Its All Your Fault: How To Make It As A Hollywood Assistant (Paperback)

by Bill Robinson (Author), Ceridwen Morris (Creator) "Whether you're trying to get a foot in the door of the entertainment industry or just love all things Hollywood, this book is for you..." (more)
Key Phrases: writing coverage, assistant job, log line, New York, Los Angeles, Beverly Hills (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Readers looking for down-and-dirty Hollywood dish or those with dreams of becoming a filmmaker will find everything they need to knowAand laugh hard at all the tantalizing gossipAin It's All Your Fault: How to Make It as a Hollywood Assistant by successful Hollywood producer Bill Robinson and his former assistant, screenwriter Ceridwen Morris. The authors claim that there is no better vantage point on a successful Hollywood career than the view from belowAbut don't mess up, or it's all over! From how to master the art of "rolling calls" to blowing your boss's (or some other bigwig's) nose, Robinson and Morris deliver the real deal. Agent, Neeti Madan.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
Jack Valenti President of the Motion Picture Association of America This is what it's like swimming in the piranha-infested waters of Hollywood and surviving. What a joy to read a book crackling with wit and effortless humor, which is in short supply even in the dazzling movie world. -- Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Fireside; 1st edition (January 4, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684869586
• ISBN-13: 978-0684869582
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #313,640 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious look at an unseen side of Hollywood, December 2, 2001

By	Steven DeRosa, author/screenwriter (writingwithhitchcock.com) - See all my reviews

Whether you're already in the business, want desperately to break in, or are simply a fan of Hollywood gossip, "It's All Your Fault! (How to make it as a Hollywood Assistant)" is an absolute delight. Bill Robinson and Ceridwen Morris have put together a 'how to' book which very often had me laughing out loud. Beginning with their own experiences (Robinson had been an assistant to Diane Keaton, and Morris, a screenwriter, was at one time Robinson's assistant), the authors offer a glimpse at the crazy, chaotic, and often thankless job of the Hollywood assistant, whether it's an assistant to a movie star, director, talent agent, or producer.

The authors provide anecdotes from countless assistants about their more famous employers. Many of them are anonymous in the book (more for the protection of their livelihood than the stars' reputations) but it isn't difficult to figure out who some of the unnamed big shots are in many of the tales.

Morris and Robinson describe the subtle differences in each assistant job, depending on who your boss is and what they do. And there's a good deal of sound advice about which job would be right for you, depending on what you want to do afterward, since you probably don't want to be an assistant forever. Along the way, Robinson and Morris provide tips on how to land your dream job, and how to prevent it from becoming a nightmare, and what you should/could do to parlay that job into your dream career.

On the flip side, if you have no intention of pursuing an assistant job, "It's All Your Fault" should serve as a reminder to those who come into contact with assistants while in pursuit of their own dreams. Think twice about who you're speaking with, and how you treat them. They may one day hold a position of power and will remember ...

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Required reading for Hollywood-bes: keep it close!, August 21, 2004

By	Gwen A Orel (Millburn, New Jersey United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a fast read, and it reads like a memoir-humor book-- don't be fooled. It's full of REAL information, and good advice.

I have only a limited experience in this world, a few month's as a producer's assistant, but everything they described is 100% accurate. As I investigate how I want to continue, I'm finding the descriptions of the different roles invaluable (particularly that of assistant to a network exec as a great job for those in the witness protection program; i.e. you'll never meet anyone... lol)

the way these two got into the industry is, as is the norm, highly idiosyncratic, full of luck, timing and chutzpah. It's no surprise that both have done well along the way.

This is also a useful book for creative artists-- screenwriters, actors, aspiritng directors-- because it gives an invaluable inside look at the day-to-day life of the offices and staff of the people they need to deal with.

Better than I hoped it would be!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hallelujah!!, January 3, 2001

By	Lucy (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

Take it from someone who has been chewed up and spit out, but still surviving in the trenches, this book is a must read for anyone who dreams of a better life in La-La Land. Who let the dogs out? God. And they all reside in Hollywood. This hilarious handbook/'bible" should be passed out to everyone who crosses the Los Angeles county lines. For those of you still brave enough to venture here, you've got brothers and sisters who feel your pain, so memorize it, sleep with it under your pillow, get the book on tape for godsake, but give yourself a leg up and order it for next day air.