I've been collecting books from "Directors on directors" serie for about 10 years now. This one is not exactly from that serie, but made more or less I've been collecting books from "Directors on directors" serie for about 10 years now. This one is not exactly from that serie, but made more or less with the same concept. Alexey German, easily the best living Russian/Soviet filmmaker tells about his films and life to Anton Dolin, young successfull critic. I didn't like that this well-established genre eroded in this book - German's telling is being interrupt all the time by Dolin's essays on films. Essays themselves are not that bad, although they don't bring anything new or special and mostly state something obvious, but the flow of German's thought and speech is so so more interesting... I believe Dolin, if he's a writer should have been felt it and diminish his ego... I just didn't have enough of it from German.
Merged review:
I've been collecting books from "Directors on directors" serie for about 10 years now. This one is not exactly from that serie, but made more or less with the same concept. Alexey German, easily the best living Russian/Soviet filmmaker tells about his films and life to Anton Dolin, young successfull critic. I didn't like that this well-established genre eroded in this book - German's telling is being interrupt all the time by Dolin's essays on films. Essays themselves are not that bad, although they don't bring anything new or special and mostly state something obvious, but the flow of German's thought and speech is so so more interesting... I believe Dolin, if he's a writer should have been felt it and diminish his ego... I just didn't have enough of it from German....more
This is NOT the book describing The System, predecessor of Strasberg's The Method, but still probably the best book about theater. Stanislavsky depictThis is NOT the book describing The System, predecessor of Strasberg's The Method, but still probably the best book about theater. Stanislavsky depicts his life-long road of figuring out The System, his ideas, doubts and and, this is the best part: the plays he staged. Those descriptions are so concrete and so poetic, they gave me much more at some point, then his System books about working with actors....more
The fall of Third Reich Berlin from Zoo point of view: animals (especially Frizzi the gorilla) and their old caretaker, who silently hates Hitler's reThe fall of Third Reich Berlin from Zoo point of view: animals (especially Frizzi the gorilla) and their old caretaker, who silently hates Hitler's regime. Amazing novel....more
I've started reading this because perspective is very interesting: a man who actually MADE the coup and WON civil war was later rejected by the revoluI've started reading this because perspective is very interesting: a man who actually MADE the coup and WON civil war was later rejected by the revolution, expelled and murdered. What he had to say about the whole thing in 1931? Well, the only thing he wanted, was to whiten black dog. At some point I couldn't bear anymore the amount of lies and blind-eyeing about bolsheviks intentions, actions and methods. Hell with him and his book. I think those old bolsheviks who were imprisoned under stalin and argued if their fate would be the same if Trotsky would win... They should have known it would....more
Came here to learn more about dramatic structure, artistic choices and direction behind Game of Thrones show, first seasons of which I liked so much. Came here to learn more about dramatic structure, artistic choices and direction behind Game of Thrones show, first seasons of which I liked so much. What I've found is 90% of self-praise and narcissism. At some point it became disgusting....more
Самая горькая, поздняя режиссерская книга Анатолия Эфроса, написанная на закате жизни и карьеры. Много разочарований, много сомнений, много боли. И очСамая горькая, поздняя режиссерская книга Анатолия Эфроса, написанная на закате жизни и карьеры. Много разочарований, много сомнений, много боли. И очень много мыслей, определяющих положение режиссера в искусстве. Перечитывал я эту книгу несколько раз и каждый открывает что-то новое, новое настроение, новый ритм мысли. Много подсказок. Великий был человек....more
Of oh so many books, occupying numerous " one and the most essential LIST of cinema book for whoever interested in cinema books" this one (and it is iOf oh so many books, occupying numerous " one and the most essential LIST of cinema book for whoever interested in cinema books" this one (and it is included in, like, all of them) is indeed useful and fun. With all my heart I hate "filmmaking for dummies" type of filmmaking book which is as decieving as "Oh it is so mystirious no one can explain it" type. Both are lie, because filmmaking indeed is A CRAFT, that can be learned and it does require talent, which cannot be obtained anywhere. So one needs both to succced. And, to my delight, this book holds to this conception. It does cover a lot of moviemaking craft. Technical stuff is mostly outdated, because we switched to digital filmmaking now and the book is written in the old (not so old though early 90s) film tape times. But it does so much more then teaches this or that technique. Lumet guides you through the whole process from concieving an idea to a first screening with his own directos's experience, with all the examples and anecdotes which helps you understand how the thing works. He never was one of big autheur directors critics love, but his movies are always being taught at film schools, because they are masterfully done in terms of director's profession. So he went beyond that and wrote a book and I am, making my third feature right now (well, kinda battling self-isolation rather then making it, but either way), found things useful and brilliant there and enjoyed it as a text by an honest and funny man. ...more
I can save you time/money on reading this book. Basically, all these guys (and there are NAMES here like Gorard, Lynch, Von Trier, Almodovar, Allen etI can save you time/money on reading this book. Basically, all these guys (and there are NAMES here like Gorard, Lynch, Von Trier, Almodovar, Allen etc) are saying is: go film something and figure out yourself if you really want/can become a director. For whatever reason though I kept reading. ...more
Amazing piece of "directors on directors" serie. An interview on which this book is based was conducted near the end of Malle's life, so he tells storAmazing piece of "directors on directors" serie. An interview on which this book is based was conducted near the end of Malle's life, so he tells story of his films the way he wants, very frank and sharp, carelessly. He tells many director's secrets and not many anecdotes, that's why I think the book is rather for filmmakers, then for the viewers. Malle's films were always important for me in some professional way - I cannot say I loved them with heart and emotion, but on professional level I learned a lot from them. Same effect with the book....more
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