The Art Of The Hollywood Backdrop

(Hardback)

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Description

The definitive behind-the-scenes history of one of Hollywood's most closely guarded cinematic secrets finally revealed - painted backdrops and the scenic artists who brought them to the big screen. The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop reveals the hidden world and creators of these masterpieces, long-guarded as a special effects secret by the major studios such as MGM, Warner Brothers, Universal, Columbia, 20th Century Fox and Paramount. In an effort to preserve the irreplaceable knowledge of scenic masters, Maness and Isackes have compiled the definitive history.

Reviews

The best book written about one of our crafts . . . ever. Perspective: The Journal of the Art Directors Guild
To turn the pages of this book is to feel like youve entered a legendary treasure house filled with magnificent images, paintings that fooled the eye. Los Angeles Times
A welcome reminder of how the movies managed to summon their most magical worlds from pigments and brushstrokes. New York magazine
In The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop . . . the unsung artists who created some of cinemas most enduring images take a long-overdue bow. The Wall Street Journal
Pays homage to the trompe loeil that created some of films most iconic settings. The Hollywood Reporter
"Reveals a facet of moviemaking that even savvy film buffs may not know about . . . You will be amazed, as I was, at the number of familiar scenes from films as varied as The Wizard of Oz, North by Northwest, and Lemony Snicket'sA Series of Unfortunate Events that make use of these canvases . . . This is truly an eye-opening book and a valuable contribution to our understanding of how movies are created."

Leonard Maltin
"The fascinating scenic work documented so gorgeously here is vivid testimony to the critical role of the artist in the creation of expressive, immersive narrative environments throughout the history of cinema. We can begin to appreciate perhaps what we are now losing: the hand of the artist illuminated by the cinematographers light and captured on camera at the moment of performance."

Rick Heinrichs, Academy Awardwinning production designer ofSleepy Hollow
What a pleasure it is to see this book being published. Now, the filmgoer can see for themselves one of the great and beautiful mysteries of film creation. This book shows it all.

Dean Tavoularis, Academy Awardwinning production designer ofThe Godfather: Part II
To see all my heroes in one book andlook inside this enchanting worldis extraordinary. A truly inspiring book.

Jess Gonchor, Production Designer ofTrue Grit,No Country for Old Men, andHail, Caesar!
"What an astonishing achievement this spectacular volume is! Itsanamazing treatthatwe, who love the movies, are being presented with. Massive congratulations are due to all who contributed to making this 'dream-work' such a totally absorbing reality.

Tony Walton, Academy Awardwinning production designer ofAll That Jazz

Author Bio

Karen Maness is the principal instructor of scenic art and figurative painting for the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Texas at Austin, and Scenic Art Supervisor at Texas Performing Arts. Maness studied studio art and set design at Whittier College in Los Angeles, California and continued her studies at Cobalt Studios in White Lake, New York, and The Florence Academy of Art in Italy. Her career as a scenic artist and practicing studio artist spans more than twenty-five years, with works held in private collections worldwide.

Richard Isackes is currently a professor of theater at the University of Texas at Austin. Isackes has designed extensively in both regional theater and opera and has twice been the recipient of the Boston Circle Critics award for best scene design. Formerly a member of the faculties of Bucknell University, Boston University and the University of Illinois, he currently holds the Joanne Sharpe Crosby Chair in Design and Technology at the University of Texas where he served as Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance from 1998 to 2006.