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Sharon Oreck
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Video Slut: How I Shoved Madonna Off an Olympic High Dive, Got Prince into a Pair of Tiny Purple Woolen Underpants, Ran Away from Michael Jackson's ... So I Could Bring Rock Videos to the Masses Paperback – May 25, 2010

by Sharon Oreck (Author)
3.2 out of 5 stars 9 ratings
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When video killed the radio star, Sharon Oreck was calling the shots.

Video Slut takes an irreverent look behind the scenes of the music-video industry during its eighties heyday. Oreck, one of the top producers of all time, bluffed her way into the business with no experience whatsoever and went on to produce more than six hundred video shoots with Madonna, Sting, Mick Jagger, Prince, and several members of the increasingly unstable Jackson family―not to mention a cadre of delinquent caterers, deranged interns, self-absorbed record executives, and malfeasant animal trainers.

Oreck also shares the at turns hilarious, biting, and poignant story of her origins as a single teen mother, disowned by her middle-class parents, and of her journey from welfare to kung fu movie sets to film school. She approaches her own delinquency and that of the superstars she encountered with humor and candor. The result is an acerbic but sympathetic account of the outrageous effects of fame, power, and money on people in the entertainment business. No one is spared, especially herself.

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  1. Print length
    245 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    May 25, 2010
  4. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.61 x 8.25 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    0865479860
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0865479869
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“It has been said (and not only by me) that the Music Video ‘Industry' is (was) the worst aspects of the film industry and the worst aspects of the music industry combined. Sharon Oreck's Video Slut is a loving record of that particularly ridiculous time and place when MTV owned a sizeable chunk of pop-culture real estate, ushering into existence a unique kind of Artist/Carny. These are stories from the front lines--told unflinchingly and hilariously by someone who obviously appreciated the absurdity as it was happening. Who owns the film rights?” ―David Fincher, director of Fight Club and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

“This book is very, very funny and the eighties diva behavior Sharon Oreck describes is spot on and wonderful. But it's also interesting to hear her own story of how she went from teen mom to accidental music video producer and went on to become one of the most successful producers of the MTV era.” ―Sam Raimi, director of Spiderman and The Evil Dead series

“One thing I try not to make a habit of is blurbing; it's a disgusting pastime and a one-way-dead-end for expression. But after reading Sharon Oreck's deliciously witty book I decided to break my rule, which sent me tumbling down a steep and hellish slope, revisiting all of my horrible patterns and compulsions from the past, breaking every rule that I had ever made for myself. Thank you Video Slut. Thank you thank you thank you thank you.” ―Michael Cera, star of Superbad and Youth in Revolt

“Oreck provides amusing, often biting glimpses of an array of hotties, druggies, incompetents and others who join with high-maintenance stars and pompous record-company executives to produce video promos for the latest song hits. Crises abound: Neighbors called the police when 20 crosses were set afire during a Madonna shoot; homeless cross-dressers pursued Janet Jackson on the streets of Los Angeles; and dozens of pigeons splattered on the ground after their release during the making of a Sheila E video . . . Frenetically entertaining.” ―Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Sharon Oreck is a film, video, and commercial producer. Between 1984 and 2000 she was the owner-operator of O Pictures. She is an Academy Award nominee and the recipient of a Grammy Award, two Women in Film Awards, and several MTV Awards.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Farrar, Straus and Giroux
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 25, 2010
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ First Edition
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 245 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0865479860
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0865479869
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.61 x 8.25 inches
  • Best Sellers Rank: #1,792,018 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.2 out of 5 stars 9 ratings

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Sharon Oreck

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Customer reviews

3.2 out of 5 stars
9 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

  • Peony
    3.0 out of 5 stars A ballsy woman
    Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2010
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    A unique book that can be looked at from a few angles.
    It is autobiographical and interlaced with her time in the unwed mothers home and shooting rock videos in the 1980's.

    I didn't know she was the Producer on some of the more famous video's such as Michael Jackson's In the Closet, a Janet Jackson video and Madonna's video, Like a Prayer. This is one very smart and hard working person, who overcame a difficult start in life (her pregnancy at 16)and she tells the story of this with self-effacing humour. However this can wear a bit thin and sometimes she is disrespectful to some of the artists, especially the Jacksons.

    However this woman did triumph and it shows what a difficult place Hollywwod and those who work there can be.
    You have to admire her for what she has achieved. The language is over the top and saccharine sometimes.
    It is a quick read and gives some startling insights into music stars and super models. Sharon Orock rubbed shoulders with most of them.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Refutation
    Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2012
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Ok. So since I appear in this book by my real name, I have to refute one point: I do not recall crying at the time. Pretty much all the rest is true.

    Good job capturing all the fun, insane, surreal crap that went on behind the scenes of the 80's video production world, Sharon. It certainly would not have been the same without you. I hope you and Bill and Josh are well.

    Joel A.M. Blumenau, author of Jerzey: Jerzey
    One person found this helpful
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  • Bigbird
    2.0 out of 5 stars Not What I Expected
    Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2010
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I purchased this book after hearing Ms. Oreck's interview on a radio station. Having grown up with the early days of MTV, it sounded fascinating and I wanted to learn more. Unfortunately, the book was not what I expected at all, which was more about the videos and entertainers. There was very little written about that. It was mostly about her life story and although interesting, just not what I expected. I forced myself to finish it only so my $$ wouldn't be a complete waste.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • mssjbsf
    5.0 out of 5 stars If you love 80's excess..
    Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2010
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    ...this book is great. It captures a great time in modern culture and the way she writes is candid and funny. I'm a big fan of 80's music and culture - it's when I grew up and what I remember fondly. Reading about the background of some of these classic videos is a real treat. It's a quick fun read (I started Monday and will finish it this evening). If you were a fan of the show Pop-Up Video, this book is for you.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • E. S. Anderson
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating
    Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2014
    Format: Paperback
    This book took me much longer to read than it should have because I kept having to go to my computer and YouTube the videos described within. For a child of the 80's I was really less familiar with them than I should have been. It might have been helpful for Oreck to put up a website with links to her work to make tracking them down less complicated.
    For the most part, chapters regarding Ms. Oreck's large-scale productions were interspersed with ones about her personal life prior to becoming a rock video producer. I actually found the personal stories far more heartfelt and entertaining than the ones about spoiled celebrities and their crises.
    The writing is, well, highly profane. Not that that was surprising considering the title, but some readers might be put off by it. It also seemed that there was an excessive amount of hyperbole and subterfuge. I'm sure Oreck felt she needed to spice things up a bit, but I'd venture to guess that a straightforward account of her experiences would have been just as fascinating. That said, however, it was fascinating. I would have liked to read more of it, actually.
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  • M. Stein
    1.0 out of 5 stars Save your money
    Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2010
    Format: Paperback
    I read the library's copy of Video Slut, so I can be grateful that I'm not out the cost of this disappointing read. The tone is Bridget Jones, but the `fun' is too often too narcissistic and mean-spirited to qualify. When Oreck takes credit for much of the brilliant work of director Herb Ritts, only to inform us later that by the way, he died, her credibility is rendered questionable. When she complains about Michael Jackson's lack of work ethic - really- that question has been resolved. I wouldn't want to know Sharon Oreck. I wish I hadn't read her.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Elizabeth
    1.0 out of 5 stars glitter, lies & greed
    Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2010
    Format: Paperback
    No one needs to scratch for material, for print & profit, by continuing lies about Michael Jackson.
    Shame.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • C. Carter
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved It!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2010
    Format: Paperback
    this book is a fun, funny, fantastic romp through the long-lost music business. It cleverly counterbalances the industry's height of excess in the 80's with sharon's own journey as a single mom in post-punk los angeles. good stuff, and great insightful writing too!
    3 people found this helpful
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