Norman Jewison
A Director's Life
by Ira Wells
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Pub Date May 18 2021 | Archive Date May 28 2021
Sutherland House | Sutherland House Books
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Description
But despite being what his friend William Goldman called “a giant of the industry,” Jewison could also walk the streets of any city in the world and go unrecognized. Jewison was a man of contradictions: he cared more about telling great stories than gaining fame and fortune by showcasing movie stars, but generations of Hollywood’s marquee actors—Judy Garland, Sidney Poitier, Faye Dunaway, Al Pacino, Jane Fonda, Burt Reynolds, Goldie Hawn, Bruce Willis, Denzel Washington—trusted him at crucial moments in their careers. Yet, for all his talent and the passionate support of his actors, Jewison suffered heartbreaking rejection from the executives who refused to believe in his dreams. Norman Jewison: A Director’s Life is a story of artistic survival and reinvention, and about the fate of original cinematic ideas in an industry increasingly captive to corporate greed. Drawing upon exhaustive archival research and dozens of interviews, Ira Wells provides a soulful portrait of an idealist who had to fight for every frame of his legacy. Here are Norman’s legendary collaborators— Hal Ashby, William Rose, Steve McQueen, and more—brought to vivid life in original letters, telegrams, and revealing, unpublished interviews. A clear-eyed reassessment of Hollywood’s final golden age, Norman Jewison: A Director’s Life is both the intimate portrait of an artist and a rallying cry for anyone who has had to fight for their creative vision.
A Note From the Publisher
Advance Praise
“Renowned filmmaker Norman Jewison is a contradiction in terms: one of the great purveyors of classical Hollywood storytelling and an outsider at the same time. Finally, with Ira Wells’s rewarding biography, Jewison receives the attention he richly deserves. Wells’ vibrant, well-written chronicle is one of those indispensable film books that illuminates the times and life of one of film’s major practitioners.” -- Michael Barker, Co-President and Co-Founder, Sony Pictures Classics
“This is a terrific book and a fun read. Norman Jewison directed some of the most enjoyable films of our time. I thank Norman for his films and applaud Ira Wells for capturing both Norman’s legendary feistiness and his great generosity of spirit, both of which I experienced first-hand.” -- Joe Eszterhas, writer of Basic Instinct, Showgirls, and Hollywood Animal
“Ira Wells, wonderful storyteller and master stylist, takes us to the movies, then behind the scenes, then beyond, bringing new life to films and stars we thought we knew. This is a book you will never want to put down.” -- David Yaffe, author of Reckless Daughter: A Portrait of Joni Mitchell
Marketing Plan
- Frontlist positioning for Spring 2021 previews & highlights with key trade publications
- Pitching for reviews and new release round-ups in PW, Booklist, Foreword, Kirkus, LJ and others
- Full-scale PR emphasizing reviews, interviews, features/profiles, and excerpts with major U.S. & Canada print, online, and broadcast media (books, culture, arts & entertainment, human interest, celebrities)
- Focus on relevant special interest media (podcasts, blogs, magazines, quarterlies): film & filmmaking, features/profiles & biographies, art & artists, Hollywood profiles & history
- Pre-release ARC seeding with influential non-fiction critics, bloggers, Hollywood historians, actors & filmmakers
- NetGalley promotion & homepage feature
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- Pre-order push and ongoing release promotion in Sutherland House Books newsletter and social media
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781989555385 |
| PRICE | $28.95 (USD) |
Featured Reviews
jean luc e, Librarian
A captivating, well rounded and very detailed biography of the life and works of one of the most influential filmmakers since the 60s. From "In the heat of the night" to "Agnes of God", Norman Jewison has relentlessly strived not only to entertain us but also to stir and encourage us, his audience, to question and challenge the World by helping us to reject the straightjacket of social conventions. Ira Wells has written a magnificent portrait of a brilliant director who helped overturn many of the established norms in the movie industry. A must read for all film buffs and a worthy addition to all motion picture research libraries.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Sutherland House for giving me the opportunity to read this wonderful biography prior to its release date
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