Customer Reviews

The Mind of the Modern Moviemaker: Twenty Conversations with the New Generation of Filmmakers

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If you have even a passing interest in film then this book is a must-have. I collect books on television and film and this one is as good as anything I've read in recent years.

An interesting mix of storytelling, humor, and info for wannabe filmmakers, the author of this book does a fine job of asking informed questions that both fans and students of film want to have answered. What made it really stand out, in my mind, was the selection of filmmakers interviewed. Specifically, it's a group of men and women just reaching the top of their craft. This isn't a book full of old timey Hollywood stories from Robert Evans or even Martin Scorsese - these are the people making films that people are talking about today, and will be talking about for the next fifty years.

I just finished reading it and then ordered another copy for my nephew in film school. A really fun book. Hope this helped.

Budding filmmakers looking for inspiration should check out Josh Horowitz's interview anthology, "The Mind of the Modern Moviemaker: 20 Conversations With the Next Generation of Filmmakers" (Plume, $15).

Horowitz, a writer and TV producer, takes a simple concept - sit down with some of cinema's emerging directorial greats - and elicits eloquent, investigative pieces that truly provide glimpses into some fascinating storytellers.

Interviewing the likes of Michel Gondry, Kevin Smith, Richard Kelly and Neil LaBute, Horowitz has each filmmaker explain his big break, work process and philosophy. He asks surprisingly blunt questions, querying the subjects about significant failures and insecurities.

The author isn't in search of an overwhelming zeitgeist. The interviewees emerge as disparate personalities, all after distinct goals. Brett Ratner ("Rush Hour," "X-Men 3"), for instance, proves to be a business-oriented company man who cares most about making money, while Smith ("Clerks," "Chasing Amy") seems to be content with catering to his small yet devoted audience with his uncompromising fare.

The book is an excellent specimen of entertainment journalism, and the thoughts, hopes and fears expressed by the directors in the book will make for just as interesting a read 10 years from now, when some will be giants while others will surely have faded into obscurity.

Phil Villarreal

This book is a really good book! My only complaint is that he had to cut some of the interviews down. The book is really well constructed and has a lot of interesting interviews which show you how hard it really is to get into the moviemaking industry. My favorite interviews were Richard Kelly and the Weitz twins. As an aspiring film maker, I recommend this to anyone who wants to go into the movie business or anyone who likes movies. It's really like getting a back stage pass into the lives of some of today's hottest directors.

Enjoy!

I really enjoyed this book. There are some new filmmakers on my radar.