Synopses & Reviews
How does a film come to look the way it does? And what influence does the look of a film have on our reaction to it? The role of cinematography, as both a science and an art, is often forgotten in the chatter about acting, directing, and budgets. The successful cinematographer must have a keen creative eye, as well as expert knowledge about the constantly expanding array of new camera, film, and lighting technologies. Without these skills at a directorandrsquo;s disposal, most movies quickly fade from memory.
Cinematography focuses on the highlights of this art and provides the first comprehensive overview of how the field has rapidly evolved, from the early silent film era to the digital imagery of today.
The essays in this volume introduce us to the visual conventions of the Hollywood style, explaining how these first arose and how they have subsequently been challenged by alternative aesthetics. In order to frame this fascinating history, the contributors employ a series of questions about technology (how did new technology shape cinematography?), authorship (can a cinematographer develop styles and themes over the course of a career?), and classicism (how should cinematographers use new technology in light of past practice?). Taking us from the hand-cranked cameras of the silent era to the digital devices used today, the collection of original essays explores how the art of cinematography has been influenced not only by technological advances, but also by trends in the movie industry, from the rise of big-budget blockbusters to the spread of indie films.
The book also reveals the people behind the camera, profiling numerous acclaimed cinematographers from James Wong Howe to Roger Deakins. Lavishly illustrated with over 50 indelible images from landmark films, Cinematography offers a provocative behind-the-scenes look at the profession and a stirring celebration of the art form. Anyone who reads this history will come away with a fresh eye for what appears on the screen because of what happens behind it.
Review
andquot;Six insightful critics turn their collective gaze to Hollywood's least-gratifying field of endeavor and redefine the writer's role in film history. A witty, instructive, and long overdue survey.andquot;
Review
andldquo;From filmandrsquo;s beginnings, with the freedom of one man hand cranking his camera, to hundreds of digital technicians slaving at work stations today, the story of cinematography is explored in riveting, close-up detail.andrdquo;
Review
andquot;Thoroughly researched and revelatory, this book is an essentialand#160;resource for sound and cinema studies. Again and again, theand#160;contributors to this excellent volume showed me how much I still haveand#160;to learn about cinema sound.andquot;
Review
andquot;A complete history of the use and development of sound in movies from silent films until today. Interesting reading for professionals and also for anyone interested in moviemaking.andquot;
Synopsis
and#160;With contributions from established film scholars and accomplished screenwriters, this collection of original essays gives readers a comprehensive portrait of both the art and business of screenwriting. Examining the films of celebrated writer-directors from Preston Sturges to Alexander Payne, while also revealing the work of journeyman writers and andldquo;script doctorsandrdquo; who toil in obscurity,
Screenwriting charts the ever-evolving roles that screenwriters have played, from the dawn of Hollywood to the age of YouTube. and#160;
Synopsis
and#160;Screenwriters often joke that andldquo;no one ever paid a dollar at a movie theater to watch a screenplay.andrdquo; Yet the screenplay is where a movie begins, determining whether a production gets the andldquo;green lightandrdquo; from its financial backers and wins approval from its audience. This innovative volume gives readers a comprehensive portrait of the art and business of screenwriting, while showing how the role of the screenwriter has evolved over the years.
Reaching back to the early days of Hollywood, when moonlighting novelists, playwrights, and journalists were first hired to write scenarios and photoplays, Screenwriting illuminates the profound ways that screenwriters have contributed to the films we love. This book explores the social, political, and economic implications of the changing craft of American screenwriting from the silent screen through the classical Hollywood years, the rise of independent cinema, and on to the contemporary global multi-media marketplace. From The Birth of a Nation (1915), Gone With the Wind (1939), and Gentlemanandrsquo;s Agreement (1947) to Chinatown (1974), American Beauty (1999), and Lost in Translation (2003), each project began as writers with pen and ink, typewriters, or computers captured the hopes and dreams, the nightmares and concerns of the periods in which they were writing.
As the contributors take us behind the silver screen to chronicle the history of screenwriting, they spotlight a range of key screenplays that changed the game in Hollywood and beyond. With original essays from both distinguished film scholars and accomplished screenwriters, Screenwriting is sure to fascinate anyone with an interest in Hollywood, from movie buffs to industry professionals.and#160;
Synopsis
and#160;The first book to provide a comprehensive chronicle of the art of cinematography, from the 1890s to the present day, this collection introduces readers to the people behind the camera, the roles they play, the equipment they use, and the indelible images they have created. Including over 50 film stills,
Cinematography vividly illustrates how the cinematographerandrsquo;s art has evolved in tandem with major technological and economic shifts in the film industry.and#160;
Synopsis
Sound introduces key concepts, seminal moments, and pivotal figures in the development of cinematic sound, revealing the unseen work of film composers, Foley artists, elocution coaches, and many more. Each of the bookandrsquo;s six chapters cover a different era in the history of Hollywood, from silent films to the digital age, and each is written by an expert in that period. After you read Sound, youandrsquo;ll never seeandmdash;or hearandmdash;movies in quite the same way.and#160;and#160;
Synopsis
Sound has always been an integral component of the moviegoing experience. Even during the so-called andldquo;silent era,andrdquo; motion pictures were regularly accompanied by live music, lectures, and sound effects. Today, whether we listen to movies in booming Dolby theaters or on tiny laptop speakers, sonic elements hold our attention and guide our emotional responses. Yet few of us are fully aware of the tremendous collaborative work, involving both artistry and technical wizardry, required to create that cinematic soundscape.and#160;
and#160;Sound, the latest book in the Behind the Silver Screen series, introduces key concepts, seminal moments, and pivotal figures in the development of cinematic sound. Each of the bookandrsquo;s six chapters cover a different era in the history of Hollywood, from silent films to the digital age, and each is written by an expert in that period. Together, the bookandrsquo;s contributors are able to explore a remarkable range of past and present film industry practices, from the hiring of elocution coaches to the marketing of soundtrack records. and#160;
and#160;Not only does the collection highlight the achievements of renowned sound designers and film composers like Ben Burtt and John Williams, it also honors the unsung workers whose inventions, artistry, and performances have shaped the soundscapes of many notable movies. After you read Sound, youandrsquo;ll never seeandmdash;or hearandmdash;movies in quite the same way.and#160;
and#160;Sound is a volume in the Behind the Silver Screen seriesandmdash;other titles in the series include Acting; Animation; Art Direction and Production Design; Cinematography; Costume, Makeup, and Hair; Directing; Editing and Special Visual Effects; Producing; and Screenwriting.and#160;and#160;and#160;
About the Author
ANDREW HORTON is the Jeanne H. Smith Professor of Film and Video Studies at the University of Oklahoma. He is an award-winning screenwriter and the author of twenty-six books, including
Screenwriting for a Global Market.
JULIAN HOXTER is an associate professor of cinema and screenwriting coordinator at San Francisco State University. The author of Write What You Donandrsquo;t Know: An Accessible Manual for Screenwriters, he is also an award-winning filmmaker, a rewrite specialist, and a story consultant for independent features.and#160;