The men who would be king : an almost epic tale of moguls, movies, and a company called Dreamworks

For sixty years, since the birth of United Artists, the studio landscape was unchanged. Then came Hollywoods Circus Maximuscreated by director Steven Spielberg, billionaire David Geffen, and Jeffrey Katzenberg, who gave the world The Lion King an entertainment empire called DreamWorks. Now Nicole LaPorte,who covered the company for Variety , goes behind the hype to reveal for the first time the delicious truth of what happened. Readers will feel they are part of the creative calamities of moviemaking as LaPortes fly-on-the-wall detail shows us Hollywoods bizarre rules of business. We see the clashes between the often otherworldly Spielbergs troops and Katzenbergs warriors, the debacles and disasters, but also the Oscar-winning triumphs, including Saving Private Ryan . We watch as the studio burns through billions, its rich owners get richer, and everybody else suffers. We see Geffen seducing investors likeMicrosofts Paul Allen, showing his steel against CAAs Michael Ovitz, and staging fireworks during negotiations with Paramount and Disney. Here is Hollywood, up close, glamorous, and gritty. Laporte Goes Behind The Hype To Reveal How Steven Spielberg, David Geffen, And Jeffrey Katzenberg Joined Forces To Create Dreamworks. Starting Up. The Emperor In August ; The End Of Magic ; Mr. Spielberg Will See You Now ; Geffen Slept Here ; The Announcement ; E.t., Phone Home ; Animated Characters ; Live Action ; Show Me The Money ; Culture Clash ; The Unthinkable Occurs ; George In Slovakia, Jeffrey In Extremis ; The Not So Long Goodbye -- Rolling. Of Men And Mice ; Slaves To The Rhythm ; Saving Spielberg ; Bug Wars ; Harvey Baby -- Rockin'. Unexpected Beauty ; The Battle For Oscar ; Nobody's Bitch ; Sword Fights ; Shreked ; Rock And Roll ; Golden Glow -- Close-up. The Motorcycle Diaries ; Harvey Ii ; What Sinbad Wrought ; Naked In Public ; In A Snicket ; No White Suits! ; The Geffen Express -- Three-way Split. Nicole Laporte. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [447]-474) And Index. Starting up. The emperor in August The end of magic Mr. Spielberg will see you now Geffen slept here The act E.T., phone home Animated characters Live action Show me the money Cultural dissonance The unthinkable occurs George in Slovakia, Jeffrey in extremis The not so long goodbye Rollin'. Of mice and men Slaves to the rhythm Saving Spielberg Bug wars Harvey baby Rockin'. Unexpected beauty The blessed arrival of Oscar Nobody's bitch Sword fights Shreked Rock and roll Golden glow Close-up. The motorcycle diaries Harvey II What Sinbad wrought Naked in public In a snicket No white suits! The Geffen express Epilogue : three-way split.