Hollywood Writers at Work by Stephen Schochet

Some Writers Have Always Felt Unappreciated in Hollywood.

Writers in many cases are surprised or disappointed because when their work is modified when it's adapted for that giant screen. When Irwin Shaw's The second world war novel The Young Lions was shot in Paris in 1958, Marlon Brando literally Nazi character. Ever the methodical actor, Brando provoked uproar by strutting out and about in the SS uniform, even starting restaurants to dine. The thirty three years old star was unsure when the Parisians ripping his clothes were doing it of adulation or disdain. Like the majority of actors Brando wanted to be loved and that he took his concern to Shaw the Nazi be made sympathetic. "You just do not understand the character", Brando told the stunned writer. "It's my character, " replied Shaw. "Not anymore", replied the actor.
Some writers grow resigned for their voices being lost. George S. Kaufman wrote the screenplay for that Marx Brother's comedy Animal Crackers in 1930. He attended rehearsals and remarked that nothing Groucho, Chico and Harpo were doing resembled his original draft. He watched as the director Victor Heerman was driven to distraction through the brothers turning up late, placing bets on horses, playing the stock exchange and not sticking to the script. Heerman literally threatened to imprison them in cages until they behaved. Kaufman took it in stride, dropping off to sleep through much of the tomfoolery. At one point, the author awoke having a start and shouted, " My dear God! I figured I heard one of my lines. "
Not too long ago, comedy playwright Neil Simon announced he was moving from La to Ny. In La, he was isolated in the car constantly and that he felt it's was hurting his writing. Better to be in Ny in which you walked everywhere and met people. His departure may happen to be hastened by writing and turning up to the set of the Marrying Man (1991). He reached witness Kim Basinger supporting the development with tardiness, outbursts and her much-publicized romance with co-star Alec Baldwin. Simon was humiliated when she organized her copy of the script and stated for those to listen to, " Whoever wrote this knows nothing about comedy! " The Odd Couple writer was too insulted to assist fix the plot problems and the picture bombed.
Some writers are amazed to determine their words become movie reality. When Margaret Mitchell (1900 -1949) would be a litttle lady in Atlanta, various relatives took her on around Confederate battle sites, describing the Civil War so vividly that they imagined she was some of it. It took her 10 years to write the written text for Gone with the Wind, which she scribbled, on yellow legal pads, shoving them under her couch when friends will come over to go to her. The best seller was converted into a film in 1939 and Mitchell turned up in Hollywood for that filming of Scarlett O'Hara (Vivian Leigh) nursing wounded soldiers in the Atlanta railway station. The writer was at a loss for the sheer vastness of the scene. "My God", she told producer David O. Selznick. "If we'd have experienced this many soldiers we'd have won the war. "
Some writers have strong ideas about who should play their characters. Novelist Tom Clancy was unhappy with the fifty years old Harrison Ford cast as the thirty something CIA agent Jack Ryan in Patriot Games (1992) and Clear And offer Danger (1994). He also berated the actor for suggesting plot changes to his stories. Ford angrily retorted that writers who sell their work to the giant screen need to expect it to be changed, otherwise don't auction it. After both films did great in the box office, Clancy hinted he could be prepared to bury the hatchet to get Ford to star within the next Jack Ryan installment, The sum of the All Fears (eventually made with Film clip in 2002). Ford demurred by saying, " Maybe when I'm sixty. "
Sometimes stars are best just following a writer's instincts. Lou Holtz Jr. was disappointed that Jim Carrey introduced a team of writers to alter his lighthearted script The Cable Guy (1996) right into a dark tale about stalking. Despite Carrey winning the MTV award for best villain, the film was panned by critics, resulting in several executives being fired at Sony pictures and became known in Hollywood as "The Right to Cable Guy".

Author Stephen Schochet is really a professional tour guide in Hollywood, who years back began collecting little-known, humorous anecdotes to inform to his customers. His new book Hollywood Stories: Short, Entertaining Anecdotes Concerning the Stars and Legends of the Movies! includes a timeless treasure chest of colorful vignettes featuring an incredible all-star cast of icons including John Wayne, Charlie Chaplin, Disney world, Jack Nicholson, The actor-brad pitt, Shirley Temple, Lana turner, Marlon Brando, Errol Flynn, and many more both past and contemporary. Tim Sika, host of the radio show Celluloid Dreams on KSJS in San Jose has called Stephen, "The best storyteller about Hollywood we've heard. " Offered at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, or wherever books can be purchased.