Little did I know he was a total filmmaker behind the scenes. A “total” filmmaker does -- or knows about -- everything connected with the film he’s involved in. And thanks to Lewis’ wonderful book, The Total FilmMaker, now I know the breadth and depth of his commitment to every movie he made. He even invented a Video Assist which is attached to a camera in order for the director to see if everything looks right as the filming is being done.
Thanks also to Lewis for sticking to comedies. Below is my favorite Lewis quote.
“Comedy, humor, call it what you may is often the difference between sanity and insanity, survival and disaster, even death. It’s man’s emotional safety valve.”
Jerry Lewis loved filmmaking.
He taught a course without faking.
In every aspect you could name,
He gained respect and also fame.
His comedies made laughter roar.
Would Oscar folks open the door?
This book explains how he became
TOTAL FilmMaker in the game.
While reading it, I thought I heard
Lewis himself in every word.
More than a star, he knew each part
of movie making and its art.
With film lovers he shares all this
in a book you must not miss.
The first edition of Lewis’ book was published in 1971. It included his lectures for a course at the University of Southern California Film School in 1966. This new edition adds remembrances from students, family members and movie folks like cinematographer Caleb Deschanel.
Wannabe filmmakers will find expert tips and advice in all areas related to movie making. These areas are covered in three parts: Production, Post-Production and Comedy. People who love movies will discover fascinating information about Lewis’ ideas concerning actors, directing, writing, producing, editing, and much more. They should also enjoy the eleven pages showing Jerry Lewis as a total filmmaker!
In his letter “To the Reader,” Jerry Lewis closes with the following paragraph.
“I think I love films and those that love them better than just about everything else in the world---and I hope when you read this book you will become a part of the already overwhelming number of film-loving people.”
As a confirmed movie addict, I highly recommend The Total FilmMaker for any Jerry Lewis fan, film buff, or film student.
(Foreword by Leonard Maltin, published by Published by Michael Wiese Productions, and available on Amazon.com.)
And I grew to dislike his annual telethons for MS and MD, provoking sympathy for his "cute kids" who he abandoned when they became ugly adults and no longer brought in the big dollars that he cried for like a fool more and more until he finally bowed out, much too late.
However, in 1967, when I visited the Keene collection of bigeyed children and others at its North Beach, San Francisco, location, there was one painting of Jerry in a harlequin suit and his entire family. I was tempted to buy it, but it was probably copied many times and I didn't have money as a student.
Ron