Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions

My Fortysomething Years in Hollywood

By: Ed Zwick

Narrated by: Ed Zwick

Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * LOS ANGELES TIMES BESTSELLER * USA TODAY BESTSELLER

This heartfelt and wry career memoir from the director of Blood Diamond, The Last Samurai, Legends of the Fall, About Last Night, and Glory, creator of the show thirtysomething, and executive producer of My So-Called Life, gives a dishy, behind-the-scenes look at working with some of the biggest names in Hollywood.

“I’ll be dropping a few names,” Ed Zwick confesses in the introduction to his book. “Over the years I have worked with self-proclaimed masters-of-the-universe, unheralded geniuses, hacks, sociopaths, savants, and saints.”

He has encountered these Hollywood types during four decades of directing, producing, and writing projects that have collectively received eighteen Academy Award nominations (seven wins) and sixty-seven Emmy nominations (twenty-two wins). Though there are many factors behind such success, including luck and the contributions of his creative partner Marshall Herskovitz, he’s known to have a special talent for bringing out the best in the people he’s worked with, especially the actors. In those intense collaborations, he’s sought to discover the small pieces of connective tissue, vulnerability, and fellowship that can help an actor realize their character in full.

Talents whom he spotted early include Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Denzel Washington, Claire Danes, and Jared Leto. Established stars he worked closely with include Leonardo DiCaprio, Anthony Hopkins, Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway, Daniel Craig, Jake Gyllenhaal, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, and Jennifer Connelly. He also sued Harvey Weinstein over the production of Shakespeare in Love—and won. He shares personal stories about all these people, and more.

Written mostly with love, sometimes with rue, this memoir is also a meditation on working, sprinkled throughout with tips for anyone who has ever imagined writing, directing, or producing for the screen. Fans with an appreciation for the beautiful mysteries—as well as the unsightly, often comic truths—of crafting film and television won’t want to miss it.

©2024 Ed Zwick (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio

A Masterpiece of its Genre

I’m biased to start. Glory is my favorite movie of all time; it’s the reason I went to USC film school, where I got to meet Ed Zwick once in the hallway and tell him this.

I’ve always appreciated Mr Zwick’s emotional intelligence, visual spectacle, and holding a mirror up to our world with important social issues from role of government in war (Legends of the Fall) and terrorism (The Siege) to child soldiers in Africa (Blood Diamond).

His book is a grand slam. A masterpiece of engaging human stories and insights. There is Hollywood behind-the-scenes lore (the Shakespeare in Love chapter involving Julia Roberts and Harvey Weinstein is a particular standout). There is poignancy about the state of industry and its movement away from movies that matter, the very movies that propelled me to enter film school.

There is a spirit of humility and love, especially for his producing partner Marshall, his collaborators like Steven Rosenblum, and of course his wife Liberty.

Thank you Mr. Zwick for creating this incredibly moving and insightful work, and may your health continue to improve. It’s beautifully written and read. Thank you Simon & Schuster for seeing the extraordinary value of this work.

P.S. I bought the Audible and hardcover book. The latter of which has some terrific photos.

Amazing Journey!

If you love movies, you’ll love this audiobook. The author is also an excellent narrator.

One of the best books on filmmaking ever written.

If you have any desire to make film or TV in any capacity, this is your new Bible.

Fascinating book

Loved the behind the scenes stories, and facts about some of our most iconic movies.

Credible and captivating

Wildly entertaining!! A Hollywood memoir that reads like a “who’s who” of the past 40 years. Personal, vulnerable, funny, revealing on many levels

The author’s honesty.

Anyone who enjoys movies and respects actors will enjoy this book. The author as reader enhances the story.

Great Memoir From a Film Maker I thought I had never heard of.

it's like going to a concert thinking you know none of the music only to realize you know most of the songs and have a great time singing along.

Like movies? You’ll love this book.

Like the movies he has brought to life, Zwick’s book has made me laugh, cry, and realize how fortunate we are to have his work to enjoy. Most of all, he teaches us to enjoy our ride.

wonderful

I loved it. Entertaining and heart wrenching. And I'm more the type to read a fantasy novel but this still gripped me and never let go.

Fantastic!

One of the best behind the scenes (or camera) I have listened to. I am now working my way through Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz movie and show. (Already watched Glory, Defiance, Blood Diamond and am now starting on ThirtySomething!)
He has a new fan for life, and not just his filmography. I am a fan of the man.
Gave the gossip without being dirty. He wrote and narrated this book as he directs his movies and shows… it’s about the story and the characters, not the director. A class act.