In these vivid and revealing interviews, a diverse collection of filmmakers talk in extraordinary detail and with amazing candor about making their first films. Each chapter focuses on a director's celebrated debut and tells the inside story of the film's creation. Along the way, every aspect of the movie industry is explored-from writing the script and raising the money to casting the actors and assembling the crew, from shooting and editing to selling the movie and screening it. These interviews are not only memoirs of particular movies; each one is also an emotional journey in which the director relives the pain and elation, the comedy and tragedy, of making a first feature film.
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They say you never forget the first time, and 20 prominent directors reminisce vividly about their inaugural efforts behind the camera in this collection of original interviews. Editor Lowenstein, a filmmaker himself, elicits candid and revealing responses from subjects representing mainstream Hollywood (Oliver Stone, Anthony Minghella), American independent (the Coen Brothers, Kevin Smith), British (Mike Leigh, Neil Jordan), and foreign-language filmmaking (Ang Lee, Pedro Almodovar). Most are very forthcoming about insecurities and blunders as they impart information that is alternately entertaining and technical, though many admit to surprising technical ignorance when they launched their careers. Despite their varied personalities and filmmaking approaches, the directors radiate enthusiasm, and Lowenstein speculates that they enjoyed the rare opportunity to talk about a movie they weren't trying to sell. They have learned to appreciate the freedom they enjoyed on their first films, when they had no reputations or expectations to live up to. Wanna-be directors may get the most out of this, yet anyone interested in the filmmaking experience may find it valuable. Gordon Flagg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"Enthralling...full of inside information and sordid instructions." —Los Angeles Times
"A pleasure." —Variety
"A pleasure." —Variety
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By yarden
Format:Hardcover
It is all too rare an occurrance to actually find out anything about the PERSON who makes a movie. Most "behind-the-scenes" documentaries and interviews end up being thinly-disguised promotional trailers for movies. Luckily, filmmaker Stephen Lowenstein interviewed 20 filmmakers of various origin, style, and age to bring us this collection of interviews about the experience of making a first film.
Each interview is different, just as each filmmaker's first moviemaking experience was different. Every interview is illuminating and serves to broaden the reader's view of filmmaking, as well as increase appreciation for the sheer hard work and endurance required to get a movie to the point of completion.
I found myself riveted by each director's account of their first movies, of the experience of getting the film to the point of being made, to the casting, to the pre-production, to the first day of filming, to editing and then trying to find a place to screen the darn thing. It was very interesting to get to know each filmmaker, the places they were in the beginning stages of their careers, and the places their films took them to.
I appreciated reading interviews with filmmakers I greatly admire (the Coen brothers), to those I am familiar with and jealous of (Kevin Smith), and especially the interviews with female filmmakers such as Allison Anders and Mira Nair (since I myself am female). Some other interviews I particularly enjoyed: P.J. Hogan ("Muriel's Wedding"), James Mangold ("Heavy"), and Ang Lee ("Pushing Hands").
If you like this book, I highly recommend "Rebel Without a Crew" by Robert Rodriguez, as it is a complete diary of the entire process of the making of his first feature film.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Thor Vader
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
"My First Movie" is a collection of interviews edited by Stephen Lowenstein with 20 of the independent world's most celebrated directors. Like any collection, some interviews are more informative than others. Nevertheless, I found this book to be entirely entertaining as I was brought into the world of other directors' first experiences.
Throughout all of the interviews, I found the same recurring theme of panic surface. I was particularly impressed with the interview with Ang Lee where he discusses his quick success out of NYU and then 7 years of drought, as well as James Mangold's rocket to stardom taken down by his snide remarks to Katzenberg.
This book is probably more properly titled "Self Help" book for anyone that wants to make a movie, as you realize that the directors featured in this book are really no different from anyone else. In a few cases (I'll refrain from telling you), I actually found myself saying, "Why WOULD anyone have ever let this person direct a film." Thus, the reader will be comforted to know that if he or she keeps pushing, eventually they will get their project made.
Overall, the book is a wonderfully delightful read. My recommendation is to read a chapter a day, and then watch the director's movie... this will maximize the pleasure and reading experience.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I'm only a hundred pages into 'My First Movie' (so my review is not exactly a complete one), but by what I've read so far, this is an educational and entertaining book of insights into the filmmaking world. I think that each separate interview had at least one pearl of wisdom that aspiring film-makers (both in the highest and lowest senses) can take from this book. And for those who aren't necessairily interested in a career in the movies, this book still has plenty of intrigue and gossip in it's pages to enjoy.
I got this as a Christmas present, and I hope that a sequel is in the works.
CIAO!
I got this as a Christmas present, and I hope that a sequel is in the works.
CIAO!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great inside look
I bought this book for a school paper. Boy, am I glad I got assigned the paper. I never would have found this great book that is a must read for film lovers everywhere
Published 2 months ago by Smith Curry
5.0 out of 5 stars
Motivation for the aspiring filmmaker
This is a great book of stories coming from the people not all that different then any other aspiring filmmaker trying to make their first film. Read more
Published on October 8, 2010 by Jay S
4.0 out of 5 stars
First-hand experience
I like this book. It's people's first-hand experiences on how they got to make their first movie. Very revealing!
Published on September 14, 2009 by Sonia K.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Extremely Interesting Book
This is a great read for people who have just entered the film industry or even just for people who have an interest in where filmmakers begin their journey. Read more
Published on January 23, 2008 by J Donaldson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Informative Introduction
This is a really great and clever introduction on how to make a movie. The interviewer asks succinct questions that are informed and sincere and the directors do what they do so... Read more
Published on August 9, 2007 by Jason Murray
5.0 out of 5 stars
HIGHLY ENTERTAINING for us film BUFFS ...
My friend, Paul Kyriazi, is also a film director, having done OMEGA COP before he turned to writing books. Read more
Published on June 8, 2005 by Betty L. Dravis
2.0 out of 5 stars
75% fat
Most of this book is wasted on pointless anecdotes with filmmakers who forgot the purpose of the interview: to describe how their first film got made. Read more
Published on March 14, 2003 by SPM
4.0 out of 5 stars
MY FIRST READING of this book
hey filmmakers out there..if your feeling down on your luck and that your movie is not going anywhere and neither is you career, then pick up this book and you'll know that your... Read more
Published on April 9, 2001 by Theresa Breen
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