As entertaining as it is enlightening, Created by presents a stellar cast of 21 show creators who candidly talk about writing and selling hit television series: J.J. Abrams (Alias, Lost); Alan Ball (Six Feet Under); Yvette Lee Bowser (Living Single, Half & Half); Mark Brazill (That '70s Show); Ilene Chaiken (The L Word); Larry David (Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm); Tom Fontana (Oz); Tracy Gamble (8 Simple Rules); Dave Hackel (Becker); Barbara Hall (Joan of Arcadia); Brenda Hampton (7th Heaven, Fat Actress); Bill Lawrence (Scrubs); Dennis Leoni (Resurrection Blvd.); Max Mutchnick and David Kohan (Will & Grace); Tracy Newman and Jonathan Stark (According to Jim); Josh Schwartz (The O.C.); Shawn Ryan (The Shield); Amy Sherman-Palladino (Gilmore Girls); Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel). They discuss influences: writing spec scripts; first jobs in TV; getting an agent; mentors; being staffed as a writer; the pitch; writing a pilot; putting yourself in the characters you create; rewriting; producing a pilot; marketing; hiring a writing staff; making a show last; TV writing vs. film writing; drama vs. sitcom; cable vs. network TV; what show creators look for in a writer; writers block; luck and much more. This is a lively, well-written must-have book for all screenwriters and television writers -- wannabes, novices, and professionals -- as well as all avid TV fans.

Steven Spielberg's Oscar winning, epic, World War 2 drama is set against the backdrop of the Normandy landings. A squad of American soldiers, led by Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks), receive top-level instructions to undertake an unusual mission: to rescue Private James Ryan (Matt Damon), whose three brothers have all been killed in action. As the soldiers forge deeper into enemy territory, they begin to question the sense of risking life and limb for the sake of one man.