Making The Elephant Man: A Producer's Memoir

by Jonathan Sanger

Overview

The true story of John (Joseph) Merrick--a.k.a. the Elephant Man--has captured the imagination of generations of audiences, critics, actors and filmmakers. In 1978, producer Jonathan Sanger received a screenplay from two unknown writers about a hideously disfigured man who refused to fall victim to despair and instead exemplified human dignity. Reading it (twice), Sanger was determined that Merrick's story would be told.

This book is Sanger's unvarnished first-person account of how The Elephant Man (1980) was made. His adventure in filmmaking--itself a study in triumph over despair--involved special effects nightmares, scheduling conflicts, location issues and many risky decisions. Assembling a team that included Mel Brooks (executive producer), David Lynch (director) and actors John Hurt and Anthony Hopkins, Sanger persevered in making this inspiring, award-winning film.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476627311
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date:	10/21/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	208
File size:	8 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Jonathan Sanger, an Academy Award–winning producer, film, theater and television producer and director, media advisor, and entertainment financial consultant, has lead initiatives in every sector of the entertainment industry. His writing has appeared in magazines, newspapers, encyclopedias and filmmaking handbooks. He lives and works in Los Angeles and New York City.
Jonathan Sanger, an Academy Award-winning producer, film, theater and television producer and director, media advisor, and entertainment financial consultant, has lead initiatives in every sector of the entertainment industry. His writing has appeared in magazines, newspapers, encyclopedias and filmmaking handbooks. He lives and works in Los Angeles and New York City.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Preface
 1. The Babysitter’s Boyfriend’s Script
 2. Mel Comes on Board
 3. Jimmy Stewart on Venus
 4. “This is Pinocchio”
 5. Principal Casting
 6. The Green Light
 7. Finding Allies
 8. Live Human Freaks Required
 9. “The darkest times of my life”
10. Meeting John Merrick
11. Shooting Begins
12. “This is going to work”
13. Happy Every Hour of the Day
14. Post-Production
15. First Audiences
16. From Disaster to Triumph
17. “We got eight!”
18. Life Lessons
Afterword
Appendix: A Pictorial Storyboard of The Elephant Man
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

an exceptional, insightful, compelling, and impressively information account”—Midwest Book Review; “Jonathan Sanger’s book on the making of The Elephant Man is more than a ‘memoir’ of the film. Yes, it is an intimate recollection of the hundreds of daily details demanded to bring a movie from an idea or ‘pitch’ to its theatrical release—but it also is a guide for any producer or filmmaker to understand why the human factor of personal connection is, finally, what makes a mere movie a work of universal art.”—John Bailey, cinematographer, film maker and recent president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; “This work is fantastic. For one thing: you tell the truth...who behaved well, who didn't; who was difficult. It drives me crazy that everyone always pretends on movies that everything was perfect...which means no accountability, no reckoning...egos spinning out of control. For another: you don't spare yourself. A third: you give the real day-to-day experience. This is what it's really like, folks. This is how close we came to disaster. This is where one false move would have sunk us... And so on. Lastly: you have a sense of humor. Without which, life would be intolerable. It's a really invaluable book.”—Nick Kazan, screenwriter and playwright, Academy Award winner for Reversal of Fortune.

From the Publisher