My First Movie: Twenty Celebrated Directors Talk about Their First Film

by Stephen Lowenstein

Book Overview

Candid interviews with leading filmmakers about their first films including Ang Lee, Pedro Almodovar, Oliver Stone, Allison Anders, The Coen Brothers, and others

In these vivid and revealing interviews, a diverse collection of filmmakers talk in extraordinary detail and with amazing candor about making their first films. Each chapter focuses on a director's celebrated debut and tells the inside story of the film's creation. Along the...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0142002208
• ISBN13: 9780142002209
• Release Date: October 2002
• Publisher: Penguin Books
• Length: 496 Pages
• Weight: 1.08 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.6" x 8.4"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Extremely Interesting Book

This is a great read for people who have just entered the film industry or even just for people who have an interest in where filmmakers begin their journey. What I love is that each interview is separate and allows you the opportunity to really take in and get a feel for the personality of each director. Especially if you have a chance to check out the films mentioned and the later work of these directors, this book is very interesting. One of the best and most entertaining looks at directors that I have read. I only hope there will be a new edition with more directors!

HIGHLY ENTERTAINING for us film BUFFS ...

My friend, Paul Kyriazi, is also a film director, having done OMEGA COP before he turned to writing books. If you liked this book as much as I did, you may also enjoy a visit to Paul's website: bondlife.com because he tells the behind-the-scenes story of one of his early films. Verrrrrry interesting. Any good directors out there, my new book would make a wonderful animated movie, or so they tell me. Check it out, too! Truly, though, I really enjoyed hearing the stories of how these directors made their first films. They may not be STEVEN SPIELBERGs, but they could be HIM in the making! Who knows in this wonderful world of MOVIES. I highly recommend this book.

This is edu-tainmen! (Or should that be 'enter-cation'?)

I'm only a hundred pages into 'My First Movie' (so my review is not exactly a complete one), but by what I've read so far, this is an educational and entertaining book of insights into the filmmaking world. I think that each separate interview had at least one pearl of wisdom that aspiring film-makers (both in the highest and lowest senses) can take from this book. And for those who aren't necessairily interested in a career in the movies, this book still has plenty of intrigue and gossip in it's pages to enjoy.I got this as a Christmas present, and I hope that a sequel is in the works.CIAO!

Very interesting

It is all too rare an occurrance to actually find out anything about the PERSON who makes a movie. Most "behind-the-scenes" documentaries and interviews end up being thinly-disguised promotional trailers for movies. Luckily, filmmaker Stephen Lowenstein interviewed 20 filmmakers of various origin, style, and age to bring us this collection of interviews about the experience of making a first film.Each interview is different, just as each filmmaker's first moviemaking experience was different. Every interview is illuminating and serves to broaden the reader's view of filmmaking, as well as increase appreciation for the sheer hard work and endurance required to get a movie to the point of completion.I found myself riveted by each director's account of their first movies, of the experience of getting the film to the point of being made, to the casting, to the pre-production, to the first day of filming, to editing and then trying to find a place to screen the darn thing. It was very interesting to get to know each filmmaker, the places they were in the beginning stages of their careers, and the places their films took them to.I appreciated reading interviews with filmmakers I greatly admire (the Coen brothers), to those I am familiar with and jealous of (Kevin Smith), and especially the interviews with female filmmakers such as Allison Anders and Mira Nair (since I myself am female). Some other interviews I particularly enjoyed: P.J. Hogan ("Muriel's Wedding"), James Mangold ("Heavy"), and Ang Lee ("Pushing Hands").If you like this book, I highly recommend "Rebel Without a Crew" by Robert Rodriguez, as it is a complete diary of the entire process of the making of his first feature film.

Wonderful Collection of Stories

"My First Movie" is a collection of interviews edited by Stephen Lowenstein with 20 of the independent world's most celebrated directors. Like any collection, some interviews are more informative than others. Nevertheless, I found this book to be entirely entertaining as I was brought into the world of other directors' first experiences. Throughout all of the interviews, I found the same recurring theme of panic surface. I was particularly impressed with the interview with Ang Lee where he discusses his quick success out of NYU and then 7 years of drought, as well as James Mangold's rocket to stardom taken down by his snide remarks to Katzenberg.This book is probably more properly titled "Self Help" book for anyone that wants to make a movie, as you realize that the directors featured in this book are really no different from anyone else. In a few cases (I'll refrain from telling you), I actually found myself saying, "Why WOULD anyone have ever let this person direct a film." Thus, the reader will be comforted to know that if he or she keeps pushing, eventually they will get their project made. Overall, the book is a wonderfully delightful read. My recommendation is to read a chapter a day, and then watch the director's movie... this will maximize the pleasure and reading experience.