggest you do the same.

MARIE JONES, author of LOOKING FOR GOD IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES, book reviewer - ABSOLUTE WRITE, BOOKIDEAS.COM, BOOK CRAZY RADIO

Rating:
Summary: Excellent! Highly recommend to all with Hwood on the brain
Review: I loved this book! I have watched this author as a sports announcer on ESPN for many years and I recently got to meet her at a book signing and found her to be one of the most engaging people I've ever met. With folks waiting for her to sign their book or just talk to her, she smiled and talked to every single person who was there. So, I was already impressed before I actually read the book. But Crashing did not disappoint. It's full of a lot of stuff that should be common sense to most folks (sending thank you notes, for instance) but after reading Crashing I found myself looking at things in a different light. Ms. Harris shares her system for keeping in touch with Hollywood execs without pestering them. She shows us how not to become Clients From Hell. And she even talks about some of her not so shining moments. All this, she shares in a humorous fashion that keeps you turning the pages. As an aspiring A-list writer, it was especially important for me to get the scoop on agents and how some things in Tinseltown work. Ms. Harris has managed to give us a healthy dose of reality while at the same time entertaining and encouraging those who haven't had their first Hollywood meeting. Inspiring, witty and full of energy, this author has done us all a huge favor. I'm on my second reading and I've even bought the book for all of my friends who want to be in the biz!

Rating:
Summary: For Out of Towners
Review: This was a fun book. It was light, entertaining, fast paced and humorous. I am partial to the author also because she played for the Houston Comets (which is my hometown team,) went to my alma mater, the University of Texas, and she still lives in Texas.
This book seems to be intended for those who don't live in Hollywood. It has some entertainment industry tips on keeping everything professional. The premise seems to be to treat your career in the entertainment industry as professional as possible. It contains interviews with various people working in the industry.
The book would be stronger if she concentrated her advice to one trade- screenwriting, acting, producing, singing or whatever. Although Fran seems to be quite a dynamo, and her motivational and communication skills are obvious, her book doesn't fully explore or enlighten one to the inside of the industry. She does a good job keeping me reading by utilizing the aforementioned communication skills.