Reel Power: The Struggle for Influence and Success in the New Hollywood

Drawing on interviews with over 200 agents, executives, writers, directors, producers, and actors, the author provides a behind-the-scenes look at today's Hollywood, discussing the struggles for power and success

As a lawyer and former associate of Ralph Nader, Litwak developed his investigative skills, and he makes exemplary use of them in this report on modern movie-making. The author talked to people in all branches of the business, and the result is an objective, clear-sighted account of an industry that stresses making deals over making films. In Hollywood, Litwak learned, agents virtually dictate pictures to be made and who will be in them. A box-office draw (e.g., Sylvester Stallone) can "rewrite" a good script and create a flop ( Rhinestone, even with a co-star as popular as Dolly Parton. Actors, producers, directors are harassed by money people who insist on commercial properties. There are numerous situations cited in the text that strike one as crosses between satire and tragedy. Readers may wonder how a good movie ever gets on the screen. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Lawyer and ex-Nader Raider Litwak, now heading an independent production company in Los Angeles, has written an interesting and reasonably thorough dissection of life and work in the "new" Hollywood. The book is based on interviews with "more than 200" film and TV industry people, and Litwak, without attempting a real historical overview, has largely collated their views to reach his conclusions. This is not a scandal-revealing gossipy work; rather it serves as a useful primer in how and why and by whom today's films get made (or don't get made.) It is a rational discussion of a seemingly irrational, make-believe world. David Barthomew, NYPL
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.