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Moviemakers' Master Class: Private Lessons from the World's Foremost Directors
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Product Description
Each great filmmaker has a secret method to his moviemaking--but each of them is different. In Moviemaker Master Class, Laurent Tirard talks to twenty of today's most important filmmakers to get to the core of each director's approach to film, exploring the filmmaker's vision as well as his technique, while allowing each man to speak in his own voice.
Martin Scorsese likes setting up each shot very precisely ahead of time--so that he has the opportunity to change it all if he sees the need. Lars Von Trier, on the other hand, refuses to think about a shot until the actual moment of filming. And Bernardo Bertolucci tries to dream his shots the night before; if that doesn't work, he roams the set alone with a viewfinder, imagining the scene before the actors and crew join him. In these interviews--which originally appeared in the French film magazine Studio and are being published here in English for the first time--enhanced by exceptional photographs of the directors at work, Laurent Tirard has succeeded in finding out what makes each filmmaker--and his films--so extraordinary, shedding light on both the process and the people behind great moviemaking.
Among the other filmmakers included are Woody Allen, Tim Burton, Joel and Ethan Coen, and John Woo.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #59331 in Books
- Published on: 2002-10-10
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Binding: Paperback
- 240 pages
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
From Woody Allen to David Cronenberg, the Coen brothers to Lars Von Trier, all film directors run up against the same essential concerns: how to direct actors, for example, or whether to preplan camera angles. In interviewing these and 16 other notable filmmakers, journalist and screenwriter Tirard finds notable affinities between seemingly dissimilar directors. Tim Burton and Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amelie) both recommend starting out in animation, for example, while Wong Kar-Wai and David Lynch both select their music far in advance and even play it during filming. Most of the responses will come as no surprise to those familiar with the interviewees' work. Martin Scorsese, who has rather strong opinions about which camera lenses to use, believes that "the more personal the film, the more it can claim to be art." Violence impresario Takeshi Kitano, by comparison, describes film as "a succession of perfect images." All in all, Tirard's healthy balance of nuts-and-bolts information and conceptual musings should be of interest to lay readers as well as would-be auteurs. And the filmographies listed at the end of each interview serve as useful checklists for anyone inspired by these well-reasoned, hard-earned life lessons.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
A filmmaker, screenwriter, and journalist for Studio Magazine, Tirard has assembled a group of interviews with some of the best directors in the movie industry. Unlike many such interviews, which tend to run on forever, each interview here is between five and eight pages long. In addition, instead of focusing on finished products, Tirard developed certain questions that convey the director's techniques for making great films. He groups the directors as "Old School," "Revisionists," "Dream Weavers," "Heavyweights," or "New Blood" and provides a one-page background and filmography. Directors include Sydney Pollack, Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese, Tim Burton, Oliver Stone, and John Woo, along with 14 other influential movie masters. They talk about what cameras and lenses to use, how to decide on shoots, how to handle actors, and other special ways to help students become good filmmakers. Film students and film buffs will appreciate all of the decisions and creativity the directors put into their films. This excellent resource is recommended for all film collections. Rosalind Dayen, South Regional Lib., Broward Cty., Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Review
"What a pleasure to read so much straight talk about filmmaking from these masters of the craft. Each interview is brimming with insight-- and honesty." --Leonard Maltin
-- Review
Customer Reviews
awesome!!
as film student, this text is very inspirational and i keep going back to it for motivation. i read the whole book through the moment i turned the first page. this is a great inspirational book for anyone who is interested in studying or working in film.
Illuminating... Not the usual boring film-making book
This is, hands down, the best collection of advice -from the world's best directors- that I've ever laid my hands on. I came away from each of the interviews feeling illuminated and motivated to tackle my next directing job.
If you want to read something that is actually helpful, rather than some long-winded, boring 'how-to' book (which, let's face it, are almost always terrible) then this is the book to pick up. It is loaded with practical advice, articulated by very intelligent and respected individuals.
Want to know how Woody Allen shoots his films? He sums it up in about two paragraphs! Want to know what lenses Cronenberg shoots with? Well, he tells you! Whether you agree with the techniques of each of these directors, it is fascinating to hear them describe their unique approach.
I will always reference this book before tackling a film project...
Master Class, unmasterly with repetition 
This book is great and has a wealth of insightful conversation with some amazing directors but my one complaint is that the bulk of the book is framed too similarly. While the directors all have their unique take and insights, Tirard essentially asks them all the same questions which leads to repetition over the bulk of the book. In no way am I saying not to purchase this book but I'm simply criticizing it's redundancy.
