Which Lie Did I Tell?: More Adventures in the Screen Trade

I loved Adventures in the Screen Trade, so I bought Which Lie did I tell? While not quite as good as the first book, it was still entertaining and informative. I loved reading his section on The Princess Bride, and I was glad to read that he actually liked that movie (since he tends not to like anything he's written).Unfortunately, since I read Adventures in the screen Trade so recently (and he wrote it 20 years ago), a lot of the information--especially when he would talk about Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid--seemed like he was repeating himself. It wasn't that bad, though. It was still fun to read it a second time around.As with Adventures..., I loved the section at the end of the book where he included a screenplay and had people analyze it. It's very interesting to see what works and what doesn't in other people's eyes. It helps to give a good idea to what to include in my own screenplays.Overall, it was a wonderful book--just not as good as the first one. C'est la vie.

Not only a terrific instructional book for anyone aspiring to (or attempting to return to a place where he can) write, it's a great read and a peek into the mind and often tortured soul of an icon of the screenwriting trade. The word generous is so over used by actors but it fits here. Goldman lays bare his soul and allows the reader to read blisteringly honest critiques by major sreenwriters of a draft of one of his unpublished screenplays as we get an unfiltered view of these critically and commercially successful scribes. So revealing of each of them and of our hero, as well and shows that having a thick skin can be as important as being a good writer. The best thing about this book is that it makes me want to finish some things I've started and gives me more tools to do so effectively. I guess I buried the lede, but I couldn't put this book down and enjoyed every minute of it.

Really a tremendous read. I bought this book to better understand the frame narrative of The Princess Bride - written also by William Goldman. As a novelist, not a screenwriter, I wasn't sure how much to expect, but was tremendously surprised how much I enjoyed this book, and how much of an in-depth, behind the curtains look Goldman gives at the Hollywood industry of screenwriting.If you're a writer, a reader, a Goldman fan or a film fanatic, this is for you. Far from being a theoretical text, Goldman delivers his own personal stories, his own insights into the film business as retold from his stellar career (which included two Academy Awards), extracts from his own screenplays and those of other well-established Hollywood writers, and an all round humourous approach to what is often viewed as a dry sort of process.A great read. And one that makes me want to read the first of the series.

If you are interested in writing, you must read this book. I can't begin to give a summary because the book is more like a stream-of-thought thesis than a structured narrative. It includes fascinating anecdotes, tangible writing tips, dissection of existing works, and insight from other successful writers. That Goldman pulls this off (this unstructured narrative full of screenwriting advice) is nothing short of amazing. And he doesn't just pull it off, he makes it shine.If it sounds like I am a William Goldman fanboy, it's probably because I am. A brand new one, mind you - this is the first of his writing I have ever read. But he is unique and interesting and, in my opinion, genius. Read this book. You will not be disappointed!(Interesting aside: I started reading this book because someone somewhere mentioned that Mr. Goldman claims to have written the Good Will Hunting script in this book. In fact, he says just the opposite, but because he uses sarcasm, it seems that some people have misinterpreted his comments.)

Ok, this is the best book about screenwriting EVER written, and tied for the best book about how Hollywood really works (with "The Kid Stays in the Picture" by Robert Evans - if you don't know who he is, give up -- film, Hollywood, and great storytelling are NOT for you!) -- Mr Goldman even wrote a screenplay just for this book, which he includes to show you how it's done, and though I think the screenplay is NOT really good, meaning it would not really make a great movie, Mr Goldman is so good at writing, that you believe it is a great screenplay, may even be tempted to finish it, and will absolutely learn more than you ever knew about how to write a screenplay from reading it -- this book is a masterpiece, and Mr Goldman IS a master screenwriter, sort of the Mozart of screenwriting! I can't recommend it highly enough -- 100 out of 10!!!!

I loved Goldman's Adventures in the Screen Trade and loved this book almost as much. It's interesting, funny and revealing, written in a casual and frank manner that you'd expect from a good friend. Goldman writes books and screenplays in multiple genres because he focuses on whether each story is one he wants to tell - not whether it's the same type of story he succeeded with before. What amazes me about this versatile writer is his generosity. In this book he discusses his creative processes and offers detailed, useful guidance to aspiring writers (for comparison, Joe Ezterhaus did not do this in his interesting but mean spirited memoir). At the end of the book, Goldman even has the guts to offer up a new script draft for criticism by top screenwriters whose comments he includes. Who else would dare to expose his work-in-process like that? Not I! He is my hero.

I loved this book! I had read his book, ADVENTURES IN THE SCREEN TRADE some years back. I didn't even know this book existed until I read about it in Goldman's obituary. (RIP) There is something interesting on almost every page. Normally I like to be a matchmaker and pass on books to someone else, but this one is a keeper to read again. I would even say it made me a more knowledgeable film viewer, and not only for the films he discusses.

If you are wanting to write screenplays this would probably be a worthwhile read. If you are hoping to read behind the scenes stories of famous movies there are some but not near enough.

If you like film, you should read everything Goldman ever wrote about the industry. It's fascinating.In my opinion, this is a better read than ADVENTURES IN THE SCREEN TRADE. It generally deals with more mediocre movies than the first novel and Goldman writing about his challenges and failures is more insightful than his thoughts on his successes.

Lo leí en español prestadode la biblioteca y no he parado hasta encontrarlo en inglés. Ya leí el primero: Adventures in the Screen Trade, y me encantó. Para fans de La Princesa Prometida, este es todavía mejor, sobre todo si lo que más os gusta de los DVD son los extras.

This book totally blew me away. It’s full of down to earth advice given by somebody who talks like a person talking to another person. Totally understandable and enjoyable even if you never ever thought about writing. Totally recommendable to everybody

This is more for aspiring screenwriters to realise what a pain it is to try to work with Hollywood. It seems composed of bits of screenplays, scrappily put together and does not live up to its hype. No juicy filmset gossip or behind scenes stories about the stars. I found it rather disappointing and somewhat boring in parts.

Love William Goldman. He wrote The Princess Bride, Butch Cassidy etc. Great read.