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Sign up todayThe Gross
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Learn moreWhen movies cost hundreds of millions to make and market, the magnitude of the wagers is astonishing. Vast riches rain down on those who gamble wisely, and careers are made and lost in one weekend. But never is this box office race more feverish than during the summer blockbuster season, when the studios roll out their most expensive, effects-laden pictures in a feverish race to win the box office derby.
Peter Bart, editor-in-chief of Variety, brings us a marvelously entertaining behind-the-scenes portrait of moviemaking, spotlighting the summer of 1998. He takes us through the entire cycle of would-be summer blockbusters, from script through casting and production and finally into release. Interviewing dozens of the most powerful names in Hollywood, Bart gives an in-depth account of why some succeeded and others failed.
Peter Bart was the editor of Variety from 1989 to 2009. He was a studio executive at Paramount, Lorimar, and MGM/UA and a journalist with the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. He has authored several books on the movie industry and now cohosts Shootouton AMC. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife.
Stuart Langton is an award-winning theater, film, and television actor. He has been an audiobook narrator for more than ten years. He lives in New York City.
Reviews
“Bart’s insider status ensures that we get the lowdown…[This book] has a far more compelling story line than any of the summer films he dissects, and the characters are far better developed.”
“Bart brings a remarkably plugged-in perspective to the movie community’s annual demolition derby.”
“[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…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.”
“[Stuart Langton] serves up this entertaining read with a cocky air that perfectly complements the author’s tone. His rapid tempo makes the text sound even cleverer than it is.”
“His insider’s perspective, and his ability to gain access to the major players in the business, serve him well here. The Gross is filled with juicy behind-the-scenes stories…a captivating snapshot of an industry in flux.”
“[A] fascinating inside look at filmmaking that leaves one wondering how anything cohesive is ever projected on the big screen.”
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