Screenwriting Basics

5 Comments to “Spielberg: The Man, The Movies, The Mythology”

1. 

   By "Ann", November 18, 2009 @ 3:49 pm

   Two copies of Spielberg: The Man, The Movies, The Mythology arrived in great condition just 4 days after the order was placed on Amazon.com from this outside vendor in Pennsylvania. The books were less expensive than the shipping charges! My kids needed the books for a Spielberg film course that they are taking this summer at college. The book was chosen by the professor for the course text, but was not available for purchase at the college bookstore. The ease of purchase, great condition of the books and swift delivery makes this vendor most highly recommended.
   Rating: 5 / 5
2. 

   By Victoria M. Wall, November 18, 2009 @ 6:06 pm

   I got the 1996 edition of this book from the library that is somewhat shorter than the 2002 edition. This book is a great beginning – sharing enough to get a good feel for the humanity of Spielberg.

   Details on the process of Schindler’s List, the most impacting film I have ever experienced, I was great full to learn. Birthing the Shoa Foundation, what a magnificent thing to learn Spielberg is the catalyst, via Schindler’s List. Also editing Jurassic park while shooting Schindler’s, I found a powerful view of massive endurance.

   Of people I have studied, Churchill is one of my favorites. In the film arena I am sure Spielberg is up there with Churchill in significance. However, Churchill is a pinnacle reason Hitler failed. There are massive numbers of books on Churchill’s life, some more enjoyable than others. I am sure there are many more books on Spielberg- this one is a good beginning.

   I caught the tail of an interview on television called “Spielberg on Spielberg.” I was `wowed’ with how tender Steven Spielberg presented himself and wanted to catch the whole piece. I could not find it anywhere. Calling my library this book was one of the few books they had. It’s a great fast balance read.

   I generally limit my reading to biographies, history, business, and data I have involvement. This biography is refreshing and easy. I have no doubt for the volumes of actions Steven Spielberg has made- no book of roughly 300 pages can make a dent in details. This book is a fine overview.

   I read the critics of this book- oh well. The speed, balanced and endearing view of Steven Spielberg, a multifaceted gift to our world – this book has been well worth my time, even the 1996 edition. This book certainly reads smoother than half the biographies I’ve read.

   Rating: 5 / 5
3. 

   By SPANKY, November 18, 2009 @ 8:53 pm

   THIS BOOK SUCKED. the first ten pages were worth reading the rest of the book is not. The other two reviews hit the nail on the head. he repeats himself over and over after the first couple chapters and tells nothing more than the dates of his movies and divorces.DO NOT BUY!!
   Rating: 1 / 5
4. 

   By tvtv3, November 18, 2009 @ 11:46 pm

   I’m not quite sure what Sanello was thinking, but his biography, SPIELBERG is the biography equivalent of a one-hit-wonder. The most significant part of the book is the first few chapters that deal with Spielberg’s early life. I learned some things I didn’t know before. However, I guess after Sanello finished talking with a few old friends and family, he figured that was all the real research he needed to do because the rest of the biography reads like an extended version of PEOPLE magazine. There are no juicy tidbits and no in-depth research or even assumptions about how Spielberg is able to do what he does. The few times that Sanello discusses skirmishes that Spielberg had with former cast members, a short ancedote is given about their careers after the film and that is about all. Not only that, but several times throughout the book, Sanello quotes himself verbatim from previous chapters; sounding more like a freshman college student taking Lit 101 than the famed biographer he is supposed to be. Overall, SPIELBERG was a major let down. It’s worth reading for the first couple chapters about Spielberg’s early days, but the rest of the novel you can read yourself in the trades, newspapers, and magazines.
   Rating: 3 / 5
5. 

   By Pierre Lapointe, November 19, 2009 @ 1:02 am

   Unlike weightier bigraphies like Kevin Brownlow’s terrific “David Lean” or Simon Callow’s ‘Orson Welles-The road to Xanadu,” this book feels like author Sanello didn’t look much further than magazine articles and trade clips for research. According to the dust cover, he had over half a dozen interviews (7? that must have been exhausting!) with the director himself and a handful of stars (though never really truly substantiated), but it doesn’t seem like he thought about interviewing parents, siblings, co-workers, crew members, etc. for any more details or elucidations about this icon of American pop culture. His obvious admiration and fawning over his subject distracts from any possible objectivity and also grows tiresome. The book offers a basic overview of the director’s life and work but not much in terms of how he works, communicates, or thinks. For example, there’s almost nothing about his relationship with pivotal Amblin producers Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall. Didn’t they ever argue, or disagree about anything? How were projects brought in to the company and what was Kennedy and Marshall’s thoughts about their boss? There is also no insight from production designers or cinematographers or writers or producers he worked with. For more than just a cursory look at this director’s career (up to 1995) look elsewhere.
   Rating: 2 / 5

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