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Hollywood Samizdat: Notes From Below the Line
Every film producer has stories they shouldn’t tell. Stories about seductive actresses, abusive actors, egomaniacal directors, mentally ill coworkers, and the countless immoral and unethical things people do to become famous. But what about the stories they won’t even tell to themselves?
Follow industry veteran Rambo Van Halen on a personal journey through the upside-down world of Hollywood—a place where everyday rules don’t apply, and the only goal is to get out without losing your soul.
Follow industry veteran Rambo Van Halen on a personal journey through the upside-down world of Hollywood—a place where everyday rules don’t apply, and the only goal is to get out without losing your soul.
184 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 31, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 30, 2025
Incredible. Gonna be picking over this one for a long time.
September 9, 2025
an interesting if disjointed memoir
With no unifying theme or central thrust. I picked this up because I follow the author on x/twitter and find his observations clear headed and well written. A lot of this book comes across as someone trying to make sense of his life and experiences and in that vein it feels like an expression that horrid modern convention, therapy.
However, the authors voice is clear his storytelling reads as honest and while this will not give yearners and dreamers a path into show business, it is an excellent reminder that all entertainment is a business and that glamour is just rouge and eye shadow to tart up the old girl (showbusiness). Is it worth a read? I don’t know. I don’t regret reading it, but I was hoping there might be more insight than ‘this business will kill you and devour all you care about guys’ if he keeps writing, I hope his next piece is less therapy life dump and more stories.
With no unifying theme or central thrust. I picked this up because I follow the author on x/twitter and find his observations clear headed and well written. A lot of this book comes across as someone trying to make sense of his life and experiences and in that vein it feels like an expression that horrid modern convention, therapy.
However, the authors voice is clear his storytelling reads as honest and while this will not give yearners and dreamers a path into show business, it is an excellent reminder that all entertainment is a business and that glamour is just rouge and eye shadow to tart up the old girl (showbusiness). Is it worth a read? I don’t know. I don’t regret reading it, but I was hoping there might be more insight than ‘this business will kill you and devour all you care about guys’ if he keeps writing, I hope his next piece is less therapy life dump and more stories.
September 21, 2025
Read this I one sitting
Like I said in my title I read this book in one sitting. I stumbled across a couple of social media posts by the author saw him hawking his book and decided to give it a try- and I'm glad I did. While I've never been involved with Hollywood and had friends who were, his stories are a glimpse into their world that helps me understand them just a little bit more.
They're also a frickin riot to read.
Like I said in my title I read this book in one sitting. I stumbled across a couple of social media posts by the author saw him hawking his book and decided to give it a try- and I'm glad I did. While I've never been involved with Hollywood and had friends who were, his stories are a glimpse into their world that helps me understand them just a little bit more.
They're also a frickin riot to read.
October 4, 2025
Excellent book. It articulated truths I intuitively know but never had the language to describe. I read it in a single sitting and afterwards I felt as if I had been reborn.
I only wish it was longer. Hopefully there will be a sequel.
I only wish it was longer. Hopefully there will be a sequel.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews