Goldman Knows
March 28th 2008 16:46
In his book, Adventures in the Screenwriting Trade, William Goldman talks of the difficulties in writing and rewriting notable movies, ALL THE PRESIDENTS MEN, GRAND HOTEL remake (never happened) and THE RIGHT STUFF. Losing deals and the sheer timing of getting the jobs back.
Goldman includes his popular script, BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID, with a five chapter dissertation on weaknesses and strengths in the screenplay. Any screenwriter would learn multitudes just reading these chapters.
But there is more. Three chapters dedicated to adaptations in which Goldman uses one of his short stories as a model with critiques from major Hollywood players -- all the better for writers.
Goldman resonates with such fine words as, "And in movies, the screenwriter is the odd man out. But there is a trade-off. That beginning lap we run, regardless of what happens later -- that lap is ours. We have the privilege, if you will, of the initial vision. We're the ones who first get to make the movie..."
Final note: I sensed a bit of cynicism but who can't help but detect such cynicism if you had walked in his shoes
Goldman includes his popular script, BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID, with a five chapter dissertation on weaknesses and strengths in the screenplay. Any screenwriter would learn multitudes just reading these chapters.
But there is more. Three chapters dedicated to adaptations in which Goldman uses one of his short stories as a model with critiques from major Hollywood players -- all the better for writers.
Goldman resonates with such fine words as, "And in movies, the screenwriter is the odd man out. But there is a trade-off. That beginning lap we run, regardless of what happens later -- that lap is ours. We have the privilege, if you will, of the initial vision. We're the ones who first get to make the movie..."
Final note: I sensed a bit of cynicism but who can't help but detect such cynicism if you had walked in his shoes
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