Based on the Movie

By Billy Taylor

Book Overview

Now in paperback, High Fidelity meets The Player in this hilarious and insightful first novel that takes place behind the scenes of a movie set, where a depressive dolly grip tries to turn his life around, hoping for his own happy Hollywood ending. Informed by his years on the set of dozens of television shows and Hollywood movies, Based on the Movie is Billy Taylor's satirical debut novel that shows readers what it's really like behind the cameras. Nine months after Bobby Conlon's wife, Natalie, dumped him for a hot young director, his life is out of kilter. But it's time to throw out that year-old Christmas tree decorated with 500 empty Vicodin bottles and fly to Texas to work on a movie starring Ralph the Swimming Pig. Once in Texas, Bobby realizes he has signed on to the most dysfunctional movie ever. The director can't direct, the pig catches pneumonia, and just when things can't get any worse, Natalie and her boyfriend are hired to take over the movie. Suddenly, Bobby's personal and professional lives collide, and no matter which way he turns, fresh disasters await. Still, in spite of everything, Bobby clings to the hope that a happy ending might be possible. This is the movie business, after all. A side-splitting look at what actually happens on a film location, told from the perspective of the hardworking and long-suffering men and women behind the scenes, Based on the Movie is a captivating and entertaining read that brings real life and reel life together to great effect.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416548785
• ISBN13: 9781416548782
• Release Date: August 2009
• Publisher: Atria Books
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.2" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Hilarious but touching, too.

I join the other 5-star commenters in congratulating the author for a job well done. I had a great time chuckling my way through it. Very funny, very well-written, and in the end, very moving in its way.

A great and funny book!

I picked this book the other day as it sounded very interesting. Boy was I right! Not only was the book interesting, it was hilarious!!! The story is great, you learn a lot of interesting things about movies, and it even has a happy ending. There were tons of times I actually laughed out loud and it was hard to read this book without cracking a smile. A must read!

A Great Read

This was such a good book. It was funny and I learned a lot about moviemaking. I now know what a best boy and a dolly grip do.I am afraid this is one of those books that won't get much publicity and therefore not many people will read it. It that happens it will be a shame because a lot of people will really enjoy this book.

Great Read!

Flew through this in less than a day. Well written and quite witty - a perfect vacation read that will have you laughing (LOL). Plus an informative look behind the camera into those not-well known jobs listed at the end of every movie. Highly recommended. You won't be disappointed.

Outstanding!

What a terrific read! Finished it two days. This is a very enjoyable book, with characters that are unique but also very relatable. I laughed out loud throughout. I highly recommend it! This is one book I think virtually anyone would enjoy.