Back to Search Results
|
Other item info
|
) 
Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing.
Portions of this page Copyright 1995 - 2010 Muze Inc. 
All rights reserved.
Item specifics - Nonfiction Books | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| See reviews |
Detailed item info
| Synopsis | |
| In this critical examination of Hollywood film corporations, a Variety editor reproves studios' marketing tactics and their reluctance to produce quality films. He argues that studios are so obsessed with generating blockbuster revenue that they often allow marketing teams to make artistic judgements. | |
| Size | |
| Length: | 311 pages |
| Height: | 9.8 in. |
| Width: | 6.5 in. |
| Thickness: | 1.2 in. |
| Weight: | 20.8 oz. |
| Publisher's Note | |
| A genuine behind-the-scenes look into the new Hollywood by an insider. Bart puts the spotlight on the summer season of 1998, taking the reader through the entire cycle of would-be summer blockbusters. | |
| Industry reviews | |
| In 1969, William Goldman penned The Season, the quintessential insider's guide to the triumphs and failures of one Broadway season but no author has since managed to do the same for Hollywood. Who better to attempt it than Bart, a former studio executive at Paramount, MGM/UA and Lorimar and currently editor-in-chief of Variety? Here Bart offers a savvy, gossipy, nuts-and-bolts look at the corporate machinations behind the summer films of 1998, a season of extravagant hype, box-office records and corporate disquiet that spotlighted what he calls the "dysfunctional economics of the movie industry." He divides his book into three sections: Genesis, a rundown of executives at the major studios and an outline of 11 hotly anticipated summer pictures, Armageddon to The X-Files; The Reckoning, a week-by-week listing of box office grosses for the 18 weeks of the summer season; and The Fallout, an assessment of why executives have grown increasingly wary of taking risks in a market dominated by blockbusters. Recounting how each film was put together and sold to the public, he relates chilling anecdotes of studio interference and moneymen making artistic decisions. As Bart shows little interest in the quality of these films, however, his book seems written primarily for the executives pulling the strings (for instance, the box office failure of Godzilla is largely attributed to a backlash against the mega-prerelease hype and rushed release date rather than the generic substance of the film). Whether or not the summer of 1998 marked a major turning point for Hollywood is debatable, but Bart has that rare bird's-eye view of the business that allows him to discern, even in this one fairly random crop of movies, the economic forces shaping American cinema. (Feb.) Fox In lively and instructive fashion, Variety's editor-in-chief examines a moviegoing season that seems like yesterday because it was. Via interviews with actors, directors, studio executives, producers, and writers, Bart traces the genesis, development, and marketing of, in particular, The Truman Show, Armageddon, Bulworth, Godzilla, There's Something About Mary, Lethal Weapon IV, The Mask of Zorro, Small Soldiers, Deep Impact, Saving Private Ryan, and Six Days, Seven Nights. We witness the success or failure of these and other films during 18 summer weeks and learn how special effects, star salaries, cooperative ventures, and merchandising deals compromise studio profits. Cinema students as well as casual moviegoers will question some of Bart's conclusions special effects movies are not a "distinct genre," and Anthony Hopkins and Antonio Banderas are major stars and occasionally facts are wrong (e.g., Splendor in the Grass was released in 1961, not 1966). These caveats aside, The Gross is a fascinating inside look at filmmaking that leaves one wondering how anything cohesive is ever projected on the big screen. For public and academic libraries and performing arts collections. Kim Holston, American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters, Malvern, PA Dirda | |
All rights reserved.Questions and answers about this item | |||
| |||
Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing.
Shipping and handling
Item location: Los Angeles, CA, United States
Shipping to: United States
Shipping and handling | To | Service | Estimated delivery* |
|---|---|---|---|
US $3.95 | United States | US Postal Service Media MailTM | 3-10 business days |
*The estimated delivery time - opens in a new window or tab is based on the seller's handling time, the shipping service selected, and when the seller receives cleared payment - opens in a new window or tab. Sellers are not responsible for shipping service transit times. Transit times may vary, particularly during peak periods.
Domestic handling time |
|---|
Will usually ship within 1 business day of receiving cleared payment - opens in a new window or tab. |
Return policy
| The seller will not accept returns for this item. |
Payment details
| Payment method | Preferred / Accepted | |
|---|---|---|
 | PayPal Preferred |
Back to Search Results | See More Details about "The Gross by Peter Bart (1999, Hardcover)" | Sell one like thisReturn to top
 About eBay | Announcements | Buy Hub | Security Center | Resolution Center | Buyer Tools | Policies | Stores | Site Map | Help | eBay official time | |||
| |||
| Copyright © 1995-2010 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the eBay User Agreement and Privacy Policy. | |||
