Book Review Rating ♥♥♥♥
Sally Potter filmography
Feature Films
- The Gold Diggers (1983)
- Orlando (1992)
- The Tango Lesson (1997)
- The Man Who Cried (2000)
- Yes (2004)
- Rage (2009)
- Ginger & Rosa (2012)
Shorts and Experimental Films
- Jerk (1969)
- Hors d'oeuvres (1970)
- Black & White (1970)
- Play (1970)
- Thriller at Women Make Movies(1979)
- London Story at Women Make Movies (1980)
Documentaries
- Tears, Laughter, Fear & Rage (1986)
- I Am an Ox, I Am a Horse, I Am a Man, I Am a Woman (1988)
Published by Faber and Faber.
During the
introduction to this book the director of films such as Orlando and The Man Who
Cried, Sally Potter writes, “This book does not attempt to examine other
directors’ ways of working with actors. It has no scholarly pretentions, no
footnotes or references. I have limited its scope to my direct experience.”
Trying to
write about the making of films either as director or actor without appearing
pretentious is a difficult achievement. When film directors and actors attempt
to discuss their art and the way in which they suffer for their particular
slice of cultural this can, and more often than not does, come across as
pretentious, pompous and earnest.
Incredibly,
Sally Potter has managed to execute an unaffected, natural piece of writing on
a art form that has as many detractors as it does admirers. Sally Potter the
director of seven films proves her ability to write a compelling book on the
world of cinema without cliché or blandness.
The first
half of the book consists of Sally Potter discussing the how she has dealt with
actors and how best to deal with the acting fraternity when creating a film.
Part one deals with ‘preparation’: how she handles actors during auditions,
rehearsals, finding the character and finding the look of the actor’s character
through make-up, hair etc. Part two, ‘The Shoot’ deals primarily with how
actors deal with the camera, fear of the actor and the directors, use of the
monitor and how to handle divas. Part three, ‘post-production’, involves a look
at the under-valued and under-appreciated work in the editing suite.
The second
half of the book is interviews by Sally Potter with those actors whom she has
worked with over the years: Joan Allen, Lily Cole, Julie Christie, Steve Buscemi
and Judi Dench to name just a few.
There are
some interesting answers to Sally Potter’s questions. When the director asks
Judi Dench about her experience with directors she relates about being asked by
Clint Eastwood to do a film and not meeting him until the first day of
shooting, “I sat there and then just before we were about to start, I felt a
hand on my shoulder. And that was Clint Eastwood.” Sally Potter is surprised
that that was her first meeting with the actor-director but Ms Dench explains
that she believes in being, “entirely in a director’s hands.” I found almost
all the interviews of interest and it was interesting to read of each actor’s
response to many of the same questions.
Sally Potter
writes with an unflinching, unapologetic didactic style. As a film fan I found
the book illustrative and entertaining and it is hard to believe that film ingénues
and media students will not feel the same.
Number of pages - 400
This was sent to me via Netgalley for an unbiased and honest review.
http://sallypotter.com/
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