A Critical Eye: Novels and Movies
In writing my books I noticed I now read novels and watch movies with a more critical eye. Maybe it’s a curse. As an attorney I view legal matters with a different perspective; and having managed Los Angeles political campaigns, it’s the same dilemma when analyzing political tactics and strategies at every political level.
I did my homework in researching and writing. I read books, magazine and on-line articles and attended panels and seminars on the craft of writing plots and characters. In novels and movies, I focus on the art of creating interesting, thought-provoking plot lines and characters.
Earlier this month, I saw the new movie Brad’s Status starring Ben Stiller. The screenplay was written by the same writer who wrote last year’s outstanding film Beatriz at Dinner starring Salma Hayek. I acknowledge the screenwriter has light years of greater writing accomplishments than I ever will, but here are my thoughts.
Beatriz was a movie with political, class and racial overtones. The movie had numerous interesting, many unlikeable, characters. As Beatriz, Hayek conveyed the depth of a nurturing soul, uncomfortable with the harsh realities of our society’s materialism. Beatriz was the underdog audiences could root for.
In my novel, Roll the Dice, the main protagonist Tyler Sloan is a rock ‘n roll star who exits the stage to campaign for the United States Senate. I consciously drafted Sloan as a political candidate the reader wants to vote for. He is a political independent, not a Democrat or Republican. He was a natural underdog and runs an unconventional campaign.
Roll the Dice is not only politics. Sloan has an unresolved father-son conflict with his famous father. There is intrigue as Sloan’s closest advisors protect their own interests, his campaign manager is corrupt, past sexual scandals return and Sloan experiences sexual tension with Bree Baker, his young and attractive media advisor. Amidst it all, Sloan seeks to protect his thirteen year old daughter.
Sloan is a hero, but an imperfect one. At times he is an awkward candidate. He struggles to repair his relationship with his father, and at age fifty, questions the meaning of his stage career and his failure to develop a meaningful, successful relationship with a woman.
Brad’s Status fails the one test taught to every writer and understood by every reader—Brad is a one-dimensional protagonist. It is difficult to root for Brad and I experienced a constant desire to shake Brad out of his rut.
Michael Connelly is soon releasing his thirty-first novel Two Kinds of Truth, the twentieth Harry Bosch novel. Bosch is the gold standard. He is a multi-dimensional character whom every reader feels they know, like and trust. Every author dreams of emulating a character half as intriguing as Bosch.
In contrast, Brad trudges through life in a perpetual funk. He is filled with envy and jealousy of the perceived successes of his college friends. He fails to see his life’s positive qualities; a successful if not wildly financially rewarding career, a loving wife, and a son who is on the path to his own success.
Stiller offers his usual outstanding performance, displaying doubt, angst and discomfort. However Brad’s midlife crisis—is a constant hum of dread.
Every novel or movie benefits from characters with memorable quirks, the small details that an audience can relate to, laugh at, or be repulsed by. In my novel, Tyler Sloan often employs musical analogies to assist his understanding of his political world and life. His father Mike has no aptitude with technology or social media; Sloan’s relationship with Bree has generational differences and the President frequently drops f-bombs.
Brad’s Status missed an opportunity to add depth to Brad when he returned to visit his favorite college professor. Brad viewed the professor as a mentor. Instead of having the professor confirm Brad’s career choices or life, Brad’s hopes are dashed when he learns at the school that the professor recently died.
I am curious to have readers, writers or moviegoers comment. Again, maybe it’s an author’s curse and I hope my eye has not turned too critical.
Pre-Order Your Copy Today!
Roll the Dice
by: Wayne Avrashow
Political Thriller
Coming November 28, 2017
What happens when one of America’s biggest rock stars leaves the Las Vegas stage to run for the United State Senate?
The ultimate celebrity candidate, Tyler Sloan is no stranger to politics – his estranged father was a California governor who narrowly lost a Presidential campaign. He runs as a political independent, refuses campaign contributions, and dismisses special interests and lobbyists.
Sloan is caught in a political campaign fraught with; sexual scandal, corruption and conflicting loyalties. Will he be able to navigate through political turbulence and his own past to win the race?
Editorial Reviews
“...hilarious, politically savvy...politics at its corrupt, dysfunctional, inspiring best.” ~ Kirkus Reviews (pre-publication review, “Best Manuscript” award winner)
"Avrashow’s book is an entertaining reveal of an unconventional candidate and campaign and it is filled with drama, hope and conflict,” ~ Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor of Los Angeles 2005-2013
“In the tradition of Allen Drury and Richard Condon comes the next great author of political thrillers, Wayne Avrashow.” ~ Michael Levin, New York Times best-selling author
“A political thriller that draws on Avrashow’s considerable experience…a great read,” ~ Zev Yaroslavsky, Los Angeles City Councilman (ret.) and Los Angeles County Supervisor (ret.)
“a riveting, totaling involving page-turner…Roll the Dice has all the elements to develop into a memorable film dramatization,” ~ Peter Saphier, executive at Universal and Paramount studios, o read and recommended the novel “Jaws” for production at Universal, co-Producer “Scarface”
“Intriguing spin on the phenomenon of celebrities-as-candidates.” ~ Bob Ronka, Los Angeles City Councilman (Ret.)
About the Author:
Wayne Avrashow was the campaign manager for two successful Los Angeles City Council campaigns and a Deputy/Chief of Staff to those two elected City Council members. He served as a senior advisor for a successful city-wide referendum in the City of Los Angeles, co-authored ballot arguments on Los Angeles County-wide measures, served as Chairman for a Los Angeles County ballot measure, and was a Los Angeles government Commissioner for nearly twenty years. He currently serves as a Board Member of the Yaroslavsky Institute, a public policy institute founded by long time Southern California elected official, and now UCLA professor, Zev Yaroslavsky.
His background in politics, government, business, and law provides unique insight into the machinations and characters that populate political campaigns.
Wayne is a practicing attorney who specializes in government advocacy, real estate, and business law. Formerly, he was an officer in two real estate development firms. As a lawyer-lobbyist, he has represented clients before numerous California municipalities and in Nevada and Idaho. He has lectured at his law school and taught at Woodbury University in Los Angeles. He has also authored numerous op-ed articles that appeared in daily newspapers, legal, business, and real estate publications. In addition, he is the author of a self-published book for the legal community, Success at Mediation—10 Strategic Tools for Attorneys.
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