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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.

He's 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, 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 Cruz, and Leonardo DiCaprio, to name a few. And since we can't 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 who's 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 movie- making, 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. Edswick, 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

...