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Moviemakers' Master Class: Private Lessons from the World's Foremost Directors [Paperback]

Laurent Tirard
4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)

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Book Description

October 10, 2002
From Scorsese and Lynch to Wenders and Godard, interviews with twenty of the world's greatest directors on how they make films--and why

Each great filmmaker has a secret method to his moviemaking--but each of them is different. In Moviemaker Master Class, Laurent Tirard talks to twenty of today's most important filmmakers to get to the core of each director's approach to film, exploring the filmmaker's vision as well as his technique, while allowing each man to speak in his own voice.

Martin Scorsese likes setting up each shot very precisely ahead of time--so that he has the opportunity to change it all if he sees the need. Lars Von Trier, on the other hand, refuses to think about a shot until the actual moment of filming. And Bernardo Bertolucci tries to dream his shots the night before; if that doesn't work, he roams the set alone with a viewfinder, imagining the scene before the actors and crew join him. In these interviews--which originally appeared in the French film magazine Studio and are being published here in English for the first time--enhanced by exceptional photographs of the directors at work, Laurent Tirard has succeeded in finding out what makes each filmmaker--and his films--so extraordinary, shedding light on both the process and the people behind great moviemaking.

Among the other filmmakers included are Woody Allen, Tim Burton, Joel and Ethan Coen, and John Woo.

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

From Woody Allen to David Cronenberg, the Coen brothers to Lars Von Trier, all film directors run up against the same essential concerns: how to direct actors, for example, or whether to preplan camera angles. In interviewing these and 16 other notable filmmakers, journalist and screenwriter Tirard finds notable affinities between seemingly dissimilar directors. Tim Burton and Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amelie) both recommend starting out in animation, for example, while Wong Kar-Wai and David Lynch both select their music far in advance and even play it during filming. Most of the responses will come as no surprise to those familiar with the interviewees' work. Martin Scorsese, who has rather strong opinions about which camera lenses to use, believes that "the more personal the film, the more it can claim to be art." Violence impresario Takeshi Kitano, by comparison, describes film as "a succession of perfect images." All in all, Tirard's healthy balance of nuts-and-bolts information and conceptual musings should be of interest to lay readers as well as would-be auteurs. And the filmographies listed at the end of each interview serve as useful checklists for anyone inspired by these well-reasoned, hard-earned life lessons.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

A filmmaker, screenwriter, and journalist for Studio Magazine, Tirard has assembled a group of interviews with some of the best directors in the movie industry. Unlike many such interviews, which tend to run on forever, each interview here is between five and eight pages long. In addition, instead of focusing on finished products, Tirard developed certain questions that convey the director's techniques for making great films. He groups the directors as "Old School," "Revisionists," "Dream Weavers," "Heavyweights," or "New Blood" and provides a one-page background and filmography. Directors include Sydney Pollack, Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese, Tim Burton, Oliver Stone, and John Woo, along with 14 other influential movie masters. They talk about what cameras and lenses to use, how to decide on shoots, how to handle actors, and other special ways to help students become good filmmakers. Film students and film buffs will appreciate all of the decisions and creativity the directors put into their films. This excellent resource is recommended for all film collections. Rosalind Dayen, South Regional Lib., Broward Cty., Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Faber & Faber; First Edition edition (October 10, 2002)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 057121102X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0571211029
  • Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.7 x 8.3 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #34,659 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
(20)
4.9 out of 5 stars
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Great insight into the inter workings and gears of the Directors listed. J. Jewett  |  6 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars BEST of its kind October 2, 2004
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is absolutely fantastic -- both very readable to a general audience, as well as very informative to a filmmaking one. By asking basically the exact same questions to each of these twenty famous and/or award-winning Directors, he allows us to compare/contrast how each think... & it's fascinating how often these Directors think _differently_ from each other. Ie, twenty (20) different, yet equally valid, perspectives.

This isn't some puff-piece or "tell me about that bitchy Actress" kind of text. Instead, Tirard asks questions targeting the Directors' creative process, from How they conceive (their work), to What they like to make & Why, and even on to For Whom they make it. Plus a very interesting filmic question: "Do you consider yourself the Author of your Films". Tirard can even be [forgiven] his "Are films Art" question... b/c he received some rather interesting answers, esp. by those whose work is considered 'Art'.

Best of all, is Tirard's method -- he asks his standard [ie. excellent] questions, continues on with some very incisive follow-up... & then gets the hell out of the way (definitely unlike the "me-too" style of Bogdanovich). Refreshing.

Absolutely 10 stars for a tremendous work -- This text is a MUST-HAVE for anybody who loves films... & *especially* for anybody who wants to make film. Everybody seems to have their own [strongly-held] opinion of the 'Right Way' to make films... well, this text gives twenty different "Right Ways" to make films, by some of the very best filmmakers around. I just wish they weren't all White Males... I'd've loved to hear Mira Nair's interview, or Nora Ephron's. Where's Volume 2?
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Master class for sure!!! October 18, 2006
Format:Paperback
This is exactly what a moviemakers master class should be. It asks technical and artistic questions to some of the greatest directors of all time.

If you want to hear why Tim Burton likes wide lenses, which contemporary directors Scorsese admires and why, Jean Pierre Jeunet's theory of camera movement, David Lynch's "secret dolly move", John Woo's method of shooting and cutting scenes to music, The Coen brothers writing process, Lars Von Trier's take on the rules of Dogme 95, Jean-Luc Goddard's theory of filmmaking out of desire vs. need, then this book is your ticket.

This is a goldmine of knowledge. There are no fluff interviews here; only the best filmmakers in the world relating solid technical advice and tried and true shooting strategies developed from years of experience.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Essential film reading! September 27, 2002
Format:Paperback
This is an extremely enlightening book for movie lovers as well as aspiring filmmakers. It is refreshing to read about directors talking candidly about their craft with a peer. It is neither boring like some of the more technical books out there nor is it selfserving like books by lone directors. It does not hurt that most of my favorite directors are featured here. The book was recommended to me, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is interested in filmmaking.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Best conversations with Directors August 30, 2005
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is the must read book for any aspiring movie director. It encapsulates the ideas and personal perceptions on presentation of screen story. It's not a book to know nitty gitty technical details, this is a collection of interviews with many directors and their style of making movie, when they talk about it. Same questions have been asked to all directors (Very good questions, no sterio typical questions you see in movie promos).

Get your copy today and enjoy it.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A great survey of directing philosophies... March 16, 2004
By C. Wu
Format:Paperback
This is a fantastic book because it is a concise survey of a huge range of different directors. You get a strong sense that each director has developed a style relative to their strengths and background, and that diversity is instructive. The key goal is not learning the one way, but to develop a style that matches one's personality. There is one great exchange, where one director tries a technique that another uses and it doesn't work. I've been rereading the book, since it is as much about managing a set as creating a vision with applicability beyond movies.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing January 10, 2003
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
An amazing conglomeration of incredible interviews. Tirard works like a master extracting answers from the industries top directors. The responses are amazing and incredibly helpfull. A must have book!
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Master Class, unmasterly with repetition September 30, 2007
Format:Paperback
This book is great and has a wealth of insightful conversation with some amazing directors but my one complaint is that the bulk of the book is framed too similarly. While the directors all have their unique take and insights, Tirard essentially asks them all the same questions which leads to repetition over the bulk of the book. In no way am I saying not to purchase this book but I'm simply criticizing it's redundancy.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars the voice of experience January 2, 2009
Format:Paperback
This book is extraordinary, after the first interview, it has been conforting me all the way. I would recomend this book to anyone who wants to make a movie, or just made one and feels kinda lost. Also to any seasoned director.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book...
I've been reading this on and off for a while now and I really enjoy it. Great insight into the inter workings and gears of the Directors listed.
Published 4 months ago by J. Jewett
5.0 out of 5 stars Moviemakers' Master Class: Private Lessons from the World's Foremost...
Loved this book. I enjoyed reading what the master of filmmaking had to say. I highly recommend you get a copy if you want to make films.
Published 7 months ago by Sarah MFA student
5.0 out of 5 stars insider's view
I bought this for my husband who studies films and he has been raving about it. Interesting to me as an amateur as well.
Published 20 months ago by Joyce Kaskey
5.0 out of 5 stars Illuminating
If anyone in Hollywood wants to know why movies are so bad, they should read this book. It's called "A"---a capitol A for arrogance. Read more
Published on June 13, 2011 by JJ
5.0 out of 5 stars good
and realy master class book. Now i know some secrets from they kitchens.. :) I realy looking for part 2
Published on March 15, 2011 by Tom
4.0 out of 5 stars Moviemakers book
My son was very happy to receive this book as a gift. Only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars is that he hasn't read it yet - he was just thrilled at what it looked like it would... Read more
Published on January 10, 2011 by Deborah S. Naylor
5.0 out of 5 stars I wish they make more of these.
The book is really a masterclass. The interviewer/Author knows what he's talking about, and knows what questions to pose.
Published on September 12, 2010 by Sherif Nagib
5.0 out of 5 stars Words of Gold !
I'm only partialy through this book and I can already tell you that it is filled with priceless gems of directing wisdom. Read more
Published on May 25, 2010 by Leon C. Rodriguez
5.0 out of 5 stars Director interviews like no other interviews
It was the one of the best interviews I have ever read. It reveal the directors' "secrets" in the creative process in a level that is above regular fan's interest. Read more
Published on November 1, 2009 by Xiaoguang Zhen
5.0 out of 5 stars awesome!!
as film student, this text is very inspirational and i keep going back to it for motivation. i read the whole book through the moment i turned the first page. Read more
Published on May 4, 2008 by Simei Pulu, Jr.
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