Hollywood in Wide Angle: How Directors View Filmmaking(The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series)

Jack Rothman, a social scientist, interviews more than 30 film directors-including Delbert Mann, John Landis, Arthur Hiller, Nancy Meyers, Bill Duke, Martha Coolidge, Andrew Davis, Gilbert Cates, Henry Jaglom, and Walter Hill. Rothman guaranteed their responses would remain anonymous, and the result is an intimate and candid portrait of work within the film industry, both on and off the set. The uncensored comments from these ideal informants, along with Rothman's analysis, give readers an inside look into the process of filmmaking, as well as an understanding of the wider sociological forces that both limit and facilitate such endeavors. The respondents assembled here represent the broad range of background as well as film directing experience-from award-winning veterans to first timers, from directors of small, independent pictures to studio blockbusters. Collectively, their answers illuminate the day-to-day process of the high-pressure and fiercely competitive-but also frequently fulfilling-environment of filmmaking. This book will be useful not only to students, but to new and aspiring directors, and other industry professionals as well. Indeed, Hollywood in Wide Angle will intrigue anyone truly interested in both movies and the complex industry behind them. Includes 31 photos.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1 An Excerpt at the Coffee Table: Encounter with Director Gil Cates Chapter 2 Preview: The Ivy Tower Meets the Silver Screen Chapter 3 Chapter 1: Troubles in Mind Chapter 4 Chapter 2: Directors in Close-Up Chapter 5 Chapter 3: The Actor Factor Chapter 6 Chapter 4: Digital Rising-Independents' Day Chapter 7 Chapter 5: Stalking Creative Freedom Chapter 8 Chapter 6: Women and Minorities in the Director's Chair Chapter 9 Chapter 7: Writers in the Scene? Chapter 10 Chapter 8: A New Take Chapter 11 Chapter 9: Mapping Planet Hollywood (Not the Restaurant) Chapter 12 Appendix A: Directors' Credits Chapter 13 Appendix B: Supplementary Interviews and Information Chapter 14 Notes Chapter 15 Index Chapter 16 About the Author

About the Author :
Jack Rothman is Professor Emeritus at UCLA, School of Public Policy and Social Research. He is the author of more than twenty books applying social science.

Review :
This is an insightful look at how films are made (or not made) in the wonderful land of Oz, i.e. Hollywood, and the answers come straight from those who are, probably, the most important person in the filmmaking process insofar as production is concerned. Basing his discussion on anonymity-guaranteed interviews with some 30 film directors, Rothman…offers candid insider takes on the current Hollywood film-making environment and an analysis of the sociological forces that facilitate and limit creative processes. E.g. he examines the specials challenges that women and minorities face in the director's chair. Also included are directors' awards and nominations, supplementary sources, and photos. Those who want to understand, and really get a grip on how films are made should read this book. Those reading it from the standpoint of attending film schools, or whatever, should read it not once, twice, but three or four times to really understand what really goes on in the front office of film studios. You might want to change your mind. ...there is a wealth of information here that probably never could have been obtained without the veil of secrecy. Recommended for all performing arts libraries and libraries with extensive film collections. Wide Angle approaches a familiar subject with new, and often surprising, insight. This is a film textbook that reads like a novel, and is more exciting than a lot of novels....It's an absolute page turner and should be in every filmmakers library, and required reading for every film student in America. Rothman's objective work is a highly informed and very well researched survey that will prove informative for aspiring filmmakers, documentarians and cinema historians alike. The most honest book on directing and the industry I've read. It's invaluable for people interested in the business. I LOVE THIS BOOK!...VERY INSIGHTFUL...WELL DONE...BRAVO! The clear value of the study lies in the commentary on working with conglomerates, runaway productions, the high cost of actors, the high risk of contemporary motion picture producing, underemployment of women and people of color, and the rise of the independent films, to name just a few hot topics discussed....This timely study provides interesting insights into the film industry. Recommended. ...a fascinating, insightful, and at times very blunt view of the ins and outs of the film trade specifically from the view of more than thirty directors, all interviewed by social scientist Jack Rothman with the guarantee their responses would remain anonymous....Fascinating for the lay reader, and an absolute must-read for anyone interested in getting into the director trade - there is no better place to learn about the hard knocks of directing short of interviewing 30 directors personally.