Tales of a Hollywood Casting Director - Softcover

Hanks, Mike

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1439214190 ISBN 13: 9781439214190

Publisher: BookSurge Publishing, 2009

Synopsis

From the mailroom to the casting department at Twentieth Century Fox, Mike Hanks’ career is underscored in Tales of a Hollywood Casting Director, his memoir about working in show business for nearly three decades. With chapter titles like “Warner Brothers and Garry Marshall,” and “Low Budget Films and Independence,” his biography is filled with surreal and really, really funny moments. He recounts the glory days, having a hand in creating stars, and earning his stripes in film casting. From The Sound of Music to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, to Paramount Television where he cast The Odd Couple, The Brady Bunch, and Love American Style. And then Columbia Pictures Television for Days of our lives, That’s My Mama, and The Young and the Restless. Then opportunity came in the form of independent films like Kentucky Fried Movie by Jerry and David Zucker and Jim Abrahams. Mike Hanks has helped launch numerous notables. Even beyond the glitz and glamour, this memoir shines...

About this title

About the Author:

Mike Hanks was a casting director for some twenty-two plus years. Working in television and film, he has cast some of the biggest names and most successful shows in the entertainment industry to turn out as casting department head at Metro Goldwyn Mayer casting CHiPs and all shows produced. Returning to MGM was especially sentimental for him as his father worked there and he roamed the lot as a toddler where his dad’s friend, Clark Gable, often carried him on his shoulders. His casting career beginning at 20th Century Fox with his work on such notables as The Sound of Music, The Sand Pebbles, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Planet of the Apes, Batman the television series and others. He’s then wooed to join Paramount Television as a casting director on Love American Style, The Odd Couple and The Brady Bunch. Then joining Columbia Pictures Television for Days of Our Lives, That’s My Mama and The Young and the Restless where he added his creative talent touches of many who are still working today, most notably David Hasseloff. He’s acknowledged as being the central reason for the show receiving an Emmy in 1975. Then came Kentucky Fried Movie, one of a number of an independent *films he cast, this project for newcomers Jerry and David Zucker and Jim Abrahams. It brought the Zuckors and Abrahams huge success and Hollywood recognition. In his spare time, he’s provided voiceovers for the Steven Spielberg and has acted in a number of theater productions. The proud father of three sons, he lives in Los Angeles occasionally acting in whatever is offered. With Nelson Shelton in Beverly Hills, he has sold real estate for the past thirteen years, which is similar to being a casting director, though he has found that properties are much easier to work with as they really can’t come in to meet and audition, and never complain.

About this edition

• Publisher: BookSurge Publishing
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 1439214190
• ISBN 13: 9781439214190
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 372