Genius Hollywood Style (unpublished novel about Orson)

[Skylark]

Welles secretary writes book
http://www.pressrelease365.com/pr/arts- ... e-2433.htm
SANTA MONICA, CA -- What better way to break into "The Business" Landing the dream job working for the most talented star of the 40's in Hollywood. A young stage manager was hired by Orson Welles to be his secretary. Yet, like many Hollywood dreams, it became a nightmare the likes of which Mike Zimring was unprepared for.

Genius - Hollywood Style (its other working title The Treadmill) is a highly entertaining chronicle of what it was like working for one of the most volatile and egocentric figures in Hollywood history. Written by Maurice Zimm (Mike Zimring's elder brother) most notably author and creator of Creature from the Black Lagoon and has numerous other radio, television and film projects to his credit. Mike spent countless nights chronicling to his brother the misadventures and "you had to be there to believe it" tales of working for Orson Welles, this helped set the stage for both their careers in Hollywood. Both brothers revered this manuscript, which they saw as a " an art-of-fact" where the names were changed to protect the guilty. Written in the style of Hollywood's Golden Age at a narcotic like speed, Zimm brings back the temper of the times.

Its colorful cast of characters was not invention; it was pure reportage. Mike became the novel's hero and moral center, Lyle Tobey; Welles became Jonathan York, his boss, mentor and nemesis; Hayworth was reincarnated as Nikki Torrence, the femme fatale starlet who's every move and every whim shaped York's state of mind; and there was Guinea - York's general go to guy a wisecracking, ornery dwarf from Brooklyn who could go from being your best friend to your worst enemy.

From working with badass midgets, sleeping with the enemy for valuable inside information, to being sucked into the politics and greed of the Hollywood studio system, Tobey experiences a surrealistic trial by fire that will ignite the imagination of the reader. Once Tobey is ensconced in York's inner circle, he begins the jarring journey from an innocent young man to a world weary, darkened Hollywood insider. This comprises the emotional spine of the novel.

The novel asks fundamental questions about moral character, the price of pursuing one's dreams and ambitions, and the force of will necessary to accomplish great things. Within the inside world of '40s Hollywood Zimm does a brilliant job of bringing the reader into a unique world that very few were privy to; the backstage dramas and untamed egos that drove Hollywood during that era. The fact that not much has changed today, speaks of the timelessness of this dark, Machiavellian tale. Maurice Zimm could not have been more enraptured with this dramatic inside Hollywood saga, the journalist, made sure that he got each and every detail right.

Machiavellian is a perfect description of the Hollywood system - a place where the labyrinth of people's egos, greed and illusions often overwhelm those who think that can be the player who can change the rules and take charge of their own destiny. The novel shows us what happens to even the lucky few, who "make it" in Hollywood and yet whose futures are still dependent on the treadmill of "the machine". The backbone of this story is the true account of the events leading to Orson Welles discovery that the rules to success are not written by those that achieved it.

Sometime after, this cyclone of an initiation into Hollywood paved the way for Mike Zimring to become one of the most powerful agents in the history of William Morris. At William Morris he served clients as diverse as Carl Reiner, Kathryn Hepburn, Natalie Wood, Karl Malden, Steve McQueen, Stanley Kramer and Elvis Presley. His made valuable contributions to the packaging and making of projects such as; It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World; Bullit; Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?; Mash and Seinfeld.

2Way Mirror Media, LLC., a boutique multi-media company will be in charge of all developmental, marketing, production, and promotional activities. This includes release and publication of the manuscript in book form, documentary projects, film adaptations and web-based projects.

Any inquiries regarding this project should be directed to Justin Merkin 310.829.9111 or info@2waymirrormedia.com.

[Wellesnet]

Too bad this roman à clef novel was never published. The press release above made it sound interesting.