The FilmCraft series from Focal Press is a very well made series of books. With each release it makes the series that much stronger and the quality and content has continued to be of high value to not only film buffs but the casual reader as well. The latest gem in the series is a very strong addition. It focuses on what you may think of as the ring master of it all. The Producer.

The FilmCraft book “Producing” is in truth a jack of many trades, they have their hands on a film project from the start and are instrumental in hiring all members of the film crew (Director too) as well as the cast.

The writers Geoffrey Macnab and Sharon Swart both have long careers in the writing field and covering and or writing about the entertainment industry in one aspect or another.

In this book they bring all their skills to bear using in depth interviews and plumbing the minds and thoughts of some of the industry’s great Producers. As this book series has always covered the greats from several countries and thankfully, the tradition stands for this title. We get some incredible insights from all over the world. The United States, Australia, The Netherlands, Germany, and the UK to name a few, and this is where this book is a true gem to have.

The insights are simply fascinating. The behind the scenes of a production, what happened, things that were supposed to happen but did not. For whatever reason, and often those reasons are shared…some twist happened and made the film that much better. These little known stories of behind the scenes and even the thought process of these Producers highlighted is a treasure trove of insider information. “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” for instance was not expected to do well in America, it was a film that was mainly focused on the Chinese market…finding out the inside information on one of the best Hong Kong industry films is a real treat…and there are dozens of other films from all over the world spotlighted in this book.

The books design follows the others in the Film Craft line, Soft bound with an artistic cover that you feel like you want to hang on a wall and display, spread them out on your coffee table because they are so artistically designed.

Photographic illustrations inside are just as artistically done, with a mix of film scenes and behind the scenes and in the process moments. It’s a fitting culmination of these two fine writers work as the veil of mystery for the Producers craft is observed and patiently shared with the reader.

The Film Craft Series : Producing, is the book to have in your library. If you have a shred of love for cinema, do not pass this up.

Have fun, play games, read more books.

Edwin Millheim