Peter Jackson: A Film-Maker's Journey (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

'A brilliant collation of facts, figures, anecdotes and production detail, this will be manna from heaven for Jackson fans, who will devour every last page of this illuminating study with unconfined joy.' Film Review. 'A well rounded examination of the once-rotund director, with Brian Sibley delivering an enthralling dot-to-dot account of Jackson's life and career so far, navigating well clear of celebrity fawning." Total Film

Product Description

Once, Peter Jackson was a name unknown to all but a small band of loyal fans and fellow filmmakers. Now, he is the newest member of Hollywood's elite fellowship, with his name on the most successful movie trilogy of all time. Written with Jackson's full participation, this extensive biography, illustrated with never-before-seen photos from Jackson's personal collection, tells the inside story of how a New Zealander became Hollywood's hottest property—from the early cult classics, through Academy Award-winning success with Kate Winslet's Heavenly Creatures, the abandoned King Kong remake, and the filming of The Lord of the Rings—a project which was abandoned two years into pre-production, rejected by most of the other studios, and then picked up by New Line Cinema in the biggest gamble in film history. Drawing upon interviews with 50 of Peter Jackson's colleagues and contemporaries, author Brian Sibley paints a portrait of a true auteur, a man gifted with single-minded determination and an artist's vision. Jackson himself is both revealing and insightful about his entire filmmaking life, from his first childhood steps filming in Super 8 to the grand realisation of his life's dream: King Kong. Together, these joint narratives provide a truly unique and compelling insight into one of the finest cinematic minds at work today.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 592 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins UK; illustrated edition edition (November 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0007175582
• ISBN-13: 978-0007175581
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #457,843 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Weighty and worthy, November 13, 2006

By	Here and there (NZ) - See all my reviews

The book is on the shelves in New Zealand right now. It's a remarkable journey he has made, from struggling apprentice printer to mogul.

The book, like his movies, is long, and rewarding for it. The emphasis is more on pre-LOTR work and life, and it really focuses on the movies - no business or personal exposes here.

Three things struck me:
The first is his overwhelming passion for movies - passion that led him to just do it, rather than learn first by going to university. The results speak volumes, and he is in good company with this approach.

The second is that he is a leader with an ability to gather large amounts of people around him - from the first movie made with a bunch of mates on weekends, to LOTR with over 24,000 kiwis involved.

And the third is that he is an astute businessman - the book only hints at this, but it is clear from the continuous improvement in his Film Commission submissions, and the improvement in the deals struck with New line and Universal.

Read it.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for PJ fans and admirers, November 22, 2006

By	Margaret Sebastian (LaGrange, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Its probably not fair that I write this review so early as I am only on chapter 3. But... this is a most informative and entertaining book to read. There is obviously a good collaboration between Sibley and PJ as much of it is not only written with PJ's cooperation, but in his words from personal in depth interviews. Great personal family photos also.

I ordered my copy from AmazonUK. Its too bad it is not more readily available here in the U.S. but do try and get a copy. You won't be sorry.