What I Really Want to Do on Set in Hollywood: A Guide to Real Jobs in the Film Industry [Paperback]

Brian Dzyak (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 27, 2008

Go Hollywood—with a complete, insightful look at the biggest jobs on the movie set. What I Really Want to Do on Set in Hollywood is one-stop shopping for anyone who wants to work in film. It's the only behind-the-scenes title that offers a detailed look at the industry explores more than 35 jobs from around the film industry. A must-have for anyone interested in Hollywood.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Brian Dzyak, a freelance cameraman, has worked on We Are Marshall, Evan Almighty, and many other films, along with West Wing and other TV shows. He lives in Los Angeles.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Lone Eagle (May 27, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823099539
• ISBN-13: 978-0823099535
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.1 x 8.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #373,753 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Like a lot of people already in Hollywood, Brian Dzyak has spent the better part of his life telling stories in one way or another. Whether it was making movies in the backyard as a kid or working on some of the biggest feature films ever made, his life has been geared toward being active in the motion picture and television industries.

Telling the story of the typical Hollywood movie set, What I Really Want to Do: On Set in Hollywood draws on Brian's twenty years of professional media experience. This project actually began as a response to countless letters, emails, and phone calls from aspiring filmmakers just like you who all wanted to know how they too could find success in this industry. Though he still responds to each and every inquiry that comes, What I Really Want to Do TM in Hollywood promises to answer all of those questions that are asked as well as those that the new filmmaker isn't even aware of yet.

Brian began his career as an Editor, Videographer, and Producer at WBGU-TV27 in Ohio and has shot Top Fuel Dragsters, classical music concerts, movie premieres and just about everything in between. A member of IATSE Local 600, he currently works as a freelance Cameraman in Los Angeles, primarily shooting behind-the-scenes footage and interviews for television and DVD use. Recent film sets he has worked on include Inception, starring Leonardo DiCaprio; Baby Fockers, starring Robert De Niro; Iron Man 2, starring Robert Downey Jr.; State of Play starring Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, and Helen Mirren; Fast & Furious, starring Vin Diesel and Paul Walker; GI Joe, starring Dennis Quaid and Sienna Miller; The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor in Shanghai, China; Wanted starring James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie, and Morgan Freeman in Prague, the Czech Republic; Balls of Fury starring Christopher Walken in Los Angeles; We Are Marshall starring Matthew McConaughey in West Virginia and Atlanta, Georgia; and Evan Almighty, starring Steve Carell amongst many others.

As a motion-picture Camera Assistant for over a decade, Brian's resume includes films like Titanic, Broken Arrow, Murder in the First, Star Trek Generations, Pirates of the Caribbean, Inspector Gadget, Bring it On, and Showgirls. Television credits include such popular shows as NYPD Blue, The X-Files, Star Trek Enterprise, Star Trek Voyager, Strong Medicine, The West Wing, Charmed, and Tales from the Crypt.

Brian has worked on a large variety of projects with the talents of James Cameron, Christopher Nolan, Frank Darabont, John Carpenter, John Woo, Michael Bay, Steven Spielberg, Joel Schumacher, Jerry Bruckheimer, Joel Silver, Brian Grazer, Kevin Costner, Tom Hanks, Robert Downey Jr., Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman, Steven Seagal, Kevin Bacon, William Shatner, David Duchovny, John Travolta, Christian Slater, Brendon Fraser, Jet Li, William H. Macy, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tommy Lee Wilson, Vince Vaughn, Dustin Hoffman, Martin Sheen, Charlie Sheen, Diane Lane, John Cusack, Burt Reynolds, Diane Keaton, Lindsay Lohan, Jessica Simpson, Dennis Quaid, Merv Griffin, Warren Beatty, Johnny Depp, Alec Baldwin, Matthew Broderick, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michael J. Fox, Eddie Murphy, James Earl Jones, Mel Gibson, Julie Andrews, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson, Usher, Faith Hill, Andrew Lloyd Weber, Twiggy and many more.

With such a diverse range of experiences to draw upon, Brian is able to take you into the world of Hollywood like never before.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique guide to making one's way in Hollywood., September 5, 2008

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What I Really Want to Do on Set in Hollywood: A Guide to Real Jobs in the Film Industry (Paperback)

The 'credits track' of some movies can run almost ten minutes become of the dozens (and sometimes hundreds) of people it takes to make a modern film. "What I Really Want to Do on Set in Hollywood: A Guide to Real Jobs in the Film Industry" is a guide to jobs outside the known one such as actor, director, producer. Covering the countless jobs you tend to only hear about at the end of movie credits, it offers in depth descriptions and advice on finding the job that may be the right one for the reader. "What I Really Want to Do on Set in Hollywood" is a unique guide to making one's way in Hollywood.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource for people interested in the movie business, November 2, 2010

By 

Cameron M. - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: What I Really Want to Do on Set in Hollywood: A Guide to Real Jobs in the Film Industry (Paperback)

Wow! If you're really interested in the movie business then this book is fantastic! Forget the glamour and the stars, Brian Dzyak explains in easy to understand language what really happens on a movie set and simply explains what each of the positions (and there are a lot of them) are that make up the well-oiled machine that is the movie crew.

The author answers practical questions such as "Do I have to move to L.A.?" and "How do I meet the right people in the business?" and then goes on to describe the various jobs on the set: costumes, director and their unit, the camera department, grips, the electric dept., sound, special effects, sets and props, publicity, makeup and hair, and how all of the jobs works together to make a great movie.

Highly recommended for people who are interested in getting into the movie business or are curious about how movies get made.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book saved me over $15,000, February 21, 2009

By 

Ted V (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What I Really Want to Do on Set in Hollywood: A Guide to Real Jobs in the Film Industry (Paperback)

I am in the process of a career change to Hollywood. I was all set to pay $15,000 for a college degree, but after reading this book, I realized that what I wanted in a school was a big mistake. Thank goodness I was given this book as a Christmas present. This book created a clear picture for me and I was able to understand what I really want to do on set.