CONFESSIONS OF A BRIAN DE PALMA PROTÉGÉ!

The lively true story of a cinephile’s journey from De Palma fan to filmmaker.

This follow-up to Irvin’s memoir I Was A Teenage Monster Hunter! recounts how a closeted teenager in North Carolina elbowed his way into the movie industry, embraced his sexuality, and found his calling behind the camera. Being the son of the owner of the Irvin-Fuller Theater chain had its advantages, but the author made his own magic happen. While at the University of South Carolina, Irvin organized a Brian De Palma Film Festival and wanted the director to make a personal appearance; seeing a listing in The Hollywood Reporter for the casting call of the director’s Carrie, the author dialed the number and asked to speak to De Palma. From there, Irvin wangled his way into a small, part-time position on De Palma’s The Fury, was promoted to production manager and associate producer on the subsequent Home Movies, and eventually landed a full-time job as De Palma’s assistant. The memoir is a wistful look at the days when access to the industry could be achieved with nothing more than charm and ambition. The author recalls bumping into a teenager named Mark who “wormed” his way onto the set The Fury—he’d grow up to become the esteemed director Mark Romanek. (Home Movies cinematographer James L. Carter reports that he got his start by writing a letter to legendary lenser Vilmos Zsigmond and asking to be an intern.) Cameos in the narrative range from now disgraced producer Scott Rudin (working in casting at the time) to Seinfeld and Jurassic Park actor Wayne Knight (who made his screen debut in Irvin’s first short film); they provide a reminder that even those at the top had to start somewhere. Packed with interviews and colorful stills and posters, Irvin’s book reads like a personal diary (the text includes some excerpts from his journal) that he’s opened up to share with the world: “I’m literally bursting at the seams to continue regaling everyone with lots more juicy anecdotes from my larger-than-life story with a great big bucket of bloody good tales out of school about my De Palma years.”

A memorable memoir that brings Hollywood closer to home.