Synopsis
To movie lovers, filmmakers, film students, and romance readers: What does it really take to make it in Hollywood? In Kiss Me Quick Before I Shoot – Second Edition, filmmaker Guy Magar delivers a fast-moving, funny, and deeply personal memoir of an immigrant’s rise from war-torn Europe to the dream factories of Los Angeles. Along this celebrated journey, he shares unforgettable encounters, career battles, and behind-the-scenes stories from film school to Hollywood while directing and writing/producing television shows and feature films in the heart of the entertainment industry.
With warmth, wit, and graceful candor, Magar recounts brushes with fame, outrageous Hollywood personalities, near-misses with legends, and the love story that changed his life forever. This is more than a show-business memoir—it is a story of resilience, reinvention, true partnership, and finding meaning through both success and hardship. Movie lovers, aspiring filmmakers, and anyone who enjoys a great life story will be captivated.
New in the Second Edition: Includes an all-new Bonus Feature Chapter in which Guy Magar reflects on later chapters of his journey, shares fresh behind-the-scenes stories from a life in film, and offers additional insights on Hollywood, creativity, perseverance, and the unpredictable twists of a life spent chasing dreams. This new material adds a meaningful coda to an already entertaining and inspiring memoir, giving readers even more of Guy’s wit, wisdom, and storytelling charm.
Film industry praises include: “A great storyteller, Guy highlights the journey of building a successful film career and tells it like it is. This book is about honesty, and passion in living, marrying, and working in Hollywood...for film lovers!” from Eve Honthaner, the Production Coordinator on Titanic and a USC film instructor; and “Finally a book for all who love the movies written by a filmmaker who has walked the walk in TV and film providing a true look behind the curtain of filmmaking inside the real Hollywood!” from Joe Alves, the Production Designer of Jaws and winner of the British Academy Award for Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
With over 100 credits ranging from docs, shorts, TV shows, to feature films including Lookin’ Italian, Retribution, Stepfather 3, Children of the Corn: Revelation, Guy’s film memoir is all about the magic of forging a cinematic personal life in the Hollywood film industry, and should be required reading for every movie lover and film student. It includes stories of a producer turning out to be the assassin of the Mafia boss who allowed The Godfather to film in NY; to shooting the pyramids of Egypt for Battlestar Galactica; to directing a grumbling Mr. T on The A-Team; to almost decapitating Drew Barrymore right after E.T.; and to unwittingly almost derailing James Cameron’s early career!
“Kiss me quick before I shoot” was Guy’s welcoming catchphrase to his wife Jacqui whenever she visited on-set, seemingly always just moments before he rolled cameras. This book is about daring to dream...and making dreams come true in a unique and engaging film memoir in which Guy states: “There is no professional endeavor more magical than making films...welcome to true magic!”
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