Why people recommend it
Adventures in the Screen Trade by William Goldman is a celebrated and insightful look into the inner workings, creative struggles, and unique culture of the Hollywood film industry during the latter half of the twentieth century. Mitch Albom referenced the book on How I Write to illustrate principles of pacing and narrative structure, noting how Goldman explained that action sequences in the final minutes of a movie often outweigh everything that happens in the preceding hour and a half. Similarly, Tommy Vietor mentioned reading Goldman's classic book on Pod Save America while spending time in quarantine, describing the text as an extremely enjoyable read about the realities of working as a screenwriter in Hollywood during the nineteen-seventies and eighties. Both commentators underscored the enduring value of Goldman's sharp observations and practical wisdom, which continue to resonate with writers, filmmakers, and audiences alike who wish to understand the complex mechanics behind successful cinematic storytelling and the notoriously unpredictable business of movie making.
Who recommended it
- Mitch Albom Discussed
- Tommy Vietor Discussed
Mitch Albom — 1 mention
“Bill Goldman's book about adventures in the screen trade, he explains that the more action happens in the last seven minutes of a movie than than often happens in the first hour and a half of it.”
Tommy Vietor — 1 mention
“I was reading um William Goldman's book adventures in the screen trade which is just an old book about being a screenwriter in Hollywood and like that in the 70s and 80s or 60 seventies eighties eighties nineties uh-huh and which is really enjoyable”