Michael Streeter

Nothing Lost Forever: the Films of Tom Schiller Michael Streeter Annotated edition

"I hate it when people throw around the word 'genius,' so I'll just say that Tom Schiller is an 'asshole.' Any true fan of Saturday Night Live should read this book - it's genius." - Jimmy Fallon

Tom Schiller was among the first to join the Saturday Night Live team in 1975. Recognized more for his work than his name, Schiller spent a total of eleven years with the show, writing sketches and directing short films. He directed John Belushi at age 90 in the ironic grave-dancing short Don't Look Back in Anger; Phil Hartman and Jan Hooks lip-synced to Bing Crosby in the musical Love is a Dream; and Bill Murray played a homeless man who thinks he's a brilliant Shakespearean actor in Perchance to Dream. With his memorable short films, Schiller added an element of heart and style to Saturday Night Live.

Many took notice to Schiller's unique filmmaking vision including producer Lorne Michaels and MGM, who signed Schiller to write and direct his first feature film. Nothing Lasts Forever, a clever science fiction comedy with strong aspects of social satire, starred Zach Galligan and Bill Murray. But with MGM facing financial uncertainty, Schiller's forgotten masterpiece was never released. Despite its critical acclaim, and having being invited to the Cannes film festival two years in a row, the film has been doomed to the vaults for over twenty years.

Nothing Lost Forever takes a thorough look into the films and career of Tom Schiller, through his own eyes and through those who have worked closely with him.

"Every SNL performer trusted Schiller. We were all as in love with his visions as he was." - Dan Aykroyd.

Featuring:
-Foreword by Tom Davis
-Extensive new interviews with Tom Schiller, Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Zach Galligan, Lorne Michaels, Bill Murray, Mike Myers and many others.
-Rare, never-before-seen photos - over 100 in total
...and much, much more!

"This book captures Tom's giddy, enchanting creative spirit. Watching Schiller play 78s on the gramophone in his office, a 1940s version of Pee-wee's Playhouse, is one of my favorite memories of SNL. You'd visit for the quaint escape and come out remembering why you love to create comedy." - Robert Smigel