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Byron B

has 26 followers and is following 37 people

Married life is great! Hollie is my best friend and we have fun together. August 1st was our sixth wedding anniversary!

I've studied theatre, music and libraries in school, and movies by myself. My wife and I have bought a house in Lakewood and we have two crazy cats, Izzy and Tibby.

Cleveland, OH, USA
member since November 7, 2008

Reviews

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Adventures in the Screen Trade: A Personal View of Hollywood and Screenwriting

by William Goldman
- Rated 5 stars
“Similar intent for this book and Monster. Adventures in the Screen Trade covers a slightly earlier period of Hollywood history (though a little bit overlaps) and was written first. Goldman supplements his own memories with many interviews of film industry people, and reaches back through Hollywood history for a revealing complete look at the elements that make a movie. He talks about who makes movies, how it all works, and specifically with what a writer must be concerned. I found his discussion of the term "comic-book movie" especially interesting because it is not defined as literally and simply as you might expect. Then he moves into more personal territory by sharing the adventures he experienced as a screenplay writer. Perhaps his most well known adventure/script was Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. He gives more pages to the process of this movie making it to the screen, and includes the full script. Finally he takes us through the thought process of adapting one of his own short stories into a screenplay and interviews different movie professionals for their opinions about how they would make this short movie. Goldman offers a wealth of tips for young writers and has a very enjoyable writing style. It takes well over 500 pages for him to impart all this valuable information.”

Byron B wrote this review Friday, November 7, 2008. ( reply | permalink )
Monster : Living Off the Big Screen

by John Gregory Dunne
- Rated 4 stars
“John Gregory Dunne and his wife Joan Didion have co-written many scripts for Hollywood. Dunne relates, in great detail, the process of making the movie Up Close & Personal. He writes about what is required of a screenwriter in making a movie. He explains the relationships he and his wife had with agents, producers, directors, actors, legal departments, and studio executives. With this particular movie taking eight years from beginning to end to make, Dunne has time to delve into other book and script projects he or his wife pursued, and life events they and their friends experienced. It is a very in depth story, which does not hide the ugly side of Hollywood business. It tells this eight year story at just around 200 pages.”

Byron B wrote this review Friday, November 7, 2008. ( reply | permalink )