Customer Reviews

Holy Headshot!: A Celebration of America's Undiscovered Talent

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Did you ever snicker at some hapless bride who trips and falls into her wedding-cake on America's Funniest Videos, only to feel guilty about finding humor in someone's humiliation? If so, then you might want to pass on this book. But for the rest of us insensitive jerks, HOLY HEADSHOTS will provide much more than a dirty little chuckle.

Collected are one hundred diverse, starry-eyed hopefuls with hunger and desperation on the breath, all-waiting for their big break. And for the lucky few, it comes in the guise of an extra on a afternoon soap opera, a local commercial pitchman, the lead in a community theater production of 42nd Street, or a supporting role on a direct to video horror flick. (While thumbing through, I did recognize some the actors from various projects; so now I have names to put to that faces in the crowd scenes on Law & Order and NYPD Blue.) Included with the 8x10 glossies are the actors' resumes, and some will give you chilling insights into their hopes and dreams (I'm looking at you Clement Dyer on page 34!)

This book is a must for anyone who ever dreamed of fame but woke up and got a civil service job.

The two guys who put together this book (Patrick Borelli & Douglas Gorenstein) looked at over 50,000 headshots to choose these 100 headshots. Don't be fooled into thinking (as I initially did) that this was a collection of freak shots of D-list actors tossed together for amusement. Far from it.

Along with photos (some zany, some serious, all unique) there are `resumes' ranging from the basic of weight and height to the details of special skills, interests and acting history. They could almost be all your neighbors acting out in their wildest ways; they all look so average (or not normal). As David Cross says in the foreword, "In life you only get one chance to make a good first impression".

Trivia: Meryl Streep was cast in "Sophie's Choice" once the director saw the headshot wherein she was wearing what looked like a prom gown, sucking on a lollipop, and making "crazy eyes". After reading that, I had an entirely new perspective and respect for all these "Head Shots".

I laughed, I cried, I considered getting my own wonderfully horrific headshot. One of the funniest books I've had the pleasure of reading in a long time. Once I got it I couldn't put it down--it was like not being able to turn your eyes away from a really bad car accident. I started by just flipping through and looking at the headshots. And oh, there are some headshots in this book. Headshots that will make you feel good about yourself in a way Oprah Winfrey never could. Next, I read the resumes that went along with said headshots. I recommend paying particular attention to the handwritten ones--they're by far the best of the lot! This book will have a prime space on my coffee table in my living room for all of my friends to see. Maybe they, too, can discover the marvelous wonder that is Holy Headshot!

HOLY HEADSHOT is a very funny idea, and the resulting book is very entertaining.

The premise is very simple, showcasing photos and resumes of wannabe actors (no one you have ever heard of). They list their credits as well as their talents (one guy claims that he is able to grow a beard quickly).

The result is both funny, and in a way, inspiring.

It can serve as a guide to other actors of how (and how not) to design their own resumes. Some of these resumes look like no one has proofread them. It is probably okay to make up credits as well, since many of the films and TV shows these people claim they worked on I've never heard of.

It also works as an inspiration to others to not give up on their dream. These people are still out there and haven't given up. Good luck to them all.

Let's hope for a sequel.

I'm a former actor, and was startled to see what people were willing to put out there as representations of themselves- and that they were then willing to give the authors access to their pictures, which -obvious from the title of the book- were not the most flattering.

My amazement turned to empathy as I realized how much HOPE these actors were putting forth and the amount of Belief they had in themselves.

I plan to send this off as a gift to several of my clients as I think it's a perfect coffee table book.

If you've ever sent out a casting call or had to review resumes/headshots/auditions, you most certainly will find the profiles and headshots in this book interesting and amusing, as did I. However, for those who are not in the industry, I find it hard to believe it would be of great interest.

This book is truly is a celebration of undiscovered talent. The premise of this book is that the authors (editors?) looked through over 50,000 headshots and resumes of people looking for work in the entertainment industry.

They bypassed the "normal" glamor shots, and instead focused on the unique, interesting and bizarre. Most of the images included in the book manage to stand out in some way, and many actually show the actor in an unpleasant light - and I have a feeling, that oftentimes this will probably work to their advantage. Because there can only be so many leading men and women in Hollywood. We need all those interesting, geeky, quirky and average folks to make up the secondary casting. We need the "character" actors that show up in everything (Like a Stephen Tobolosky) but whose names you cannot place.

Second to the headshot comes the resume...or lack therefore of. Many of these people have no acting experience outside high school, or local community theater. Some go so far as to write "letters" instead of a resume - explaining why they should be given the chance at an acting role, or an explanation on how/why they decided to get a job in the industry. "I was on-line looking up different websites when I came across explore talent's web page and I thought it would be an excellent opportunity for me so I signed up for it." or "I had always wanted to be in film and television but saw myself as having a face for radio and a voice for silent movies."

And lastly, I couldn't stop giggling at the different kinds of "special skills" that people would list on their resume, such as:

Quiltmaker
Yard Work
I can grow a beard quickly
Above Reproach Table Manners
Speed Reading
Can Snap Fingers Off Anything
Loves Boxing

I love this book. It gives me hope.

In the Forward, the authors ask not to laugh at the people in the book, because, as bizarre and sad as some may seem, these people do get jobs with these headshots. The pictures, of course, are one thing, but the resumes, if that's what they're called, are the real show. It appears no role is too small to be included, even as an anonymous face in the crowd. The creativity in show and character names is endlessly amusing. Some of the actors seem to be doing well, and you may even recognize, or think you do, some of them. For others, it seems their careers are aimless and leading nowhere. Saddest is the resume that starts strong, with significant parts in well known shows and movies, but, as you read, regresses into increasingly minor roles in unheard of productions (but let's not feel sorry for them; they soldier on, reaching for that never ending dream). Some list every costume, prop and piece of equipment they own, apparently making themselves more attractive to the poorest of production companies. But, hey, there's no business like show business. Right?

I think a good follow up book for these authors would be Holy Production Company! It seems like there are as many unknown production companies as headshots considered for this book (50,000). The wide variety of names of the TV shows and movies they produced, ranging from niche industrial videos to desperate copycat attempts, I bet you they could write a companion book documenting an equally bizarre and sad struggle on the business side of show business.

At first I wasn't sure what use this book would be. I think now that if you or someone you know is thinking of getting into show business, this book is a must read. It would be a dose of reality that would either cure wannabe actors of their fantasy or propel them forward as a roadmap to what lies ahead.

I thought this book would be a humorous and entertaining look at some rather unusual headshots - and in that I was not disappointed! The first time I picked up "Holy Headshots" I chuckled through it and gave it a prominent spot on my bedside table. But the more I browsed the more I realized that there is more to this book than meets the eye. As I read the profiles of these aspiring actors, mimes, singers and bit players I realized that they are not all just aspirers! Many of them actually have long and impressive resumes of bit parts, cameos, walk-ons, etcetera.
And I realized that I have a lot more in common with most of them than I'd initially thought.
See, I'm a musician, with a lot of faith in my own talent and ambition and although I play often, I've never made it big. My gigs are peripheral, my earnings break-even (usually) but I've never had a rocket to the top driving me - just a love of performing. The hope is there, along with the will to succeed, but as long as I'm playing music for a living, I'm satisfied. Any larger success, should it come, is just icing on the cake!
The folks I met in "Holy Headshots" are the film industry side of my own career - the ones who (may or may not) ever make a "killing" in film or television, but by God they'll make a living at it. That makes "Holy Headshots" not only an entertaining and funny book, but also a poignant and inspiring one! Highly recommended!

This book is a celebration of people. Of all the wonderful characters that make up the 'the business'. I loved it. A great coffee book table. It's humorous and inspiring. What I love about this book is that the authors are showcasing and championing these actors, performers, stars in the waiting. I noticed that they even created gmail addresses at the back of the book so that casting people and agents can contact the actors, which is great.

To sum up the book? Fun and fascinating! How can it not be - it's a celebration of unique and fantastic characters.