TOM LAZARUS INTERVIEWED BY DEBRA ECKERLING

Why did you write The Last Word? I’ve been teaching Advanced Screenwriting Workshop and Advanced Rewriting Workshop at UCLA Extension, Writer’s Program, for many years and have found that the workshop process, based on the writing of the screenwriters in class, is invaluable in terms of teaching screenwriting. These real world screenwriting problems and their solutions […]

L. A. BOOK RIOTS – THE REST OF THE STORY

I recovered from the book signing debacle in Larchmont.  I sold a bunch of books but the money wasn’t enough to pay for replacing my shredded clothes and medical bills. But, it didn’t end there.  My phone didn’t stop ringing.  Book groupies!  Who knew? I’m happily married.  I want to make that clear.  And I […]

HOW TO BE A WRITER, NOT GO CRAZY AND SURVIVE

  Over the years, I’ve learned how to survive emotionally and psychologically in Hollywood so I didn’t end up floating face down in Norma Desmond’s swimming pool. (See SUNSET BOULEVARD, the movie.  It’s fantastic.  One of the top ten movies of all time.) I don’t get my ego strokes only if someone likes the script, […]

IT TAKES A 150% TO BE GREAT

  I saw a musical comedy last night:  THE PEOPLE VS FRIAR LAURENCE – The Man Who Killed Romeo and Juliet – at the Whitefire Theater in Sherman Oaks, California.  There was piano player and a cast of twelve.   It ran two and half hours, had close to thirty original songs.  Everyone sang.  Everyone […]

A CREEPY GREAT MOVIE

I watch a lot of documentaries.  For me, it’s all about storytelling.  In this day and age of evolving media, we’re not just screenwriters or just novelists, we’re storytellers – across media.   These days, some of the best storytelling is happening in documentaries.  They are fulfilling one of the original missions of movies – […]

BOOK SIGNING RIOT SWEEPS LOS ANGELES!

  What started as a laidback little book signing for my new book THE LAST WORD quickly turned ugly at Chevalier’s, our wonderful local independent bookstore in Larchmont, a semi-quaint enclave of expensive restaurants and upscale stores.,   Called for one o’clock, lines began to form early outside the store.  When the doors didn’t open […]

ONE TERRIFIC FILM, ONE REAL STINKER (BUT WHAT A GREAT ‘EXTRA’)

I’ve seen two interesting films recently. TINY FURNITURE – Writer/Director Lena Dunham has fashioned an indie comedy which is so complete, so satisfying, so quirky and indie that you gotta like it.  (Though, I recommended it to one my students and he didn’t get it at all.  Others did) I guess it could qualify as […]

BOOK SIGNING SATURDAY AUG 18TH

TOM LAZARUS WILL BE SIGNING HIS NEW BOOK AND ANSWERING YOUR SCREENWRITING QUESTIONS SATURDAY, AUGUST 18TH, FROM 1-3 pm CHEVALIER BOOKS 126 N. LARCHMONT BOULEVARD, L.A., 90004   Here’s a link to the official flier: lastword_flier (1)

CONNIE MARTINSON INTERVIEWS TOM LAZARUS PARTS 1 & 2

Veteran book maven Connie Martinson interviewed me about THE LAST WORD, my new book. She’s a terrific interviewer and to my surprise asked me to read a couple passages from the book. It was a fun interview, with lots of information for the screenwriter. There are two parts, and nowhere do I discuss the Kim […]

Archives