Directors Books

Almodovar became the enfant terrible during the '80s for his outrageous actions on and off the film set. Frederic Strauss's collection of interviews helps to dispel many of the myths surrounding the Almodovar mystique. Almodovar burst on to the scene with "Pepi, Luci, Bom," a film renowned for a woman in it being urinated upon, and Almodovar's films have been doused in controversy ever since. Almodovar points out that he creates characters who live on the fringes of society and rebel against laws and regulations. Yet he does not pick up on the fact that as a homosexual director in the male world of Spanish cinema he works outside of the norms to create his films. Almodovar's comments on film making illuminate the artificial world he creates. Almodovar has refused to acknowledge the remnants of Franco's Spain and builds his narratives without societal contexts. "Law of Desire" takes place in a dizzying world of discos, beaches, and theatres while "Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!" breaks down the fourth wall by setting some of the action on the set of "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown." No other director has consistently played with film narrative and conventions as Almodovar does and I wonder if we really need to know the backstage gossip. The truth dispels the myths and I am not sure I want to relinquish the myths. Nonetheless, Almodovar's observations and revelations are fascinating, especially in regards to his actors. He comments that he treats Antonio Banderas like a child in order to get a workable performance out of him. He lectures Victoria Abril on how to say simple phrases like "I love you" and "Have a good day." He became so professionally entangled with Carmen Maura on the making of "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown" that their occupational divorce made headlines all over Europe. I wonder who this collection of interviews is intended for. As a connoisseur of his films, I relished his delineation of the creative process that goes into the making of his films even when they told many of his secrets. Yet I am in the minority, as many Americans do not even know Almodovar or his films. If they do, it's as a footnote in Antonio Banderas's film bibliography. Potential film directors will salivate over interviews that place a microscope upon the workings of a director. Actors will be fascinated by Almodovar's comments on acting such as when he criticizes Robert DeNiro for showing technique instead of building a character. He prefers the French method of acting where the actor IS the character. He believes that the performances of Antonio Banderas and Carmen Maura in "Law of Desire" are his greatest achievements as a director. Yet, he has been hailed as resurrecting the floundering Spanish film industry with such worldwide hits as "Matador," "Labyrinth of Passion," and "High

Heels." Almodovar has always maintained a love/hate relationship with the Spanish film industry. Almodovar was denied funding for "Matador" due to his critique of the machismo inherent in the world of bullfighting. He linked the violence of bullfighting with the practice of necrophillia infuriating much of the Spanish public although the film was a smashing success. He was again denied funding when the board rejected the homosexual themes that make up "Law of Desire." AIDS activists accused of failing to deal with the disease because he failed to mention it altogether. Almodovar points out that his movies do not exist in a real place and in his world, AIDS does not exist. As with his collection of stories, "Patti Diphusa and Other Stories," Almodovar's interviews have a care-free attitude that is infectious. He discusses all of his eleven films including last year's "The Flower of My Secret" which many critics compared favorably to the women's films of the early '40s. This collection of essays is a gentle kiss harking back to such a magical women.

Frédéric Strauss brings us this amazing piece of work from the hand of Pedro Almodóvar, in which he describes the life: the beggining and the actual work, of the spanish director. He describes what he wants to inspire in his movies and if you have seen them you might get to understand them a little better. If you like this director's movies, you might want to get this book.

Known throughout the world for his unique directorial style and his often absurd characters, Spanish director Pedro Almodovar talks about his films, plots, actors, and other interesting facts that many of his fans knew little about. The book, which is part of series that spotlights many of the world's talented film directors, features Almodovar speaking about many of his films up from "Pepi, Luci, and Bom" to "The Flower of My Secret."

Providing interesting views, facts, and insight on many of his films and actors, there is no one who knows more about Almodovar than the man himself. His discussions are usually very open, especially when discussing several incidents that were high publicized in the European press, mainly his falling out with his most famous actress, Carmen Maura, after the completion of his masterpiece "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown." Their professional divorce left Almodovar without a dependable leading lady (feature lead actresses Victoria Abril and Marisa Paredes never could capture Maura's persona) and it marked Maura's somewhat decline in Spanish film (she later went on to do several unsuccessful Spanish films and some television work before moving to France to break into French cinema.).

The book which is out of print is one of the best one-to-one interviews I've ever read. Almodovar's contributions to world cinema are so numerous that they can be all listed here, and his work has opened the door for many other Spanish and Latin American film directors such as Carlos Arau and Bruno Bareto in showing the world that foreign language films can be as professional and productive as any big budget film churned out by Hollywood.

"Almodovar on Almodovar," is a must have for any Almodovar fan and film studies student. An excellent book on one of the world's most gifted directors.

This book is a remarkably accurate and knowledgeable way to learn the many American dialects. It is very clear and concise, and would be a great help with the theatre. I spent a lot of time perfecting my New York City accent,and even though a don't do alot of acting it was fun to fool people, & with the help of this book, it worked. An amazing compilation that is clear and focused, it offers an invaluable lesson for anyone that has the time to sit and study it. Wonderful.

As a novelist struggling to learn how to give each character his own voice, this book was a gift from God. Perhaps the most important lesson it taught me was to trust my inner ear. It explained beautifully that dialects, even ones that sound ungrammatical, have their own rules of grammar. It helped me to isolate the particular dialect I was striving to recreate on the page and gave me the courage to use it without apology or explanation. A wonderful source for writers.

An essential tool for any actor who wants to be able to master the regional American accents. Using the international phonetic, this book will guide you through various areas of the USA and allow you to nail down the subtleties of their accent. With this book you'll fool the natives.

Mike is an artist, photographer and art director.

He can see great talent and know's how to put it to work. He has launched many careers in the process and has kept several great artists alive, by throwing them work, over the years.

Mike has worked with "The Best" in his 50 years of experiencs and has helped shape the present culture by utilizing his, and other's, talents.

This is a great collection of his work, presented with tongue in cheek humor. Totally entertaining and enlightening. Lots of smirks and laughs too. And... some cheesecake as well!

Mike Salisbury has long been one of my heroes, both for his innovative design work and strong knowledge of marketing. This book provides great insight into how Mike approaches a project and why he brings so much more than design talent. And the vivid examples from his extensive portfolio are inspirational, to say the least.

lotsa big bright pictures! An autobiographical account of this mike salisbury guy, a celebrity art director/graphic design type who came up with some of the most unforgetable commercial graphics and campaigns of the last 30 years (Joe Camel, Rolling Stone magazine, Jurassic Park, and even Micheal Jackson!). The guy's kinda pompous, but I guess that's the gig in the promotion and marketing game. Worth reading!

A brilliant look into the minds of Directors of top companies which impact our fiancial worth, as a country. Ever wonder how much thought, (or minimal) is put into some of the top deals, which make or break multimillion dollar companies? After reading this book, you have a greater understanding of why mergers work, or often, do not. I'm looking foward to this authors next tour, of behind door meetings, deals and workings of some of the top U.S. companies! A must read, for those entering the business world, or a "must" texbook for any business class!

This is a fascinating travelogue for those who want to look
behind boardroom doors. A must read for new board members
but also extremely helpful to board veterans. It provides
significant insights about how boards really operate. Virtually
each chapter reflects a corporate board meeting or board committee meeting, and it shows directors how to avoid the pitfalls that have afflicted directors recently.

Boards are secretive. Although transparency and open disclosure are de rigueur for business activities, the boardroom is shrouded in a veil of confidentiality. Minutes are rarely a full transcript and, unless you are actually on the board, or in the room with them, you won't know how decisions were reached, who said what, to whom, how or why.
This raises a pertinent question: how can directors know what a board would be like before they have joined it?
This book answers that question.
The Board follows the development of publicly listed DFP, Inc., as it grows, suffers setbacks, rebuffs takeovers, manages dissident directors
and adapts to the changing governance demands. Everything is included, from sexual harassment to social responsibility. The board is a hypothetical and the company doesn't exist, but after a few chapters you will feel as if you belong at that table and have a part to play in all that transpires. Thanks to the author's personal experience, characters and actions are believable.
Some aspects are very American, such as the combined chairman/CEO role. This gives international readers a sense of unreality in some passages, such as the occasion when the CEO demands the resignation of an under-performing director, but governance practitioners from North America confirm these events would be usual over there.
Board papers including key agenda items for the meeting, financial results and share market performance data precede each chapter. The action is mainly centred in the boardroom and focuses on the director's discussions and decision making. After each meeting, disclosure statements and progress reports keep the reader apace of developments until the next meeting. There are a few lunches (even in the eighties when presumably only wimps were eating) and golf outings for "social decision making and bonding".
Just as in real life, mistakes are made and come back to haunt the board. Most of the time the board does a reasonably good job, just like most Boards in most companies.
The key take away from this book is the simulated reality. At the end of the book you will feel as if you have gained 16 years of boardroom experience. It would be a good read for anyone who enjoyed, or is considering, the AICD Advanced Company Directors Course and a great read for anyone who would like to add to their boardroom experience while on the plane, train or even in the safety of their own bedroom!

A poignant, yet unsentimental self portrait of a life created solely through a passion for movies, puppetry and the entertainment industry. A good read, especially for those who feel they might otherwise have gone further in life but for different parentage or role models. Jacoby's childhood background appears to be a modern-day Dickensian one; but to him, apparently, motivational and testament to the phrase "the child is father of the man". His story also includes some interesting, personal and amusing vignettes of some entertainment industry luminaries. Read in one sitting.

This book shows how imagination and the human spirit can overcome a tragic, mixed-up childhood. Joe Jacoby took a few early images and turned them into a successful and fascinating career. It's a good lesson for today's whiny and privileged kids who don't get the concept of paying dues.

Joe Jacoby has survived an incredible life. It's hard to believe that someone could become an orphan at seven, go through the revolving-door of foster homes and institutions, and somehow come out a normal human being. He brought tears to my eyes -- and also made me laugh a lot, especially about Joseph E. Levine and Match Game. An uplifting book.

Steven Craig ate, lived, & breathed, response efforts following Katrina. Rather than writing from a literature review, he writes from a 1st hand experience perspective. This is one of the best books on the market, to help you develop a disaster plan for your family, so that in today's world, you will have the necessary information to prepare, respond, and recover, from a disaster, whether a local or mass catestrophic event, such as Katrina. Additionally, his experience is not soley Katrina based, he is an emergency manager, and has taught emergency management on a college level. His book is easy to read and understand; he leaves out the jargon, and presents the information for practical day-to-day application. susanf

This book was easy to get into and stay with as author tells of his experiences with helping in restoring Coast Guard facilities in Florida after Katrina. He writes of conditions he saw and offers good advice on things we can do which would be helpful should we experience such a tragedy. Found his preparedness section especially helpful as we never know when a disaster, natural or otherwise, may occur. One such tip was to have one person all family members would use to communicate if we were separated and didn't know where other members were.

This is an excellent book. Not the ususal format of tales told from the storm. Its an unbiased account from the perspective of a senior level Emergency Manager. This is a book that should be read by anyone involved in Emergency Planning and Operations. It is a brass tacks assessment of circumstances as they were encountered in a plain language no nonsense format. Steve Craig also highlights some of the activities of the responders in their free time.

Having been an Emergency Manager in the middle of the entire experience, I can say that this is an accurate account and assessment of the challenges experienced in responding to and managing the worst natural disaster in the history of this country.

This book is an extraordinarily thorough and well-written account of Ang Lee's career. Anybody interested in the director's work would be fascinated to read it. I highly recommend it.

This scholarly treatise of director Ang Lee by Whitney Crothers Dilley is a thoroughly engaging, in-depth study of this iconic and enigmatic filmmaker. Logically organised and richly researched, The Cinema of Ang Lee shows great insight on the many influences which impacted Mr. Lee's directorial vision: born in Taiwan, to parents who escaped Mainland China following the 1949 Civil War, his cultural identity further diluted when he came to the U.S. at age 23 in his yearning to break free of parental control to pursue his artistic and cinematic dreams.

Ms. Crothers Dilley astutely shows us that Ang Lee's directorial range cannot be confined to a single culture or genre, and while films such as Eat Drink Man Woman, Sense and Sensibility, The Ice Storm, and Hulk appear to be thematically disparate, common threads course throughout his filmography. Globalisation / cultural identity, family ritual, intergenerational conflict, dialogue-free visual metaphors, cultural codes of behavior, and above all the inherent diaspora brought to bear stemming from his personal history bring a unique perspective to each of his films.

Serious students of film as well as casual fans of Ang Lee's body of work will love this book. Take the time to go on a wonderful journey as each film is dissected in order to find, in Ang Lee's words, "'The Juice', the thing that moves people, the thing that is untranslatable by words".

This is must reading for film buffs.

This book is no less than a terrific synopsis of Ang Lee's life and filmmaking motivations plus a thorough review of the common themes that surprisingly link Lee's amazingly diverse films.

Whitney Crothers Dilley's much-anticipated book provides the first in-depth look at one of the most heralded creative film directors still active today. A true auteur, Ang Lee has taken on the challenge of almost all the classic film genres and done them all marvelously.


From his early Taiwanese-themed social comedies through his Chinese/American and American and even British mainstream films to The Hulk (his only commercial failure) to the colossal last two released films, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Brokeback Mountain, no film director has ever generated an oeuvre of such range.


With a new Ang Lee film in yet a new genre coming out later this year (this time a film noir set in 1940's Shanghai), The cinema of Ang Lee ... the other side of the screen is the perfect read for all the relevant background on this astonishing director before seeing it.

To know Jean Cocteau, visit the chapels, tombs & monuments he left for posterity, or watch his films. If you can't, read this book.

I originally picked this book up at the library and liked it so much I bought two copies: One for myself and one for a friend. This is a wonderful biography of one of the most influential men of the Arts in France. Since I don't live in France, or Paris to be exact since his influence would have been felt there the most, I don't know if forty years after his death he still influences the Arts or not. However, he was a force to be reckoned with during his lifetime and this bio gives the reader a great sense of what Paris was like from the late 1800's to the early 1960's. Fascinating.

Cocteau seems to turn up in most unusual places. First he is praised by no less a figure than Edith Wharton, then he is hobnobbing with Proust, then off with Picasso, Diagalev, Stravinsky, and the Ballets Russes set, finally he is a film maker of the live action film of Beauty and the Beast. In between his life was filled with more living than should be allowed by law. Steegmuller's biography does justice to this life and probably will remain the definative text on the subject.

I am a 16 year old basketball fan and this book is every thing i ever wanted in a book. Up until i read this reading was like torture to me. But now i read all the time I can't wait until Craig Strohm writes another.

I think this is the best book I have ever read in my whole life! I used to hate to read but now I love it! This is actually the first book I've read. It is my favorite. It made me love basketball and it is my most favorite sport.

Having spent over twenty-five years teaching in classrooms in Alaska, I've read numerous survival stories. Comeback is an artfully told story about a teacher/coach and his survival - filled with tension and intrigue. The fiction will captivate readers; the truth will rend your heart. I'm a fan out of the author's past who continues to be one...

This book isn't for everyone. However, if you're seriously interested in producing for COMMERCIAL theater, this is THE book. It's full of useful, pertinent info, and is a guide to and insight into some of the top players in the exhilirating world of commercial theater. As a playwright, I learned a lot -- including a definite sense that I am NOT the one to produce my own musical.

Any who want to put on a play will find the decades of experience of the Commercial Theatre Institute lends to working knowledge and real-world applications, collecting for the first time the cream of the crop of advice from the professionals who participate in an annual intensive program in New York. Chapters include interviews and contributions from over thirty such professionals as they explore everything from fundraising and Broadway and off-Broadway productions to community theatre and sponsorship and co-production opportunities. This excellent survey will appeal to any interested in commercial play production's nuts and bolts as well as to those libraries specializing in community drama and theatre efforts.

This book is an exciting read for anyone who has ideas for plays and musicals, but is unsure how to get them produced. It gives practical informations in a way that makes it "user friendly". I highly recommend this book for anyone with unheard ideas for the stage!!!