Most relationships aren’t—and frankly shouldn’t be—as intense as Mark and Jay’s, validation, but their brand of trust, and healthy disagreement has taken them far. Part coming-of-age memoir, part underdog story, and part insider account of succeeding in Hollywood on their own terms, Like Brothers is as openhearted and lovably offbeat as Mark and Jay themselves.

Wright. They’re not afraid to call each other out, because they’re also not afraid to compromise. Jonas. They are brutally honest about how their closeness sabotaged their youthful romantic relationships, and about the challenges they faced on the set of their HBO series Togetherness—namely, Jay in Transparent, about the jealousy each felt when the other stole the spotlight as an actor Mark in The League, too much togetherness.

But like brothers is also a surprisingly practical road map to a rewarding creative partnership. I’m sure you could name a bunch of famous brother teams. You can enjoy it even if you have no idea who the Duplass brothers are. Janet maslin, the new york times 17 refreshing books to read this SummerWhether producing, writing, directing, or acting, the Duplass Brothers have made their mark in the world of independent film and television on the strength of their quirky and empathetic approach to storytelling.

. Now, mark and jay take readers on a tour of their lifelong partnership in this unique memoir told in essays that share the secrets of their success, the joys and frustrations of intimate collaboration, for the first time, and the lessons they’ve learned the hard way.

Failure Is An Option: An Attempted Memoir

A kinder, gentler place, where gardens are overgrown and most people stay home with their pets. In this book, he tells stories from his own life, from his early days "wherein I'm unable to deliver a sizzling fajita" to his romantic life "how I failed to quantify a threesome" to family "wherein a trip to P.

F. Jon benjamin a comedy show business success. But more acceptance of failure, as Jon sees it, will go a long way to making this world a different place. And maybe the best option. As jon himself says, breaking down one's natural ability to succeed is not an easy task, but also not an insurmountable one. Writing this funny requires immense talent.

Av clubH. A vision of failure, but also a vision of freedom. With stories, examples of artistic and literary failure, and a powerful can't-do attitude, Failure Is an Option is the book the world doesn't need right now but will get regardless. Chang's fractures a family" to career "how I failed at launching a kid's show".

But he'd like to remind everyone that as great as success can be, failure is also an option. Jon benjamin—the lead voice behind archer and Bob's Burgers—helps us all feel a little better about our own failures by sharing his own in a hilarious memoir-ish chronicle of failure.

Comedy Sex God

So, terrified of the god he loved, pete devoted his life to being “good, ” even marrying his first girlfriend at the age of twenty-two only to discover a few years later he was being cheated on. Pete longed for a model of faith that served him and his newfound uncertainties about the universe, so he embarked on a soul-seeking journey that continues to this day.

Thanks for nothing, God. Pete’s failed attempt at a picture-perfect life forced him to reexamine his beliefs, nor Christianity, but neither atheism, nor copious bottles of Yellow Tail led him to enlightenment. Through encounters with mind-altering substances, honing his craft in front of thousands of his comedy fans, and spending time with savants like Ram Dass, Pete forged a new life—both spiritually and personally.

Beautifully written and often completely hilarious—imagine dass’s Be Here Now if penned by one of the funniest people alive—Comedy Sex God reveals a man at the top of his game and a seeker in search of the deeper meanings of life, love, and comedy. But it wasn’t always roses for Pete. Part autobiography, and part spiritual quest, and enlightening romp around the fertile mind of stand-up stand-out, profound, Comedy Sex God is a hilarious, part philosophical inquiry, podcast king, and HBO superstar Pete Holmes.

Pete holmes is a sold-out-every-night stand-up comedian with two HBO specials and the host of the hugely successful podcast You Made It Weird, and he was the creator-star of the hit HBO show Crashing. Growing up, but his religion taught him that being “bad”—smoking, Pete was raised an evangelical Christian, drinking, having doubts or premarital sex—would get him sent to an eternity in hell.

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Independent Ed: What I Learned from My Career of Big Dreams, Little Movies, and the Twelve Best Days of My Life

Acclaimed independent filmmaker ed burns shares the story of his remarkable career and offers a candid, instructive account of the ins-and-outs of making great movies without the backing of Hollywood. As the second of three children from a working-class Long Island family, Ed Burns thought a career in filmmaking was a pipe dream.

. Since then he has gone on to star in major Hollywood films while remaining dedicated to his true passion: making small films that he believes in. A gripping, independent ed is a must-read for casual movie fans, inspirational story about forging your own path, serious film students, and any creative person searching for a bit of inspiration.

When his first film, won the grand jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival, The Brothers McMullen, he proved himself to be one of the most distinctive and tenacious filmmakers of our time. His extreme focus and drive prove that passion and hard work can pay off, and he urges students and aspiring filmmakers to embrace and learn from their failures—and continue to pursue their goals.

Sharing the lengths he's gone to in order to write, direct, cast, and edit films on a shoestring budget, produce, shoot, Burns uses stories from his life and career to illustrate what it takes to make it as an indie filmmaker.

Rebel without a Crew: Or How a 23-Year-Old Filmmaker With $7,000 Became a Hollywood Player

Famed independent screenwriter and director robert rodriguez Sin City, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Spy Kids, Machete discloses all the unique strategies and original techniques he used to make his remarkable debut film El Mariachi on a shoestring budget. This is both one man's remarkable story and an essential guide for anyone who has a celluloid story to tell and the dreams and determination to see it through.

Part production diary, part how-to manual, Rodriguez unveils how he was able to make his influential first film on only a $7, 000 budget. Also included is the appendix, "the ten minute film Course, directing, ” a tell-all on how to save thousands of dollars on film school and teach yourself the ropes of film production, and screenwriting.

A perfect gift for the aspiring filmmaker. Plume Books.

Room to Dream

Provides a remarkable insight into David Lynch’s intense commitment to the ‘art life. The guardian “this is the best book by and about a movie director since Elia Kazan’s A Life 1988 and Michael Powell’s A Life in Movies 1986. What makes this book endearing is its chatty, calm account of how genius in America can be a matter-of-fact defiance of reality that won’t alarm your dog or save mankind.

An impressively industrious and comprehensive account of Lynch’s career. The new york times book review in this unique hybrid of biography and memoir, David Lynch opens up for the first time about a life lived in pursuit of his singular vision, and the many heartaches and struggles he’s faced to bring his unorthodox projects to fruition.

With insights into. New york times bestseller • an unprecedented look into the personal and creative life of the visionary auteur David Lynch, friends, through his own words and those of his closest colleagues, and family“Insightful . Eraserhead the elephant man dune blue velvet wild at heart twin peaks twin peaks: fire walk with Me Lost Highway The Straight Story Mulholland Drive INLAND EMPIRE Twin Peaks: The ReturnPraise for Room to Dream“A memorable portrait of one of cinema’s great auteurs.

It’s the only way to dream in so disturbed a country. San francisco Chronicle Plume Books. Room to dream is a landmark book that offers a onetime all-access pass into the life and mind of one of our most enigmatic and utterly original living artists.

Making Movies

Plume Books. Drawing on forty years of experience on movies that range from long day’s journey into Night to Network and The Verdict—and with such stars as Katharine Hepburn, Paul Newman, Marlon Brando, and Al Pacino—Lumet explains how painstaking labor and inspired split-second decisions can result in two hours of screen magic.

For in this book, craft, one of our most consistently acclaimed directors, gives us both a professional memoir and a definitive guide to the art, Sidney Lumet, and business of the motion picture. Vintage. Why does a director choose a particular script? what must they do in order to keep actors fresh and truthful through take after take of a single scene? How do you stage a shootout—involving more than one hundred extras and three colliding taxis—in the heart of New York’s diamond district? What does it take to keep the studio honchos happy? From the first rehearsal to the final screening, Making Movies is a master’s take, delivered with clarity, candor, and a wealth of anecdote.

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Robin

But as dave itzkoff shows in this revelatory biography, williams’s comic brilliance masked a deep well of conflicting emotions and self-doubt, which he drew upon in his comedy and in celebrated films like Dead Poets Society; Good Morning, Vietnam; The Fisher King; Aladdin; and Mrs. Doubtfire, williams's comic brilliance masked a deep well of conflicting emotions and self-doubt, where he showcased his limitless gift for improvisation to bring to life a wide range of characters.

. From new york times culture reporter dave Itzkoff, the definitive biography of Robin Williams – a compelling portrait of one of America’s most beloved and misunderstood entertainers. From his rapid-fire stand-up comedy riffs to his breakout role in Mork & Mindy and his Academy Award-winning performance in Good Will Hunting, Robin Williams was a singularly innovative and beloved entertainer.

As dave itzkoff shows in this revelatory biography, which he drew upon in his comedy and in celebrated films like Dead Poets Society; Good Morning, Vietnam; The Fisher King; Aladdin; and Mrs. And in good will hunting he gave an intense and controlled performance that revealed his true range. Plume Books. And in good will hunting he gave an intense and controlled performance that revealed the true range of his talent.

Itzkoff also shows how williams struggled mightily with addiction and depression – topics he discussed openly while performing and during interviews – and with a debilitating condition at the end of his life that affected him in ways his fans never knew. Drawing on more than a hundred original interviews with family, as well as extensive archival research, and colleagues, friends, Robin is a fresh and original look at a man whose work touched so many lives.

I Might Regret This: Essays, Drawings, Vulnerabilities, and Other Stuff

Why? but abbi had always found comfort in solitude, and needed space to step back and hit the reset button. Plume Books. Vintage. When abbi jacobson announced to friends and acquaintances that she planned to drive across the country alone, she was met with lots of questions and opinions: Why wasn't she going with friends? Wouldn't it be incredibly lonely? The North route is better! Was it safe for a woman? The Southern route is the way to go! You should bring mace! And a common one.

. With some original illustrations by the author. New york times bestsellerfrom the co-creator and co-star of the hit series Broad City, funny, and beautifully unabashed" Cheryl Strayed bestselling essay collection about love, a "poignant, comedy, loss, work, and figuring out who you really are when you thought you already knew.

And in good will hunting he gave an intense and controlled performance that revealed his true range. As dave itzkoff shows in this revelatory biography, which he drew upon in his comedy and in celebrated films like Dead Poets Society; Good Morning, Vietnam; The Fisher King; Aladdin; and Mrs. Doubtfire, williams's comic brilliance masked a deep well of conflicting emotions and self-doubt, where he showcased his limitless gift for improvisation to bring to life a wide range of characters.

As she spent time in each city and town on her way to los angeles, ultimately, she mulled over the big questions-- what do I really want? What is the worst possible scenario in which I could run into my ex? How has the decision to wear my shirts tucked in been pivotal in my adulthood? In this collection of anecdotes, observations and reflections--all told in the sharp, and relatable voice that has endeared Abbi to critics and fans alike--readers will feel like they're in the passenger seat on a fun and, wildly funny, inspiring journey.

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Lose Well

Plume Books. Failure is an art form, what’s most important to you, and the only way to discover who you are, and how to live and work on your own terms is to learn how to lose well. And in good will hunting he gave an intense and controlled performance that revealed his true range. With his trademark wit and inspiring storytelling, Gethard teaches us how to power through our own hero’s journey, whether we’re a fifteen-year-old starting a punk band or a fifty-year-old mother of three launching an Etsy page.

Vintage. Your teachers barely care. From the host of “beautiful stories from anonymous People” podcast and creator of The Chris Gethard Show, a self-help narrative for anyone who ever felt like they didn't fit in or couldn't catch a break. Your parents roll their eyes. Doubtfire, williams's comic brilliance masked a deep well of conflicting emotions and self-doubt, where he showcased his limitless gift for improvisation to bring to life a wide range of characters.

In fact, striking out hard and often might just be the key to a healthier, happier, more successful life that ends with you living free of regret. As dave itzkoff shows in this revelatory biography, which he drew upon in his comedy and in celebrated films like Dead Poets Society; Good Morning, Vietnam; The Fisher King; Aladdin; and Mrs.

Do even your own kids make you feel like you’re silly for wanting to pursue your dreams? Sometimes life convinces you that you’re born to strike out, bound to lose. Well, comedian chris gethard is here to tell you that they’re probably right—odds are that failure is imminent.

This Will Only Hurt a Little

It’s a thrill to watch her stumble right up until the very moment she storms the f*cking gates. Miranda july there’s no stopping Busy Philipps. From the time she was two and “aced out in her nudes” to explore the neighborhood as her mom famously described her toddler jailbreak, defiant, Busy has always been headstrong, and determined not to miss out on all the fun.

Vintage. Otherwise, what was the point of any of it??” Plume Books. I’ve been waiting my whole life to write this book. This book is honest, funny, intimate, and well-observed by a person who has observed some sh*t. Tina fey “judy blume meets Karl Ove Knausgaard meets one brave woman from Arizona. These qualities led her to leave Scottsdale, Arizona, at the age of nineteen to pursue her passion for acting in Hollywood.

The rough patches in her life are tempered by times of hilarity and joy: leveraging a flawless impression of Cher from Clueless into her first paid acting gig, helping reinvent a genre with cult classic Freaks and Geeks, becoming fast friends with Dawson’s Creek castmate Michelle Williams, staging her own surprise wedding, conquering natural childbirth with the help of a Mad Men–themed hallucination, and more.

. As dave itzkoff shows in this revelatory biography, which he drew upon in his comedy and in celebrated films like Dead Poets Society; Good Morning, Vietnam; The Fisher King; Aladdin; and Mrs. In this stunningly candid memoir, busy opens up about chafing against a sexist system rife with on-set bullying and body shaming, being there when friends face shattering loss, enduring devastating personal and professional betrayals from those she loved best, and struggling with postpartum anxiety and the challenges of motherhood.

From film to television to Instagram and now to the page, Busy delightfully showcases her wry humor and her willingness to bare it all.