A Killer Life (2006)

Christine Vachon, producer of Boys Don't Cry and Far From Heaven, wastes no time baring her fangs in her second memoir, A Killer Life, (following 1998's Shooting to Kill). In swiping at Focus Features head James Schamus for supposedly burying Heaven at Oscar time or sharing her benchmark for sussing out new directors (no long-term significant other, no deal), the blunt New York native entertainingly recaps the last 15 years in indie filmmaking. She also details the headaches (from fussy stars like Julianne Moore to finicky financiers) that have plagued her productions. Through the griping, she still conveys her very real passion.