Hollywood Drive

Eve Honthaner is the Deputy Director of the California Film Commission. Having previously come from a background in production management, she worked in various staff positions and in every freelance capacity from PA to line producer. She worked for companies such as DreamWorks and Legendary Pictures and on films such as Titanic, Just Married and Tropic Thunder. Since 1999, she has been teaching a popular summer course at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts called Breaking Into the Film Industry. She’s the author of The Complete Film Production Handbook, now in its 4th edition, and is a member of the Producers Guild of America.

• Table of ContentsIntroductionChapter 1: Fade In On RealityChapter 2: The Good, The Bad And The UglyChapter 3: No Two Paths Are Ever The SameChapter 4: Key Ingredients To A Successful CareerChapter 5: Understanding How The Industry WorksChapter 6: Career OptionsChapter 7: Some Other Interesting ChoicesChapter 8: Going It On Your OwnChapter 9: Life Will Not Go According to Plan if You Have No PlanChapter 10: Starting OutChapter 11: Job Search StrategiesChapter 12: The Resume & Cover LetterChapter 13: Interviews & MeetingsChapter 14: No One Ever Said It Would Be Easy!Chapter 15: Networking & SchmoochingChapter 16: Getting Through The Next DoorChapter 17: Pitching & SellingChapter 18: Reel ProductionChapter 19: You’re Not In Film School Anymore, TotoChapter 20: Show Biz Survival TechniquesChapter 21: Advice From The ExpertsChapter 22: Remembering Why You Got Into This Business To Begin WithChapter 23: Eve’s Recipe For Success

"Eve hasn’t lost her touch! In this updated edition she’s retained her conversational style, making this an easy read as well as the go-to guide for anyone trying to break into the entertainment industry. The book is full of invaluable insights, such as the fact that being successful in this highly-competitive business isn’t just about talent and luck, but also about having the right attitude. Hollywood Drive will continue to be required reading for my film and television students and should be for anyone serious about a career in show biz."—Professor Jerry Gibbs, Curry College, Milton, MA"Eve's common-sense writing tells one story after another about how our business works and continues to evolve. Her experiences in the real world and passion for teaching has motivated her to craft a book that is a must-read for anybody who wants to understand our business from the inside out. Real stories from real people about how things really work with hundreds of suggestions to keep you focused, motivated and 'driving through Hollywood.’"—Jay Roewe, Senior Vice President, West Coast Productions, Home Box Office, Inc."For anyone seriously considering a career in the entertainment industry, Hollywood Drive is an indispensable resource. Eve takes a pragmatic, hands-on approach, breaking down a complex industry into easy-to-digest segments. Getting a foot in the door can be an arduous challenge, and this book is a godsend!"—Amy Lemisch, Executive Director, California Film Commission"I enthusiastically recommend Eve Honthaner’s book Hollywood Drive to every aspiring filmmaker who is ready to hear solid truths, helpful hints, an accurate description of the current business, and Eve’s rock-solid advice. I believe your time and financial investment will begin to pay off immediately. This is a wise and practical book for filmmakers who want guidance and structure – whether you are in film school, never went to film school, or graduated ten years ago and are still trying to get your foot in the door. There are specific exercises within the book to help you identify and market "your brand" and understand how to better present yourself, your work and your potential. Eve devotes a chapter to the issue of diversity in the industry, both the shameful statistics AND the ways in which women and artists of underrepresented ethnicities NEED to take their rightful place in Hollywood. Eve has wide experience of the Hollywood industry and has laid out both her knowledge and the realities in easy-to-read-and-digest chapters. She comprehensively and economically covers the industry, the tools you need to succeed, the obstacles (from without and from within), and many other considerations for making your dream your career. I’ve been in the business (and a professor) for twenty years, and I was still inspired reading Hollywood Drive!" —Becky Smith is Vice Chair & Head of Production in the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. Emmy-nominated for directing (her show won an Emmy the same year), she has been working in television and features for over twenty years. She's a graduate of the Directing Workshop for Women at AFI, Stanford Film School and a member of the Television Academy and Women In Film."For years, Hollywood Drive has been required reading for my clients and students. It is far and away the finest resource on how to get and—equally important—keep a job in the industry. The level of detail is phenomenally useful, from how to figure out what you're best at, to which notepads to use, to phone etiquette, networking, diversity issues, and everything in between.Now it's updated with bushels of new information, strategies, and oh-so-necessary pep talks. Job hunting is fraught with peril, and Hollywood Drive is a miraculous guide through the deep, dark woods of starting and maintaining a career. If I'd had Hollywood Drive when I moved to Los Angeles, I'd live in a much nicer house."—William M. Akers, WGA Lifetime Member, Author of Your Screenplay Sucks!