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

Mark Litwak (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1994

A comprehensive look at how today's Hollywood works -- who has the power and how deals are made. Drawing on interviews with more than 200 Hollywood insiders -- writers, directors, performers, agents, producers and journalists -- Litwak leads us through the maze of Hollywood politics. Well written and filled with case histories of specific films, Reel Power ears down myths and reveals the inner workings of the Hollywood film business.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

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. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

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. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Silman-James Press (May 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1879505193
• ISBN-13: 978-1879505193
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,081,972 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mark Litwak is the author of six books and numerous articles. He is an entertainment attorney based in Beverly Hills, California, an arbitrator and an expert witness. He is the creator of the popular CD-ROM program Movie Magic Contracts.

A frequent speaker, he has presented seminars across the United States, and in England, Australia, South Africa and Canada including presentations for the American Film Institute, Columbia University, N.Y.U, U.S.C, the University of British Columbia and the Royal College of Art in London.

Litwak has been a lawyer for 33 years. He has an AV Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been named a Southern California Super Lawyer by Law & Politics magazine.

He is the creator of Entertainment Law Resources, at www.marklitwak.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Extremely helpful, cynical overview of New Hollywood, August 29, 2000

By 

Lara Dieckmann (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reel Power: The Struggle for Influence and Success in the New Hollywood (Paperback)

George Lucas said, "From my point of view, the film industry died in 1965." After reading Mark Litwak's comprehensive overview of the New Hollywood system, I have to agree. Litwak painstakingly outlines the changes that have occurred following the break up of the studio system, both in terms of the rise of agents and agencies as power brokers and in terms of the emphasis placed on star packaging. REEL POWER gets much of its power from extensive interviews with those on the front lines of filmmaking as well as the powerful elite. Litwak does an excellent job of weaving quotes and anecdotes throughout his explanation of the system, a system which seems to run on fear and ego. One of the strongest elements of this text is its clear and savvy organization. Litwak breaks down his analysis by the trends that characterize New Hollywood -- the rise of CAA, the role of deal-making and the new power brokers -- and the major roles in the business -- writers, directors, actors, producers. He spends some time discussing other, less well-known aspects of the business, including independent filmmaking, marketing, distriubtion and exhibition. One of the purposes of REEL POWER is to debunk some of the lingering myths about Hollywood, particularly the notion of overnight success and the casting couch. Overall, this is a comprehensive, thoroughly-researched, well-written cautionary tale about the excesses of an industry that churns out flops as regularly as it dismisses substantive talent in favor of the flavor of the moment.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars And leave a good-looking corpse, May 20, 2005

By 

B. A Varkentine (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Reel Power: The Struggle for Influence and Success in the New Hollywood (Hardcover)

This book may be a little outdated--but sadly, probably not that much. What it's done for me is reinforce my belief that there is little point in trying to work in today's Hollywood. Not if you aspire to make films with any insight at all into what used to be called The Human Condition.

It's a factory town, and films get made not because of original characters or stories but because the system has to be kept moving. And I don't think I'm feeling particuarly cynical about this tonight just because I saw George Lucas' latest disagreeable contribution to a town and system he claims to despise today.

It's just that it's been years since I saw a studio picture that seemed alive.

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative, April 2, 2001

By 

S. Bannerman (rossendale, lancashire United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Reel Power: The Struggle for Influence and Success in the New Hollywood (Paperback)

I bought this book mainly due to the fact that i have cleaned out the world of Hollywood Biogs and this was one of the few that i dont own. But i have to say that out of all the ones ive read, this has to be one of the most informative that ive EVER read. Ive been writing screenplays for a number of years and within three chapters of this book, it has caused me to realise that the direction ive been going in, is the wrong one. This book has put me on the correct path. It gives the best insight to the studios, the agents, and the politics of the movie capital of the world ( Hollywood, not Bollywood) Anyone wanting to learn how things work in the film world, should buy this book. Im glad i did, and i cant recomend it high enough. Mark Litwak knows what hes writing and talking about. And to Mark, thanks for showing me the way.

Stuart Bannerman [e-mail]