Great Women of Film

by Helena Lumme and Mika Manninen

Book Overview

A celebration of 30 women who have made a difference in the motion picture industry, encompassing filmmakers and film editors, directors and actors, composers and cinematographers, and everyone else... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0823079562
• ISBN13: 9780823079568
• Release Date: March 2002
• Publisher: Billboard Books
• Length: 127 Pages
• Weight: 1.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 9.0" x 10.6"

Customer Reviews

Originally found this in the library, but it's the kind of book one should OWN

I've always been interested in theatre and movies, but when I was a kid and even in my mid-thirties, even though I've published books, getting involved in movies seemed like suddenly wanting to become President of the United States. So I bought this book and refer back to it whenever aspects of producing an indie film seem daunting. This book's beautiful and great. GIRL DIRECTOR is another fun book (although originally for little girls). So you should buy this book if you can afford such a beautiful hard cover photograph book, and support the authors so publishers know we're out here and interested.

An invaluable 'how-to' book for PA's to Producers

As a woman in film school at USC, I craved books like this. Usually what I found was dry text giving me a history lesson, accompanied by some poorly reproduced photos. I opened Great Women of Film and discovered something completely different. This is a book that wants to inspire its readers, through its variety of subjects, presented in bold and evocative portraits, with interviews chock full of realistic advice and lessons learned. There are no stories of nepotism or unearned breaks, each of these women took risks, worked hard and fearlessly dedicated themselves to their crafts. These are woman in front of and behind the camera, directors, writers, set decorators, producers, cinematographers, and special effects artists. As I read, I wished each woman could be my mentor, then I realized that's exactly what this book offers--the advice, wisdom, and can-do encouragement of accomplished women who want to see more of us out there with them. The film industry may still be a male-dominated world, but I would pay double to see a movie whose crew was made up solely of these Great Women of Film. Oh, and the book concludes with an index of resources, from schools to non-profits to guilds and unions that exist to help women in film.

Inspiring, inspirational, and informational

As a woman who is about to embark on the exact same journey this book is all about, I found this text so encouraging. It has become my second Bible. Helena Lumme brings together a mix of inspiring women in tbe film industry. Their insight and experience in the film business is not only refreshingly honest, but inspirational as well. From the early days of film making to the present, women have been a major part of the moviemaking process. It makes me proud to not only be a woman but hopefully become a part of a wonderful legacy of a daring and courageous women. The information is all encompassing to the passion they each feel about not only their work but the journey they took to get there. Mika Manninen photography not only puts a face on most of these unseen women but also captures their very soul in the lens. My heartfelt thanks go to not only Lumme but the women she interviewed for this piece.

Great Women, Great Words, Great Photographs

I just can't say enough about this book. It's inspiring on so many levels. For some, it will give a glimpse into what it takes to make it in the movie business. For others, the photos will serve as a reminder that art and beauty are all around us! I love that the authors didn't just focus on celebrities (although there are several of those, too), but they found great women in a variety of interesting fields. The photos are breathtaking, especially the great shots of Jodie Foster--amazing! I highly recommend this book, as well as the previous book by these folks, "Screenwriters: America's Storytellers in Portrait."

Beautifully Intense

At first glance, it's a tasteful coffee table addition. Upon closer inspection, it gets intense. The photos, more than mere portraits, are actual tableaus of each subject acting out their careers (in all aspects of filmmaking) in a thought-provoking way. Either in a fantasy setting or an actual on-the-job setting-- sometimes whimsical, sometimes confrontational-- it's apparent that each subject worked with the photographer and author closely to create a unique representative visual statement. This, in union with the insightful written profiles and savvy graphical layout, make for a book that joyfully celebrates the previously little-known world and work of women in film production and the progress they will continue to make in the future.