"Most readers first memory of Dee Wallace is as the wonderful Mom in everyone's favorite alien movie, E.T. This book, however, is a serious 'curve' in what Dee Wallace, with her acting, has come to represent. In this spiritual autobiography, Dee Wallace actually 'draws' readers into her world, and soon the reader is hooked - as chapter after chapter becomes a self-help guide full of fun, entertainment, interesting remarks, and core truths that can help anyone to live a better, “brighter” life. With her eloquent words, Dee Wallace shows how people can find the power that they have within themselves to come back from any situation. An interesting read from an interesting and inspiring woman". ―Amy Lignor, The Feathered Quill -- Amy Bentley, associate professor, Nutrition, Food Studies, Public Health, New York University
Originally from Kansas City, Kansas, Dee Wallace has worked as an author, teacher, dancer and actress in film, television and the stage for over 30 years. With over 100 credits to her name, Ms. Wallace is a true tour de force in this industry, working with countless directors, producers and some of Hollywood's biggest names including Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson, Wes Craven, Joe Dante, Stephen King and Blake Edwards. Dee's career began in New York where she studied with famous acting teacher Uta Hagen before moving to Los Angeles where she continued to hone her craft with her mentor Charles Conrad.
Her many feature film credits include such classics as The Hills Have Eyes, The Howling, Cujo, Secret Admirer, The Frighteners, 10, and most notably her starring role in one of America's most celebrated films, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, directed by Academy Award winning director and film icon Steven Spielberg. She was recently featured in the exciting new remake of Rob Zombie's Halloween.
Her countless television credits only add more cache to an already illustrious acting career, with starring roles in over twenty Movies of the Week and four hit television series including her most recent portrayal as the passive aggressive matriarch in a very dysfunctional family on the 2006/7 ABC comedy "Sons and Daughters". Other most recent television credits include, "Grey's Anatomy," "Cold Case," "Without a Trace," "Ghost Whisperer," and a recurring role on "My Name is Earl."
As a much sought after celebrity and renowned actress, Dee has appeared on every major news and talk show and has been featured on E! True Hollywood Stories, Oprah and The O'Reilly Factor. Her speaking engagements include numerous national and international venues including the Love and Harmony Forum in Tokyo, Japan; the Dillion Lecture Series; Unity Temple; the Kansas Film Commission; Spiritworks; Energetic Healing seminars throughout England, and her own healing and teaching seminars throughout the United States. On a weekly basis, Dee conducts numerous private healing sessions at her office in Woodland Hills, California.
As an author, Dee has written a book devoted to the art of self-healing. She conducts monthly workshops to introduce people to the healing techniques outlined in her book, Conscious Creation.
In addition to her ongoing work with fellow actors as an acting teacher and mentor, Dee devotes all her extra time to her beautiful daughter Gabrielle.
Dee Wallace's Bright Light is in part a memoir and in part a new age self help book. (In case you are wondering who the heck Dee Wallace is - she played the mom in ET.) Her philosophy seems very similar to the the New Thought movement and The Secret - basically that positive affirmations, thinking and energy can heal both mind and body and help one achieve ones life goals.
Dee walks us through her career and personal life and points out when and how things went well and explains what she was doing energetically at that time. She also is not shy about pointing out her shortcomings and explaining how she unconsciously sabotaged her life at times.
As an amateur actor myself, I found reading about her acting classes and techniques very interesting. I also liked learning more about the professional side of the business. I was less interested in her New Age philosophy but by the end of the book, she had me thinking that she might be on to something. There is not much "how-to" information in this book but she includes a bibliography of recommended books at the end if the reader wants to learn more about her spiritual practices.
I've always had a soft spot for Dee Wallace since she's from Kansas City so I was pleased that she came across as charming and likable in this book. Fans of hers will like it as well as people interested in reading about the spiritual journeys of others.
I bought this book years ago when I had transitioned from being a professional actor to being a somatic therapist. However, never read it. I recently saw Dee Wallace speak online and went looking for my copy as was so glad I still had it.
I enjoyed it very much though it is hard to be objective about it. She and I are the same age and were in Hollywood at the same time in my younger years. However, we had very different experiences in our careers, though I also used my experience as an actor as a catalyst for becoming more spiritually focussed.
If you are interested in creative endeavors and spirituality this is well worth the read.
This week I was healed (or more accurately led through the process of self-healing) by Dee Wallace, the actress turned author and healer who you’ll remember from her 130 plus movie roles, including ET. And there’s been a bounce in my step ever since. But before this all gets too confusing, let me take a step back… I met Dee Wallace at a Book Expo a few months ago, where I also got an autographed copy of her latest book Bright Light: Spiritual Lessons From A Life In Acting. While acting as an industry is foreign to me, Dee’s warmth drew me in, and her energy piqued my curiosity, so I suspected that her book would not disappoint. Fortunately, I’ve always respected my intuition. She writes with candor about internalizing the carelessly hurtful comments of adults during her childhood. And I can relate. She explains with self-awareness why the fear of total surrender to her craft was a critical obstacle to realizing her potential. And I can understand. And she discusses with both courage and vulnerability just how self-defeating the need to appear humble can be. And boy oh boy, do I get it. Her book is the story of the lessons she’s learned in her life, rather than just the story of her life; and that’s refreshing... To read the entire review, please visit: http://allamericanindiangirl.wordpres...
I was fortunate to win a copy of this thru Library Thing and I liked it a lot. It is about Dee Wallace, an actress and it is not your typical autobiography or self help book. You do not need to be an actress to apply some of the principles that are in this book. I got a lot out of it and so much so that I loaned it to a co-worker, hoping that she gets as much out of it as I did. The basic premise is a lot like the book, The Secret, but uses Ms. Wallace's years of experience and wisdom, mixed with metaphysical and spiritual undertones. I highly recommend this book to anyone, and it is also a great addition to any library.
In Bright Light, Dee reveals herself not only as an actress but also as normal woman with everyday issues to deal with. We see her evolve into the teacher and healer that she is today. She uses her personal life as well as her acting career to reveal what she has learned. Her examples of spiritual teachings are entertaining and multi-layered. If all you want is a good story about a famous person, this is it. If you are looking for lessons and spiritual insights, this is also it. This story is uplifting and inspiring. I'm so glad I read it. Thank you, Dee Wallace, for sharing yourself so freely.
Dee's worldview feels akin to me. Reading about her experiences and emotional reactions reminds me to be aware of the hidden or subconscious beliefs/pictures I hold, that end up as events in my personal reality. Not to be merely surprised, but informed. And to learn that it may be possible to practice creating my life the way I consciously desire to picture it, and to get the parts of my mind/brain to communicate with each other. If I can't do something about it ( nature vs nurture argument), at least I can be be aware, so as not to( repetitively) feel a victim of the world I see.
Dee Wallace writes this enlightening book about her life's experiences by looking at her own fears and triumphs. I thought this was going to be too much a self-helpy book but it was not. Ms Wallace tells of her beliefs in life energy, good and bad, positive and negative and relates it all to her own life. She includes some nice bits about her work in movies and t.v. I think there are some great positive lessons for anyone reading this book.
I found this to be a very interesting book. I had never heard of Dee Wallace before reading the book but recognized her character from E.T. This is autobiography-self help book that talks about everything that she has gone through both personally and careeer wise and how it has made her stronger. Definitely a book I'd recommend.
A book written from the heart for the heart. Ms. Wallace shares her journey and directs each of us to use the light within us to heal and to find our way back to the home of our true self. This book gave me voice to things I felt but didn't know how to speak. The personal experiences shared touch the heart and within every page there are passages that relate to everyone's life experiences.
This book gave me insight into the New Age mind which seeks spirituality without the true Creator God in His rightful place, elevating Self to be worshipped and trusted to know Truth. As a Bible believer, I cannot recommend this book except to better understand New Age concepts.
Bright Light is an excellent book about spirituality in the lives of actresses. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for an inside view into the world of Hollywood stars and enlightenment.