In 1970, Julie Dawn Cole was cast as the unforgettable Veruca Salt in the classic motion picture Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory with Gene Wilder. Since its release in 1971, this epic musical has endured as a favorite of children from around the world with a fan base that encompasses generations of movie goers. With its unforgettable characters, chocolaty landscapes and everlasting music, this charming fairy-tale mixes these ingredients into what has been become a cinematic classic from literary legend Roald Dahl. Praised by critics worldwide and often featured in broadcasts with other masterpiece musicals, it remains a timeless treasure. Acclaimed film critic Robert Ebert wrote: "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is probably the best film of its sort since The Wizard of Oz. It is everything that family movies usually claim to be, but aren't: Delightful, funny, scary, exciting, and, most of all, a genuine work of imagination." Julie Dawn Cole has written an enchanting and richly illustrated memoir that offers a rare look behind the stage curtain to this ageless film. Splendidly illustrated with personal letters, never-seen-before photographs and documents; her mesmerizing story chronicles the entire production experience and tells of the remarkable journey of how she became known worldwide as a really bad egg. Filled with countless funny and touching memories, her story takes readers behind-the-scenes of Willy Wonka and the resulting coming of age journey that brought the cast together again after nearly a quarter century. I Want it Now takes readers beyond the world of pure imagination and behind the scenes to this universally cherished motion picture. A true-to-life Charlie Bucket tale, Julie's story is unforgettable...
Michael Esslinger is a historical researcher and best-selling author whose acclaimed work has appeared in numerous books, film and television documentaries, including segments on the Discovery, National Geographic and History Channels. His work spans entertainment, science, politics and historical subjects.
From the elusive crew of Apollo 11, the first men to walk on the moon, to inmates of Alcatraz; he has interviewed icons and other figures that have shaped history and continues to write on subjects that explore a vast spectrum of the human experience.
His books ALCATRAZ - A Definitive History of the Penitentiary Years and Letters from Alcatraz continue as best-selling references chronicling the island's rich historical past. He is the co-author of the classic film memoir: I WANT IT NOW! A Memoir of Life on the Set of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, a magical memoir penned by Julie Dawn Cole, the original Veruca Salt in the classic motion picture with Gene Wilder.
Current projects include a comprehensive history on the Apollo Program based on interviews that include Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins documenting mankind's epic journey to the moon. He is also engaged in two Alcatraz related projects, Al Capone - the King of Alcatraz, a historical account of Capone's hard years on the Rock, and a new account of the 1962 Frank Morris and Anglin Brothers Alcatraz escape.
He resides on the California Coast with his wife and three sons.
