A "wildly fictional" account of how novice director Orson Welles learned everything about the art of cinematography in half an hour... Or was is a weekend?
The Citizen Kane Crash Course In Cinematography... is a "graphic textbook" that is both, a risque fictional story and a manual on the basics of filmmaking and cinematography.
Set in 1940's Hollywood, prior to the filming of Citizen Kane, it follows the novice director Orson Welles as he leads the amazing cameraman Gregg Toland on a wild weekend, while Gregg attempts to teach Orson the fundamentals of filmmaking...
Mr. Welles was a notorious, drinker, eater, pill popper and womanizer and Mr. Toland follows in his wake through the watering holes of the day, The Brown Derby, Musso & Frank's Grill and the Roosevelt Hotel before they settle into Mr. Welles suite to study filmmaking... That's when the call girls who look like famous movie stars show up!
In the words of David Ward, the Academy Award winning writer of THE STING, "... if it didn't happen this way, it should have."
Excerpt
THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD...
The Orson Welles phenomenon that swept across America in 1939 after he had unleashed his radio play based on the H.G. Wells book War of the Worlds was astounding and the executives in Hollywood basically saw nothing but big box office dollars looming up on their horizons. So much so that RKO Studios more or less offered Mr. Welles carte blanche, even tossing in the unheard of addendum of having “Final Cut” on his very first feature film. The additional perks, which enabled their new resident genius to remain deliriously content, gorging himself on imported whiskey, filet mignons, and call girls in the Presidential Suite at the Beverly Hills Hotel...
Professional Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Behind the Scenes (Literally) with Orson Welles
David Worth's "The Citizen Kane Crash Course in Cinematography" is a remarkable combination of fact and fiction. It is a graphic description of the debauchery and genius that was Hollywood immediately before the Second World War while still providing a wealth of understanding of the principles of cinematography through the lens of legends actor/director Orson Welles and Oscar winning cinematographer Gregg Toland. These two larger than life characters walk the reader through lighting, perspective, focal length, continuity, and whiskey - apparently lots of whiskey! - during an imaginary weekend that places the reader in many of the fabled venues of old Hollywood, including the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Brown Derby, and Musso & Frank's Grill.
The book combines history and technical instruction in a way that makes the sum greater than the whole of its parts. Using the canvass that becomes Citizen Kane, the reader understands and respects how the concepts put forth in the book manifest themselves in one of the greatest works - if not the greatest work - of cinematography in the history of film. The "R" rated nature of some of the scenes are handled tactfully (a word the reader would certainly never equate with Welles), especially in the author's treatment of the call girls made up to look like famous actresses of the time. Every element of this book has a purpose and by the end of it the reader knows far more than before about how scenes are shot in movies.
As technology continues to make filmmaking more accessible and affordable to aspiring screenwriters and producers, Worth's imaginative text will be a welcome addition to their bookshelves and will be joining the recommended reading list for my students and clients.
Christina Hamlett
Worth a second read...and a third...and a fourth...,
Earlier today I finished reading the "Citizen Kane Crash Course in Cinematography"...and, as I had hoped would be the case, I was not only entertained, but also educated.
I couldn't help but smile when I read the Foreword...you see, I just finished reading "If Chins Could Kill" last week, so I was still digesting Bruce Campbell's hilarious narrative of his adventures with Sam Raimi & Co. (and getting an education on low-budget special effects to boot) when I picked up your book, so it was almost as if I were finishing a dialogue with Bruce and having him hand the conversation off to you!
And what a conversation your book turned out to be! I can say with some conviction that the two or so hours total I spent on it taught me more useful information in an easily-retainable form than the countless hours I've spent looking through other books that claim to break down the art of filmmaking. You've taken the fundamentals of camerawork--the vast majority of which still holds true in our high-definition age--and couched it in a wide-open, freewheeling tale of the decadence of Hollywood's Golden Age. I lost count of the times I laughed out loud as my mind's ear heard the words you placed in Orson Welles' mouth booming out in his inimitable voice. But as I laughed, I also learned...and any story that can make a reader do both wields a great deal of power.
I'm currently editing footage I shot of my cousin's wedding with two miniDV cameras (after he saw the butchery of my brother's wedding video by a family friend with an expensive camera and no clue how to use it, he enlisted my help...the fact that he was also the lead in one of my earliest no-budget productions probably had a hand in it as well, but I digress...), and as I held one of those small plastic cassettes in my hand, the vision of Gregg Toland reverently holding up the can of 35mm film crossed my mind..."this is what all the fuss is about." And even though the "this" has gone from film to tape and is rapidly moving from physical media to the realm of ones and zeroes, the same rules apply...and that's what makes a book like yours an instant classic. I definitely see myself reading this book a few more times in the near future and holding onto it as a valuable reference.
Anyway, I just wanted to share my thoughts on the book, for what they're worth, and to thank you for sharing such a great story--true or not, it's definitely a tale worth passing on!
Magnificent - Crash Course & Reference Guide
Before, reading this book I was somewhat knowledgeable about Cinematography. This book is definitely an excellent crash course that will fill in the gaps to everything you need to know about Cinematography. This brilliantly written book is straight to the point. It's an easy read with an extraordinary layout. It comes with spectacular uniquely designed illustrations. After, reading this book you will have a greater understanding of capturing effects of certain techniques.
This book comes highly recommended to anyone that is looking to increase their knowledge in Cinematography and have fun while doing so. You will appreciate a new understanding of several techniques that are clearly outlined. Furthermore, it's a superb light shiner on the art of film making. Enjoy!!
So Ya' Wanna' Be A Teacher is a humorous revolutionary book that tells exactly what goes on in a typical American public school. E-book version is available at Kindle, at Nook and at Smashwords.
