If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor

by Bruce Campbell

Overview

Okay, so at least you're interested enough to pick up this book and look inside. I think you and I are going to get along just fine.

Life is full of choices. Right now, yours is whether or not to buy the autobiography of a mid-grade, kind of hammy actor.

Am I supposed to know this guy? you think to yourself.

No, and that's exactly the point. Bookstores are chock full of household name actors and their high stakes shenanigans. I don't want to be a spoilsport, but we've all been down that road before.

Case in point: look to your left - see that Judy Garland book? You don't need that, you know plenty about her already - great voice, crappy life. Now look to your right at the Charlton Heston book. You don't need to cough up hard-earned dough for that either. You know his story too - great voice, crappy toupee.

The truth is that though you might not have a clue who I am, there are countless working stiffs like me out there, grinding away every day at the wheel of fortune.

If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor is my first book, and I invite you to ride with me through the choppy waters of blue collar Hollywood.

Okay, so buy the damned book already and read like the wind!

Best,

Bruce Campbell

P.S. If the book sucks, at least there are gobs of pictures, and they're not crammed in the middle like all those other actor books.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780312291457
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	08/24/2002
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	344
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.15(h) x 0.95(d)

About the Author

Bruce Campbell is the ultimate “B” actor with an ever-growing fan base.  In addition to starring in the huge cult hit Evil Dead series and a series of independent genre films, he has had featured roles in the film Bubba Ho-Tep, the Spider-man movies, the blockbuster Congo, the award-winning independent crime drama Running Time, and Paramount’s romantic comedy Serving Sara. 

Bruce has also done a lot of television work, including appearances in Disney’s TV movies Gold Rush and their update of The Love Bug, and has also starred in the highly touted Fox series The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. Bruce then appeared as a recurring guest star on the hit shows Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Xena: Warrior Princess, Ellen, and Showtime’s edgy TV industry comedy Beggars and Choosers.  

Bruce Campbell is also the author of the bestselling books If Chins Could Kill and Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way.

Table of Contents

	Foreword	vii
	Introduction	xi
1.	The Proving Grounds	1
2.	I Beheld the Future, and the Future Was Play	19
3.	The Assembly of Like-Minded Individuals	23
4.	High (jinks) School	35
5.	Super-Duper-8	41
6.	First Look Under the Hood	45
7.	"College Schmollege"	51
8.	Low Man on a Greased Totem	55
9.	Driving Miss Crazy	59
10.	The Humble Beginning of the Humble Beginning	63
11.	The Midwest Is the Thing	65
12.	The "Prototype"	69
13.	There's No Budget Like Low-Budget	73
14.	Three Schmoes in Search of a Clue	77
15.	"Do You Validate?"	81
16.	The Quest for Moolah	83
17.	What Else Have I Got to Do for the Next Six Weeks?	91
18.	"On Your Marks, Get Set ..."	101
19.	Aftermath	119
20.	The Quest for Moolah--Part II	127
21.	The First Picture Show	135
22.	Birth of a Salesman	137
23.	La-La-Land	143
24.	Beware the Spores	147
25.	Playing Kick the Cannes	151
26.	The Downside of the Upside	153
27.	Working in the Industry	155
28.	The First "Hollywood" Film	161
29.	Back to Basics	171
30.	Go West, Young Man	177
31.	Ca$hing in on the Cult	183
32.	The Dark Side of Ambition	189
33.	Second Time Is the Charm	201
34.	A Fly on the Darkman Wall	203
35.	Evil Dead Goes Hollywood	207
36.	Anatomy of a Paycheck	217
37.	Long Live the "Hud"	219
38.	Life in the Fast Lane	223
39.	Be Quick, or You're Dead	233
40.	A Madness to My Method	237
41.	Fanalysis	245
42.	Doing the TV Shuffle	251
43.	"X" Marks the Spot	257
44.	Quest for the Holy Grail	259
45.	The Higher the Budget, the Lower the Part	263
46.	Messin' with the Myth	275
47.	Suiting Up	279
48.	Leather and Mace	285
49.	Xena: Warrior Spin-Off	289
50.	Full Circle	293
51.	What You Don't See Is What You Get	297
	Acknowledgments	299

Interviews

An Interview with Bruce Campbell

Barnes & Noble.com: Has your distinctive look hurt, or has it helped you get roles?

Bruce Campbell: Probably both. I'm sure that having defined features helped land the hero roles, but they may have hindered me when trying to land a particularly interesting role where the character didn't look anything like me.

B&N.com: You're considered to have a "cult following." Are you happy with that?

BC: I'm not sure what the whole "cult" thing is, or how it's defined, but I'm happy to have a fan base of folks who will support what I do. Hopefully, my book will be something of a reward for them, because there are dozens upon dozens of never-before-seen photos and gobs of all that fun, behind-the-scenes stuff.

B&N.com: Is it true you auditioned to replace David Duchovny on The X-Files?

BC: Very true. It was down to about three of us. I think Robert Patrick is very good for the role -- he fits that dead-serious, X-Files world very well.

B&N.com: Do you see a future for yourself as a director?

BC: I do. I've been directing television since 1994, and I look forward to applying what I've learned in the feature film arena. That'll be a long-term goal, however, since I haven't given up my day job yet...

B&N.com: You seem to have a good relationship with your fans -- why do you think that is?

BC: Well, I guess it's because I'm pretty available. Folks can email me if they want, or peruse my web site, or meet me at a convention. I also think that it's important for an actor to get a glimpse of who's supporting you -- what the folks like and what they don't. It's also a way to break down the fame mystique.

B&N.com: Is it true you'll be making a cameo appearance in the Spider-Man film?

A: Darn tootin'. I just completed that, as well as a small role in Jim Carrey's The Majestic, and a supporting role in Servicing Sara as Elizabeth Hurley's ex-husband.

B&N.com: What's the TV or film role you'd "kill" to do?

BC: Well, I try not to play that game, because it's so maddening, but I really enjoyed all those films noirs in the '40s -- they had a style and coolness that really appeals to me. So, if black-and-white ever comes back into style, I'll be ready!

Editorial Reviews

" … this entertaining and witty Hollywood memoir combines his life story with how-to guidance on making independent films and becoming a pop culture cult hero." - Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

Probably best known for his work in several Sam Raimi and other "B" films, Bruce Campbell offers a memoir of his early life and his career in Hollywood. Campbell opts for humor over deep reflection in his descriptions of his work in , , and . Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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