[.ca] Making Movies (ISBN 0747527679)

From Amazon.com:
It's well known that a vast number of people work on any given movie in roles as varied as writing scripts, choosing locations, dressing sets, costuming the players, lighting scenes, manipulating the camera, directing actors, editing film, working on sound, advertising the finished product, and screening it to an audience. Have you ever thought about how these components are collated? Or why the director is most often considered the author of a film? Wonder no more, because Sidney Lumet's Making Movies is a terrific journey through each stage of filmmaking that is overseen by the director. Lumet, the veteran director of Twelve Angry Men, The Pawnbroker, Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, Network, The Verdict, and many other fine movies, knows the ins and outs of American filmmaking as well as anyone. In this excellent, personable account, Lumet tells what he's learned about making movies in the course of the last 40 years. He shows why fine directors need to have strong imaginations, extraordinary adaptability, and skill in many different fields. His enthusiasm for his life's work, particularly his love of actors, is evident on every page of this book. As Herculean as the labors of film directing are, Lumet takes great pleasure in his work, almost guiltily admitting that the film director's job is "the best in the world."

Indispensable:
Lumet's writing is totally informative yet completely devoid of pretension. A brilliant opportunity to learn the real mechanics of the filmmaking process. Candid, honest and indispensable.

A Great Read:
A great read whether or not the subject matter interests you or not. I especially enjoyed his memories of the young Al Pacino and comments on the way audience expectations have changed.

Honesty and a love of movies:
I've read other books about directing. But I didn't understand what a director did until I read this book. Written lucidly and intelligently, with a true love of a good film story, Lumet's book is a valuable inside account of making movies. There are stories about stars (though not gossip) and about incredible disasters. But mostly it's about going out there, day after day, and getting the best shots you can, the best sound, the best cut. Lumet lays it out step by step with absolute honesty (film-making can be boring!) but also with a great love, a love for a good film story. Lumet believes that the authorship of the film belongs to all the people who help make it-- the actors, the writer, the set designer, the cinematographer, etc.-- The proof is in the pudding: Dog Day Afternoon, 12 Angry Men, Network. He let's today's spoiled-child 'auteurs' know that humility pays dividends. All in all, an essential volume on the craft of directing.

Director's On The Line.:
I've read 'Making Movies' for my 'Visual Communication' class, in which we examined visual sources that ranged from pictorial representations to actual films. I must admit, however, that the book was a real joy to read, and Lumet a master to know closely. As the other reviewers have mentioned, Lumet's style makes it easy for everyone to understand and get a grasp of what it takes to shoot a movie, from reading a scenario, to bringing together a cast, from dealing with actors to trying to stay within the budget. The book's procession is designed in such a way, that your curiosity increases as you flip through the chapters. (You begin to wonder if the film's going to get ready in time.) Lumet, as the director of many films, should be considered as a real master in the film industry. He has worked with important actors such as Sean Connery frequently, and succeeded in putting together remarkable films, like 'Twelve Angry Men'. He tells the audience exactly how he's felt and what he's thought during the making of the movies. He expresses the stress he's had when the actors did not show up on time, when the weather conditions changed dramatically or when the production company announced to cut off a significant portion of the film budget. He also depicts his delight when he's got astonishing performance from his actors and actresses, when the cameraman managed to do a better job than he had even planned. His telling of these remarks are inspiring, indeed. 'Making Movies' is a great source, although not necessarily a technical source, for all people either working or interested in the film world. A wonderful book to both read and have in shelf.

A film class taught by a master:
Making Movies, is one of only a handfull of books that I read in film school, that actually taught me how the industry works. I enjoyed it so much that I went ahead and bought the latest edition Sidney Lumet has made some of the finest films of all time. Films like 12 ANGRY MEN and DOG DAY AFTERNOON are unforgettable and they still resonate with intensity decades after I first watched them. Like most of his movies, the book is well thought out and has a real honesty to it. The book may only be 218 pages long but it is still very comprensive. It is vey well witten and could easily be on both a new and seasoned filmmaker's bookshelf. Folks who just have a casual facination with the process will also get a lot from the book .The book has 13 Chapters in all. It talkes about everything from the story idea to the final cut. I especially found the part about the film studios most informative and enlightning. If you are into making your own films or just want to see how its all done, then, this book is for you. I also recommend that you watch some of Lumet's films as well. You will gain vaule that can't be measured. This well written, no holds barred book, will make filmmakers out of anyone who reads it