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'The Spy Who Jumped Off the Screen'
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Uncut: Author Thomas Caplan tells the story of his new book and friendship with former president Bill Clinton
- Duration 6:07
- Date Feb 3, 2012
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Uncut: Author Thomas Caplan tells the story of his new book and friendship with former president Bill Clinton
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Coming as a Syria -- -- and big news -- -- who jumped off the screen this is your fourth novel but your first thriller -- similar.
And debt X citizenship read some sort descriptions of it but people have called it sophisticated thriller and perhaps one and -- -- descriptions Bill -- -- and utterly contemporary.
-- And helps -- it's about.
The privatization of evil amid the hero who is -- Torii Hunter and his 32 when we meet him -- the world's number one.
Movie star former Covert -- was -- back into service by the president.
He is.
Able to penetrate the layers where good and bad people are side by side and sometimes indistinguishable -- part of the puzzle book is figuring out who's good -- In a world where people don't retreat.
To exist separate sides to the base camps every night but actually -- Let's get every element it has Hollywood.
It -- -- six nuclear weapons and military has a little bit of everything.
You know.
But that's what the world has become women of different disciplines have now emerged you see Hollywood politics -- -- for a long time of certain levels.
And different.
Kinds of people you have.
-- used to be wants at a time when a group was growing up.
We had to be.
Forces of the world this country in the Soviet Union in opposition.
Now they're all kinds of shadowy groups and individuals who brokering of all arrangements between each other groups -- -- That's its books to book you read a thriller I mean this is the -- new lab and in -- is not a new champion but a thriller -- that's true and.
Have always -- interest it and and I've always wanted to write book but I didn't wanna write one until I had an idea that wasn't derivative of a lot of -- -- -- a lot of respect for that trauma.
And to so many good ones out there and have been historically that I would -- it doesn't contribute something new or not do it and it took to.
Bursts of inspiration which would first for the character of -- -- the movie -- -- Came to -- all of a sudden.
And I made a false start as -- began with him.
And then I had the idea for the plot this book just the beginning of the plot.
We'll sit sit -- the plot develop as you were voted already you lost sense that there one day if they can't this to be a great until this is the plot not to Fayette hoddle laid out -- a narrative from.
-- RD develop it as you write it.
I developed as I wrote it but -- it was a little bit of both of those things I had the character of time -- And I was -- what you want a different course with him and when I thought it needed to be sharper and suddenly I -- Of the central elements TV.
Scheme by which nuclear weapons we're secretive -- -- them.
Ferret it out of the old Soviet Union at the time to solve -- cold for -- who knew about little things like this and asked if this was plausible.
To my pleasure because as a writer it was nice to know what laws.
And my -- which -- so.
You know citizens I felt more danger he says it wants and that all -- that hinge I would just wrote in the story developed -- home.
-- funny that you read a book and sometimes -- you think in this and just make a great movie.
And I and this is in this and that type of thriller wait could see -- making Macon will react I hope so upset right the other person I don't regret it.
I know can't we can't I can't even that that talking about.
Is that the man who wrote its introduction to -- who is hiding no Bill Clinton.
Well by it.
Exit of the alphabet.
Two last names beginning with C.
We were few doors away from each -- freshman at Georgetown foreign service school.
Later became roommates and I have been friends ever since when you think you in the first sound -- our first in -- absolutely -- the first night that we were there.
I think it's uninteresting character and have been anyone like this for -- -- this very precarious.
And we don't particularly.
Imposing a certain way I mean you have a good way he you know this -- but a guy who was.
A nice guy and also got a lot of ability we -- -- -- I remember.
And that he stood up.
Gibson -- people like then college and then just they don't have grandiose plans to -- they say they're gonna do these he had been in the spotlight you -- succeed and -- -- became president and I'm just saying that -- do you think that he was.
Going to be president.
That if you ever percent better than anybody because there's so many.
It's between I knew we would be successful I -- shorten up that first night but as we got to know what you that I knew is going to be successful person.
Becoming president has lots of.
Lots of little detours that many good people but the great thing about him is he really hasn't changed I -- if you -- anybody -- -- -- a long -- needs.
But you've always had a remarkable journey in his life -- same.
No prints -- drop and drop out of our lives.
You've actually mean every time I've seen President Clinton I think -- and -- social events who is we live in Washington DC and other you're always there -- -- -- -- very close to him.
Yes -- put.
I'm not the only one there all of our roommates stayed pixels are good friends and lot of other people as well let's studies and -- -- get over this long friendships mean.
For the -- paperwork and ending he wrote a very long introduction to this is this what women high.
First to get a first draft of this book.
I knew that he was big fan of thrillers.
And so I sent it to him because -- -- a lot of things Smart man.
And I should -- -- think that he was very kind and edited it.
Was very typical -- and a little bit yeah he's a very rigorous editing job you can and very helpful speeding it along.
That it's integrated as a fast and thriller and despite who jumped off the screen but I think it's going to be jumping on the big screen actually that if they can get every name and one of -- it becomes a -- at thank.
I don't know I love that it -- it but haven't done a big excuse me the -- who jumped off the screen and it up on the big screen.
-- decade or so that would be that would be one of vessels and that was the expression that the old movie moguls used to use about.
-- people like Judy Garland -- Clark people who just had such presence is that on the screen they were larger than life.
-- thank you thank you -- what would give him.