Sleepless in Hollywood: Tales from the New Abnormal in the Movie Business

In this must-read on the ever-evolving movie industry, Obst (Hello, He Lied) examines how Hollywood has transitioned from what she calls the Old Abnormal to the New Abnormal ("because Hollywood...is never actually normal"). A producer known for her involvement in movies like Sleepless in Seattle, The Siege, and The Fisher King, Obst shares trivia, personal experiences, and second-hand anecdotes to explain how and why the entire movie-making system has changed. From the death of the DVD market, to the meteoric rise of the marketing department's influence, from the growing involvement of international partnerships to social media, she dissects the business. Though she occasionally gets bogged down in dry, technical moments, her narrative is otherwise accessible and entertaining. She conveys an oft-bemused air of exasperation, amusement, and world-weary frustration as she chronicles her experiences, transitioning from a movie producer whose projects can no longer get a greenlight in the New Abnormal, to a television producer for shows like Hot in Cleveland. Obst pulls back the curtain on an industry built on lies and illusion, allowing readers to get in on the ongoing joke. Agent: Sloan Harris, International Creative Management. (June)