By Sean Tuohy
The Smoking Gun: True Tales From Hollywood’s Screenwriting Trenches By Doug Richardson
“Bad Boys” and “Die Hard 2” scribe Doug Richardson yanks readers down into the trenches of Hollywood and uses humor and blunt honesty to lead them through his adventures and misadventures. #TheNicestGuyinHollywood makes you feel like you’re in a bar somewhere as he’s telling you old war stories. Richardson guides readers through every aspect of a script; from creation to dealing with hotheaded studio executives. He leaves no stone unturned and no truth unrevealed. For anyone who wants to know what happens behind the scenes in Tinseltown, this is a must read.
If modern screenwriting were a school, William Goldman would be the headmaster. His screenplays ushered in a new style that breathed fresh air into screenwriting. His screenplays for “The Princess Bride,” “Marathon Man,” and “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” are still considered classics. From dealing with actors and producers to the heart of the craft itself, Goldman comes off as a wise great uncle with an arm around your shoulder, whispering advice in to your ear.
Writing Movies for Fun and Profit: How We Made A Billion Dollars at the Box Office and You Can, Too! Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant
The minds behind “Reno 911,” and a dozen other films, bring readers this hilarious and useful screenwriting tool. Presented in a “get rich”-style, this book is one of the most honest and helpful for screenwriters. It reveals the ins and outs of the business while making you laugh till your side hurts.
Hollywood Animal by Joe Eszterhas
Raw. Scary. Honest. One of the highest paid writers in Hollywood takes you along a journey starting in war-torn Europe and ending in Shannon Stone’s bedroom. The “Basic Instinct” and “Showgirls” screenwriter pulls back the curtain on his sex-fueled, booze-filled ride though Hollywood.