geekly reader: FILMCRAFT PRODUCING

By Stefan Blitz

FilmCraft: Producing 
By Geoffrey Macnab & Sharon Swart
Focal Press

At 192 pages, Macnab & Swart’s FilmCraft: Producing feels like a much larger book, in no small part the result of the sheer amount of information within.

In the film industry, the role of a producer can vary based on hundreds of factors and their various responsibilities can represent hundreds of others.

With the responsibility of handling and answering thousands of questions during a single project, the producer is simply, the person responsible for bringing a movie to life.

The book is built around some stunning photography and fifteen truly illuminating interviews with some of cinema’s most prolific producers including Tim Bevan (Les Miserables, The Big Lebowski, Shaun of the Dead), Edward R. Pressman (The Crow, Conan the Barbarian), Lauren Shuler Donner (Mr. Mom, Free Willy, the X-Men franchise), Jon Kilik (Do The Right Thing, The Hunger Games), Bill Kong (Hero, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), Jon Landau (Titanic, Avatar), Jan Chapman (The Piano), Lorenzo di Bonaventura (The Matrix, The Transformers, G.I. Joe), the team of Ron Yerxa & Albert Berger (Little Miss Sunshine, Election), and Andrew Macdonald (Trainspotting, 28 Days Later).

For cinegeeks, the book is a treasure trove of little known information and production trivia.  Both an invaluable reference work as well as an excellent overview and introduction to the producer’s role in contemporary cinema.  For everyone, it’s a smart, entertaining and highly readable must have for your bookshelf.  Highly recommended.

After the jump check out a few sample pages.