Synopses & Reviews
A thrillingly written look inside the crash-bang world of the professional stuntman--the first reported book to venture into this wild corner of the movie business.
In The Full Burn, bestselling author and acclaimed journalist Kevin Conley takes readers inside one of the most fascinating and dangerous jobs in the world. With bravura storytelling and full access to many of the legends of the field (including Uma Thurman's double for Kill Bill and the genius behind the Jason Bourne movies, among many others), Conley gives a passenger's-seat view of the stuntman's life: the history, the culture, and the tricks of the trade, showing how--and why--stuntmen do what they do.
What's the greatest stunt ever performed? Why is the divorce rate among stuntmen so high? What's it like to go to work not knowing whether you'll come back? What's it like for your wife? What's the scariest trick a stuntman does? Conley delivers the answers in the form of vivid tales from his subjects' lives--and, in trying to answer the last question, one from his own, when he subjects himself to the rite of passage known as the full burn. Funny, gripping, and packed with amazing stories, this is an irresistible book for anyone who loves the movies.
Review
“A fascinating chronicle of the Hollywood stunt world.”—
Entertainment Weekly “Brisk and entertaining…From chapter to engaging chapter, Conley blends film history with his subjects realistic assessments of athleticism, sexism, death and technological innovations of the mechanical and computerized kind…Conley develops an impressive camaraderie, access and feel for the stunt world.”—Publishers Weekly
“So interesting that its difficult to stop reading.”—School Library Journal
Synopsis
Bestselling author and acclaimed journalist Conley takes readers inside one of the most fascinating and dangerous jobs in the world--the Hollywood stuntman--and explains why they do what they do.
Synopsis
“[An] edge-of-your-seat look at the slam-bang world of stunt pros…Great supplemental reading for movie fans.”—Rocky Mountain News In The Full Burn, Kevin Conley goes inside one of the coolest and most dangerous jobs in the world. With bravura storytelling and full access to legends of the field, he gives a behind-the-scenes view of the stuntmans world: the history, the culture, and the tricks of the trade, showing how—and why—stuntmen do the crazy things they do. He even subjects himself to the stuntmans ultimate rite of passage, the books eponymous stunt, in which he is doused in jellied gasoline and set aflame. Packed with amazing stories and fascinating insights into the movies you love, this is truly immersion journalism at its finest.
About the Author
Kevin Conley is the author of the national bestseller Stud: Adventures in Breeding. He has written for GQ, the New Yorker, Sports Illustrated, and the New York Times Magazine, among other publications. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, Amy, and their children, Max, Sarah, Jack, and Gloria.