Start to Finish: Woody Allen and the Art of Moviemaking

by Eric Lax Narrated by Arthur Morey

Overview

A cinephile's dream: the chance to follow legendary director Woody Allen throughout the creation of a film--from inception to premiere--and to enjoy his reflections on some of the finest artists in the history of cinema.

Eric Lax has been with Woody Allen almost every step of the way. He chronicled Allen's transformation from stand-up comedian to filmmaker in On Being Funny (1975). His international best seller, Woody Allen: A Biography (1991), was a portrait of a director hitting his stride. Conversations with Woody Allen comprised interviews that illustrated Allen's evolution from 1971 to 2008. Now, Lax invites us onto the set--and even further behind the scenes--of Allen's Irrational Man, which was released in 2015, and starred Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone. Revealing the intimate details of Allen's filmmaking process, Lax shows us the screenplay being shaped, the scenes being prepared, the actors, cinematographers, other crew members, the editors, all engaged in their work. We hear Allen's colleagues speak candidly about working with him, and Allen speaking with equal openness about his lifetime's work. An unprecedented revelation of one of the foremost filmmakers of our time, Start to Finish is sure to delight not only movie buffs and Allen fans, but everyone who has marveled at the seeming magic of the artistic process.

Editorial Reviews

The New York Times Book Review - Peter Biskind

You don't need to be a Woody Allen fan to enjoy this book. It's a veritable master class in filmmaking, with much to interest and amuse anyone who loves movies.

From the Publisher

A veritable master class in filmmaking.” —The New York Times Book Review

“An undeniably captivating read. . . . A seriously up close and personal book. . . . Lax has an innate understanding of how Allen works.” —The Buffalo News

“A highly personal portrait of Allen—we see his insecurities, his vulnerabilities, and his dogged pursuit of a good story, be it for comedy or for deep examination of human morality—and the narrative is ripe with anecdotes and quotes. But the real achievement is seeing in detail the arc of any creative process. . . . The intimate access makes the book.” —Kirkus Reviews
 
“A clear and entertaining introduction to the moviemaking process. . . . The reader becomes immersed in the careful work that goes into [Allen’s] films. The book succeeds simultaneously as biographical snapshot, primer on filmmaking, and documentary of an artwork’s creation.” —Publishers Weekly
 
“Having written a first-rate biography of Woody Allen and then published a collection of interviews with the comedian-turned-filmmaker, Eric Lax now shares the experience of observing Woody at work. . . . From concept to filming to editing and polishing, this book offers a closeup look at the process of a true auteur, one of the rare American filmmakers who has complete control over his work.” —Leonard Maltin, leonardmaltin.com
 
“Quite simply, this is unprecedented access to the creative process and Lax is a kind, patient observer.” —PopMatters

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169151374
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	10/03/2017
Edition description:	Unabridged

Read an Excerpt

Chapter 1
(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "Start to Finish"
by .
Copyright © 2018 Eric Lax.
Excerpted by permission of Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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