Scott, do you think an Eszterhas era could occur again or is that phase of Hollywood over?

I mean, if you look at what plays in multiplexes now, it's ALL gotta' be chock-full of big noise, big F/X (and if the F/X happen to spill out all over everyone's 3-D goggles, all the better...), and massive flash and color, all to a 16/16 beat, ya' dig?

Hollywood Joe penned glitzy trash... Sliver, Basic Instinct, and Jade today all look like slightly glossier made-for-USA Cable Network movies, y'know? With, of course, the requisite knockers and bloodletting.

I guess what I'm asking is... can one write slick thrillers and expect any action on 'em or is that sort of thing a relic of the 90's, to be filed away alongside VHS tapes, Pearl Jam, and the Pentium II processor?

I also ask because the three movies mentioned above are total guilty pleasures for me, ones I'd gleefully emulate for a bag of cash...

Jeff, one thing about Hwood: Never say "never." It's a town where David Begelman, while head of Columbia Pictures was found guilty of extortion, later went on to become the head of MGM. That's right. Guilty of extortion. Then hired to head up another studio. "You'll never work in this town again... unless we decide you can help us make money, then here are the keys to your new penthouse office!"

Re screenwriting: While we're all caught up in sci-fi, fantasy, and action movies with ginormous special effects and 3D technology, there might be a trend emerging right now where the story concept and execution predominate -- contained thrillers.

In fact, perhaps screenwriter Chris Sparling is this decade's version of Eszterhas: With Buried and ATM, he's at the forefront of a particular sub-genre (contained thrillers), just like Eszterhas was (sexy thrillers). Granted Sparling is likely not making $4M deals for 2-page treatments like Eszterhas did -- yet.

One thing to remember about Eszterhas is that along with his ability to nail a certain kind of story, he had a huge ego / personality. That fed the creation of his Hwood persona likely as much as his talent.

So if the question is are there talented young writers roaming around with a unique slant on a specific sub-genre that is or will be hot in Hwood, combined with oversized egos like Eszterhas? Probably. Will any of them achieve success like Eszterhas did? Like I said... never say "never."

Indeed. I seem to sometimes forget that the lunatics are running the asylum... wouldn't have it any other way!

Although I must contend that the one glaring difference between Sparling and Eszterhas? Sparling seems to have talent.

(did I say that? shhhhh....)

"Buried" was easily one of the best scripts I've read this year, if not ever. Pretty sure I had no fingernails left on my right hand after reading that thing... gnawed 'em all off. Hell of a read...

Additionally, I should slightly retract my zero-talent charge against Big Joe. I found his film "Telling Lies in America" to be pretty sharp.

And, of course, The Devil's Guide to Hollywood is a delight to read.

Joe Eszterhas has written two books on Hollywood well worth reading. If you want a front row seat to how he became Joe Eszterhas…and also to see what kind of screenwriter the guy could be when he was going for quality and heart…rent “Telling Lies in America”.

There is something spectacularly sad this way of thinking. It is possible to be a decent and successful person in this business.

"Hollywood is a very small town. If you screw someone, it may take awhile... but they will screw you back."

Indeed.

@Eve: Don't let the negative hype fool you. There are plenty of wonderful people in Hwood.

Absolutely fascinating, both the post and the conversation in the comments. Is it possible for an outsider to have success in Hollywood, say from the middle of nowhere in Ireland?? Does one have to live at the heart of the industry?

@Tina: If you're talking solely about screenwriting, as I've noted elsewhere, it's entirely possible for someone to sell a script from anywhere in the world [this is not true for TV writing where if you want to work in the States, you really have to live in LA or NYC].

All you need is a great script.

Interesting to note there's a Facebook group called "British Screenwriters in L.A.". Their site is here.

Thank you Scott. I'll just have to get working on that great script!