Customer Reviews

Why We Write: Personal Statements and Photographic Portraits of 25 Top Screenwriters

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3 star:		(1)
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"The joy of this book is that the reader is actually able to learn the screenwriting process from successful screenwriters. Only a selected, creative few become successful writers in Hollywood. Most of them are contributors to this book. This collection serves as inspirational tool that will teach you, the novice screenwriter, what it takes to become successful, and what steps the contributors took to become a success."

"Once you pick the book up, it's difficult to stop reading. This well-structured and artistic book is highly recommended."

Lorian Tamara Elbert's Why We Write is immensely enjoyable. I figured I might skip some of the chapters by writers whose films were action/thrillers, but wound up reading the entire book. I especially dug Patrick Donovan's musings on why screenwriting is a GREAT gig, and the impact his Mr. Holland's Opus had on people; Dana Stevens ruminating on her weird little writing office; Scott Alexander's amusing explanation of why he always writes about wacky madmen; and Michael Ferris' tongue-in-cheek take on the Hollywood rollercoaster and the spoils of success (helicopters, hot tubs, dominatrixes...).

Elbert's interviews not only got her subjects to open up in very personal ways, her photos bring out her subjects' essences (a la Annie Liebowitz) and their tones (light, contrast) are striking, B&W is a great medium for her.

Writers, professionals in the entertainment industry and people who just like to watch movies will love this book. The public has been offered an opportunity to get to know 25 big named screenwriters without the mask of studios, cameras, actors or editors. In Why We Write, we learn that these screenwriters are the true creators of the words and pictures we see on the screen in movie theaters across the country. The movie industry would simply not exist without them!

Giving the screenwriters the opportunity to write what is true to their soul is by far the best idea I have seen in a long time. How many times do we read about somebody through the edited interview process? It is so interesting to hear what these screenwriters have to say, unedited. I loved the pictures too. This approach creates a wide variety of stories heard from the least heard about people in the film industry...screenwriters.

This is a very special book, made with passion for the subjects and a true artistic energy that was not driven by a corporate "assignment". May the author rest in peace.

Judging by the title alone, I really thought this book would be part advice and part insight into making it as a screenwriter. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see it more of an inspirational book. Some are funny, others give an almost a poetic insight into their inspirtation. None, however give thier schedule or method of writing.
It was also disapointing to see some of the writers go on an egotistical rant. Take note that the book is edited and not written by Lorain Tamara Elbert. There are no direct interviews but it seems a request by letter to contribute to the book and thus some have resulted in mini biographies of the screenwriter. On the upside, the black and white photgraphs are well done.

The people who matter, the artists who face 120 blank pages and fill them with their original visions (only to have directors, actors, executives and producers change or take credit later) finally get a chance to come front and center. Yeah!!!