Matthew Specktor, an author celebrated for his memoir, THE GOLDEN HOUR, dives deep into the world of Hollywood, shaped by his father, a legendary talent agent. He shares candid reflections on the cinematic shifts from creative storytelling to profit-driven blockbusters. Matthew explores the allure and grit of the film industry, revealing personal anecdotes that uncover the struggles behind the glamour. He also contrasts the evolving narrative forms in film and television, highlighting the impact of streaming on storytelling.
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Early Hollywood Career Journey
Matthew Specktor worked in his father's talent agent office as a teenager reading screenplays and doing coverage.
In his twenties, he worked for Robert De Niro in development and later began a career as a screenwriter adapting a novel he loved.
insights INSIGHT
Movies as Cultural Currency
Movies in the 20th century served as cultural currency experienced collectively in theaters.
Modern films often lack that shared personal connection and cultural scope.
insights INSIGHT
90s Blockbusters Changed Hollywood
The blockbuster mentality shifted Hollywood in the 1990s to prioritize spectacle over relatable human stories.
Rising actor salaries and big budgets led studios to favor safer, high-profit formulas.
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In 'Sculpting in Time', Andrei Tarkovsky reflects on his filmmaking philosophy, discussing the role of rhythm and time in cinema. The book provides insights into his creative process and explores the inspirations behind his films, including 'Ivan's Childhood', 'Andrei Rublev', and 'The Sacrifice'. It is a testament to his artistic vision and a valuable resource for understanding his unique approach to filmmaking.
The Devil Finds Work
James Baldwin
In this book, James Baldwin reflects on his experiences watching movies and critiques the racial politics depicted in American films. He discusses various movies, including 'The Birth of a Nation,' 'In the Heat of the Night,' 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner,' and 'The Exorcist,' among others. Baldwin's analysis reveals the underlying assumptions and biases in these films, reflecting on America's self-delusions, deceptions, and the impact of these films on societal consciousness and racial identity[2][4].
The Golden House
Salman Rushdie
The Golden House follows the story of Nero Golden and his three sons as they reinvent themselves in New York City. The novel explores themes of identity, family secrets, and the intersection of personal lives with broader cultural and political changes. Narrated by their neighbor René, an aspiring filmmaker, the story delves into the complexities of the Golden family's rise and fall.
The last tycoon
F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Last Tycoon is F. Scott Fitzgerald's final, unfinished novel, published posthumously in 1941. The story is set in 1930s Hollywood and follows the life of Monroe Stahr, a young and powerful film producer modeled after Irving Thalberg. Stahr navigates the complexities of his professional and personal life, including his relationships with Cecilia Brady, the daughter of his boss Pat Brady, and Kathleen Moore, a young Irish immigrant. The novel delves into themes of ambition, power, and corruption, reflecting Fitzgerald's own experiences as a screenwriter in Hollywood. The book was edited by Edmund Wilson from Fitzgerald's notes and has undergone several revisions and adaptations since its initial publication.
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 146 - Matthew Specktor - Author
Author Matthew Specktor joins us in this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast. In his recently released memoir, THE GOLDEN HOUR, Matthew, the son of legendary talent agent Fred Specktor, uses his parents’ divergent professional and personal lives to reflect on the film industry as it was, and he writes about his own life and career in and around the movies to reflect on what it has become. After reading it (and Matthew’s other novels), we felt we had to speak with him. What follows in this episode is a wide-ranging and lively conversation about Matthew’s life, his and our views on the changes in the film business and in the films themselves, cinema’s place in society, and the genuine love for Hollywood that comes out in his writing. We also discuss the changing economics of funding films, the shifts in who wields power in Hollywood, and Matthew details the brief window in the 1960s and 1970s in which filmmakers were afforded a relative freedom not seen since. In THE GOLDEN HOUR, Matthew at times places us inside the minds of industry figureheads such as Lew Wasserman and Michael Ovitz, and Matthew shares how understanding the men who changed the film industry can help us better understand where we are today. We also reflect on the all-consuming lifestyle of working in Hollywood, and Matthew likens it to being trapped in a casino at two in the morning—forever. Plus, Matthew shares what it was like learning how to write from a uniquely qualified professor: James Baldwin.
Team Deakins 
