A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * LOS ANGELES TIMES BESTSELLER * USA TODAY BESTSELLER This
heartfelt and wry career memoir from the director of Blood Diamond The Last Samurai Legends
of the Fall About Last Night and Glory creator of the show thirtysomething and executive
producer of My So-Called Life gives a dishy behind-the-scenes look at working with some of
the biggest names in Hollywood. I'll be dropping a few names Ed Zwick confesses in the
introduction to his book. Over the years I have worked with self-proclaimed
masters-of-the-universe unheralded geniuses hacks sociopaths savants and saints. He has
encountered these Hollywood types during four decades of directing producing and writing
projects that have collectively received eighteen Academy Award nominations (seven wins) and
sixty-seven Emmy nominations (twenty-two wins). Though there are many factors behind such
success including luck and the contributions of his creative partner Marshall Herskovitz he's
known to have a special talent for bringing out the best in the people he's worked with
especially the actors. In those intense collaborations he's sought to discover the small
pieces of connective tissue vulnerability and fellowship that can help an actor realize their
character in full. Talents whom he spotted early include Brad Pitt Matt Damon Denzel
Washington Claire Danes and Jared Leto. Established stars he worked closely with include
Leonardo DiCaprio Anthony Hopkins Tom Cruise Julia Roberts Anne Hathaway Daniel Craig
Jake Gyllenhaal Bruce Willis Demi Moore and Jennifer Connelly. He also sued Harvey Weinstein
over the production of Shakespeare in Love-and won. He shares personal stories about all these
people and more. Written mostly with love sometimes with rue this memoir is also a
meditation on working sprinkled throughout with tips for anyone who has ever imagined writing
directing or producing for the screen. Fans with an appreciation for the beautiful
mysteries-as well as the unsightly often comic truths-of crafting film and television won't
want to miss it.
