Development Girl : The Hollywood Virgin's Guide to Making It in the Movie Business [Paperback]

Hadley Davis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 4, 1999

Read bestselling books for a living. Watch films for money. Go to see Broadway plays for work. Socialize at premiere parties for pay. I am a movie "development girl," and, believe it or not, this is my job description. Do you think my career sounds fabulous and fun? Well, you aren't alone--

Countless people dream of a career in the movies. Development Girl: The Hollywood Virgin's Guide to Making It in the Movie Business is industry insider Hadley Davis's indispensable guide to making that dream a reality.

Starting with a crash course on the ins and outs of the movie business (What really goes on in a production company? How does a project evolve from script to finished film?) and moving on to topics ranging from entry-level positions and interview tactics to sex and fashion, Hadley reveals how to become a film executive on the rise.

Funny, honest, and full of juicy behind-the-scenes tales, Development Girl is essential reading for anyone who wants to make it in the movie business.

Includes advice from

Barry Josephson, Producer, Sonnenfeld/Josephson
Ruth Vitale, Co-President, Paramount Classics
Carla Hacken, Senior Vice President, Fox 2000
Jack Lechner, Senior Vice President, Miramax Films
Other industry luminaries

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The William Goldman Hollywood adage (No one knows anything) should now include a parenthesis: (but Hadley Davis).  An accurate and hilarious guided tour of the film industry."
--Robert Cooper, Head of Production and Development, Feature Division, DreamWorks SKG

"Hadley Davis is the ultimate 'D-Girl': She's smart and talented (and she's very cute). Forget about slaving in the William Morris mailroom, just read Development Girl."
--Brett Ratner, Director, Rush Hour

From the Inside Flap

Read bestselling books for a living. Watch films for money. Go to see Broadway plays for work. Socialize at premiere parties for pay. I am a movie "development girl," and, believe it or not, this is my job description. Do you think my career sounds fabulous and fun? Well, you aren't alone--

Countless people dream of a career in the movies. Development Girl: The Hollywood Virgin's Guide to Making It in the Movie Business is industry insider Hadley Davis's indispensable guide to making that dream a reality.

Starting with a crash course on the ins and outs of the movie business (What really goes on in a production company? How does a project evolve from script to finished film?) and moving on to topics ranging from entry-level positions and interview tactics to sex and fashion, Hadley reveals how to become a film executive on the rise.

Funny, honest, and full of juicy behind-the-scenes tales, Development Girl is essential reading for anyone who wants to make it in the movie business.

Includes advice from

Barry Josephson, Producer, Sonnenfeld/Josephson
Ruth Vitale, Co-President, Paramount Classics
Carla Hacken, Senior Vice President, Fox 2000
Jack Lechner, Senior Vice President, Miramax Films
Other industry luminaries

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Main Street Books; 1st edition (May 4, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385494319
• ISBN-13: 978-0385494311
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (64 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,220,287 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars It deserves NEGATIVE stars!, June 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Development Girl : The Hollywood Virgin's Guide to Making It in the Movie Business (Paperback)

I have a sneaking suspicion that all the "glowing" reviews posted here were planted by friends and relatives of the author. NO ONE who is even remotely familiar with the business of movie-making could read this and find it enjoyable or accurate. I am a "D-Girl" and have done fairly well in this business. I can assure you that it is not because I wear Prada and sleep with producers... it is because I have put in the 14 hour days, developed the right relationships and worked very, very hard. Sure, there are a lot of "perks" that come with working in Hollywood- but Davis fails to mention the premieres and parties are a very small part of an otherwise demanding, exhausting business. If Hadley Davis (who is no "big fish" in this town, I assure you) wants to present the Hollywood experience from the perspective of a self-absorbed trust fund baby, that's her right. I just hope that people who are looking for some real information about what it takes to survive in this business and thrive in development will look elsewhere. This book is awful!

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Complete drivel..., February 14, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Development Girl : The Hollywood Virgin's Guide to Making It in the Movie Business (Paperback)

As a "D-Girl," I can say with certainty that this book will not help anyone get into the business or handle the perils and pitfalls of working in Hollywood. An expensive wardrobe and toned body are appreciated in L.A., but they won't make or break your career. Period. No wonder Hadley Davis washed out of the business so quickly. It's clear that she has neither the smarts nor the savvy to deal with a development job over the long term. There are many other books which will give you

more insight into the business. This one is a huge waste of time, and the author has zero credibility.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Buyer beware!, October 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Development Girl : The Hollywood Virgin's Guide to Making It in the Movie Business (Paperback)

The reader in Massachusetts has a good point. What use is a how-to guide when the author is such a flagrantly dishonest individual? When I worked in "the biz" in New York, Hadley was unaffectionately known as "Hadajob" for her series of lateral, entry-level moves. Perhaps the reason the book is so empty and silly (although, I must confess, I actually couldn't get through it)is because the author never got beyond the cubicle. Instead of a chapter on something truly helpful, say advice on honing scriptnotes, we get tips on xeroxing. As they say in writing programs, write what you know.

I suggest Ms. Davis try her hand at fiction next. Not only does she clearly have an overactive imagination, but, judging from the number of positive reader reviews here, she is obviously quite prolific.