A veteran Variety reporter, Nicole LaPorte wrote The Men Who Would Be King at the risk of never lunching — or breakfasting or dining — in this town again. Her book catalogs in precise detail — from boardroom blow-ups to red carpet premieres — the rise and fall of DreamWorks studios, the brainchild of Hollywood’s biggest moguls since the golden age of the studio system. “There was money, it was the 90s, Clinton was in office,” LaPorte said. “The movie business is always a risky  business, but back then, there were many more people willing to place bets.” Unfortunately, no matter how big the men behind it or how many hits it made in the early years, it didn’t keep DreamWorks alive, as LaPorte explained at Zócalo’s offices.

*Photo courtesy just_kelly.