Fast Forward: Confessions of a Porn Screenwriter (Future Tense) (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In a post-James Frey world, it's wise for humor author Spitznagel (Planet Baywatch) and his publisher to include a disclaimer stating that "some elements have been exaggerated, embellished and (at times) outright fabricated." Indeed, Spitznagel's hilarious account of his attempt to write the Great American Porno-one to be celebrated as much for dialogue and plot as for raw depictions of hardcore sex-is too bizarre (and too funny) to be completely true. But to Spitznagel's credit, his latest isn't a dirty book; sure, it's full of colorful descriptions and crass wit, but it also chronicles a shady industry that many readers want to know about-but are afraid to ask-through the familiar story of an artist's struggle for both integrity and a paycheck. While the first chapter reads like a magazine article (portions of the book have appeared in slightly different form in magazines Hitch, 3AM and Salon.com), the author quickly finds his footing, writing in an often cynical, occasionally sympathetic voice that suits his subject. Entertaining throughout, Spitznagel caps this dirty tour of duty with his ingenious script for a Spinal Tap-like mockumentary, called (naturally) "Butt Crazy!"
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Product Description

"Like most pornography, I found Fast Forward to be a relentless and indecent assault on the traditional family values that Americans find most sacred. Makes a great stocking stuffer."-Amy Sedaris

With dreams of becoming a highly respected screenwriter, Eric Spitznagel moves to Los Angeles. When Hollywood fails to notice him, he settles for the next best thing: writing scripts for adult films. Determined to make the most of his bad luck, he sets out to make a movie that will be celebrated more for its witty dialogue and gripping plot than its raw depictions of hardcore sex. As Spitznagel discovers, making the Great American Porn is far from easy, especially when you've been hired to write a sequel to Butt Crazy.

Spitznagel struggles to be taken seriously as an artist, a seeming impossibility in an industry averse to "complicated words." Along the way, he meets a director with delusions of being the porn Kurosawa, an actress with a scholarly knowledge of medical maladies, and an NBA star who might just make the biggest mistake of his life. In an industry devoted to churning out disposable erotica, can one lowly writer make an adult film that compels viewers to admire the plot without hovering a thumb over the fast forward button?

Eric Spitznagel is the author of four humor books, including The Junk Food Companion: A Celebration of Eating Badly (Plume, 1999). His writing appears frequently in Playboy, Esquire, Harper's Magazine, and The Believer.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Manic D Press, Inc. (May 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933149051
• ISBN-13: 978-1933149059
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #596,185 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yes! Yes! Oh, g-d, yessssss!, May 10, 2006

By	Amy Guth - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Faaaaaantastic! I enjoyed every hilarious page. This writer knows how to make a woman feel good.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So funny!, June 16, 2006

By	Evian Waters (Las Vegas, NV) - See all my reviews

I read this book last week while I was on vacation and laughed hysterically the entire book. I've always sort of wondered, you know, what it was like behind the scenes, and this book really gives the reader a wonderful glimpse in such a humorous way. Thanks!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Porn has a script? !, May 9, 2006

By	Bonnie (California) - See all my reviews

For anyone who has ever watched a porno and stopped to wonder who
could possibly end up writing such a thing, let alone attempt to make a
successful career out of, Spitznagel's 'Fast Forward' is a
both an enlightning and highly entertaining book which gives a
hilarious first hand account of what working for one of Hollywoods' most infamous
and notoriously dirty little industries is like.
Everything you could have possible wanted to know
about the porn industry, from the script to the directors,
to the naked models themselves is described in
larger that life detail in a sincere and humorous way
that only Spitznagel could have brought to life.

Definately worth checking out!!