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Post by Ranger on Jan 6, 2024 22:02:10 GMT
Anyone have books about film they recommend?
Not knowing anything about how movies were made, I read some books recently about film-making. The three below all have interesting things to say about the relationship between directors, screenwriters and producers and, to a lesser extent, actors.
The Jaws Log by Carl Gottleib
Written by one of the screenwriters for the film (there were several at different stages). It’s about how Steven Spielberg got hired to make Jaws and then was able to execute during one summer, with many delays.
Easy Rider, Raging Bulls (How the Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll Generation saved Hollywood) by Peter Biskind
Some really shocking and interesting stories about relationship between directors, screenwriters, and producers.
Down and Dirty Pictures (Miramax, Sundance and the Rise of Independent Film) by Peter Biskind
Some very interesting stories about Harvey Weinstein, whom I had previously only heard of in connection with the “me too” scandal. Weinstein used focus groups to predict success of movies he wanted to distribute, and then twisted the arms of directors into allowing him to cut footage from films based on what the focus groups said. Also how Harvey Weinstein was able to engineer Oscar success for some of his movies. With an interesting story about Quentin Tarantino putting pressure on the co-writer of his first film to grant Tarantino sole screenwriter credit, which eventually got Tarantino an Oscar.
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Post by danb on Jan 6, 2024 22:26:32 GMT
Anyone have books about film they recommend? Not knowing anything about how movies were made, I read some books recently about film-making. The three below all have interesting things to say about the relationship between directors, screenwriters and producers and, to a lesser extent, actors. The Jaws Log by Carl Gottleib Written by one of the screenwriters for the film (there were several at different stages). It’s about how Steven Spielberg got hired to make Jaws and then was able to execute during one summer, with many delays. Easy Rider, Raging Bulls (How the Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll Generation saved Hollywood) by Peter Biskind Some really shocking and interesting stories about relationship between directors, screenwriters, and producers. Down and Dirty Pictures (Miramax, Sundance and the Rise of Independent Film) by Peter Biskind Some very interesting stories about Harvey Weinstein, whom I had previously only heard of in connection with the “me too” scandal. Weinstein used focus groups to predict success of movies he wanted to distribute, and then twisted the arms of directors into allowing him to cut footage from films based on what the focus groups said. Also how Harvey Weinstein was able to engineer Oscar success for some of his movies. With an interesting story about Quentin Tarantino putting pressure on the co-writer of his first film to grant Tarantino sole screenwriter credit, which eventually got Tarantino an Oscar. Peter Biskind did a lot of heavy lifting for me in my dissertation on ‘Twin Peaks’. His writing was really accessible whilst still feeling suitably weighty enough to quote.
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Post by jr on Jan 7, 2024 10:09:25 GMT
William Goldman
Adventures in the Screen Trade series: (guides)
Adventures in the Screen Trade: A Personal View of Hollywood and Screenwriting (1983)
Which Lie Did I Tell?: More Adventures in the Screen Trade (2000)
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Post by danb on Jan 7, 2024 10:21:06 GMT
Also ‘You’ll Never Eat Lunch In This Town Again’ by Julia Phillips about her experience producing Close Encounters etc in the 70’s. T’was the height of scandalous in the 90’s.
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Post by Ranger on Jan 7, 2024 16:07:43 GMT
I've only read a couple but one I forgot to mention. Cinema Speculation by Quentin Tarantino.
I was a little skeptical of Tarantino based on what I read in Peter Biskind's book, but also a little curious because I knew Tarantino dropped out of school very early and spent most of his high school years working in a video store. What kind of book would he write?
To my surprise, it was an excellent, very well-written book, and he obviously knows his craft. I assume he spent some time later on in life catching up on what he missed in school,, or maybe he's just self-taught.
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5,138 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Jan 8, 2024 13:37:37 GMT
Money Into Light: The Emerald Forest Diary, by John Boorman, is the best book on film making I think I've ever read.
Long out of print, of course, but second-hand copies are available for next nothing.
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