Start To Finish: Woody Allen and the Art of Moviemaking

(Paperback)

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An inside view of Woody Allen's filmmaking process-from inception to premiere-by his longtime biographer. In Start to Finish, longtime Woody Allen biographer Eric Lax takes us onto the set and behind the scenes of Allen's 2015 movie, Irrational Man, starring 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, and the actors, cinematographers, editors, and other participants at work. We hear Allen's colleagues speak candidly about working with him, and Allen speaking with equal openness about his career. An unprecedented insight into one of the foremost filmmakers of our time, Start to Finish is sure to delight not only movie buffs and Allen fans, but also everyone who has marveled at the magic of the artistic process.

Reviews

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 Allenwe see his insecurities, his vulnerabilities, and his dogged pursuit of a good story, be it for comedy or for deep examination of human moralityand 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 [Allens] films. The book succeeds simultaneously as biographical snapshot, primer on filmmaking, and documentary of an artworks 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

Author Bio

Eric Laxs books include Woody Allen: A Biography, an international best seller and a New York Times Notable Book of the Year; Bogart (with A. M. Sperber); and Conversations with Woody Allen. Lax has written for The Atlantic, Esquire, the Los Angeles Times, and The New York Times Magazine. He lives in Los Angeles.