Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents vi
3. Foreword: Tips ix
4. Acknowledgments xi
5. Biographies xiii
6. Introduction 1
7. 1. Creating Classic Characters
8. A Conversation with Shane Black, David Milch, and Sydney Pollack 5
9. 2. Heroes and Antiheroes
10. A Conversation with Paul Feig, Jenny Lumet, and Aline Brosh McKenna 19
11. 3. “In the name of my father and of the truth!”
12. Up Close with Terry George 33
13. Terry George on In the Name of the Father 35
14. 4. “Can it be done, Father? Can a man change the stars?”
15. A Conversation with Brian Helgeland 41
16. 5. " Attica! Attica!"
17. Brian Helgeland Presents Frank Pierson with the Distinguished Screenwriter Award at the 2003 Austin Film Festival 51
18. Robin Swicord on Dog Day Afternoon 54
19. Up Close with Frank Pierson 61
20. 6. “Houston, we have a problem.”
21. A Conversation with Ron Howard 67
22. A Conversation with Ron Howard, Jim Lovell, Sy Liebergot, John Aaron, Jerry Bostick, Michael Corenblith, Al Reinert, and William Broyles Jr. 78
23. 7. “If nobody loses their head, nobody will lose their head.”
24. Up Close with Callie Khouri 89
25. Callie Khouri on Thelma & Louise 98
26. 8. “It’s Groundhog Day!”
27. A Conversation with Harold Ramis 107
28. Danny Rubin on Groundhog Day 123
29. 9. “Have the lambs stopped screaming?”
30. A Conversation with Jonathan Demme 139
31. Ron Nyswaner on Philadelphia 144
32. A Conversation with Ted Tally 146
33. 10. “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.”
34. A Conversation with John Milius and Oliver Stone 181
35. 11. “I am Groot.”
36. A Conversation with Michael Green, Ashley Miller, and Nicole Perlman 195
37. 12. “Which story do you prefer?”
38. Up Close with David Magee 215
39. Afterword: Some Things I’ve Learned 223