Director Terry Zarchi & Producer Jeffrey G. Olan were partners in an Extras Casting Company called Rainbow Casting when they decided to make this film in 1998. In addition to raising the financing, they invested their own money, talked strategy and while operating their casting company they shot the film.
Executive Producer Meir Zarchi is Terry Zarchi’s father. Meir Zarchi is the legendary creator of the 1978 cult classic I Spit on your Grave.
Director Terry Zarchi who wrote, edited and co-produced the film, also wrote and performed some of the music in the film including the theme song HOLY HOLLYWOOD THE SONG. The music can be heard on most music platforms including Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/album/66u0anFA5Bp2RzTugJGEyL
Terry & Jeff shot many scenes from Holy Hollywood in their actual casting office in North Hollywood at the time, as the film is loosely based on Terry and Jeff’s real life stories, when they were partners at their Casting Company.
Tony Leech who played Tyler, wrote and directed HOODWINKED and is currently a Writer / Director of other projects in the motion picture business.
Timothy Muskatell who played Jack, used to work as a casting director for Jeff and Terry in the Nineties. This was Tim’s first lead role in a movie and he has since appeared in many films.
Gil Espinoza who plays Armando, met Terry & Jeff just as in Holy Hollywood – on the streets of East Los Angeles wanting to work with them in casting, looking to get out of the gang-life. Gil worked in their casting office learning the ropes as he also was doing some live theater and other acting roles, including co-starring in the film ‘High School High’ starring John Lovitz in 1996.
Gil was in a Los Angeles street gang prior to working with Jeff and Terry, after meeting them on the streets of East Los Angeles when they were casting extras on the 1992 film “American Me” with Edward James Olmos. Gil spoke to at-risk kids in schools with Mr. Olmos while at the same time working with the guys at their casting company.
Gil was asked to live with Casting Director Sally Perle, who was Jeff & Terry’s boss before the two of them went off to open up their own agency.
The role of Olivia Montgomery, played by Jean Thompson in Holy Hollywood, is based on the real-life Sally Perle.
Amy Linker co-stars as Rosy. Prior to that in 1982, Amy co-starred in the TV series SQUARE PEGS with Sarah Jessica Parker.
Francis Ruiz who co-stars as Franklin, was a drummer in some bands while simultaneously becoming a casting associate alongside Terry Zarchi and Jeff Olan in the Nineties. In Holy Hollywood, Francis has aspirations of being a drummer and after years of being an actual drum tech for many established artists, Francis is now the Drummer of the popular Rock Band BUCKCHERRY, which tours around the world.
Dan Charles Zukoski aka D. Danny Warhol played the Pizza Boy in the 1990 film HOME ALONE prior to moving to Los Angeles to try to further his acting career. Dan had met Jeff and Terry through their extras casting agency and was cast on many different projects. Jeff urged Dan to audition for the Drag Queen role in HOLY HOLLYWOOD and Terry knew instantly that Dan was perfect for the part as Candy Warhol, a name in which Dan himself came up with.
The Queen Mary Night Club scene was not in the original script. Actor D. Danny Warhol surprised director Terry Zarchi with a private performance of the song “Abso-Dammit-Lutely” in Terry’s home. Dan came in fully dressed as Marilyn Monroe with an electric fan in one hand and a boom box in the other. Terry knew at that moment that he needed to create a scene in Holy Hollywood to accommodate this song with Candy Warhol performing it. The song was written by famed comedian Hal Sparks.
Tony Tarantino, who co-stars as Dick Richards, is Quentin Tarantino’s biological father.
Tony Tarantino auditioned for the role of Dick Richards in character. He introduced himself to director Terry Zarchi as Mr. Dick Richards. He even brought a muscular henchman on his side as a bodyguard and whipped out a revolver while auditioning the back seat of the limo scene.
Sal Pacino, who plays Uncle Willie in Holy Hollywood, is the father of legendary actor Al Pacino.
Katherine-Kovin Pacino, who plays Tyler’s mom in Holy Hollywood, was married to Sal Pacino at the time of filming.
Producer Jeff Olan and Director Terry Zarchi provided the Extras Casting on many Quentin Tarantino films such as PULP FICTION, WHITE MAN’S BURDEN, JACKIE BROWN, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN and FOUR ROOMS. Quentin Tarantino graciously gave Jeff and Terry written permission to use his movie posters in Holy Hollywood.
Estelle Olan, who plays Jack’s mom in Holy Hollywood, is the real-life mother of producer Jeff Olan. Estelle was required to stare within inches of a topless model’s breasts played by Lisette Boren. Estelle and Lisette had previously met one another and agreed to do the scene together. Estelle also helped on the movie with the wardrobe department and anything else which the crew needed. Estelle won a best supporting actress trophy in college for the play ‘Boy Meets Girl’ in 1948. This role in her sons movie was the first on screen role for her, other than an infomercial, a small role in a John Carpenter TV series called ‘Body Bags’ which her son Jeff put her in, and a lot of community stage work in the 70’ and 80’s.
The actress who plays Betty the stock broker in Holy Hollywood is Scream Queen Camille Keaton from the 1978 cult classic ‘I Spit On Your Grave’.
The scene “Lunch at Armando’s House” in East Los Angeles was the actual home of Gil Espinoza who co-stars as Armando. Gil’s Mom and Dad (Isabel & Gil Sr.) also appeared as his parents in the film. Gil and his family graciously opened their home for our Holy Hollywood crew. The “gang-bangers” who appeared through Armando’s window with hard looks while driving the car were Gil’s neighborhood friends who agreed to be in the film.
The Chinese delivery man Lee (Ching So), who brought food to Tyler and dreamt of his daughter becoming a movie star, actually owned a Chinese restaurant in which Terry Zarchi and Jeff Olan would patronize often. Terry wrote that part with Ching in mind, and Ching was excited to take on his first acting role in Holy Hollywood.
Postman Bob is played by Brian Guest who is good friends with the director and producer. Brian has now become a rap sensation, having appeared in over 15 rap music videos including FrFr by Wiz Khalifa, Slave Owner by Young Dolph and Blueface Bussdown, to name a few. He is a full-time working actor with many credits to his name.
The actor headshots and people’s faces on the walls in Holy Hollywood were all actors who signed a release allowing us to utilize their likeness in scenes as needed. Hollywood truly came forward to help get this film made.
The Production Designer, Peter Gorczynski, is a childhood friend of the director. Peter flew in from New York and remained in Los Angeles for the duration of the filming. The time and care Peter put into the scenes is evident. He even custom designed Candy Warhol’s chair and many other props used in the film. Peter also appears in a brief scene as the Russian Man alongside Producer Jeffrey Olan as the “Man in Hawaiian Shirt”.
In the scene where Tyler (Tony Leech) and Grandpa (Mickey Rooney) are playing chess, Mickey Rooney says “So you’re gonna be like your father directing horror movies where everybody cuts off everybody’s Shlong!”. This line is in reference to Meir Zarchi’s infamous castration scene in the 1978 film I Spit On Your Grave
The scene where Tyler is being interviewed for a job at Big City Casting, the Casting Director is played by Candy Jennings. The director and producer knew Candy Jennings from her position in the State Labor Board, in which she helped provide children’s work permits for movies and TV. Being in our film was her first and only professional acting job.
Producer Jeff Olan had put a few of his cousins in the film. Penny Weiss – her close-up lips in Big City Casting that says “Ralph, when you were born, were you given a last name?” Penny’s son Sam who played a uniform cop, and Penny’s daughter Annie who was sitting in the audience of the Queen Mary night club scene.
Producer Jeffrey Olan performed stunt work in the form of “crotch double”. He took the blunt force of Candy Warhol’s heel into the groin of the character played by Oscar Miranda.
The character of the Landlord in Holy Hollywood, played by Bill Minkin, was based on the true-life landlord of their agency in North Hollywood.