Great Women of Film (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Mika Manninen (Photographer) "Growing up in a small in the South, I thought that authors wrote books, and actors and directors made up the movies..." (more)
Key Phrases: second assistant director, story artist, film school, Academy Award, New York, Best Song (more...)

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.

Product Description

Great Women of Film celebrates 30 fascinating women who have made a difference in the motion picture industry, encompassing filmmakers and film editors, directors and actors, composers and cinematographers, and everyone in between. This extraordinary guide features dozens of personal interviews, entertaining anecdotes, and personal reflections about the inner workings of the movie industry. Each woman selected tells her own story about 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. What's more, the book includes each woman's filmography and clearly describes the tasks and responsibilities of every crew member who works on a film. Well-documented and visually stunning throughout, the dazzling photographic portraits of the women in this book are all shot by renowned international photographer Mika Manninen in collaboration with Helena Lumme. Great Women of Film is also part of a photographic exhibit to be held at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences during the 2002 Oscar season, as well as a documentary that will premiere at the Academy Theatre during the exhibition. It will be edited to shorter segments for television and streaming on the Internet.

See all Editorial Reviews

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.com Sales Rank: #117,545 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #45 in	Books > Business & Investing > Industries & Professions > Sports & Entertainment
  #65 in	Books > Nonfiction > Women's Studies > History

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 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

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

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)

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."