Down and Dirty Pictures: Miramax, Sundance and the Rise of Independent Film

Down and Dirty Pictures: Miramax, Sundance and the Rise of Independent Film

by PeterBiskind (Author)

Synopsis

In the late 1980s, a generation of filmmakers inspired by the directors of the 1970s began to flower outside the studio system. In the following decade, the independent movement bloomed. Steven Soderbergh, Quentin Tarantino, and dozens of lesser-known filmmakers began walking away with prizes at Cannes and eventually at the Academy Awards. Many of these directors were discovered at Robert Redford's Sundance film festival and were scooped up by Harvey and Bob Weinstein, whose company, Miramax, laid waste to the competition. In "Down and Dirty Pictures", Peter Biskind tells the story of the filmmakers and the independent distributors who revitalized Hollywood over the past decade. He follows the growth of Sundance from a regional film festival to the premier showcase of independent film that it became, showing how it succeeded almost despite Redford, whose visionary plans were often thwarted by his quixotic personality. He charts the meteoric rise of the controversial Harvey Weinstein, often described as the last mogul who, with his brother, left a trail of carnage in his wake, yet created an Oscar factory that is the envy of the studios. Candid and penetrating, "Down and Dirty Pictures" is a must-read for anyone interested in the film world and where it's headed.

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More Information

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 560
Edition: 1st ed.
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Published: 06 Sep 2004

ISBN 10: 0747565708
ISBN 13: 9780747565703
Book Overview: Loaded with gossip and outrageous stories, blended into a fascinating narrative By the author of the sensational classic Easy Riders, Raging Bulls An astute account of how film powerhouses Miramax and Sundance nurtured and then transformed independent filmmaking, changing the face of Hollywood.

Media Reviews
Thoughtful, gossipy, and altogether mesmerizing...A shamelessly good read. The New York Times
Author Bio
Peter Biskind is the author of three previous books. Currently a contributor to Vanity Fair, he was formerly the executive editor of Premiere and has written for numerous publications. He lives in Columbia County, New York.