Inside the Cover Book
Review
Review by Marie D. Jones
I'll Be In My Trailer: The Creative Wars Between
Directors and Actors
By John Badham, Craig Modderno
Michael Wiese Productions
2006
ISBN 1932907149
Nonfiction
Highly recommended
For those of us who can only wonder at the glamour and intrigue of show
business, getting a behind-the-scenes look at what the glitterati doesn't reveal
can be quite an eye-opener, and an illusion-shatterer. This book serves up a
heap of insightful anecdotes, advice, and wisdom from actors and directors
working in the business, from difficulties in playing the part to the results of
communication breakdowns to struggles with egos the size of small countries.
Director John Badham ("Wargames," "Saturday Night Fever") collaborated on this
book with Craig Modderno of The New York Times, and together they uncover
the reality behind the camera lens as thespians and directors alike deal with
nasty temperaments, forgotten lines, insecurities, casting mishaps, faux pas
while shooting, hostile invasions in the editing room, respect and lack thereof,
stupid scenes, even more stupid casting tricks, and a host of other subjects
that are part of the day to day process of filmmaking that we never hear about
(unless someone gets hurt) since they don't involve walking the red carpet in a
designer dress.
But what they do involve is the real human side of performing, whether you are
in front of or behind the camera, and how that performance is a collaborative
effort that requires the most delicate touches at times. We get plenty of
lowdown from those in the biz from actors like Ed Asner, Gary Busey, Jenna
Elfman, John Travolta, Candice Bergen, and John Cusack, to directors like Randal
Kleiser, John Frankenheimer, Michael Mann, Oliver Stone, and Roger Corman (among
so many others). We even hear from those who have worked both sides-- Mel
Gibson, Betty Thomas, Michael Chiklis.
My favorite story was from Badham himself, recounting his decision to not work
on "The Wiz" and it really reaffirmed my faith that some of the people working
in Hollywood have a deeper integrity. But other stories suggest bigger egos than
hearts, and readers will be sucked in to these tales of tantalizing truths about
a business we so often think of as all shiny and glossy and perfect. Whether you
have any intention of ever becoming a director or actor really matters not,
because this is a highly entertaining and eye-opening book about a part of human
culture that touches us all.
That's entertainment. CUT!
CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE BOOK.
Marie D. Jones
writes screenplays as well as fiction, articles and essays for several national
publications. Her new book is Looking for God in All the Wrong Places (Paraview
Press). She is the creator of an award-winning children's video, Pig Tales, and
has written and produced several direct-to-video projects in national
distribution. Her greatest creation is her toddler son, Max, co-created by hubby
Ron. They live in San Marcos, California.
