Mike at 2008-08-16 15:16:00:

Ahhh, Joe Eszterhas, gotta love him. The Hunter S. Thompson of screenwriting. Read both of his books. Loved Hollywood Animal, found the other -- The Devil's Guide To Hollywood -- informative, although hard to follow. I think a lot of the animosity toward Mr. Eszterhas stems from his huge paydays.

After reading Hollywood Animal I sent him a letter thanking him for writing the book and received a signed Christmas card in return. I then made a HUGE mistake. I asked him if he would mentor me – help with my screenwriting – be my teacher. He never responded. Ever. Again. Sigh.

He’s still number one in my book.

Keep Writing,
Mike

Scott at 2008-08-16 15:38:00:

You asked Joe Eszterhas to mentor you?!?! Mike, that is some chutzpah - and I admire it. Too bad. Perhaps you, too, could have had a one-night stand with Sharon Stone!

E.C. Henry at 2008-08-18 01:32:00:

Mike I'm with Scott, I admire you for having the BALLS to really persue someone you admired. My BIG LOVE is Lynda Obst. I've written a couple romantic comedies that I'm DYING for her to read. I would LOVE to work with her. Sent several query letters, NEVER got a responce. Did get to meet one of her assistants at a pitch-fest once. And once again failed to get a request for a read. Sigh...

I read Joe's "The Devil's Guide to Hollywood." Went on IMBD and posted a message on it, and got a responce from his editor!

Joe Eszterhas is like my polar opposite as far as personality goes. BUT there is NO ARGUEING with man's success. I love studying him because I wanna know what he did right that made him so popular. I'm not interested at all in becoming anything like him, or writing like him, though.

- E.C. Henry from Bonney Lake, WA

Scott at 2008-08-18 10:08:00:

Basic Instinct, Jagged Edge, Music Box -- all similar story concepts: a Protagonist whose emotional entanglements cloud their judgment of a key character, who turns out to be guilty of a crime. So that's one thing you take from Eszterhas -- if you find a winning formula, you can go to the bank again and again and again...