Great Women of Film [Hardcover]

Helena Lumme (Author), Mika Manninen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2002

A celebration of 30 women who have made a difference in the motion picture industry, encompassing filmmakers and film editors, directors and actors, composers and cinematographers, and everyone else in between. There are personal interviews, anecdotes and personal reflections about the inner workings of the film industry. Each woman selected tells her own story of how she got into the film business, her real-life work experiences, her individual thoughts and visions about cinema, and how her work and career in the industry may differ from those of men. The photographic portraits in the volume are shot by international photographer Mike Manninen in collaboration with the author.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Producers, animation directors, actresses and others talk about their Hollywood careers in Great Women of Film. Author and filmmaker Helena Lumme (Screenwriters: America's Storytellers in Portrait) profiles entertainment industry luminaries like composer Rachel Portman (who wrote the Oscar-nominated scores for The Cider House Rules and Chocolat), producer Christine Vachon (Happiness; Boys Don't Cry) and actress Susan Sarandon. Illustrated with lush color photographs, the book accompanies a current photo exhibit of the same name at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Helena Lumme is an author & filmmaker. Mike Manninen is a photographer whose work has appeared in Vanity Fair as well as on the covers of book & CD's in Europe & the U.S.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Billboard Books; 1st edition (March 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823079562
• ISBN-13: 978-0823079568
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,123,418 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An invaluable 'how-to' book for PA's to Producers, April 24, 2002

By 

Susan Vaill (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Great Women of Film (Hardcover)

As a woman in film school at USC, I craved books like this. Usually what I found was dry text giving me a history lesson, accompanied by some poorly reproduced photos. I opened Great Women of Film and discovered something completely different. This is a book that wants to inspire its readers, through its variety of subjects, presented in bold and evocative portraits, with interviews chock full of realistic advice and lessons learned. There are no stories of nepotism or unearned breaks, each of these women took risks, worked hard and fearlessly dedicated themselves to their crafts. These are woman in front of and behind the camera, directors, writers, set decorators, producers, cinematographers, and special effects artists. As I read, I wished each woman could be my mentor, then I realized that's exactly what this book offers--the advice, wisdom, and can-do encouragement of accomplished women who want to see more of us out there with them. The film industry may still be a male-dominated world, but I would pay double to see a movie whose crew was made up solely of these Great Women of Film. Oh, and the book concludes with an index of resources, from schools to non-profits to guilds and unions that exist to help women in film.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring, inspirational, and informational, April 12, 2002

By 

Debbie Hartman - See all my reviews

This review is from: Great Women of Film (Hardcover)

As a woman who is about to embark on the exact same journey this book is all about, I found this text so encouraging. It has become my second Bible. Helena Lumme brings together a mix of inspiring women in tbe film industry. Their insight and experience in the film business is not only refreshingly honest, but inspirational as well. From the early days of film making to the present, women have been a major part of the moviemaking process. It makes me proud to not only be a woman but hopefully become a part of a wonderful legacy of a daring and courageous women. The information is all encompassing to the passion they each feel about not only their work but the journey they took to get there. Mika Manninen photography not only puts a face on most of these unseen women but also captures their very soul in the lens. My heartfelt thanks go to not only Lumme but the women she interviewed for this piece.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Women, Great Words, Great Photographs, April 1, 2002

By 

Scott Roeben "Internet Comedy Icon" (Las Vegas, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Great Women of Film (Hardcover)

I just can't say enough about this book. It's inspiring on so many levels. For some, it will give a glimpse into what it takes to make it in the movie business. For others, the photos will serve as a reminder that art and beauty are all around us! I love that the authors didn't just focus on celebrities (although there are several of those, too), but they found great women in a variety of interesting fields. The photos are breathtaking, especially the great shots of Jodie Foster--amazing! I highly recommend this book, as well as the previous book by these folks, "Screenwriters: America's Storytellers in Portrait."