Pure Gold(man)

When it comes to putting the complicated art of screenwriting into perspective, there is no one quite like William Goldman to do it. Sure he's a bit crass at times (which in some ways is part of his charm), but he has insights not only on the creative side, but the cruel realities of the way business is done in Hollywood. He's a cynic for sure, but sometimes that's just what you need to cut through the facade of glamor to the true bitter truth, which is not always pretty.

His book Adventures in the Screen Trade is probably one of the most entertaining and provocative texts ever written on the subject. He doesn't get overly caught up in the technical details of putting a screenplay together, though he gives plenty of tips on that along the way, but he lays out the process in a way that is much more engaging for the reader who is considering entering this field. If after reading his book, you still think you want to write for the screen, you might read his follow up Which Lie Did I Tell?, as aptly titled a book as exists on the subject of Hollywood business deals. If that doesn't squelch any remaining ambition, you might just have what it takes.

Goldman doesn't pull any punches when he talks about just how crushing a place Tinseltown can be. If you're not working on spec (for free), and you're lucky enough to have an agent who gets you a screenwriting job, you can just as quickly be replaced by some other hired gun, leaving your blood, sweat and tears in the trash. Of course, to get an agent, you usually will need some experience, but no one will look at your screenplay without an agent to put it in their hands. See the catch 22?

As for movie making itself, as Goldman puts it, the first day on a movie set is one of the most exciting days of a writer's life, and the most deflating are all the days that follow. Once you see what's hidden up the magician's sleeve or what lies behind that ominous curtain is far from ominous, you'll only be disappointed in the lack of magic. Goldman should know. He's not just someone who has written a handful of screenplays and looked on at the business from afar. He's written some incredibly successful films, including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Marathon Man and All the President's Men. What I love is just how honest he is. In a town that is all about fairytales, he doesn't sugarcoat the gory details of what goes on there.

As an artist, I can appreciate his discussion of writer's block and drawing inspiration from all kinds of sources, as well his interviews with other writers. To Goldman it really is all about telling stories. Good, solid, riveting, heart wrenching, suspenseful, captivating stories. When you cut through all of the nonsense that goes on in the movie industry, you may just find that at the end of the day, it still is possible to get a good film made.