Stories From The Trenches: Adventures in making High Octane Hollywood Movies with Cannon Veteran Sam Firstenberg

by Marco Siedelmann (Author), Nadia Bruce-Rawlings (Editor), Oliver Nöding (Preface),

31 ratings

ISBN-13: 978-3960346692

ISBN-10: 3960346697

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A CAREER-SPANNING INTERVIEW BOOK ABOUT THE BELOVED HOLLYWOOD DIRECTOR SAM FIRSTENBERG. A TRIP LOADED WITH UNIQUE BADASS FILM HISTORY! Sam Firstenberg is mostly recognized as one of the important in-house directors during the outrageously successful heyday of the legendary Cannon Group. The journey of this interview collection starts even before he made his way to direct box office hits just like REVENGE OF THE NINJA, NINJA III: THE DOMINATION, BREAKIN‘ II: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO, AMERICAN NINJA, and several others. The conversations shed light on his origins and influences, including childhood memories, private biographical chapters, his years as a film student in Los Angeles, and his early work as an assistant director and technician for people like Menahem Golan, Charles Band, Ephraim Kishon, Boaz Davidson, and many more. The interviews are not chronological, but focus on every career-step, just as well as on every single movie Firstenberg ever directed until his retirement in 2002. His memories about all the projects he was involved in are packed with adventurous stories about ninjas and breakdancers, about directing action entertainment in exotic countries, and about working with numerous stars, among them Michael Dudikoff, Eric Roberts, JonRhys Davis, Hulk Hogan, Grace Jones, Nick Cassavetes, Zachi Noy, Richard Roundtree, Steve James, Sho Kosugi, and many more. Thirty years of filmmaking: STORIES FROM THE TRENCHES is also a book about the early film industry in Israel, the Hollywood star system and the no longer existing mid-budget movies. It’s about the home video boom, about the uprising and the decline of Cannon, but it also discusses the rules and traditions of the industry. Other topics are the practical way a film was put together in that era, the technical changes through the years, the different market situation compared to nowadays – and last but not least it’s a inside story about the early years of Nu Image and how Avi Lerners company continued the spirit of Cannon, but under different circumstances and times.

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Product details

Publisher : Editions Moustache (January 29, 2020)
Language : English
Paperback : 755 pages
ISBN-10 : 3960346697
ISBN-13 : 978-3960346692
Item Weight : 4.58 pounds
Dimensions : 8.27 x 1.71 x 11.69 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #489,794 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #736 in Film & Television
- #1,460 in Movie History & Criticism
- #8,994 in Performing Arts (Books)

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31 ratings

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Stephen David Brooks

A must read for all fans of 80's action films!

Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2020

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Amazing book about legendary action director Sam Firstenberg and his years at Cannon Films. But it's more than that. This book is an ode to an entire genre of films that have gone on to thrill audiences and influence filmmakers of today. Filled with behind the scenes accounts and interviews with those who were there on set this book is a true collector's item for fans of action films. Lots of photos as well.

3 people found this helpful

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Cinema

Two thumbs up!

Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2020

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Author Marco Siedelmann's the book is everything a fan of Cannon Films, low budget action films and Firstenberg's films could ever desire! The book chronicles the life and career of legendary Sam Firstenberg in 755 pages fully loaded with badass film history and stories from the trenches with over 50 exclusive interviews and photos from Firstenberg's archives. But the book is not only for those who love Cannon Films, it's also a must read for everyone out there who dreams of becoming a film director, and for those who are interested in film history. Firstenberg's stories are interesting, educational and full of insight into movie business of his era and specially making B-movies, a genre which deserves the same respect and recognition as A-movies. The massive collection of other interviews includes, Michael Dudikoff, Michael J. Duthie, Steve Lambert etc. You will hear stories from the actors, producers, stunt people and editors who worked with Firstenberg in the golden age of Cannon. If you grew up watching American Ninja, Revenge of the Ninja, Breakin' 2, Avenging Force and other great films by Sam Firstenberg, you should buy this right now! Two thumbs up!

3 people found this helpful

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Richard Harper

Stories From The Trenches

Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2020

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Love this book..it's an amazing read, thank you too all who created this..proof read it. And above all, the actors ,actresses, who put their blood, sweat and tears into the movies .

3 people found this helpful

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DonaldTrumpWonTheElectionBidenIsIllegemate

Book is great

Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2021

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Huge book - over 700 pages I think. Tons of photos and interviews. Some drawings. Tons of behind the scenes photos and stories. If you canon films, you'll love this.

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Steven Lambert and Justin Dabrow

A wonderful book!

Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2020

There is no other book that encompasses the soul of some wonderful films and let’s not forget Cannon, through the eyes of Sam Firstenberg. Page after page of wonderful stories, moments and pictures never seen, highlight behind the scene stories of some of Hollywoods greatest films, stars and others in the motion picture world. Nowhere will you find such tales and eye candy that will make you relive the 80’s all over again. Marco Siedelmann does a great job of taking the work and life experiences of Director Firstenberg and filling the pages with exciting and never known content. I find the range of movies and actors he has worked with are among the best. Big dreams with big stars come together in this tell all book. A great book that any film buff and action lover will refuse to put down. What a wonderful read and a lifetime of memories. Enjoy, I did and you will too.

3 people found this helpful

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Austin R. Trunick

An immensely thorough and entertaining chronicle of a 30-year career in B-movies

Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2020

Sam Firstenberg has become arguably the greatest living ambassador of the '80s b-movie era. Making his name during the heyday of Cannon (Revenge of the Ninja, Breakin' 2, American Ninja) and continuing through the rise of Nu Image, he directed many VHS rental classics that movie fans -- especially action fans -- are sure to remember, and likely adore. If you've ever caught one of his audio commentaries or interviews in a Blu-ray bonus feature, you'll know that he has colorful stories behind every movie he's made. What Marco Siedelmann has done here is capture all of Firstenberg's tales in one place, from his youth in Israel, early film years running odd jobs for Cannon's future leaders, through his ninja films and Cannon classics, and up through TV work and the beginnings of Nu Image. On top of those, the author has spoken to many of Firstenberg's colleagues from both behind the camera and in front of it, including stars like Michael Dudikoff, Lucinda Dickey, Boogaloo Shrimp and Shabba Doo. All of these sections are generously illustrated with film stills, clippings, and behind-the-scenes photos from the filmmaker's archives.

Stories from the Trenches is a massive book, but Firstenberg's career merits this level of detailed coverage. Any fan of '80s action, b-movie history, or low-budget filmmaking will find this book a very interesting read.

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Doc McCoy

Epic Work, Highly Entertaining

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 3, 2020

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This a mammoth work and absolutely fascinating for any genre cinema/Cannon films lover and for fans of Firstenberg's work it's literary heaven.

Packed with a film by film breakdown of Firstenberg's career in an interview format, taking in his time as an assistant on films such as Diamonds, Lepke and Sorcerer, then his years at Cannon directing such cult movies as Revenge of The Ninja, the crazed Ninja III: The Domination, Breakin' 2:Electric Boogaloo, American Ninja 1&2, Avenging Force and Delta Force 3 right through to working with Nu Image on cult movies such as American Samurai and beyond.

There are also numerous behind the scenes photos, interviews with numerous alumni such as Michael Dudikoff, Lucinda Dickey, Gideon Porath and even Shabba - Do! The danger with a book like this is that the focal point is not very interesting. Fortunately Firstenberg comes across really well, tells you everything you want to know about the concept, production, editing and release of his films and is full of anecdotes about the stars he has worked with. He also opens your eyes to many of the challenges filmmakers encounter in low to mid budget cinema.

All in all an absolutely fascinating book, epic in scale and hugely recommended.

Peter Lang

Sehr spezielles Buch

Reviewed in Germany on October 3, 2020

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Vor allem vom Format her nicht unbedingt einfach zu lesen, aber der Autor ist offenbar ein Riesenfan von 80er-Jahren-B-Filmen. Wer die gerne hat und der englischen Sprache mächtig ist - ist hier gut bedient. Man erfährt viel (habe erst grad begonnen mit lesen) zur "Vorgeschichte" des Regisseurs aus Israel und dem ganzen "Hollywood-Wahnsinn". Für Freunde mit Interesse an Hintergrund zu Filmen unbedingt empfehlenswert.

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J.H.

SAM FIRSTENBERG, SHO KOSUGI, NINJA, CANNON in einem Buch!!!!

Reviewed in Germany on February 28, 2020

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Klasse Buch über die Geschichte von Sam Firstenberg und der Firma Cannon!

755 Seiten voller erstklassiker Informationen mit Tonnen von Bildern von den Stars sowie den Filmen! Dazu noch die akkurate Recherche dieser Klassiker auf den Punkt getroffen! Könnte noch ohne Ende was dazu schreiben aber dann würde ich kein Ende finden!

Marco Siedelmann hat wirklich ein Meisterwerk des 80er Jahre Action/ Ninja/ Cannon Films erschaffen!

Ein Muss für jeden Fan!

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