Hello, He Lied: And Other Truths from the Hollywood Trenches

by Lynda Obst

Book Overview

"Never go to a meeting without a strategy." "Ride the horse in the direction it's going." These are just two of the gems unearthed from the trenches of Hollywood by Lynda Obst, one of the most... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0316622117
• ISBN13: 9780316622110
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: Little Brown and Company
• Length: 246 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Lynda ROCKS

This poignant, funny, and accurate view of the industry is very well written. I was both amused and entertained by tons of anecdotal and personal stories from her broad experience at the top of the film industry food chain. Lynda is uniquely qualified to write a book like this, and she succeeds!

Excellent advice about more than just the movie business ...

Ms. Obst has written a delightful book filled with many lessons about how to get complicated projects completed, something she's expert at accomplishing. This book has applications for most complex business projects, and also for building a career. Obst knows how to get over hurdles, deal with interference, hang in for the long haul, and keep the project moving along despite all the difficulties that come with big dollar, competitive deals. It's one of the few excellent business books I've ever read (including the ones I had to read in business school). Even though it's centered on the movie business, the author has shared many nuggets that are relevant to all kinds of endeavors. Very high recommendation! Plus it's quite entertaining from start to finish. P.S. The negative comments of some reviewers are a mystery to me. Complaints about "Hollywood movies" (whatever that stereotype means), and unsettling business practices are common enough feelings, but these feelings are not sufficient as critiques of Hello He Lied. If you truly want to learn more about how big deals are done, read this book.

BUY IT NOW -- -- It's the best guide to Hollywood deals

HELLO HE LIED is written by Lynda Obst one of the top female producers in Hollywood. (I only say female because she does talk about the challenges of being a woman in Hollywood). Her films include such classics as THE FISHER KING, SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE and CONTACT. She lives in Los Angeles and Texas -- which should give you a hint already that it's important to get some distance now and then (and maybe more) from TWINKLETOWN -- I MEAN TINSELTOWN. Her advice to NEVER GO TO A MEETING WITHOUT A STRATEGY is one we all should remember. All too often we worry about our powerpoint or our clothes or our car-- and not the strategy and outcome we want. IT's this good common sense business stuff that makes Lynda's book different from so many schmoozerama books -- how to schmooze and meet and network with Moguls in Hollywood. All too often MAGIC is associated with Hollywood movies and dealmakings and Lynda lets you know that it's not magic but good hard work and a thick SKIN. She also mentions Yoga and has a bit of a zen approach to all of this that makes us realize it ain't brain surgery! Her chapter on the TAO of Power and her description of how the film THE HOT ZONE did/didn't get made is fascinating....what a smart lady this is. If you are a woman you'll like the section called CHIX IN FLIX...oh you don't need any more recommenation-- just buy it - used or new-- I don't know why it took me so long to read it....BUT DO IT -- all of life is Hollywood in some way now -- ie American Idol etc.

A must read for Hollywood Veterans and Rookies

Where to begin! This book helped me better understand the industry I work in tremendously! I only wish I would have read it the day it was published. Lynda does a great job of weaving real-life experiences with observations of other people within her inner circle. If you've ever wanted to understand how a person juggles the life of a movie producer, parent, and friend...THIS IS YOUR BOOK!

Great Guidebook for High Powered Women in Any Business!

This isn't a memoir so much as it is a guidebook for ambitious women (and men) in high powered businesses. There are useful tips on how to deal with other people, how to pitch deals successfully, how to partner with others.... But most of all there are great tips and illustrative stories on how to deal with stress, let go of failure and move on to "Next!" when it's time. Plus a great chapter on Chix in Flix that helped me better understand male/female dynamics in any high powered industry. This really is an older sister's or a mentor's book, passing on the wisdom to the next generation. It's more selfless than self-serving, and anyone who doesn't get that is, well probably jealous of Ms. Obst's quite genuine success in life.