During 13 years at Universal, Thom Mount rose from assistant to film VP Ned Tanen, to president of Universal Pictures Worldwide at 26. Among the notable films he developed, supervised, financed, and/or distributed at Universal were E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, The Deer Hunter, Electric Horseman, A Coal Miner’s Daughter, The Blues Brothers, American Werewolf in London, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Smokey and the Bandit, Animal House, Scarface, and Back to the Future, along with about 200 others.
After his work at Universal, Mount founded an independent production company, producing 27 features over 20 years, including Bull Durham, Roman Polanski’s Frantic, Tequila Sunrise, and Natural Born Killers. Dubbed a “Baby Mogul” by New York Magazine, he survived that appellation and has been accused of being the “model” for the studio head in Robert Altman’s The Player. Mount says, “I’ve never killed a screenwriter. Yet.”
His debut novel, Rafferty Returns, received raves from filmmaker Oliver Stone (Born on the Fourth of July, Wall Street), author Jerry Petievich (To Live and Die in L.A.), artist Ed Ruscha, and more. He lives and works in Los Angeles and the California desert.
Q: How did your background in the movie business translate into the novel? Asked another way, did you know fixers like Rafferty?
MOUNT: We had two of them at MCA/Universal. One gentleman who managed payoffs, bribes and cash transactions. Very proper fellow. The other, Al, “negotiated” with politicians, police, business owners, foreign militaries and a plethora of dudes with their hands out, around the world. Very necessary. For instance, the Mexican Army. Sometimes you just need a thousand soldiers. And tanks.
Q: When did you start reading crime fiction?
MOUNT: At eight I discovered the Hardy Boys. Then around eleven my Dad gave me The Big Sleep. That led to the Travis McGee series, Ross MacDonald, all of Chandler, Robert Crais, and a flotilla of mystery/detective authors. Sherlock Holmes. Hercule Poirot. Harry Boach. Elvis Cole. Recently, IQ, by Joe Ide.
Q: The Hard-Boiled Private Eye is a cliche, epitomized by Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlow. Rafferty doesn’t seem that world-weary. He is, in fact, a very funny (and ironic) guy. I assume that’s on purpose.
MOUNT: Rafferty, inspired in part by journalist friend Jon Bradshaw, is an adventurer, a well-versed rogue, a fellow who prefers living in good hotels, loves the outdoors as long as a good book, a good cafe and a decent hotel is within reach. He loves living on the beach in Malibu. A dash of Reily, a dollop of McGee, a smidgen of Spenser (Parker) and a pinch of Bosch. And of course, totally unique and original.
Q: Rafferty is a good talker. And funny. I get the sense that you enjoyed writing his dialog.
MOUNT: Loved writing it. Stay glued to a laptop. And behold, the damn character comes alive, pursues justice, punishes bad guys, staves off the slings and arrows.
Q: Do you ever get stuck? Any tricks?
MOUNT: There is always a sense of underlying torture in writing a novel. When I’m stuck, I stop. Read a good book for a while. Watch a first-rate film for half an hour.
Q: Characters like Walter Mosley’s Easy Rawlins provide insight into the experiences of marginalized communities. Rafferty gives us a window into uncomfortable contrasts in Hollywood. Does he have to be a loner to do that?
MOUNT: Rafferty loves love its own self. Yet he is frequently alone. The beach he lives on calls out for reflection, consideration of life, a willingness to chart one’s own course. It’s romantic and has a dark aspect. He is a loner who relishes love. A man of the world, and home boy.
Q: I also get the feeling you’re interested in Moral Ambiguity, especially the complexities of right and wrong in a place where lines are often blurred.
MOUNT: The movie business is awash with contradictions, big and small. There are frequent ethical challenges, opportunities to make bad decisions, to rescue people who need a hero, to derail those who deserve punishment. I’ve seen all of that up close, and done my share of inspiringly good and recklessly foolish things. The sign of my desk at the Big U said: Make me laugh, Make me cry, Make me think, Make me cum or leave me alone.
Q: And you also like decades-old secrets, right?
MOUNT: Hollywood is full of secrets, some kept well. Some shared liberally. Many people have been betrayed, been murdered, taken for a ride, shown the door and set up for failure. There are also frequent support actions, favors unknown and important, hidden agendas that have great positive impact. People help each other, edit and save un-releasable films, hire brilliant unknown actors and further careers, build relationships and save folks who are on a bad path. All of it.
Q: What comes next for Rafferty? Knowing how much material you must have, I’m sure you’ve got some ambitious plans.
MOUNT: I’m working on the second book in the Rafferty series now. I’ve decided to write five of these and see where I end up. It’s too much fun to ignore.
Q: Will we see Rafferty in the movies?
MOUNT: Most likely in streaming media. We are getting “nibbles” already for the first book. So, we’ll see what happens. I don’t count on anything. After all, it’s Hollywood, Jake.
