Both of these plays have displayed straughan s talent for writing dark, twisted and witty stories. More recently, straughan adapted jon ronson s 2004 book the men who stare at goats into a screenplay. He is the author of many bestselling books, including lost at sea, the psychopath test, the men who stare at goats and them. This surreal comedy weaves together fact and farce as its lead character, bob wilton, a failed reporter, stumbles on the bizarre activities of the new age army, an elite us army unit whose psychological warfare techniques include killing hamsters and goats with intense looks. From george clooney, mind control in defense of america the. The jon ronson mysteries 2012 is ronsons sixth book. This is the first book in a very long time that i couldnt put down. Jon ronson is a nonfiction author, documentary maker and screenwriter. I had no idea who jon ronson was or what hed written before so i came to this book with no preconceptions. More recently, straughan adapted jon ronsons 2004 book the men who stare at goats into a screenplay. Its inspired by jon ronson s book, which documents a time when the u. Dec 06, 2017 born and raised in northeast england, peter straughan became a soughtafter screenwriter when his script the men who stare at goats, adapted from jon ronsons book, made the rounds. Nov 05, 2009 a serendipitous marriage of talent in which all hearts seem to beat as one, the men who stare at goats takes jon ronsons book about the apparent madness at the heart of u.
As one of the premier rare book sites on the internet, alibris has thousands of rare books, first editions, and signed books available. Mar 09, 2015 simultaneously powerful and hilarious in the way only jon ronson can be, so youve been publicly shamed is a deeply honest book about modern life, full of eyeopening truths about the escalating war on human flaws and the very scary part we all play in it. The jon ronson mysteries, the psychopath test, the men who stare at goats and them. A funny, sad and true story about jon ronson, frank sidebottom and other outsider musicians. His first fictional screenplay, frank, cowritten with peter straughan, starred. The true story that inspired the movie, lost at sea.
Many of ronsons ideas run between the lines of straughans invented plot, though i dont think i personally could have found the film to feel any more different to ronsons book or in. It is an early harbinger of the seventh northern lights film festival which, following the premature departure early this year of director brian gordon, is now scheduled for march next. Sep 12, 2008 based on the book by the guardian columnist jon ronson, goats is set in iraq and centers on bob wilton mcgregor, a desperate reporter who stumbles upon the story of a lifetime when he. Shop the latest titles by jon ronson at alibris including hardcovers, paperbacks, 1st editions, and audiobooks from thousands of sellers worldwide.
Ronsons research was as non bias as can be, which was part of the attraction of reading on. The true story that inspired the movie is a memoir of funny, sad times and a tribute to outsider artists too wonderfully strange to ever make it in the mainstream. Then a screenwriter peter straughan, who had worked on the. Born and raised in northeast england, peter straughan became a soughtafter screenwriter when his script the men who stare at goats, adapted from jon ronson s book, made the rounds. With ewan mcgregor, george clooney, kevin spacey, jeff bridges. If youre curious to know which elements of the film were true, read jon. It tells the true story behind the fictionalized movie.
Aug 14, 2014 talking truth and fiction in frank with jon ronson. Armys exploration of new age concepts and the potential military applications of the paranormal. Aug 05, 2014 peter, who shares the writing credit with jon ronson, doesnt find the critics assessment that strange. He has been described as a gonzo journalist, becoming a fauxnaif character in his stories. A serendipitous marriage of talent in which all hearts seem to beat as one, the men who stare at goats takes jon ronson s book about the apparent madness at the heart of u. A reporter in iraq might just have the story of a lifetime when he meets lyn cassady, a guy who claims to be a former member of the u. Its 20 seconds with screenwriter peter straughan who adapted the book by jon ronson for the upcoming movie the men who stare at goats.
Jan 05, 2012 he is the author of many bestselling books, including frank. Peter, who grew in gateshead, tyne and wear, started his career as a playwright, winning the 1997 northern arts writers award and becoming the writer in residence at newcastles live. Jon ronson born 10 may 1967 is a welsh journalist and documentary filmmaker whose works. The true story that inspired the movie on apple books. Ronson s new book is provocative and interesting, and you will, i guarantee, zip merrily through it observer. Frank, cowritten with peter straughan, was released in 2014. His first fictional screenplay, frank, cowritten with peter straughan, was released. In his 2004 book, the men who stare at goats, welsh journalist jon ronson reveals the eyeopening story of a top secret program that had been set up in the 1980s to research applications of paranormal and spiritual techniques in the military. The film is a fictionalized version of jon ronson s 2004 book of the same title of an investigation into attempts by the u. Goats, and subsequently a film of the same name was released in 2009 as a comedy war film directed by grant heslov and written by peter straughan. Writer jon ronson sold the film rights for his book the men who stare at. He was writerinresidence at newcastles live theatre company.
Ronsons new book is provocative and interesting, and you will, i guarantee, zip merrily through it. Jon ronson born 10 may 1967 is a welsh journalist and documentary filmmaker whose works include the men who stare at goats 2004, them. Jon ronson is a very creative, humorous writer at the same time being incredibly informative. The true story that inspired the movie by jon ronson. Sep 09, 2016 last year, jon ronson and peter straughan released a terrific film called frank, which was a fictional telling of ronsons time in frank sidebottoms band. The men who stare at goats audiobook by jon ronson. The psychopath test by jon ronson, 97803304569, available at book. Jun 03, 2011 he is the author of many bestselling books, including frank. Armys new earth army, a unit that employs paranormal powers in their missions. Research was carried out in part by jon ronson, but also by documentary filmmaker john sergeant. Aug 03, 2018 ronson sold the film rights to the men who stare at goats and a movie of the same name was released in 2009 as a comedy war film directed by grant heslov and written by peter straughan. The psychopath test jon ronson haftad 9780330492270 bokus.
The psychopath test spent nearly two years on the uk bestseller list. Paranormal activity of a different variety scores big. Jon ronson born 10 may 1967 is a welsh journalist and documentary filmmaker whose works include the men who stare at goats 2004 and the psychopath test 2011. Peter straughan born 1968 is a british playwright, screenwriter and author, based in the northeast of england. The men who stare at goats by grant heslov george clooney. Much of the films humor comes from their exchanges as she systematically ostracizes him from the other band members, while frank seems enamored at the idea of actually having fans. Many of ronson s ideas run between the lines of straughan s invented plot, though i dont think i personally could have found the film to feel any more different to ronson s book or in. Michael fassbenders chops remain hidden during most of this beguiling tragicomic fable inspired by jon ronson s memoir about indie enigma frank sidebottom, writes peter bradshaw. Jon ronson has 28 books on goodreads with 594793 ratings. He is the author of many bestselling books, including frank.
Peter, who shares the writing credit with jon ronson, doesnt find the critics assessment that strange. Nov 20, 2014 peter straughan, the screenwriter who adapted john le carres tinker tailor soldier spy into a successful movie, is to take on another melancholy tale of international intrigue. Baftawinning gateshead writer peter straughan on his. It seems that those who did know him from previous books have struggled with the change of direction represented by so youve been publicly shamed but i found it fascinating, entertaining, and a compelling page turner. The true story that inspired the movie english edition. Talking truth and fiction in frank with jon ronson the. Nov 06, 2009 written by peter straughan and based on the nonfiction book by jon ronson, also titled the men who stare at goats, the film tells parallel stories that finally join. Us military goes for the paranormal by joanne laurier 26 november 2009 directed by grant heslov, screenplay by peter straughan, based on the book by jon ronson. The men who stare at goats 2009 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Adventures with extremists, lost at sea and the men who stare at goats have all been international andor new york times bestsellers. I had just put out a book about public shaming, and one of the great surprises of bringing out that book was that people whose stories resonated with the book started contacting me. It was the fact that fassbender, one of the best actors around, agreed to take the part in the first place that surprised him. Jon ronsons most popular book is the psychopath test.
Suddenly i was being contacted by a slew of really interesting people, like monica lewinsky, and megan. Tinker tailor soldier spy screenwriter to adapt the goldfinch. Adventures with extremists, the men who stare at goats, the psychopath test, and lost at sea have all been international bestsellers. Loosely adapted from a nonfiction book by jon ronson, grant heslovs directorial debut the men who stare at goats begins as heartbroken reporter bob wilton ewan mcgregor heads off to imbed himself with troops as the iraq war starts, but wilton cant get himself into the country until he. The film4 production is written by jon ronson who wrote the book the men who stare at goats and peter straughan who scripted the film the men who stare at goats, and coscripted tinker tailor. Written by peter straughan and based on the nonfiction book by jon ronson, also titled the men who stare at goats, the film tells parallel stories that finally join. Frank sidebottom and jon ronson, birmingham, the 1980s.
Based on interviews with actual personnel involved, he relays tales of officers who attempted to train. The title refers to attempts to kill goats by staring at them. According to ronson s dvdcommentary, the journalistcharacter bob wilton. Oct 31, 2009 well, not really much of an interview. Its directed by lenny abrahamson and stars michael fassbender, domhnall gleeson, maggie gyllenhaal, scoot.
Adventures with extremists 2001, and the psychopath test 2011. His first fictional screenplay, frank, cowritten with peter straughan. Frank directed by lenny abrahamson, written by jon ronson and peter straughan, with domhnall gleeson, maggie gyllenhaal, scoot mcnairy and michael fassbender. In this book he looks at the tv show deal or no deal, its contestants and noel edmonds. What if society wasnt fundamentally rational, but was motivated by insanity.
So youve been publicly shamed by jon ronson free download. This thought sets jon ronson on an utterly compelling adventure into the world of madness. Welcome to the the home of jon ronson, journalist, humorist and documentary maker. Together, they journey out into the country to record an album and, eventually due to jons constant stream of social media information go to texas to play sxsw. The psychopath test spent the whole of 2012 on the uk bestseller list and ten weeks on the new york times bestseller list. Jon ronson is an awardwinning writer and documentary maker. His latest film, okja, which stars tilda swinton, jake gyllenhaal and paul dano, and is directed by bong joonho, will be released in 2017.
The men who stare at goats is a 2009 satirical dark comedy war film directed by grant heslov and starring george clooney, ewan mcgregor, jeff bridges, and kevin spacey. Writer jon ronson january 1987 present 32 years 11 months. Jons live show based on the book psychopath night has sold out concert halls. It was produced by clooneys and heslovs production company smoke house pictures. We were amazed when we got the phone call saying michael fassbender wanted to do the film, he says.
But i have written an 11,000 ebook frank that tells the true story that inspired the film. His first fictional screenplay, frank, cowritten with peter straughan, has been directed by lenny abrahamson and stars michael fassbender. Peter straughan alumni and supporters newcastle university. Jon ronson, staring at goats from the sidelines the men who stare at goats was in production before jon ronson could even finish the book the. Jon ronson is a documentary maker, journalist and comic storyteller beloved by many. Frank won the 2014 best screenplay award at the british independent film awards. As their youtube followers expand, jon books them a potentially starmaking spot at sxsw, which causes greater ideological clashes between authenticity and viability. This surreal comedy weaves together fact and farce as its lead character, bob wilton, a failed reporter, stumbles on the bizarre activities of the new age army, an elite us army unit whose psychological warfare techniques include killing. Frank, cowritten with peter straughan, was released in 2014 and starred michael fassbender, maggie gyllenhaal and domnhall gleeson. About the author jon ronson is an awardwinning writer and documentary maker. Frank, cowritten with peter straughan, has been directed by. From george clooney, mind control in defense of america. Simultaneously powerful and hilarious in the way only jon ronson can be, so youve been publicly shamed is a deeply honest book about modern life, full of eyeopening truths about the escalating war on human flaws and the very scary part we all play in it.
Last year, jon ronson and peter straughan released a terrific film called frank, which was a fictional telling of ronson s time in frank sidebottoms band. Based on the book the men who stare at goats 2004 by jon ronson about the u. Jon ronson s nonfiction books so youve been publicly shamed, the psychopath test, them. If youre curious to know which elements of the film were true, read jon ronsons book frank. Whilst there, live staged his plays, bones and noir. Together, they journey out into the country to record an album and, eventually due to jon s constant stream of social media information go to texas to play sxsw.
Dec 29, 2009 jon ronson, staring at goats from the sidelines the men who stare at goats was in production before jon ronson could even finish the book the film is based on. Domnhall gleeson plays jon, an aspiring musician who joins a band led by a mysterious man, frank michael fassbender, who always wears a giant papiermache head over his own. Ronson sold the film rights to the men who stare at goats and a movie of the same name was released in 2009 as a comedy war film directed by grant heslov and written by peter straughan. He seems to find special people and special circumstances and tells the story in around 15 pages which makes the book easy to drop in and out of. Its 20 seconds with screenwriter peter straughan who adapted the book by jon ronson for the upcoming. His first fictional screenplay, frank, cowritten with peter straughan, starred michael fassbender. A collection of writings by jon ronson,an author i really enjoy.