Scratching the Surface: Adventures in Storytelling

(Author) (Foreword by)
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Product Details
Price
$27.99  $26.03
Publisher
Wayne State University Press
Publish Date
Pages
80
Dimensions
5.9 X 8.9 X 0.8 inches | 0.97 pounds
Language
English
Type
Paperback
EAN/UPC
9780814344743

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About the Author

Harvey Ovshinsky is a writer, producer, story consultant, educator, and public speaker.

Reviews

I recently came across a line by the epigrammatically clever writer Henry Oliver, who devised what he calls "The Fitzgerald Rule" (after the British novelist Penelope Fitzgerald): "You spot talent by looking at what people persist at, not what persistently happens to them." By that measure, Harvey Ovshinsky--a Detroit-born-and-raised writer and creator who has thrived in a variety of mediums--is talented indeed.

--John McMillian "Michigan Historical Review"

Leave it to Harvey Ovshinsky to create a new genre, the biotext, where memoir meets textbook. With its mix of life struggles, creative escapades, and production war stories, Scratching the Surface reads like a fireside chat with a storytelling sage. I'll be keeping this trove of inspiration and concrete advice on my writing desk for years to come.

--Desiree Cooper "author, filmmaker, Kresge Artist Fellow, and Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist"

Storytelling man of multiple media Harvey Ovshinsky says the good stuff in a story is beneath the surface, and we get
an enlightening deep dive in this book. As he shares his very personal story, he equally reveals societal change especially n Detroit and generally for America as well.

--Dan "Goodreads"

In this master class for filmmakers and journalists, Mr. O (as his former students call him) slyly teaches storytelling through the action of showing, instead of telling. His light touch allows for deep dives with a killer sense of humor, personal vulnerability, and profound poetry. I have a renewed understanding of my beloved city's roots, gained a unique insight into story crafting, and am inspired to reimagine my next film project by scratching its surface.

--Lara Sfire

Harvey is a master storyteller with a passion for creating inspiring films and television programs. He's driven by his love of helping others tell their own stories, so if you have one to tell, Scratching the Surface is an invaluable resource and a great guide to unleashing your own creativity.

--Bill Pace "television and feature film producer on A League of Their Own; HBO's A Private Matter; PBS's LateNight America; and movies for CBS, ABC, NBC, and Hallmark Hall of Fame"