Hollywood Drive: What it Takes to Break in, Hang in & Make it in the Entertainment Industry
Hollywood Drive: What it Takes to Break in, Hang in & Make it in the Entertainment Industry

Hollywood Drive: What it Takes to Break in, Hang in & Make it in the Entertainment Industry is the essential guide to starting and succeeding at a career in film and TV. Written by a Hollywood insider, Honthaner’s invaluable experience and advice will give those attempting to enter and become successful in the entertainment industry the edge they need to stand out among the intense competition. Because while film school prepares students to write a script, direct a scene and operate a camera, few newcomers enter the job market understanding how this business truly works and how to land a first job-much less succeed in the industry.
Hollywood Drive is not merely a book about what it takes to get your foot in the door. It goes beyond that by offering you the tools, attitude, philosophy and road map you’ll need to give yourself a good fighting chance at success — whether you’re looking for your very first job or for a strategy to move your career to the next level. This book will allow you to proceed with your eyes wide open, knowing exactly what to expect.
Hollywood Drive explores the realities of the industry: various career options, effective job search strategies, how to write an effective cover letter and resume, what to expect on your first job, the significance of networking and building solid industry relationships, how a project is sold, and how a reel production office and set operate. You’ll learn how to define your goals and make a plan to achieve them, how to survive the tough times, how to deal with big egos and bad tempers, and how to put your passion to work for you.
* Hollywood insider with 20+ years of experience provides realistic advice and tips on getting a first job and moving up in a tough industry
* Covers a variety of career choices and the basics of how a production is set up and run
* Includes must-have information on breaking into both Hollywood and smaller markets nationwide
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars great source of info!
This book is a great addition to this author’s other work - a fact-filled compendium of documents and advice for producers and production managers that’s simply the best single book about making films professionally.
This book is a bit different, dealing with the other things - personal drive, character, etc.
If you are in the business, you will find something here you didn’t know!
My friend Mark Hansson wrote to me recently to recommend Eve’s other book - The Complete Film Production Handbook (3rd Edition, Book & CD-ROM). Mark is a busy guy in `the biz,’ having done almost a hundred films and TV shows, including episodes of Murder She Wrote, Fat Actress, Six Feet Under, as well as the features Dreamgirls and The Quickie (overlooked and much-recommended) - so his advice is key.
Turns out that Eve and Mark have been friends for a couple of decades, since they met on a film when Eve was a Production Coordinator. Mark read the first edition in galley form, long before it became a standard reference book at most studios and at many film schools. Eve’s got another book out too: Hollywood Drive: What it Takes to Break in, Hang in & Make it in the Entertainment Industry.
While Hollywood Drive deals with more `esoteric issues,’ The Complete Handbook is worth its price for the production forms alone: a CD Rom of almost 200 templates that can be customized and adapted for any film or TV show. Mark says, “I still use some of them today, such as the `Walkie Talkie Checkout List,’ an active Word document that you can type into once it has been downloaded.”
Eve herself has helped thousands of our industry colleagues, through classes and the group she founded - the Film Industry Network (FIN), which still meets once a month at Sony studios. Mark again: “I’m very proud of Eve and the second career she has found as an author and teacher. She’s an extraordinary person. And no - I don’t get royalties from the book!”
I don’t get royalties either - in fact I bought both books right here on Amazon, and I am glad I did. The Complete Film Production Handbook is a must-have for any producer, director, or production manager.
5 Stars Excellent read
I just received this book today, and cannot put it down. Honthaner writes with such ease, it’s almost as if she’s sitting there discussing the entertainment industry with you. As a recent graduate and an intense drive to make it in Hollywood, this book suits all of my needs in seriously knowing the ins-and-outs of the business. I would definitely reccomend Hollywood Drive to anyone with a similar passion to want to know all and be in the mix of the entertainment industry.
5 Stars A+ Read
This is a great book to start with if you are thinking about a career in Hollywood. The author gives a great overview of the business and makes sure she explains herself well. An easy read. Highly recommend!
5 Stars Good resource for Writers
You wouldn’t know this book is a great marketing book and writers should read this one. The book focuses on the film industry but there is a wealth of information in here about marketing yourself that writers can benefit from. There are some great excercises you can use to start defining yourself and begin your publicity. Whether it is for your book, screenplay or yourself.
5 Stars Very Practicle
I learned a lot of practicle advice for each step for getting into the industry
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