Writer, director and producer Ed Zwick has made dozens of films and TV shows including Legends of the Fall, The Last Samurai, and Blood Diamond. In his memoir, Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions, he writes about studios, actors and the frustrations and joys of the business. John Powers reviews the pulpy noir crime film Love Lies Bleeding. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
On the Ted Radio hour, linguist Ann Curzan says she gets a lot of.
Complaints about people using the pronoun they.
To refer to one person.
I sometimes get into arguments with people where they will say to me, but it can't be singular.
And I will say, but it is.
The history behind words causing a lot of debate.
That's on the Ted radio hour from NPR.
This is FRESH AIR.
I'm Dave Davies.
My guest today, Ed Zwick, would probably be the best dinner guest you ever had if you could get him.
Hes been making television and movies in Hollywood for decades, and he has countless stories about how movies get made, from getting studio backing to casting, scouting locations, staying on schedule, keeping the studio happy, and especially dealing with actors, including some of the biggest stars in the business, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington, Anne Hathaway, Tom Cruise, and Leonardo DiCaprio, to name a few.
And since we cant all have him to dinner, Zwick has compiled some of his best stories in a book.
There are stories of actors showing their brilliance and dedication and sometimes being extraordinarily difficult to deal with.
Zwick is a writer, director and producer whos made dozens of films, including about last Night Glory, Shakespeare in Love, the last Samurai and Blood diamond, and tv series including 30 Something and my so called Life.
His book also shares plenty of tips he's learned and insights into moviemaking, like why crying scenes pose such a challenge to shoot and why actors, directors and crew all dread sex scenes.
His book is hits, flops and other illusions.
My 40 something years in Hollywood.
Ed Zwick, welcome back to FResh Air.
Thanks for having me.
I thought we'd begin with a reading, and this is when you have been working with Brad Pitt on the film legends of the fall.