On Film-Making

<p><b>A priceless examination of the filmmaker's craft from the renowned director of <i>Sweet Smell of Success</i></b> <p/>After more than twenty years in the film industry as a screenwriter storyboard editor and director of memorable films such as <i>The Ladykillers</i> Alexander Mackendrick turned his back on Hollywood and began a new career as the Dean of one of the country's most demanding and influential film schools. His absolute devotion to the craft of filmmaking served as a powerful impetus to students at the California Institute for the Arts for almost twenty five years with a teaching style that included prodigious notes neatly crafted storyboards and handouts containing excerpts of works by Kierkegaard Aristotle and others. At the core of Mackendrick's lessons lay a deceptively simple goal: to teach aspiring filmmakers how to structure and write the stories they want to tell while using the devices particular to the medium of film to tell their stories effectively. <p/>In this impressive volume edited by Paul Cronin the myriad materials that made Mackendrick's reputation as an instructor are collected for the first time offering a chance for professionals as well as students to discover a methodology of filmmaking that is challenging yet refreshing in its clarity. Meticulously illustrated and drawing on examples from such classic films as <i>North by Northwest</i> <i> Citizen Kane</i> and <i>Touch of Evil </i> Mackendrick's elegant lessons are sure to provide inspiration for a new generation of filmmakers.</p>