So You Want to Be a Producer

So You Want to Be a Producer
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it's a start

So- So

I'm not a Producer, But I play one on TV

Great Book for New or Experienced Producers

So You Want to Be a Producer
Lawrence Turman
Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1400051665
Release Date: 2005-09-06

Book Description

Few jobs in Hollywood are as shrouded in mystery as the role of the producer. What does it take to be a producer, how does one get started, and what on earth does one actually do? In So You Want to Be a Producer Lawrence Turman, the producer of more than forty films, including The Graduate, The River Wild, Short Circuit, and American History X, and Endowed Chair of the famed Peter Stark Producing Program at the University of Southern California, answers these questions and many more.

Examining all the nuts and bolts of production, such as raising money and securing permissions, finding a story and developing a script, choosing a director, hiring actors, and marketing your project, So You Want to Be a Producer is a must-have resource packed with insider information and first-hand advice from top Hollywood producers, writers, and directors, offering invaluable help for beginners and professionals alike.

Including a comprehensive case study of Turman’s film The Graduate, this complete guide to the movie industry’s most influential movers and shakers brims with useful tips and contains all the information you need to take your project from idea to the big screen.

Customer Reviews:

it's a start.......2007-03-09

this is a really intended to introduce one who doesn't even know what a producer or does to the basic job functions. as a producer, i found it a little be text book'ish. a producer really needs to learn more about business in general and the politics of film making.
dark arts productions

So- So.......2006-05-14

Lawrence Turman emphasizes that this is not a how to book and rightfully so. This is mostly a memoir on how he made it in the business. He writes numerous times he is part of the Peter Stark porucing program at USC, so many times that it feels that you're being hit over the head with a baseball bat to make sure it sinks in.
He does write on what it takes to be a producer but I wish more emphasis was placed on how to get your foot in the door. He name drops so many times, it brings truth to the old Hollywood adage, "It's not what you know but who you know."
However, his stories on how he produced the Graduate and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, two great movies, are well worth the read.

I'm not a Producer, But I play one on TV.......2006-04-25

I'm not a producer. I'm a graphic designer. And from what I can tell from Mr. Turman's book, there are a lot of parallels between the two. In fact, that's why I bought the book in the first place: I suddenly found my creative-self undergoing mitosis, and generating a business counter-part. That's the part that doesn't just create a job, but has to sell and manage it. During my frustrations with having gone from "Designer" to "Orchestrator" a friend of mine told me that I was becoming more a less a "Producer." Around the time he said that, I was feeling more like worn-out ready to discard product than a producer.

And then I came across this book, and the title matched perfectly with the mood. Sort of. The author still loves what he does for a living. He's a masochist.

I got exactly what I wanted from this book: That is, a big reality check. Turman is probably dealing with the largest ego's the world will ever know - Cinema Artisans. Artists, when unfulfilled and unappreciated, are insecure. Invert that whole scenario and that insecurity turns into something that only a Producer or agent will tolerate. And when I read Turman's descriptions about many of the off-stage *characters* he's had to juggle, suddenly my life and work didn't seem so bad after all. Of course, I know jack about Producing a movie. But that's not the point. This book essentially illustrates how any type of "producing", places that person at the very center of a massive crowd that will undoubtedly span the gamut of personalities - all of which have to be juggled if the job is to be finished. Turman warns that it is not a job for the faint of heart.

And he covers every topic from what I can see. Like *collaboration*. A word that makes me laugh everytime I hear it. Because Turman's right: collabo projects are like a marriage where it is very rarely between equals. And sure, we may have known this already before opening the book, but I'll be damned if it doesn't feel good to hear someone else say it. And I can certainly relate to the collabo's he's outlined here.

And maybe that's the best part about this book: commiseration. Again, obviously I can't relate to working with a celebrity. But I can relate to working with artists and all the stubborn insecurities that come with that. Or the ugly competition. Or the divine posturing. And sometimes you actually like the SOB's, but they drive you insane.

There's a nostalgic value to the book that softens and seperates it from the suited-up shark value it could have had. For instance, Turman seems to have a healthy understanding of the balance between art and commerce - a balance that virtually defines Graphic Design. A self-indulgent artist will probably create a brilliant yet alienating piece of art with questionable marketing potential. Marketing types consider themselves the remedy for that. And yet now, as Turman illustrates, the scales have tipped to the other side with the marketing mavens taking over and pushing so far to the other side of commerce that movies are no longer stories but products to be consumed, discarded and forgotten. The best movies are stories that are remembered - and even quoted the way some quote Shakespeare. Ideally, you want to balance the scales so that both ambitions have their time in the sun. I'm too young to ever know if such a time existed. It sounds like maybe this time did exist during Turman's era, when he produced the movies he talks about in this book. But those days seem to have faded.

While there may not be a lot to like about being a producer, there's still a lot to love about this book. Another book like this should be written with a dozen producers talking about their jobs, their movies and the stories that go with them. But have mercy on the poor soul knighted with the task of producing such a book.

Great Book for New or Experienced Producers.......2005-11-25

Whether you are an aspiring or experienced producer, this is the book for you. The author packs a lot of information into the 250+ pages. The book is part "motivational," part "how-to," and part "memoir." It all sums up to one of the best and most entertaining producing books I've ever run across. I particular like the author's suggestion that you can maintain your morals and ethics and still be successful in the movie business.

So You Want To Be In Pictures?: A Christian Resource For "Making It" In Hollywood

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So You Want To Be In Pictures?: A Christian Resource For "Making It" In Hollywood
Ted Baehr
Manufacturer: B&H Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0805431926

Book Description

Ted Baehr is an entertainment industry professional who knows what it takes to make it in Hollywood. Moreover, he is a committed Christian who knows the pressures and opportunities unique to people of faith in this precarious world of show business. So You Want to Be in Pictures? will show Christians how to use their faith to change the culture of Hollywood and mass media entertainment by using their God-given and God-ordained gifts and talents to make significant creative contributions to the entertainment world.

Book Description

Written from both psychological and real-life perspectives, this provocative book can help experienced as well as aspiring screenwriters as they navigate the bumpy road to career security and success.

The book combines practical knowledge of the industry with insights into the emotional roadblocks that writers must overcome to succeed. Thought-provoking questions induce self-evaluation as readers are shown how to develop believable characters and storylines, conquer writer's block, consider the pros and cons of a collaborative partnership, and related concerns.

Customer Reviews:

If platitudes do it for you..........2006-08-02

... then this is your book.

One of the authors' experience is primarily in corporate video and teleconferences. The other is a marriage and family therapist. Some of the screenwriting authorities they quote are Donna Flint (huh), Tony Bui (?) and Sharon Y. Cobb (another huh). They cite the screenwriter and director of The Green Mile as Frank Tattersall (Darabont) and condemn both Green Mile and War of the Roses as "movies that have lost their believability" (Green Mile was a Stephen King supernatural fantasy and War of the Roses was a black comedy - neither of these genres pretend to be believable). They serve up new-agey advice such as "reaffirming what your own creative voice really sounds like will be a lifelong process" and "it is not until we decide to claim our destiny that we are faced with the true meaning of taking risks."

While this book doesn't pretend to provide anything other than motivation, it didn't succeed even in this regard. A screenwriter needs determination, resiliance and talent (along with some luck) to succeed in the biz, not half-baked, touchy-feely "there, there" strokes and condolences.

Sorry, gotta give this one a pass. I did give it two stars instead of one simply because they got Harold Ramis to contribute.

A Different Slant for Screenwriting Books.......2000-10-24

I really enjoyed this book because it takes a slant on screenwriting that's different from the (numerous) other books I've read on the subject. Instead of focusing on craft-like issues such as 3-act structure, which many other books have already done, "So You Want to be a Screenwriter" concentrates on the emotional and psychological issues of screenwriting. If you've ever experienced writer's block (and who hasn't?), if you've wondered things like what it would be like to collaborate with someone else on a script, or if you're trying to create more memorable characters in your scripts, this is the book for you.

Don't think though that because I've used the word "psychological," that this book reads like a college text - it doesn't. Also, it includes many interesting interviews with Hollywood insiders.

Book Description

Gone are the days when an aspiring actor or actress could sneak onto the lot of a production company, drop in on casting directors, or have lunch at the commissary to meet the glamorous and famous. "It's not at all like the days when I was a teenage actor," Steve Stevens Sr. says. "At age 13, I was spotted by a for-real fin de siccle German director who pulled me aside as I swaggered through the lot and gave me a speaking part in FRANK WISBAR'S FIRESIDE THEATER, TV's first anthology show."

"Today there is no Schwab's Drugstore where Lana Turner and several others were discovered," Stevens writes. Recognizing this, he decided to write this book for the beginning actor.

SO YOU WANT TO BE IN SHOW BUSINESS presents show business from Stevens' point of view based on his 50 years in Hollywood. Sprinkled amply with practical, helpful dos and don'ts throughout, the book presents the basic information of how Hollywood works. In his view, "making it" involves more than finding onself in front of a camera. It also means finding one's true self, one's happiness and place in the world.

"I have represented struggling actors who never made it, struggling actors who did, top movie and television stars on their way up, and some on their way down. The knowledge I am sharing with you is intended to help you avoid the mistakes I see people in the business making every day, particularly beginning actors."

Here is advice on avoiding the rip-off artists while breaking into the business and taking advantage of legitimate opportunities. Included is crucial information about how casting directors think, getting head-shot photos that work, writing résumés that sell, finding the right agent, how to read the trade papers, understanding showcases and workshops, meeting with casting directors, what the Screen Actors Guild is all about, the casting process, and much more.

"It's simultaneously funny, historic, funny, inspiring, and educational."—Doris Roberts, 4-Time Emmy-Winning star of EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND

Customer Reviews:

An eye-opening industry reference .......2005-06-07

If your career aspirations lie in the show biz world, don't forget to consult actor/producer/casting director Steve Stevens Sr.'s So You Want To Be In Show Business: A Hollywood Agent Shares The Secrets Of Getting Ahead Without Getting Ripped Off. Stevens also has a background representing struggling actors: his 50+ years experience in the acting trenches lends to an eye-opening industry reference crucial to learning about casting, agents, and more.

ATTENTION : ALL ACTORS.......2005-05-09

This is an absolute must-have for all actors! After being an actress for over 20 years, I have spent countless hours reading books on the business of acting. "So you want to be in Show Business," is the most complete book I have ever read on the subject. Steve Stevens Sr. masterfully blends humor along with the no-nonsense truth about this crazy business. All while giving encouragement and sharing his passion. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Needed the Help!!.......2005-04-10

I picked this great guide up last week, finished it in a day, and am totally changing the way I approach this business! There are so many little things that the authors recommend doing that I would never have thought of--I am much more confident, because now I feel like I am fully prepared when I go into auditions... Thank you!

Actress/Director sees the light!.......2005-04-10

This is my first review of anything, but I felt like I needed to give this book a plug--even though it comes from a small, independant press, this book should be in every acting/directing/theater class in the nation. Cady and Stevenson take you through the inner workings of the agent business, the right/wrong approaches to auditions, the way to work in Hollywood while keeping your sanity, all while maintaining an easy tone that gives one the confidence to take a chance and try to be a star! Great work, and a bargain for those of us who thought they knew the business.

The Actor's Must-Have!.......2005-03-03

Highly informative and very entertaining... anyone thinking about embarking on an actor's life should read this book! Loved it!

So You Want to Be a Film or TV Director? (Careers in Film and Television)

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So You Want to Be a Film or TV Director? (Careers in Film and Television)
Amy Dunkleberger
Manufacturer: Enslow Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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ASIN: 0766027384

So You Want to Be a Film or TV Editor? (Careers in Film and Television)

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So You Want to Be a Film or TV Editor? (Careers in Film and Television)
Amy Dunkleberger
Manufacturer: Enslow Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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ASIN: 0766027392

So You Want to Be a Film or TV Screenwriter? (Careers in Film and Television)

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So You Want to Be a Film or TV Screenwriter? (Careers in Film and Television)
Amy Dunkleberger
Manufacturer: Enslow Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

Careers | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0766026450

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A Front Row Seat to British Cinema History

So You Want to Be in Pictures
Val Guest
Manufacturer: Reynolds & Hearn
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1903111153

Customer Reviews:

A Front Row Seat to British Cinema History.......2005-03-21

As a young writer on the London scene in the busy thirties Val Guest promptly jumped from feature articles for the Hollywood Reporter to crafting screenplays. An interview with British director "Nipper" Lupino Lane, future star Ida Lupino's uncle, led to an invitation to work with him at Gainsborough Studios in London's Islington area.

Before Guest knew it he was a director himself in the busy Gainsborough milieu, providing initial acting breaks to the likes of his friend Michael Rennie and Jean Simmons. A star with whom he worked closely during the period was Margaret Lockwood, while his neighbor in the office next door for ten interesting years was none other than Alfred Hitchcock. When Guest set sail for the comedy realm he hooked up with celebrated London funny man Will Hay.

Film lovers will find this book a veritable feast chock full of anecdotes about London in an exciting era when Guest turned out products at a fantastic clip while helping in the war effort as well. Some of the most interesting pages of the book relate to how Gainsborough film folk such as himself continued turning out movies to enhance British morale by day and risked their lives as volunteer fire fighters by night amid unrelenting attacks by Germany's crack air force, the Luftwaffe, during the Battle of Britain. Guest chronicles how the British "stiff upper lip" was invoked through humor in the wake of attack as he swapped jokes with kindred spirit James Mason, the handsome and talented Yorkshire leading man, who also performed valuable night fire fighting duties.

A key point of Guest's life surfaced when an American leading lady from New Jersey took the West End by storm as she played to packed houses in Garson Kanin's comedy, "Born Yesterday." Guest ardently pursued dazzling blonde Yolande Donlan from the first time he saw her on stage and ultimately she became his wife.

With Yolande Donlan so popular in Britain from her rousing stage success it was only natural for Guest to star her in films, and so he did. In 1949 she starred opposite Michael Rennie in "Miss Pilgrim's Progress." One year later Guest directed Donlan in "The Body Said No" opposite Rennie and in "Mr. Drake's Duck" in which she appeared opposite another of Guest's long time friends from the London scene, Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

The fifties proved to be a highly productive decade for Guest as he worked with such celebrated performers in British productions as Bette Davis, Dirk Bogarde, Frankie Howerd, Peter Sellers, Ben Lyon and Bebe Daniels, Laurence Harvey, and Leo McKern.

In the sixties Guest also remained intensely busy, becoming an in demand globe trotting director and screenwriter. In 1961 his British production "The Day the Earth Caught Fire" with Janet Munro and Leo McKern resulted in him winning a British Academy Award for Best Screenplay. He recounts sitting at the Dorchester Hotel on award night next to a fellow nervous nominee who won as director in the Best Documentary category, a young filmmaker named John Schlesinger who would soon become famous for such films as "Darling", "The Midnight Cowboy" and "Sunday, Bloody Sunday".

In 1963 Guest scored one of his most impressive triumphs as he directed and wrote the screenplay for "80,000 Suspects" under his own production banner. The film was set in scenic and historic Bath and starred Claire Bloom and Richard Johnson along with Yolande Donlan.

The sixties was the decade of James Bond and Guest moved successfully with the tide as he produced, directed, and wrote the screenplay for the 1964 release "Where the Spies Are" with David Niven and Francois Dorleac. In 1966 he directed along with John Huston, Kenneth Hughes, Robert Parrish, and Joseph McGrath the James Bond spy spoof "Casino Royale" with an all star cast that included Peter Sellers, Ursula Andress, David Niven, Orson Welles, Woody Allen, Charles Boyer, and Jean-Paul Belmondo.

In 1971 Guest was approached by producer Robert Baker to direct "The Persuaders" television series starring Roger Moore and Tony Curtis. When he begged off, explaining that he had never worked in television, Curtis and Moore prevailed on him to change his mind and join them, which he did. Success resulted and soon glamorous Joan Collins was aboard on the team as well.

Guest then brings his fascinating chronicle into the present, revealing how, after much investigation, he and Yolande found their place in the sun in Palm Springs, the desert community some two hours by car from the movie capital. He notes how popular a favorite is has been with the movie set since the thirties, when tennis enthusiasts Charles Farrell and Ralph Bellamy launched the Racquet Club, after which scores of their Hollywood friends followed them to the desert community.

Val Guest has been part of the cinema's rich history following a successful London beginning that ultimately took him to points throughout the world as an established international filmmaker of distinction. It is a fascinating journey and readers are considerably richer in insight for taking it with him as we move from the sound stages to fascinating locations throughout the cinema world.

So You Want to Make Movies: My Life As an Independent Film Producer

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So You Want to Make Movies: My Life As an Independent Film Producer
Sidney Pink
Manufacturer: Pineapple Press (FL)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0910923779

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So You Want to Produce a Picture
Leon Chooluck
Manufacturer: I. J. Rado
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Direction & Production | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0963394800

Book Description

The fastest-selling new artist of all time, with a #1 bestselling self-titled album, RB singer Ashanti offers up her personal collection of poems and journal entries along with the heartfelt stories behind them. Move over Alicia Keys, step aside Mary J. Blige, 21-year old RB singer Ashanti heated things up this past April when her debut album went straight to #1 on the pop charts. Now Ashanti is putting pen to paper in her first book filled with her favourite poems and reflections about love and relationships, along with personal and touching stories on what and who moved her to write each piece. This incredible collection of 'reflections on love' will give all an up-close and personal look into the world of RB singer Ashanti. Ashanti is the first artist to have 3 top 10 singles at the same time since the Beatles. She has become the fastest-selling new artist of all time with 750,000 records sold in the first two weeks, her next album is due out in February 2003.

Download Description

Foolish/Unfoolish is a collection of vibrant and honest "reflections on love" by R&B singer Ashanti. Ever since she was thirteen years old, Ashanti has kept journals of her poetry, thoughts, and ideas about life and love. Now, in this very personal collection, Ashanti presents her poems about love, along with stories about what (or who) moved her to write them. In Foolish/Unfoolish, Ashanti explores such universal themes as falling head-over-heels in love, becoming insanely jealous, feeling broken-hearted, and being single but having hope for the future. In "No Words," she describes being completely addicted to a new boyfriend; in "Ride Out," she captures what it feels like to be joyriding with your man on a hot summer night; in "Insecure," she writes about telling a suspicious boyfriend to stop driving by her house at night to see if her car is there; and in "Us," she delves into the pain of discovering that your man is cheating on you. Spirited, moving and often filled with humor, Ashanti's poetry and reflections will entertain and surprise as they offer an intimate look into the life of one of today's most popular performers. These are works that are both lyrical and raw and which tell the truth about love.

Customer Reviews:

Lacks Depth.......2005-10-25

I agree with all of you who take into account the fact that Ashanti wrote these poems when she was in High School, however, I was in high School when I read it and was apalled at her skills. How can such a great song writer be such a terrible poet? It didnt make sense to me because I equate both those processes to be one and the same. I found her skill at writing these poems minimal, most of her content childish and amateurish. They lacked not only alot of emotional depth, but maturity.

Granted Ashanti is no Maya Angelou, but she's not an elementary school kid either, that is, it is the level her work can be compared to. I felt like I was reading the work of a fourth grader, if it wasnt for the content.

I love Ashanti, but I dont love this work. It just seems like people in her PR dept thought it was a good idea to put out something like this to capitalize on her popularity. Nothing but a ploy to make more bucks! Don't waste your money or better yet, check it out from the library.

to Derek M.A. Alexander.......2005-01-28

In response to Derek M.A. Alexander, while you and other reviewers made good points about Ashanti's work reflecting her younger and current age, the samples I read were poor, and I have taken into account that she wrote them when she was younger. This has nothing to do with her literary or educational level or even or maturity. Frankly, I've written better poems when I was younger, and I write better poems now. [...]

It's not the worst poetry book I've ever read.......2005-01-11

"Foolish/Unfoolish" is very much like T-Boz's "Thoughts" in terms of structure: poetry is intertwined with antedotes and somewhat misguided advice for the consumer. Unlike "Thoughts," which dealt with T-Boz's ideas about things she didn't understand (like Marilyn Manson, in my opinion) and things she did (like her troubles with sickle-cell disease), this book deals with 1) Ashanti's poems, 2) what Ashanti thinks about love and 3) Ashanti's love life in high school, especially her proms. I have to admit to liking some of the poems--"Watch Me Glisten" and "To the Club" are my favorites--but one has to remember that she wrote all these poems in high school, meaning that they lack maturity and possibly a few good edits that professional poets would do before releasing poetry books. Every poem in Ashanti's book could be written by any junior high/high school girl in America (whether they're in a honors English class learning about "fancy-smancy" poets like Ashanti brags about or not); when I think of Ashanti's poems, I think of the girls in my 10th grade honors English class that still wrote sappy poems about love (and I wasn't one of them). There's nothing extremely special about most of these poems (unless you include the fact that parts of "Gotta Get Out" and "Us" were used as interludes on "Chapter II" and "Concrete Rose," respectfully). As for the antedotes, my favorite is when Ashanti forgets to pick up her sister to take her to a dance...to reveal the rest would be a spoiler. Otherwise Ashanti is either trying to provide good advice for teenagers in love or talking about her boyfriends. I couldn't care less about her boyfriends--she comes off as this preppy, popular, lovestricken teenager with fairly mundane adventures. If I grew up with her, I probably would be an outsider watching Ashanti maneuver her way through the popular crowd, not giving a damn about whether she would be homecoming queen or not. And since I am four years younger than Ashanti, practically her peer, I can't really take her ideas about romance seriously since I feel she lacks the romantic experience and confidence to give good relationship advice. (I also feel that she has some hang-up about sex, since she never delves into the topic fully in this book or in several of her romantic songs.) I feel that Ashanti could possibly be a good writer (and, sadly, for you people hoping she should never write a book again, she's inked deals to write more books for children) if she were a bit wiser and confident in love.

Foolish/Unfoolish : Reflections on Love.......2004-07-03

If you see this book or audio cd in stores RUUUUUUN it stinks oh my god I read the book first and it was boring so I was like I'm going to hear her read the book since she wrote it I thought she was going to put personality into it but she failed If they had a rating that was 0 or -1 then she'll deserves that

This Book Is For DIE HARD Ashanti Fans Only!!.......2004-04-27

I don't think Ashanti really put this out to show that she was some great poet, I think she was told by her handlers to put out one more thing for fans to buy. Strike while the iron is hot. This books is for die-hard fans only because they'll be the only ones to really get something out of this. I found the entries to be redundant and wishy washy. In one "reflection" Ashanti is trying to tell young ladies they don't need a man, love yourself, and play hard to get. Then in the next "reflection" she's saying that she wants to be with her boyfriend constantly, it's ok to have a little jealousy in your relationship, she's sneaking out of the house and from school for a guy. Which examples do you want young ladies to follow? It's one thing for Ashanti to write about her experiences but if she's trying to pass on lessons at least lead by example. It sounds like she was doing big girl things at an early age, some girls are mature enough for that but many are not. I give this book 2 stars instead of 1 solely based on the strength of her fans. They'll love anything she does like a true fan would, so I can see how they'll eat this up. Maybe with a little more time and proper editing this would have been much better.

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Reflections of an American Composer
Arthur Berger
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

History & Criticism | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0520232518

Book Description

In this engrossing collection of essays, distinguished composer, theorist, journalist, and educator Arthur Berger invites us into the vibrant and ever-changing American music scene that has been his home for most of the twentieth century. Witty, urbane, and always entertaining, Berger describes the music scene in New York and Boston since the 1930s, discussing the heady days when he was a member of a tight-knit circle of avant-garde young composers mentored by Aaron Copland as well as his participation in a group at Harvard University dedicated to Stravinsky. As Virgil Thomson's associate on the New York Herald Tribune and founding editor of the prestigious Perspectives of New Music, Berger became one of the preeminent observers and critics of American music. His reflections on the role of music in contemporary life, his journalism career, and how changes in academia influence the composition and teaching of music offer a unique perspective informed by Berger's abundant intelligence and experience.

Neil Young: Reflections in Broken Glass (MOJO Heroes)

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whats the beef
Slight.
WHAT??
Small but perfectly Formed

Neil Young: Reflections in Broken Glass (MOJO Heroes)
Sylvie Simmons
Manufacturer: Canongate U.S.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Entertainers | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1841953172

Book Description

In 1966, Neil Young drove a battered funeral car two thousand miles from his native Toronto to Los Angeles to seek his fortune in the music business. Nearly forty years of continuous writing and performing later, he is firmly established as one of the most influential and idiosyncratic singer-songwriters of his generation. His restless and innovative spirit ensures that he is one of the few rock veterans as vital in his old age as he was in his youth. Simmons provides fresh insights into Young's life so far. She also uncovers new facts about his friendship with Charles Manson, and closely examines his schizophrenic eighties output and musical return to form as the "Godfather of Grunge" in the nineties.

Customer Reviews:

whats the beef.......2003-12-20

I just don't get what some of these complaints are about this book. Yeah it's short but how I understand it is it was meant to be short - an introduction to Neil Young. And that was exactly what I was looking for. I've only just started getting into the man (yeah, I know!) and I didn't want to plough through 600 pages, but this really gave me a lot of insights into his character and his life and made me want to read further. Now I'm going to buy Jimmy macDonoughs book. But if you want something to the point and well written I would recommend this

Slight........2003-11-13

After reading this biography, I've no more insight than I would from reading cd liners. Very little insight into the characters in his life; nothing more than say CS&N's large egos. No interviews from on the scene characters, old band mates for ex. This book does not do justice to its subject.

WHAT??.......2003-08-28

I was very excited to get started on this book but about 15 pages into it, it states that Neil was at Woodstock and mentions CSN as "sidekicks". It was very wrong. I was truly dissapointed.

Small but perfectly Formed.......2002-10-01

I'll lay my cards on the table, I am what is commonly called a Neil Young obsessive so I wouldve been driven to buy the book whatever it was like. So no surprise I have a library full of, how shall I put this politely, mouse food. When I bought Sylvie Simmons' book on Neil Young I was a bit disappointed on first viewing to see that it wasn't very long - I've always loved her writing in MOJO magazine, especially of course when she's written about Neil Young, so I would have loved something the length of the Jimmy McDounough book (which I also bought). But do you know what? She packed more information and real insight into that short space than McDounough did into his huge tome (and actually I liked that too). So I'd say to any Neil Young fan, check Miss Simmons' book out, you won't be disappointed

Recollections and Reflections of an American Composer

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Recollections and Reflections of an American Composer
Eleanor Everest Freer
Manufacturer: Self Published
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000MMD8S2

Reflections on Composing: Four American Composers : Elwell, Shepherd, Rogers, Cowell

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Reflections on Composing: Four American Composers : Elwell, Shepherd, Rogers, Cowell
Frederick Koch
Manufacturer: Carnegie-Mellon University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Reflections of an American Composer.(Book Review)(Brief Article): An article from: American Music Teacher

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Reflections of an American Composer.(Book Review)(Brief Article): An article from: American Music Teacher
Paul Reed
Manufacturer: Music Teachers National Association, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from American Music Teacher, published by Music Teachers National Association, Inc. on June 1, 2003. The length of the article is 479 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Reflections of an American Composer.(Book Review)(Brief Article)
Author: Paul Reed
Publication: American Music Teacher (Refereed)
Date: June 1, 2003
Publisher: Music Teachers National Association, Inc.
Volume: 52 Issue: 6 Page: 99(2)

Article Type: Book Review, Brief Article

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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Recollections and reflections of an American composer
Eleanor Everest Freer
Manufacturer: s.n.]
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: B000884SHK

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