Chasing The Light

Writing, Directing, and Surviving Platoon, Midnight Express, Scarface, Salvador, and the Movie Game

By: Oliver Stone

Narrated by: Oliver Stone

An intimate memoir by the controversial and outspoken, Oscar-winning director and screenwriter about his complicated New York childhood, volunteering for combat, and his struggles and triumphs making such films as Platoon, Midnight Express, and Scarface.

Before the international success of Platoon in 1986, Oliver Stone had been wounded as an infantryman in Vietnam, and spent years writing unproduced scripts while driving taxis in New York, finally venturing westward to Los Angeles and a new life. Stone, now 73, recounts those formative years with in-the-moment details of the high and low moments: We see meetings with Al Pacino over Stone’s scripts for Scarface, Platoon, and Born on the Fourth of July; the harrowing demon of cocaine addiction following the failure of his first feature, The Hand (starring Michael Caine); his risky on-the-ground research of Miami drug cartels for Scarface; his stormy relationship with The Deer Hunter director Michael Cimino; the breathless hustles to finance the acclaimed and divisive Salvador; and tensions behind the scenes of his first Academy Award–winning film, Midnight Express.

Chasing the Light is a true insider’s look at Hollywood’s years of upheaval in the 1970s and ’80s. Narrated by the author.

Light. And more light!

I wished all human beings were as skillful in self expression and insight in Truth as Oliver Stone.
Doing a review of their life journey in their late 70s. The world might become then a better world. More filled with light.

Fascinating

I enjoyed Stone’s voice and pacing. Felt like I was listening to my grandfather tell war stories. It never got old. Also, as an older aspiring filmmaker, I found this book to be quite inspiring.

Exceptional tale from an exceptional storyteller.

Amazingly inspirational! As a Veteran that's also an aspiring writer, this tale of experience was exactly the push I needed to finally finish my screenplay.

Great storyteller

This covers the early parts of Stone’s career, up to the point where he completes platoon.

Great Book

Enjoyed it all. Great writer, great honest story. I loved all these movies. Salvador.