A new documentary by writer and director John Mulholland and producer and editor Richard Zampella pays homage to the great crime novelist Elmore Leonard. "Elmore Leonard: But Don't Try to Write" explores Leonard's influence on generations of writers and his impact on American culture. The film features interviews with Leonard's colleagues, friends, and family, including exclusive images and previously unseen footage.
Elmore Leonard was the author of forty-six novels, including "Get Shorty," "Out of Sight," and "LaBrava." He was known for his crime novels but was also a master of other genres, including Westerns, comedies, and dramas. Leonard was a gifted storyteller, and his books were beloved by readers worldwide.
The documentary's title, "But Don’t Try to Write," reflects Leonard's philosophy that less is more in writing and life. Mulholland describes Leonard as one of the most influential authors of the past half-century, and the film delves into his unique approach to character development and storytelling.
The documentary features interviews with Jim Born, Mike Lupica, Wendy Calhoun, Neely Tucker, and Graham Yost. It includes thirty minutes of original, unreleased interview footage with Elmore Leonard. Through these conversations, the film paints a portrait of an artist who profoundly impacted our culture and language.
Producer and editor Richard Zampella incorporated the unreleased interview footage with Elmore Leonard within the documentary by allowing John Mulholland to ask questions that allowed Leonard to speak with specificity about the origins of his writing style, something that previous interviews didn't explore.
Don’t Try to Write highlights Leonard’s portrayal of women and gender inequality and how his female characters dealt with misogyny. Mulholland shares that he chose the characters in the documentary, “Based on who Leonard was, I was determined that it not be dominated by middle-aged white guys—I wanted to make sure that women were integral to the telling.”
During the making of the film, a decision was made to interrupt the chronological account of Leonard’s work to a discussion of gender, race, and social problems. Mulholland adds, "I wanted the viewer to understand the long arc of Leonard’s career, how he wrote many excellent westerns for some 20 years before gravitating to the modern urban crime novel. These westerns had led to Hollywood movies with A-list stars, including Glenn Ford, Burt Lancaster, Paul Newman, and Randolph Scott. Then, Leonard went through a rough patch in the 1970s with less-than-stellar film adaptations like The Moonshine War, The Big Bounce, and Joe Kidd. For a viewer familiar with Leonard mainly through more recent books and movies like Get Shorty, Jackie Brown, and Out Of Sight, it’s important that he or she recognizes the remarkable span of his work in multiple genres.”
"But Don’t Try to Write" also highlights Leonard's portrayal of women and gender inequality and how his female characters deal with misogyny. The documentary, narrated by Campbell Scott, features women integral to telling Leonard's story. Mulholland was determined to showcase the author's impact on American culture beyond the middle-aged white male perspective.
The documentary is currently available to rent or buy on Amazon and airing on public television nationwide. Fans of Elmore Leonard's work and those interested in the craft of writing will appreciate this tribute to one of the greatest writers in recent history.
The official site for the documentary is www.elmoredoc.com, and the trailer is available on YouTube.
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Company Name: Elmore Leonard: But Don't Try to Write
Contact Person: Paul Gallnon
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Country: United States
Website: https://www.elmoredoc.com
