Veteran actor Tom Hanks said in an interview that he's never read a novel that realistically portrays the steps, the people and the mechanics required to create a feature film. So he set out to write one. And he has. Both the book and the process may be much more complex than you may expect, though. Especially if you know little about how the movie industry works.

First of all, the book weighs at least 2 pounds and clocks in at 417 pages, so it's not a quick read. And at least at first, it's challenging to know which people to follow and which plotlines are important. We understand that the book is supposed to be about the making of a contemporary film. But somehow we start out in a small town in post-war northern California, and movies aren't even mentioned. And what about the comic books? Three comic book excerpts are included on these pages. Why are they here?

If I had to write a short summary of the plot, it would be this: A chance encounter between a long-lost uncle and his namesake nephew in Lone Butte, California, in the late 1940s becomes the basis for a comic-book story in the 1970s, which itself ends up as being the inspiration for a superhero and romance movie in the 2020s. There you go.

The movie is titled Knightshade: The Lathe of Firefall, and it features Wren Lane (born Wendy Lank) as Ms. Knightshade. Many more folks are involved in the production, from the executives of the Hawkeye and the Dynamo companies, to the writer-director Bill Johnson, and down through the list of the whole cast and crew. To tell you anything more about the general plot would be to deprive you of the joy of discovering its twists and turns on your own.

The main character in any novel is supposed to undergo some kind of change from the beginning of the story to the end. I think it's fair to say that EVERY character who shows up in these pages is affected by their involvement in the Knightshade production. If we have to focus on one person who may have changed the most, however, my vote is for Ynez Gonzalez-Cruz. She starts out as a regional ride-share driver; but she has so many good organizational skills that she quickly gets hired and becomes an invaluable member of the movie production team. If you happen to lose your way in this text, just look for Ynez. She's a beacon. She knows where everything is.

Of course, at least one typewriter shows up here. It wouldn't be a Tom Hanks creation without one. He collects them, in real life.

The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece offers a very fulfilling reading experience. It is indeed rich with the day-to-day activities surrounding the making of a modern motion picture. The author has succeeded in his task. The story also gives us one of the most satisfying endings that this reader could have imagined.

Hats off to you, Mr. Hanks. Share more of your stories with us someday, whenever you can find the time in your busy schedule to do so.