Wonderful book full of great stories and insights. Less of a how-to that her previous book, this is more of a what-happened-to-me; in particular, it’s how to stay in the business after the initial indie boom, which Vachon has done. The tone is a little wearier, a little more tired – Oscars and money are more important, the constant question is how much to compromise. It’s a more grown up book, if that makes sense. But it’s also inspirational, in that if you keep trying to do good work with good people you’ll have a real career.
Fantastic stories – Kimberly Pierce and Hilary Swank clashing on Boys Don’t Cry (for genuine artistic reasons); censorship on the same films (getting past censors by cutting a bit where Swank brushes her mouth post-sex with Chloe Sevigny); the agony of making Infamous which came out just after Capote (did everyone really think the Infamous script was amazing); her trick of asking people if they’ve ever had a long term romantic relationship before deciding to work with them (if they say “no”, she doesn’t – it’s as good a test as any!); fighting with directors and dealing with studios. Really worth reading for all filmmakers and fans of indie film.
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