Book Club...sort of.

Jim Brennan

Jim Brennan

VHS Member Old Skool
I always assumed that one of the benefits of film school would have been the discussions you would have with people of the same interest. To some degree I get that here, especially in the technical realm. But for me, as for many of you, film is more than an activity you do. It's something that I think about, theorize, analyze and discuss. Not living in an area of great film activity, my resources are somewhat limited. Whenever that happens I turn to my friend, the library. In the past months i have read a lot of books on filmmaking, cinematography, sound, lighting, marketing, screenwriting, and on and on and on. While all of this is important, I get a certain satisfaction out of reading books about films and filmmakers as well. Sometimes these give me specific and applicable insights, and sometimes they don't. But I always take something away from the experience. So this is my long winded (as usual) way of saying that I hope to start this thread to foster a discussion on books about film. Not necessarily the "how-to" (But I won't rule it out) but more of the "what-happened"

I just finished a book called Down and Dirty Pictures which talks about the rise of both Miramax and Sundance, and to a lesser degree, October, and how they have effected independent film. It was only nominally biased, and quite interesting to read. Although I should have had a cheat sheet of names to keep up. I recommend it.

I also began Savage Cinema, which is an academic look at Sam Peckinpah's work and it's legacy on the current violent trends in film. It's a bit dry for most people I would think, but the analyses is compelling enough (so far) to keep the pages turning.

Anyway, discourse like this is something that I crave and benefit from. Feel free to offer your insights on some of the books you have read and how they affected you personally and as a filmmaker.
 
Re: Book Club...sort of.

Frank Capra: The Name Above The Title

This was one bad ass book. It's his autobiography. Right off the bat it blows your mind with the story of how he came to America. I wont spoil it here...a movie unto itself.

Also reading about how he came to be a director....a movie unto itself.

I had no real idea who Frank Capra was before reading this book, and it has now become one of the most important I've ever read. It is FILLED with lessons both philisophical and practical, it even seems to transfer a little bit of actual soul directly from Mr Capra to you. It also gives a profound behind the scenes look into the original building of the big studio system, though you'll find that Frank was very much an independent within that system for most of his career. Truly inspirational on many levels. It closes with these words:

"I closed my eyes; thought of Mama, of Papa, of Ben, of my little sister Ann-the youngest and the first to die. I said a prayer for each of them. Out of the prayer came peace-and imprudence. Like Antaeus (whose strength depended upon his touching the ground), I had to return to my roots for a much needed draught of peasant courage. Out of the refill came a book that is an impertinent try at saying to the discouraged, the doubting, or the despairing what I had been presuming to say in films: Friend, you are a divine mingle-mangle of guts and stardust. So hang in there! If doors opened for me, they can open for anyone."

A lady I worked with loaned it to me, and at first I had no interest, was going to skim it to get through and be able to mildly discuss it with her. Wound up reading it night and day till done.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...f=sr_1_1/104-5090260-1564708?v=glance&s=books
 
Re: Book Club...sort of.

Wow, that looks great. People give Capra a kind of wink in these cynical times, but his movies are among my favorites. Although subtlety was never a strong point of his, I can easily forgive him that in light of how entertaining and inspirational his films are.
It is now officially on my list. Thanks.
 
Re: Book Club...sort of.

Speaking of these cynical times, that's the biggest reason I found this book to be so awesome...Franks book and works help show us how to keep a child like soul. To go hand in hand with the book, check out his movie You Cant Take It With You. It's about a household of people (headed by a wise older fellow, Lionel Barrymore) who do nothing but follow their personal bliss. Truly inspirational.

To tell you the truth, I could talk about Franks book for pages, I'm just a VERY lazy typer...for the most part. By all means post or PM your thoughts on the book after reading. I think you'll find it to be valuable on many levels, both in your filmmaking dreams and your own personal being. Let us know if you, as I did, cry at least once while reading! I'm very glad you guys are going to check it out...if youre disappointed....you have no soul! Seek help now!
 
Re: Book Club...sort of.

I just watched You Can't Take it With You last week. (I've come to love the much underappreciated Jean Arthur.) It was a wonderful film, despite a somewhat heavy-handed approach (IMHO). In many ways it is the iconic Capra film to me. His other big ones like Mr Smith and Its a Wonderful Life are more individual in their focus, despite great ensemble casting. (and despite it's critical praise, It Happened One Night is less of a Capra type movie thatn any of the others I mentioned.) YCTIWY is a slice of America the way Capra sees it (or would like it to be) told from all angles. It is folly to think we could all live that way in fact, but we can all live that way in spirit, which was what I believe he was trying to say.
 
Re: Book Club...sort of.

Don't want to hijack the thread, but I heard that "Its a Wonderful Life" became such a popular holiday movie because it's copyright ran out and somehow whoever was in charge of the copyright missed the renewal date so all the networks could show it for free. I would imagine this is no longer the case, but after everyone was showing it, it became a holiday classic.
 
Re: Book Club...sort of.

I think that is true, although NBC owns it now (I think). It certainly bombed at the box office when it came out.
 
Re: Book Club...sort of.

Forgive me for being a recommendation hog, but I must also suggest

Film Production Theory
By: Jean Pierre Geuens
Published By: State University Of New York Press
(Though he teaches in Los Angeles, go figure!)

This book was highly recommended by a fellow named Jim Lafferty, if you happen to know him, checked it out and it became a must have.

It is a non technical, purely philosophical, theoretical how to. Deep stuff to say the least.

"In cinema, the forces of entertainment appear indeed to have won the day. Yet, the medium is too important to be abandoned without a fight to the barons of the culture industry who see no distinction between it and CocaCola, popcorn, or any other product of mass consumption."

"The end is profit, income, consumption, economic growth, or whatever...the act of labor itself is regarded as nothing more than an unfortunate necessity to which we must submit to attain this end. Nowadays, more and more young filmmakers make films in order to promote themselves, their careers, get recognition, live in Malibu, and drive a Porsche. Their ultimate goal is to join the in crowd, attend Hollywood parties, and be seen at the Academy Awards with an attractive date-anything at all but contribute to cinema. These filmmakers of course have it all wrong: when you make a film you celebrate the miracle of cinema. You partake in something that is much larger than yourself. You join a community of artists who labored at filmmaking before you. And, however small, your contribution is welcome there. The joy of thinking, creating, and assembling images and sounds that mean something is your entire reward. For when it is all over you can look back at your project in amazement: God! I made a film! I did it! My film! You can be proud. The rest is humbug."

He has several chapters covering:
The State Of The Art
Film School
Writing
Staging
Lighting
The Frame
Sound
Editing

Again, not a technical how to...only theory and philosophy. Well worth making a bathroom staple.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...f=sr_1_1/103-2423476-5941418?v=glance&s=books
 
Re: Book Club...sort of.

It was quite funny, how when I read the heading of this topic, I thought of the first film book I read and have re-read many times.

Of course it was: Frank Capra:The Name Above the Title

But to add more to this:

Shot by Shot by Steven Katz
Focal Press
 
Re: Book Club...sort of.

DW, That sounds great. When I read the quote, why did I hear a british accent?

SHot by Shot: read it, loved it, recommend it
 
Re: Book Club...sort of.

I'm gonna flip this for a sec..Call it a highjack if you want but...As much as I love cameras, filmaking and all that, I'm one of tose guys whose totally into the wonderful technology that allows me to pursue my dream, and that of course is my wonderful editing machine ...The computer, my other love. And the book I recomend as a must read is Hackers by Steven Levy. A wonderful, comedic insightful journey from the first PC to the creation of the macintosh. Wonderful book that inspired me to quit hotels and get involved in the first place. This thread did say book club didn't it...Sort of?
 
A bit of irony. I went back to visit my Dad for his 65th birthday a few weeks ago. I was sitting in his study (basement really) and looking over his bookshelves. Most of the books I had seen sitting there for decades. I never gave them any thought, they were however comforting in their familiarity. Then I passed over one that I must have seen dozens of times. It was sitting in the middle of the Irish History, Golf and Sports Trivia books that occupy most of the space there. What was it called? "Frank Capra, The Name Above The Title". He had no idea where he got it, or who gave it to him.

I put it in my suitcase and brought it home. Weird.
 
Greets again Jim,

That is indeed a nice little synchronicity.

I was about a week away from revisiting to let you know I've been reading your recommendation, Down and Dirty Pictures. Man is that a fun read! I can no longer imagine why anyone with real integrity would do business with Miramax...it is just mind blowing what a bunch of devils are behind it all. I went into it knowing that the W brothers had reps as assholes, but had nowhere near an idea of the magnitude. As a matter of fact, I wouldnt want to to business with much of anyone in the entire industry. These people werent raised up right.

Side by side with D&DP I've also been reading Rebels On The Backlot, which is similar in many ways....in that it gives a lot of insight behind the movies we all know ( and many we dont ), but this time, the focus is on the filmmakers. It gives their basic life story and tells how they came to be the people we now know....or do not know, as the case may be. It goes a lot more in depth into QT, and covers Paul Thomas Anderson, David O. Russel, David Fincher, Steven Soderberg, Spike Jonze and others. Truly fascinating stuff. After I finish these two, I'm going to move away from movie related reading for a while, other than my fav magazines.
 
I'll have to look for that one. I'm gearing up for my first documentary, so that's where my focus has been of late. Lots of research to do. There's never enough time to read everything I want to. My list grows faster than I can read.

Of course, the upside is that I am NEVER bored.
 
I might get flamed for this......"Rebel Without a Crew" by Robert Rodriguez.
Extremely light book that's fun to read and semi-inspirational. Don't look to this book for much technical advice, rather it's just an unsual story of how one guy became a "big-shot" director. This book helped when I was scared to get serious about my passion.

Also a very highly recommended book (by friends, I have yet to read it) is "The Kid Stays in the Picture" by Robert Evans. Not a how-to however...

If anyone here has read it, I would be interested to know what you think. In the meantime, I'll report back when I have read it.
 
I saw the film. It was good, but the only thing I didn't like was Bob Evans doing the narration. His voice grates on me. Naturally, it was rather sympathetic to his POV, since he wrote it. But you know that going in. I especially like the story he tells about Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow.

As Far as Rebel Without a Crew; you'd have a hard time finding many people here who haven't read it. Most of them would agree that it's entertaining and somewhat inspirational. If only people would remember that El Mariachi was not his first film. He had been shooting shorts for years. For some reason that is sometimes forgotten and Joe Firsttimer thinks that he can pick up a camera with no experience and make a good film.
 
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