Anthony Mora’s gripping tale Hang Fire tactfully disillusions the oldest film industry, Hollywood, in a maelstrom of power games, ordinary people who become caught up in it, and fading stars fighting to rise again.
Let’s dive right into the synopsis and my thoughts on Hang Fire.
Spoiler-free Plot
The breathtaking story of the sudden rise and unexpected collapse of people who wanted to make it big in Hollywood.
It’s 2019 and novel writer James Lansing receives an unexpected proposal for a film adaptation of his book. However, what follows is a series of less-than-promising rendezvous with Hollywood celebrities – filled with lies, cold-shouldering, and unpaid bills for James to take home.
His friend, Jerry remains unfazed by the celebrities’ reaction and misleads his psychotherapist into a lead role in the film. When James decides he wants nothing to do with film-making, Jerry convinces him to give it a last shot. After all, not many people can brag about a private lunch with Amber Lake or Peter Stangerson.
Together, they manage to capture the stars’ attention. There is just one problem for James: It’s not his book they are now interested in.
Here is the riveting story of the inner workings of the most popular entertainment industry in the world, a darkly humorous tale set amid the illusion and fame-rush frenzy of Hollywood.
My Take on Hang Fire
The adage “all that glitters is not gold” holds for the message in Anthony Mora’s cautionary tale Hang Fire.
The events of this book were so moving that I was somehow both amazed and disgusted. It shocked me to read about how exactly Hollywood is structured to serve the producers, contrary to our perception that it’s a medium to appreciate art and good storytelling. It felt like the bursting of my fantasy bubble; like my vision cleared and I could see beyond the mirage in front of me. The book is that powerful.
The tension was palpable throughout the book. I loved how we could see the thought process behind every character’s actions and feel the impending doom just lurking around the corner. It was almost like Hollywood was a living, breathing being in the book, favoring some, while swallowing up others who hadn’t the nerves or the means to make it.
I also enjoyed getting a glimpse into how the celebrities were doing in their everyday lives. Amber’s yearning to go for an anonymous walk through the streets of New York, her child-like pleasure at hiding herself as a normal person, and Stangerson’s casual scheming sitting in his office at Warner Bros felt oddly satisfying to read.
The shifting dynamics between the two friends, James and Jerry, and the two celebrities, Amber and Peter, were also quite thrilling.
Hang Fire unapologetically debunks the perception of Hollywood. It’s a satirical take on how in some ways, Hollywood has become an antithesis of all that has to do with the appreciation of some kinds of art. It laments the path the film industry has taken, bulk-producing eye candy that will quickly generate revenue, all to keep itself afloat.
Actresses are always past tense. They just don’t know it. Like cars, as soon as you drive them off the lot, they start to depreciate.
Highly recommended to fans of the mystery/thriller and true crime genre, Hang Fire masterfully exposes the lies and secrets behind the making of any box-office hit film, and prepare to be astonished, because the process would be less than glamorous.
About The Author Of Hang Fire
Anthony Mora, is a novelist and playwright whose works have been compared to Salinger, Fante and Nabokov, began his career as a rock journalist and magazine editor. His first novel, “Bang! A Love Story,” was published in 1990. Soon after the book’s release, Anthony, who served as the playwright-in-residence at The Sidewalk Studio Theatre in Burbank, California, adapted “Bang!” as a play. The original production starred Linda Cardellini and played in both L.A. and New York. Bang! was followed by “Modern Love,” “POP (The Principals of Perfection),” “Silencing Silas,” and “Hollywood Confessions.” His second novel, “Virtual Velocity: An L.A. Story.” was published in 2018. “Ricochet,” a play adapted from a chapter of “Virtual Velocity,” premiered in Los Angeles in 2019.
Anthony, who has been featured in: USA Today, Newsweek, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The BBC, CNN, and other media, is also author of the non-fiction books “Spin To Win” and “The Alchemy of Success.”
Anthony and his wife, Ann Convery, launched Swan Place Productions in 2020. The company has produced three projects: “Exposé,” a short film by Ann Convery, which won five awards and has shown in over twenty festivals, “An Unimportant Girl,” an award-winning documentary, and “The Revenge Sessions,” based on one of Anthony’s earlier plays is currently in preproduction.
Originally from El Paso, Texas, Anthony lives with Ann in Los Angeles, CA.
Leave a ReplyCancel reply