Reeling Through Hollywood traces Dan Bessie’s humorous and sometimes desperate career from a .75-cent an hour sign-painter's apprentice to Tom & Jerry to Linus the Lionhearted to Spiderman to the award-winning Hey Culligan Man commercials.
Offering an insider’s perspective on movie making, it cautions that survival as a creative person takes both luck and determination. Demonstrates that even though you might not become rich and famous you have to do what you love. And suggests that by learning to appreciate the process you’ll be nourishing your artistic soul.
Richly illustrated with photos, graphics and original cartoons, Reeling Through Hollywood is Dan's second title since his critically acclaimed Rare Birds, An American Family (University Press of Kentucky, 2000).
Reviews:
"Dan Bessie's book should be obligatory for anyone considering a creative life . . . It is a cautionary tale to the vain and an inspiration to those who honestly desire to craft a self-directed life in the arts. The story is rich in detail, funny and honest. Bessie … reviews a rich and sometimes desperate life as a creative person who sustained himself by wit and wile.”
Peter Coyote - Emmy-nominated actor.(Road to Avonlea. ET, Cross Creek, Erin Brockovich, etc.)
A wonderful book, Dan. What a fine job...the realistic film life with all the chutzpah it takes...and blind faith of your art. . . my favorite pic was of you and your loved one at the end.
Ellen Geer, Actress, Theater director, Topanga, CA
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