Iris Burton was a Hollywood Legend. She built an empire by launching the careers of several hugely succesful child stars, such as; River Phoenix, Joaquin Phoenix, Kirsten Dunst, Drew Barrymore, Tori Spelling, Hilary Duff, Corey Feldman, Jaleel White, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, and many more.
But what was she like to work for and how did she become so successful?
Growing up in upstate New York, Snyder was seduced by Hollywood from a young age and dreamt of working with fabled studios and world-famous stars. What he didn't anticipate was that in order to achieve his dream he'd be required to work fourteen-hour days, seven days a week, all while supporting an irate, unpredictable boss. HUNTING WITH BARRACUDAS is filled with insider gossip and anecdotes. Snyder reveals how the Iris Burton Agency rose to the top and crashed to the bottom, citing details such as:
How River Phoenix's death profoundly changed his outlook on life
How Kirsten Dunst transitioned from her child roles, such as Claudia in Interview with a Vampire, to leading roles like Mary Jane in Spiderman
Brokering deals for Joaquin Phoenix
Josh Harnett's arrival onto the scene
About the Author:
Chris Snyder originally planned to be on stage and in front of the cameras, but life and a natural inclination for talent recognition and representation got in the way. He continues to live, work, and write in Hollywood. His clients work regularly and steadily. He has a reputation for being a dedicated and hard working representative. His ever-increasing list of talent is well-known in the industry.
Publishers Weekly on HUNTING WITH BARRACUDAS
Chris Snyder, late film agent Iris Burton's executive assistant, shares his exhilaratingly, insane experiences working in Hollywood, and for an unyielding boss, in his juicy memoir, Hunting with Barracudas: My Life in Hollywood with the Legendary Iris Burton. Helping to launch and maintain movie stars' careers is glamorous. It also requires every ounce of energy an agent has, as Synder recollects in this insider's read.
Iris, a former 1950s Paramount contract dancer, began working with children in a talent agency she formed after her divorce from Sid Miller. She quickly created a niche in the industry and became a powerhouse. Her A-list stable of clients included Kirsten Dunst, Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Hartnett, the Duffs, the Olsens, and many other child stars. As Snyder states, "Iris had been the first agent to negotiate million-dollar deals for her underage clients." Together they turned the late River Phoenix into box office gold. But after River's untimely passing in 1993, things changed. Snyder watched Hollywood shift business tactics from a land of great development agents into a town governed by underhanded business players looking to poach rising talent.
An instant classic, this is a gripping and wildly entertaining story of what it takes to make it in Hollywood.
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