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Admit One: My Life in Film
First set in Croydon, South London, in the 1980s, Admit One details how Emmett James escaped the pains of adolescence by going to the cinema. With wry, self-deprecating humor and observation, the author reflects on, obsesses over, and rages about film and its correlation to our pasts. The author finds that his true calling is in transiting one side of the screen to the other. He decides to leave England for the only place where he can realize his dream of becoming an actorAmerica.
We then follow the author on his numerous Hollywood adventures, watching as he glides smoothly from forgery to pornography to crashing the Academy Awards under the alias of a nominated screenwriter, and eventually stumbles into acting in the highest-grossing movie of all time, Titanic. At every turn, the films that inspired Emmett James as a child resurface, and they serve to contextualize his humorous collection of stories in which he provides unique insights into the fascinating world of film.
220 pages, Paperback
First published December 30, 2007
38 people are currently reading
422 people want to read
About the author
Emmett James
4 books3 followersEmmett James spent his childhood in Croydon, South London, and finished
his schooling in Cambridge, England. While studying acting at Strasberg
Actors Studio in London, he began working in theater, eventually moving to Los Angeles in the early 1990s to pursue an acting career in film and
television.
He has worked extensively as a thespian in every single medium, from voicing a number one video game franchise to having a recurring role on America’s oldest running soap opera. Projects he has lent his talents to have been honored with Oscars, and Golden Globe, SAG, Emmy, and BAFTA awards. He was also presented with a prestigious ADA award for his work on the Los Angeles stage.
In addition to acting, he has produced, taught, and directed film, stage, and
television productions in Hollywood and London. Coming from a family of authors that includes J. B. Priestley, Emmett James continues to live and work in Hollywood today.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
August 13, 2016
I received this book for free from the publisher. All content and opinions are my own.
The first question I have when I encounter a memoir is why did this person feel compelled to write about his life? Did he do something particularly amazing with his life? Did he overcome some great obstacle? Did he play a part in a major historical event? Did he at least marry an important person? Did he live in a third-world country? In this particular case, none of the above seem to apply. Emmett James recounts his youthful encounters with movies and his later efforts to become a working actor in Hollywood.
Admit One: A Journey Into Film consists of twenty-two chapters, each with a movie as its title and theme. While I like the idea as a concept, the execution left something to be desired. Forcing each chapter to comport with a movie made all of the recollections seem contrived. James obviously felt obligated to mention each movie as though he had seen it during the relevant time period and as though he had made the connection between it and his particular circumstance at the time. Also, it made the writing and the timeline choppy and disjointed. Each of the chapters was like a vignette that failed to fit in with the others.
I was often turned off by the angry tone of the book and by James’s less-than-generous attitude towards the people who played roles in his stories. He belittles his grandparents, his parents, his siblings, and his friends. None of his relationships in the book even seem important to him. In fact, James seems to be all alone. At the end of the book, there is no one there with him. Also, he never seems to think about the affect of his actions, from his stint stalking a famous director to his forgery business.
There were a few interesting points. My favorite chapter was the Star Wars chapter. James’s retelling of the affect the Star Wars movies (and marketing) had on him helped me to understand other Star Wars lovers in my life. Also, the story of his quest to obtain a Star Wars toy from Santa was pretty compelling. Others of the stories were interesting, but generally cut out too soon. For example, James recounts how he snuck his way into an Oscar party in Hollywood, but didn’t tell the reader anything about the party. In another story, James recounts how he was a steward in the blockbuster Titanic, but then does not tell the reader anything about the shoot. In all, though, I was nonplussed by James’s attitude and life story.
The first question I have when I encounter a memoir is why did this person feel compelled to write about his life? Did he do something particularly amazing with his life? Did he overcome some great obstacle? Did he play a part in a major historical event? Did he at least marry an important person? Did he live in a third-world country? In this particular case, none of the above seem to apply. Emmett James recounts his youthful encounters with movies and his later efforts to become a working actor in Hollywood.
Admit One: A Journey Into Film consists of twenty-two chapters, each with a movie as its title and theme. While I like the idea as a concept, the execution left something to be desired. Forcing each chapter to comport with a movie made all of the recollections seem contrived. James obviously felt obligated to mention each movie as though he had seen it during the relevant time period and as though he had made the connection between it and his particular circumstance at the time. Also, it made the writing and the timeline choppy and disjointed. Each of the chapters was like a vignette that failed to fit in with the others.
I was often turned off by the angry tone of the book and by James’s less-than-generous attitude towards the people who played roles in his stories. He belittles his grandparents, his parents, his siblings, and his friends. None of his relationships in the book even seem important to him. In fact, James seems to be all alone. At the end of the book, there is no one there with him. Also, he never seems to think about the affect of his actions, from his stint stalking a famous director to his forgery business.
There were a few interesting points. My favorite chapter was the Star Wars chapter. James’s retelling of the affect the Star Wars movies (and marketing) had on him helped me to understand other Star Wars lovers in my life. Also, the story of his quest to obtain a Star Wars toy from Santa was pretty compelling. Others of the stories were interesting, but generally cut out too soon. For example, James recounts how he snuck his way into an Oscar party in Hollywood, but didn’t tell the reader anything about the party. In another story, James recounts how he was a steward in the blockbuster Titanic, but then does not tell the reader anything about the shoot. In all, though, I was nonplussed by James’s attitude and life story.
March 6, 2010
When Emmett James was growing up in the 70's and 80's the weekly family outing to the local cinema was his escape from the grimy streets of Croydon, South London into another world.
At the beginning of each nice and short chapter a different film is mentioned and he describes how the flickering images on the big screen affected his growing up.
He also dreamed of one day starring in one of the films; for most of us, these are just daydreams and real life takes over but for Emmett James he really does go to Hollywood and he really does fulfil his lifelong dream, eventually having a role in the biggest grossing film of all time (at least it was when he wrote this book!).
I thought that Emmet James dry and wry humour made for entertaining reading and I read this book quite quickly. My favourite story describes how he gatecrashes an Oscars party by pretending to be Richard Curtis (the writer of Four Weddings and a Funeral), who at that time was relatively unknown and no-one knew what he looked like!
From The Jungle Book to Titanic and all manner of genres in between, if you love films you'll love this!
At the beginning of each nice and short chapter a different film is mentioned and he describes how the flickering images on the big screen affected his growing up.
Career plans and life-altering directions throughout my childhood years were consistently dictated by the cinema and my favourite film at the time. I went from praying that I grew up to be a mouse after the highly emotional and utterly disturbing animated Disney film The Rescuers, to being sure my destiny was now in the field of archaeology after seeing Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
He also dreamed of one day starring in one of the films; for most of us, these are just daydreams and real life takes over but for Emmett James he really does go to Hollywood and he really does fulfil his lifelong dream, eventually having a role in the biggest grossing film of all time (at least it was when he wrote this book!).
I thought that Emmet James dry and wry humour made for entertaining reading and I read this book quite quickly. My favourite story describes how he gatecrashes an Oscars party by pretending to be Richard Curtis (the writer of Four Weddings and a Funeral), who at that time was relatively unknown and no-one knew what he looked like!
From The Jungle Book to Titanic and all manner of genres in between, if you love films you'll love this!
June 17, 2010
In his memoir Admit One: My Life in Film, Emmett James takes us on a trip down his memory lane to show us events related to famous movies. When he was a child going to the movies was an event. His parents would take him and his brother to the nearby town. This involved a one hour bus ride and it was something he looked forward to every time. Later on, he would go with his friends and they discussed the movies both before and after seeing them.
Emmett James, while being an actor, is not particularly a Hollywood celebrity stalked by paparazzi day and night. His biggest role so far was that of a waiter in Titanic - but then, this is not what his memoir is all about. Now granted, if you start reading it with the expectation to hear all about his Hollywood experience, you'll be sorely disappointed, but if you like glimpses into other people's lives and have a thing for movies, you will enjoy Admit One.
While it is not all out exciting or a thrilling memoir, I enjoyed it for taking me down my own memory lane, trying to remember when I first watched the movies mentioned (ET? When I was about 10, around the time I got the book with pictures from the movie.). All in all, I had a nice time reading it - chapter by chapter and with breaks for my own thoughts.
Emmett James, while being an actor, is not particularly a Hollywood celebrity stalked by paparazzi day and night. His biggest role so far was that of a waiter in Titanic - but then, this is not what his memoir is all about. Now granted, if you start reading it with the expectation to hear all about his Hollywood experience, you'll be sorely disappointed, but if you like glimpses into other people's lives and have a thing for movies, you will enjoy Admit One.
While it is not all out exciting or a thrilling memoir, I enjoyed it for taking me down my own memory lane, trying to remember when I first watched the movies mentioned (ET? When I was about 10, around the time I got the book with pictures from the movie.). All in all, I had a nice time reading it - chapter by chapter and with breaks for my own thoughts.
April 4, 2011
this was a free kindle download. i generally love memoirs and i like movies as much as the next person so i thought this would be an interesting read.
i probably could have done w/out the first half of the book. the idea of each chapter being 'named' for a movie was very clever but the stories were not really "about" the movie or only very loosey based around this subject.
i think a lot of the stories had the potential to be funny but fell flat. some writers are just laugh out loud funny and these stories were midly amusing. a few bits were really funny but not enough for the book to be rated more than 2 stars.
the 2nd half of the book (when he moves to california) is more interesting and i did like the last chapter quite a bit. also, the chapters about titanic were very interesting.
sadly, overall, i didn't think the book was too great.
i probably could have done w/out the first half of the book. the idea of each chapter being 'named' for a movie was very clever but the stories were not really "about" the movie or only very loosey based around this subject.
i think a lot of the stories had the potential to be funny but fell flat. some writers are just laugh out loud funny and these stories were midly amusing. a few bits were really funny but not enough for the book to be rated more than 2 stars.
the 2nd half of the book (when he moves to california) is more interesting and i did like the last chapter quite a bit. also, the chapters about titanic were very interesting.
sadly, overall, i didn't think the book was too great.
July 16, 2014
I love movies. I have always loved movies. When I wanted to be an actor, I wanted to act in movies. Emmett James felt exactly the same way, and unlike me, he made it. Not "made it big", just "made it". Along the way he talks about some of his favorite movies and some key moments in his life and he's funny; he tells his anecdotes very well, and there's no ego. And although there's a tremendous amount he never shares with the reader, one thing comes through so clearly: he loves this. It doesn't matter what inane thing you're doing in what weather, there's the craft services food and a bunch of really interesting people to talk to, and in some ways there is nothing better in the world.
I never knew who James was before I picked up this book, but having finished it I know that he's one of my people. I hope he lives a long, happy life and makes a lot of movies.
I never knew who James was before I picked up this book, but having finished it I know that he's one of my people. I hope he lives a long, happy life and makes a lot of movies.
March 27, 2011
While I'm a sucker for a well written memoir, I'm also a movie fanatic, so this book was golden for me: a man telling his life as it parallelled with the major movies in his lifetime. Some he actually worked on and others that either affected his life or seemed to parrot it.
Very entertaining and well done. Reader beware, however, of a few odd and racey (albeit hilariously awkward) parts where he talks about some "off-color" movies he was in and there's also an amazingly creepy chapter. Even with that, I'd recommend it. It's worth alone for his humor and the behind the scenes information about big movie studios, directors and even a major movie we've all heard of.
Very entertaining and well done. Reader beware, however, of a few odd and racey (albeit hilariously awkward) parts where he talks about some "off-color" movies he was in and there's also an amazingly creepy chapter. Even with that, I'd recommend it. It's worth alone for his humor and the behind the scenes information about big movie studios, directors and even a major movie we've all heard of.
July 11, 2020
Sorry. Just can’t go on reading this drivel.
March 21, 2019
I went into this book completely blind because my husband was getting books that I requested at the library and impulsively grabbed this one too because he thought I'd like it. Being the random reader I am I think that's great but I also know from random reading that taking a gamble doesn't always pay off. Unfortunately, this book wasn't one I enjoyed; for me a 2 star rating means I didn't like it but it wasn't so bad that it made me angry - 1 star is reserved for rant reviews.
It started off with a weird rant about Steven Seagal and then there were a few other "what did I just read?" moments as well, such as a strong opinion about people with a unibrow being untrustworthy or when he described someone as "one of my Indian (dots, not feathers) friends". It also veered from weird to uncomfortable at times, such as when he decided to impersonate an Oscar nominee (apparently easy to do because "who the hell knew what the writer [I'm choosing not to repeat his name in my review but the author named him] looked like anyway? Apart from his mother, I'm sure..." to get into an Oscar party in the hopes of picking up a beautiful woman (or to quote him directly, "finish the evening off by taking home a little golden, tanned, trophy of my own. Placing her on my mantle...or better yet, bent over the footboard of my bed.") or when he made money by editing paparazzi photos (and I use "editing" loosely, as the story of pretty much manufacturing the wedding photo of Nicolas Cage and Lisa Marie Presley was beyond crazy).
I did find his "behind the scenes" story of how they got a certain shot of him as an actor getting hit by a car very interesting. They did it backward, starting with his head on the truck and then him and the vehicle both reversing away from each other - it would be hard to sprint backward, especially while looking like you're running forward.
A Few Quotes from the Book
"So the local cinema soon became a frequent weekend event for our family, something we could all share and have an opinion on. I always loved to feel like grown-ups were truly interested in what I had to say, and with film we all saw different things and shared in each other's knowledge, likes and dislikes. This event was something where there truly was no right or wrong, just personal opinion, and age was suddenly and unequivocally irrelevant. It was a unique family occurrence that soon became greatly cherished and frequently attended by us all."
"Career plans and life-altering directions throughout my childhood years were consistently dictated by the cinema and my favorite film at the time. I went from praying that I grew up to be a mouse after the highly emotional and utterly disturbing animated Disney film The Rescuers, to being sure my destiny was now in the field of archaeology after seeing Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom."
Find all my reviews at: https://readingatrandom.blogspot.com
It started off with a weird rant about Steven Seagal and then there were a few other "what did I just read?" moments as well, such as a strong opinion about people with a unibrow being untrustworthy or when he described someone as "one of my Indian (dots, not feathers) friends". It also veered from weird to uncomfortable at times, such as when he decided to impersonate an Oscar nominee (apparently easy to do because "who the hell knew what the writer [I'm choosing not to repeat his name in my review but the author named him] looked like anyway? Apart from his mother, I'm sure..." to get into an Oscar party in the hopes of picking up a beautiful woman (or to quote him directly, "finish the evening off by taking home a little golden, tanned, trophy of my own. Placing her on my mantle...or better yet, bent over the footboard of my bed.") or when he made money by editing paparazzi photos (and I use "editing" loosely, as the story of pretty much manufacturing the wedding photo of Nicolas Cage and Lisa Marie Presley was beyond crazy).
I did find his "behind the scenes" story of how they got a certain shot of him as an actor getting hit by a car very interesting. They did it backward, starting with his head on the truck and then him and the vehicle both reversing away from each other - it would be hard to sprint backward, especially while looking like you're running forward.
A Few Quotes from the Book
"So the local cinema soon became a frequent weekend event for our family, something we could all share and have an opinion on. I always loved to feel like grown-ups were truly interested in what I had to say, and with film we all saw different things and shared in each other's knowledge, likes and dislikes. This event was something where there truly was no right or wrong, just personal opinion, and age was suddenly and unequivocally irrelevant. It was a unique family occurrence that soon became greatly cherished and frequently attended by us all."
"Career plans and life-altering directions throughout my childhood years were consistently dictated by the cinema and my favorite film at the time. I went from praying that I grew up to be a mouse after the highly emotional and utterly disturbing animated Disney film The Rescuers, to being sure my destiny was now in the field of archaeology after seeing Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom."
Find all my reviews at: https://readingatrandom.blogspot.com
March 10, 2011
Admit One? First, I have to admit this...
I'm a buffoon. I read the first eleven (that's right I said eleven) chapters of Emmett James's book
Admit One: My Life in Film before I caught on to fact that the author is actually an actor (hence, the title). I got it right about the time he finished hunting down a well known director that was filming in England and headed off to America to make his way in life via the craft of actor.
Yep, I will repeat, I am a buffoon.
Up until that light bulb went off, I was enjoying the book, but not nearly as much. I thought it was about a writer that was writing his memoir & relating it to movies he'd seen. Sure, the name seemed familiar, but every writer tries to coin a name that reeks of best friend or someone famous comfort. I thought Emmett James was one of the lucky ones that came out with a great moniker or picked on up to sell his writing.
Wow, was I wrong. This guy was in Titanic, a porn & a soap opera that claims the love story of Luke & Laura. Not in that order of course, but you get the idea. He crashed Oscar parties pretending to be a director and convinced James Cameron to keep him on the set long after his bit part wrapped. This guy is an evil genius.
In retrospect, I'm glad I didn't have the full back story. I actually think it was more fun that way. Plus, I believe my review is far less tainted than those that were star struck from page one.
I give the book four stars. I think if I were from England, it might have been a five star review (humor is just a little different over there). His antics in the quest for fame are unbelievable; and it carries a good message. To paraphrase: life's success is in the journey. Do what you love. A list status isn't the grand prize...that comes from following your passion & enjoying the ride.
The only issues I had were as follows: I felt that he isn't very fond of his mother at all. He seemed to prefer his father. He also clearly hates his brother. None of those things should have bothered me, but they did. I thought it came across as a tad bitter. But, then again, those are his feelings. Can't change that.
It's a good read; and as promised, right now it's FREE for your Kindle on amazon.com!
Cheers! (that's British for until next time...I think)
I'm a buffoon. I read the first eleven (that's right I said eleven) chapters of Emmett James's book
Admit One: My Life in Film before I caught on to fact that the author is actually an actor (hence, the title). I got it right about the time he finished hunting down a well known director that was filming in England and headed off to America to make his way in life via the craft of actor.
Yep, I will repeat, I am a buffoon.
Up until that light bulb went off, I was enjoying the book, but not nearly as much. I thought it was about a writer that was writing his memoir & relating it to movies he'd seen. Sure, the name seemed familiar, but every writer tries to coin a name that reeks of best friend or someone famous comfort. I thought Emmett James was one of the lucky ones that came out with a great moniker or picked on up to sell his writing.
Wow, was I wrong. This guy was in Titanic, a porn & a soap opera that claims the love story of Luke & Laura. Not in that order of course, but you get the idea. He crashed Oscar parties pretending to be a director and convinced James Cameron to keep him on the set long after his bit part wrapped. This guy is an evil genius.
In retrospect, I'm glad I didn't have the full back story. I actually think it was more fun that way. Plus, I believe my review is far less tainted than those that were star struck from page one.
I give the book four stars. I think if I were from England, it might have been a five star review (humor is just a little different over there). His antics in the quest for fame are unbelievable; and it carries a good message. To paraphrase: life's success is in the journey. Do what you love. A list status isn't the grand prize...that comes from following your passion & enjoying the ride.
The only issues I had were as follows: I felt that he isn't very fond of his mother at all. He seemed to prefer his father. He also clearly hates his brother. None of those things should have bothered me, but they did. I thought it came across as a tad bitter. But, then again, those are his feelings. Can't change that.
It's a good read; and as promised, right now it's FREE for your Kindle on amazon.com!
Cheers! (that's British for until next time...I think)
February 27, 2010
Admit One was an unusual book. It is a journey in film but it’s certainly unlike anything I expected. It starts with his childhood experiences while watching the movies with his family. The theater outings start with The Jungle Book, Grease, Sindbad and other movies. We learn about this family and the place where he lived. And although he has nothing but bad things to say about his mom and brother, I enjoyed this section. He has a funny and sarcastic way of saying things.
What I enjoyed most was the second half of the book. That’s when he leaves Britain for America to try his hand in Hollywood. The reason why he has to leave Britain is another story altogether. Seriously, I couldn’t believe some of the things this guy did.
At times I didn’t quite like the things he did but then again I have to applaud his honesty and guts to own up to his actions. His struggles to become a star and in the process landing in all the wrong jobs was hilarious. I could give you examples but it would kind of spoil the book.
It’s interesting to know what someone has to go through to make it big in Hollywood. I like the authors ability to find humor in the most embarrassing situations. Everyone who loves movies and has grown up with a healthy obsession with them can definitely relate to his experiences. There is this one paragraph at the end which I really liked (no spoilers).
Movies are pure illusion, the illusion beginning with the very word itself-movie. There really is in literal terms no such thing as a motion picture. A moving, talking piece of celluloid just doesn’t exist. What we really stare at are still photographs-twenty four brief flickers of images per second, inevitably summoning a multitude of thoughts, feelings and actions from within ourselves. A place in which each of us has a unique documentary taking shape, where one’s own personal life story begins to play out for the world.
I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to everybody.
P.S: I’m curious about the prologue to Steven Seagal though.
Mr. Seagal, I’m having a party, and you’re just not invited…
Why was that?
What I enjoyed most was the second half of the book. That’s when he leaves Britain for America to try his hand in Hollywood. The reason why he has to leave Britain is another story altogether. Seriously, I couldn’t believe some of the things this guy did.
At times I didn’t quite like the things he did but then again I have to applaud his honesty and guts to own up to his actions. His struggles to become a star and in the process landing in all the wrong jobs was hilarious. I could give you examples but it would kind of spoil the book.
It’s interesting to know what someone has to go through to make it big in Hollywood. I like the authors ability to find humor in the most embarrassing situations. Everyone who loves movies and has grown up with a healthy obsession with them can definitely relate to his experiences. There is this one paragraph at the end which I really liked (no spoilers).
Movies are pure illusion, the illusion beginning with the very word itself-movie. There really is in literal terms no such thing as a motion picture. A moving, talking piece of celluloid just doesn’t exist. What we really stare at are still photographs-twenty four brief flickers of images per second, inevitably summoning a multitude of thoughts, feelings and actions from within ourselves. A place in which each of us has a unique documentary taking shape, where one’s own personal life story begins to play out for the world.
I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to everybody.
P.S: I’m curious about the prologue to Steven Seagal though.
Mr. Seagal, I’m having a party, and you’re just not invited…
Why was that?
September 5, 2008
Emmett James has been in love with movies his whole life. He grew up in a nondescript London suburb where, to him, things seemed very ordinary, even boring. He can remember his first movie at the age of about three, Walt Disney's The Jungle Book, which he largely slept through. The beginning and the end are clear, though, and he liked what he saw. Now, how to stay awake? The answer? Every child's best friend...SUGAR, of course!
In this funny and upbeat memoir Mr. James takes us on a "This is your life" kind of ride by linking his past to the films that shaped his world. The yearly television viewing of The Wizard of Oz and the terror of the Wicked Witch inevitably caused him to have a bladder accident. Plus if it looked remotely gloomy outside he was jumpy, watching the skies for a rogue tornado. Poor kid, England has gloomy weather fairly regularly.
E.T. The Extra Terrestrial inspired a love for the BMX bike and eventually led to a short lived life of teen crime, causing his parents to move the whole family from London to Cambridgeshire, a fate worse than death to the author. Especially when the new home, built in about 900, turns out to be haunted. The author's room is the scene of a hair-raising ghost sighting.
Emmett's love of films inspire him to be an actor and so, at the first opportunity, he moves himself to Hollywood looking for his own piece of the American Dream. He finds it, too.
I happen to be about the same age as the author and as I was reading I was thrust back in time, back to my own movie experiences. When I had to be taken out of Walt Disney's Bambi because I cried and cried when his mother was shot. When my best friend and tough girl astonished me by crying at E.T. (I'd never seen her cry before).
This is a story to take you down your own memory lane and remind you of the wonder and magic of the movies.
In this funny and upbeat memoir Mr. James takes us on a "This is your life" kind of ride by linking his past to the films that shaped his world. The yearly television viewing of The Wizard of Oz and the terror of the Wicked Witch inevitably caused him to have a bladder accident. Plus if it looked remotely gloomy outside he was jumpy, watching the skies for a rogue tornado. Poor kid, England has gloomy weather fairly regularly.
E.T. The Extra Terrestrial inspired a love for the BMX bike and eventually led to a short lived life of teen crime, causing his parents to move the whole family from London to Cambridgeshire, a fate worse than death to the author. Especially when the new home, built in about 900, turns out to be haunted. The author's room is the scene of a hair-raising ghost sighting.
Emmett's love of films inspire him to be an actor and so, at the first opportunity, he moves himself to Hollywood looking for his own piece of the American Dream. He finds it, too.
I happen to be about the same age as the author and as I was reading I was thrust back in time, back to my own movie experiences. When I had to be taken out of Walt Disney's Bambi because I cried and cried when his mother was shot. When my best friend and tough girl astonished me by crying at E.T. (I'd never seen her cry before).
This is a story to take you down your own memory lane and remind you of the wonder and magic of the movies.
March 1, 2012
While books transport and fire the imagination for some of us, movies can do the same for others (and some of us are just as affected by both). Emmett James is far from the first to dream of becoming part of the world of the movies that inspired him, but he is one of the relatively small number of those who have made it a reality, and his story is pretty entertaining in itself. Each chapter of James' memoir opens with a capsule description of a film that somehow relates to the chapter that follows. In the first half of the book, the relationship is pretty straightforward - he talks about seeing the movie and how it affected his life at thr time, growing up in the London suburbs. In the second half, he literally moves to Hollywood and takes some interesting detours along the road to becoming a working actor - not necessarily the same thing as a "movie star," but the best that most Hollywood hopefuls will manage to achieve, and far more than many ever do.
This is a quick and entertaining read, in more ways than one. I found James' chatty tone engaging, and as someone who works in Hollywood but isn't part of "Hollywood," I found his behind-the-scenes stories particularly interesting, if not especially insightful - even so, they could still be instructive to those curious about the day-to-day struggles of trying to gain a foothold in the business. The actor/author seems to have a generally healthy perspective on what can sometimes be an unhealthy line of work, and while this book strikes me as more the work of a good storyteller than a gifted writer, reading it wasn't a bad way to spend a few hours.
This is a quick and entertaining read, in more ways than one. I found James' chatty tone engaging, and as someone who works in Hollywood but isn't part of "Hollywood," I found his behind-the-scenes stories particularly interesting, if not especially insightful - even so, they could still be instructive to those curious about the day-to-day struggles of trying to gain a foothold in the business. The actor/author seems to have a generally healthy perspective on what can sometimes be an unhealthy line of work, and while this book strikes me as more the work of a good storyteller than a gifted writer, reading it wasn't a bad way to spend a few hours.
June 3, 2008
Admit One: A Journey into Film is Emmett James's story about his childhood and his love of movies. What I really loved about this book was Mr. James's un-censored take on movies, growing up into adult hood, his feels towards a certain actor and life in general. Admit One: A Journey into Film had me laughing at the good times and there were plenty. Like the time when Emmett just knew he was destined to be the next greatest superhero sidekick, or the time he tried to cop a feel with Joanne Hardy, also the time when Emmett was explaining that you can always count on the fact that at all movie set buffets you can find red licorice, and my favorite was his feelings towards a famous trained monkey (actor). Ok, I will give you a clue who it is....yeah right you will just have to read the book for yourself to find out.
Admit One: A Journey into Film is one of those rare books that just make you feel good inside. I found myself having a hard time putting this book down. Everytime I would start, it was not long before I had it back in my hands and before you knew it I was finished reading it. Thank you Mr. James for not being bashful in writing this novel Admit One: A Journey into Film. I now have a new book to recommend to all my friends. For anyone who has a love for any type of movies needs to read Admit One: A Journey into Film. It will make you remember all the good times about your childhood and wish you were young again! Pop yourself a bag of popcorn and settle in to read Emmett James's Admit One: A Journey into Film.
Admit One: A Journey into Film is one of those rare books that just make you feel good inside. I found myself having a hard time putting this book down. Everytime I would start, it was not long before I had it back in my hands and before you knew it I was finished reading it. Thank you Mr. James for not being bashful in writing this novel Admit One: A Journey into Film. I now have a new book to recommend to all my friends. For anyone who has a love for any type of movies needs to read Admit One: A Journey into Film. It will make you remember all the good times about your childhood and wish you were young again! Pop yourself a bag of popcorn and settle in to read Emmett James's Admit One: A Journey into Film.
April 6, 2010
"Admit One: My Life in Film" is the amusing memoir of actor Emmett James. Growing up in the 70’s and 80’s in Croyden, England, Emmett soon discovered that the cinema made for a great escape from his mundane childhood. Using a memorable movie as the theme for each chapter, he writes his story starting with his first ever movie experience and moving through his childhood to adulthood when he tried to break into the movie business.
While I found his childhood interesting and was glad he included those details, for me the book really got exciting when Emmett started getting involved in acting. I’ve always had an interest in the behind the scenes world of Hollywood and this book gave me a glimpse at the ups and downs of a struggling actor. The dichotomy between his experience in soft porn and his experience on the set of the blockbuster film "Titanic" is not something many popular actors of today would ever share, so I appreciate the fact that Emmett does not try to hide the realities he dealt with while struggling for his “big break”.
This honest and cleverly written memoir was a really fun read, and I can see why it recently won the award for Best Book from the USA Book News as I would not hesitate recommend it to anyone who has an interest in acting or movies. I wish Emmett James the best in his future career whether it be in acting, writing, or some other aspect of the entertainment industry.
While I found his childhood interesting and was glad he included those details, for me the book really got exciting when Emmett started getting involved in acting. I’ve always had an interest in the behind the scenes world of Hollywood and this book gave me a glimpse at the ups and downs of a struggling actor. The dichotomy between his experience in soft porn and his experience on the set of the blockbuster film "Titanic" is not something many popular actors of today would ever share, so I appreciate the fact that Emmett does not try to hide the realities he dealt with while struggling for his “big break”.
This honest and cleverly written memoir was a really fun read, and I can see why it recently won the award for Best Book from the USA Book News as I would not hesitate recommend it to anyone who has an interest in acting or movies. I wish Emmett James the best in his future career whether it be in acting, writing, or some other aspect of the entertainment industry.
December 14, 2008
To me my love and books and movies were always separate. There weren't many movies about books nor books about movies. When I heard about Emmett James's book, Admit One: A Journey into Film I knew the gap had been bridged. I knew I had to read it.
Emmett's memoir starts with his early memories of visiting the cinema with his family. He doesn't remember much of the movie (he falls asleep) but remembers the affect it has on his brother. Each chapter is framed by a different movie and gives a little synopsis. The first half of his book explores Emmett's love of movies as a viewer and the second half explores it as a participant. He moves to LA and starts to work. I loved how it hits movies from two sides. I could relate to the viewer side but had always wanted to hear about the participants side. I wish this jump between the two different parts had been bridged with just a little more detail (he seems to go from a young teenager to a 20-something like that) but maybe that's just me.
I was also pleasantly surprised to hear he went to school for graphic design for a spell. The chapter about retouching was so funny to me.
All in all, I love books, movies, and memoirs so to me this was just a great idea for a book. Peeking into something I don't believe i ever had, has been a great joy.
Thank you to Lisa Roe, Online Book Publicist for the review copy.
Emmett's memoir starts with his early memories of visiting the cinema with his family. He doesn't remember much of the movie (he falls asleep) but remembers the affect it has on his brother. Each chapter is framed by a different movie and gives a little synopsis. The first half of his book explores Emmett's love of movies as a viewer and the second half explores it as a participant. He moves to LA and starts to work. I loved how it hits movies from two sides. I could relate to the viewer side but had always wanted to hear about the participants side. I wish this jump between the two different parts had been bridged with just a little more detail (he seems to go from a young teenager to a 20-something like that) but maybe that's just me.
I was also pleasantly surprised to hear he went to school for graphic design for a spell. The chapter about retouching was so funny to me.
All in all, I love books, movies, and memoirs so to me this was just a great idea for a book. Peeking into something I don't believe i ever had, has been a great joy.
Thank you to Lisa Roe, Online Book Publicist for the review copy.
January 31, 2010
In this entertaining memoir, British actor Emmett James recounts his cinematic memories from childhood to his stint on television's "Redemption High." James begins each chapter with a film linked to his past, starting with "The Jungle Book," his first cinematic adventure, to "Batman Forever," "It's a Wonderful Life," and others. His shortest chapter is "Green Card," where he says "Life imitates art. Enough said."
From his earliest memories growing up in South London, James is drawn to movies and their ability to take the audience to another time and place. James earns his college degree in advertising and graphic design. He then learns acting at the Lee Strasberg Acting Institute in London and tries to break into the film industry. His hilarious attempts at securing the part of "superhero sidekick" result in James' arrival in Hollywood, where he pays his dues and then some.
"Admit One" is a fun and revealing memoir by a Hollywood insider. James' humor draws readers in and keeps their interest through the end. From a porn film to "Titantic," his career spans a wide spectrum and his love of movies shines throughout. I recommend this book to anyone interested in life in Hollywood and how to survive it. The memoir is the winner of "Book of the Year" for USA Book News.
From his earliest memories growing up in South London, James is drawn to movies and their ability to take the audience to another time and place. James earns his college degree in advertising and graphic design. He then learns acting at the Lee Strasberg Acting Institute in London and tries to break into the film industry. His hilarious attempts at securing the part of "superhero sidekick" result in James' arrival in Hollywood, where he pays his dues and then some.
"Admit One" is a fun and revealing memoir by a Hollywood insider. James' humor draws readers in and keeps their interest through the end. From a porn film to "Titantic," his career spans a wide spectrum and his love of movies shines throughout. I recommend this book to anyone interested in life in Hollywood and how to survive it. The memoir is the winner of "Book of the Year" for USA Book News.
April 8, 2010
This book was not what I was expecting. For some reason, I thought it would be a gossipy book about Hollywood stars. Instead, it was much, much better! It's an amusing trip down memory lane as James recounts how weekly trips to the cinema shaped his entire life,eventually leading him to Hollywood.
There is a little Hollywood gossip, but nothing mean or unbecoming. Kate Winslet, Frances Fisher and James Cameron (who he met during his stint filming Titanic) all sound like lovely people. And the actresses from Lap Dance come off as very professional, despite him classifying it as soft porn! James has the ability to laugh at himself and the situations he finds himself in, but never becomes mean-spirited or vindictive. He even makes sleeping on the floor in his empty room at the Y sound worthwhile!
James is a very talented writer, with a snarky sense of humor that I fell in love with. He makes his life story fascinating and fun, while at the same time highlighting certain films that had an impact on his life. This was a fast read for me, and I really enjoyed getting to know James. Gave it a 4/5 rating as I enjoyed reading the book and think the author is incredibly talented! Who would have guessed that a pornographic forger imposter would have such an interesting life? ;)
There is a little Hollywood gossip, but nothing mean or unbecoming. Kate Winslet, Frances Fisher and James Cameron (who he met during his stint filming Titanic) all sound like lovely people. And the actresses from Lap Dance come off as very professional, despite him classifying it as soft porn! James has the ability to laugh at himself and the situations he finds himself in, but never becomes mean-spirited or vindictive. He even makes sleeping on the floor in his empty room at the Y sound worthwhile!
James is a very talented writer, with a snarky sense of humor that I fell in love with. He makes his life story fascinating and fun, while at the same time highlighting certain films that had an impact on his life. This was a fast read for me, and I really enjoyed getting to know James. Gave it a 4/5 rating as I enjoyed reading the book and think the author is incredibly talented! Who would have guessed that a pornographic forger imposter would have such an interesting life? ;)
February 23, 2010
Admit One: My Life in Film
Author:: Emmett James
Publisher: FizzyPop LCC
ISBN: 978-0-9842581-0-9
Growing up in Croyden, South London in the 1980's, Emmett James fell in love with the cinema. Realizing that his life experiences were coloring his views and outlooks on the films he was seeing, he become obsessed with films. As he gets older, Emmett decides that the natural progression of his life is to be a part of actual movie making. He then travels to America to become an actor. From there, the reader is both enthralled and entertained by his wry and humorous relating of his adventures. From porn to crashing the Academy Awards by pretending to be a nominated screenwriter, you'll find yourself laughing aloud and sometimes nodding in agreement.
In an interesting and truly unique style of writing, James takes the popular films of the times and discusses his life around their themes. You'll find memories of your own regarding each film, and it's a welcome trip down memory lane. Relatable, humorous, touching and true to life, put this on your must read list.
Author:: Emmett James
Publisher: FizzyPop LCC
ISBN: 978-0-9842581-0-9
Growing up in Croyden, South London in the 1980's, Emmett James fell in love with the cinema. Realizing that his life experiences were coloring his views and outlooks on the films he was seeing, he become obsessed with films. As he gets older, Emmett decides that the natural progression of his life is to be a part of actual movie making. He then travels to America to become an actor. From there, the reader is both enthralled and entertained by his wry and humorous relating of his adventures. From porn to crashing the Academy Awards by pretending to be a nominated screenwriter, you'll find yourself laughing aloud and sometimes nodding in agreement.
In an interesting and truly unique style of writing, James takes the popular films of the times and discusses his life around their themes. You'll find memories of your own regarding each film, and it's a welcome trip down memory lane. Relatable, humorous, touching and true to life, put this on your must read list.
February 21, 2011
What a fun book. This guy is categorizing his life to the movies of his childhood and on up. We've made it through The Jungle Book, Star Wars, Grease and The Wizard of Oz so far LOL. Quite funny!
~~~
after I finished...
Arguably one of the best books I've read! Written in a fast paced style that kept me entertained and intrigued, all the while trying to figure out just who Emmett James was. At the first mention of Titanic, I thought I'd figured it out and I was right. He was "that" one. The extra that seemed to actually have a role, if not a name. He was "Steward One" or something to that effect, but he is seen throughout the movie in different places.
His is a very interesting story of the journey his life took as he took the journey to become an "actor", finally realizing that and actor and a celebrity are two vastly different things.
~~~
after I finished...
Arguably one of the best books I've read! Written in a fast paced style that kept me entertained and intrigued, all the while trying to figure out just who Emmett James was. At the first mention of Titanic, I thought I'd figured it out and I was right. He was "that" one. The extra that seemed to actually have a role, if not a name. He was "Steward One" or something to that effect, but he is seen throughout the movie in different places.
His is a very interesting story of the journey his life took as he took the journey to become an "actor", finally realizing that and actor and a celebrity are two vastly different things.
March 9, 2010
This is the memoir of the actor, Emmett James. As a young boy, growing up in a lower class London neighbourhood he recalled his earliest experiences with the cinema. He use to go with his mother and older brother. He usually fell asleep but mange to wake up for the best parts. He enjoyed these family outings, in fact, they are his fondest memories from his childhood. He really liked to observe how his mother and brother watched movies.
The chapters each start with a film that James had seen but the writing within each chapter had very little to do with the mentioned film. This memoir is much more the memoir of Emmett James, actor, rather than...
Read my full review at: http://teddyrose.blogspot.com/2010/02...
The chapters each start with a film that James had seen but the writing within each chapter had very little to do with the mentioned film. This memoir is much more the memoir of Emmett James, actor, rather than...
Read my full review at: http://teddyrose.blogspot.com/2010/02...
March 13, 2011
Emmett James fell in love with the cinema as a child and in this memoir he uses the films that inspired him as a framework for a wry look at his life. James grew up in the Croydon area of South London where he and his family were regular patrons of the local movie house. James studied acting in London and then moved to Hollywood where he hoped to realize his dream of becoming a film actor. Along the way he is cast as an extra for $40 a day numerous times, ends up in a soft porn film, crashes an Academy Award after party, and eventually ends up with a small part in Titanic. The chapter headings are the titles of films and the chapters relate in some way to the themes of each film. A very amusing memoir.
August 18, 2011
This was a loaner book I rec'd from someone anonymous. I really liked the way the book began, the first few chapters Emmett (the author) had a great way of explaining how his love for movies and movie going began (each chapter also had the name of a movie as well). As the book continued I sort of missed that, Emmett would only tell us more about his life and less about the movie the chapter was about.
I did also enjoy a sort of behind the scenes look the author gave us into "Hollywood" life and how he was able to score his small roll in the movie Titanic.
I you love movies, this would be a book I would recommend, but I suggest maybe borrow it from the library if possible. I would not spend my money on it.
I did also enjoy a sort of behind the scenes look the author gave us into "Hollywood" life and how he was able to score his small roll in the movie Titanic.
I you love movies, this would be a book I would recommend, but I suggest maybe borrow it from the library if possible. I would not spend my money on it.
December 19, 2013
My initial impression was that Admit One: My Life in Film would be a collection of stories about films that influenced the author’s life or, perhaps, a series of personal commentaries on the movies that marked life milestones. Unfortunately, it's just a memoir in which the author selected random movies to force some kind of link with the personal stories he wanted to tell. Too often it felt like the author was name-dropping in an effort to lend his story a greater Hollywood connection, and I wasn’t always interested in every tale he shared. But ultimately it was a somewhat interesting look into the life of a struggling actor and the periphery of Hollywood. Some readers will find great enjoyment in this. I found myself only partially amused from time to time.
April 2, 2010
BOOK CLUB BOOK: This book had brief moments where I found a nugget of wisdom or humor (so it probably deserves 1.5 stars) but I mostly found the narrator prideful, irritating, and so self-absorbed that I just didn't care about what happened to him next. I didn't get the sense that this "memoir" was really all that truthful either, so I didn't find it captivating or believable. The gimmick - reflecting on his life through films he watched (or acted in) at various ages - was a weak unifying theme in my opinion. This seems like an indulgent stunt-type project from a guy that, I hope, is a better actor, than writer.
April 29, 2011
Great book as it discusses how Emmett was 'destined' to be an actor from the moment he entered the theater for the first time to see Disney's "The Jungle Book". He then takes us through the movies that had the most effect in his life as a member of the audience and the schemes to get himself noticed and finally running away to the US and eventually landing a role in the Titanic. While he hasn't reach ultimate success as an A-list actor he is comfortable in the fact that he is on the right path which is more than I can say for 99% of the population.
May 9, 2011
In Emmett James' memoir, he takes us through his memories of growing up in England by relating the events to movies. I could sometimes see how the movies related to his memory, but sometimes I didn't see how they were connected.
The book was pretty interesting once James moves to California and gets into acting. I especially liked the chapters where he was an extra on Titanic.
I would say this book is a good beach read since you can pick it up and put it down and still not have to remember every little detail that happened in previous chapters.
The book was pretty interesting once James moves to California and gets into acting. I especially liked the chapters where he was an extra on Titanic.
I would say this book is a good beach read since you can pick it up and put it down and still not have to remember every little detail that happened in previous chapters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2011
Starts out slow enough that I almost gave it up. Upon previewing latter parts I decided to continue. For a first novel, it's not bad. He had some laugh out loud spots. I hope his writing continues to get better, as writing often does, and that we see more from him.
I thoroughly enjoyed his tales and exploits. I know there must be more in store for us movie fans.
By the way, never actually seen him in anything. Bit heading back to idbm to look for his roles.
I thoroughly enjoyed his tales and exploits. I know there must be more in store for us movie fans.
By the way, never actually seen him in anything. Bit heading back to idbm to look for his roles.
May 11, 2011
This book just starts out as a winning combination for me -- my love of books, film & british humor. This is what elevates it to a 4 star from what otherwise might be a 3 star read for me. I thought the concept was really unique ~ and the fact that the narrator's story is based on his actual life vs. being a fictional account was also a plus. Also - not sure the age of the author -- but the movies of his youth that he writes about are the same as the movies of mine.
May 20, 2011
I enjoyed the story telling and how the author related parts of his life to movies he had seen at the theater during that time. He and I are of the same age, so many of the movies chosen are ones I identified with and also enjoyed. He did try to do a wrap-up at the end that basically tried to control the reader's over all thoughts about the book and about him, which I didn't like. However, over-all, this was an enjoyable book that had me lauging out loud several times.
December 29, 2016
This free Kindle book appeared to be one man's look back and review of movies that were big influences from his childhood. (Each chapter was named for a different film and I had seen almost all of them.) Instead, the movies were more of a backdrop for his adventures and hijinks. I ended up skimming a good bit of the book but did read the portion about "Titanic" which was interesting as he became an actor and actually had a part in the movie.
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