Movie book recommendations!

So the holidays came along too quickly for you this year to cover everyone and most problematically, the screenwriter on your list [even if it’s yourself].

Here are some recommendations for you:

“Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Chronicles” (Harper Designs): For you Tolkien fans, here is a terrific book that explores in great detail the design and planning that went into the production of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

“Harry Potter: Film Wizardry” (Collins Design): Similarly for you Harry Potter stalwarts, another great behind-the-scenes book with plenty of insight into the pre-production and production process.

“E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial: From Concept to Classic,” 30th Anniversary Edition [Newmarket Press]. 2012 is the 30th anniversary of the movie E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial and this book is a great commemoration of the film with an introduction by Steven Spielberg and the complete screenplay by Melissa Mathison.

“Making ‘Tootsie’: Inside the Classic Film with Dustin Hoffman and Sydney Pollack,” 30th Anniversary Edition [Newmarket Press]. Another anniversary edition for another great movie, this look into the making of Tootsie provides ample insight into the many ups and downs along the way including lots of information about the screenwriting process.

“The ‘Jaws’ Log: Expanded Edition,” by Carl Gottlieb [Newmarket Press]. I’m especially partial to this because it’s written by one of the credited screenwriters of Jaws, Carl Gottlieb, who — remarkably — kept a detailed accounting of the entire process of making this important movie.

“The New Screenwriter’s Survival Guide: Or, Guerrilla Meeting Tactics and Other Acts of War,” by Max Adams. In general, I don’t recommend screenwriting books, but I do make exceptions for some written by professional screenwriters. Adams certainly qualifies on that front and has put together a most helpful guide to the business aspects of the craft.

If you have any book recommendations, please feel free to note in comments.

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