The Making of Evita - Softcover

Parker, Alan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0006491006 ISBN 13: 9780006491002

Publisher: Collins Pub San Francisco, 1996

Synopsis

A behind-the-scenes account of the making of the motion picture "Evita" by its director features more than one hundred movie stills and photographs

About this title

From the Publisher

Go behind the scenes of the most talked-about and anticipated motion picture of the decade in acclaimed director Alan Parker's own version of the making of his Epic film: Evita.

Imagine the challenge of turning one of the most popular West End and Broadway musicals ever -- based on the life of a historical icon -- into a compelling, contemporary Hollywood film. Add the pressure of casting controversy (literally years of decision-making which ended with larger-than-life international superstars Madonna, Antonio Banderas and Jonathan Price in the lead roles), and a shoot schedule in three different countries over four brief months and you might have some idea of the "Sturm und Drang" faced by Alan Parker as he wrote, directed and co-produced the film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita.

Page after page of brilliant, evocative photography of movie stills and candid shots from locales in Buenos Aires, Budapest and London provide the backdrop for Parker's reflections on this intense production. He describes his relationships with cast and crew, revealing the added drama of working with such high-profile celebrities. He recounts the challenge of recreating an authentic Argentinean set of half a century ago -- from costuming to scenery to political climate. Most revealingly, Parker shares his experiences of receiving the hue and cry of passionate Argentineans who distrusted his ability to faithfully recreate the story of their most beloved and controversial heroine, Eva Peron.

From Booklist

A movie version of the Webber-Rice musical based on the life of the controversial wife of Argentine dictator Juan Peron took years to get made. In this large-format book brimming with stills, British director Parker shares the trials, tribulations, and triumphs he and the cast endured in bringing the project finally to completion. Of course, the performance of the lead star, Madonna, casts itself over these visually arresting pages, as it did over the filming itself. Parker discusses awarding the role of Evita to her, how she prepared both as a vocalist and as a representation of a historical character, and the various problems encountered in the locations (which included having to personally secure permission from the current Argentine president to use the balcony of the presidential office building to film the cornerstone moment of the movie, Evita singing "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina"). For large cinema collections, catering to a hungry movie-fan clientele. Brad Hooper

About this edition

• Publisher: Collins Pub San Francisco
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0006491006
• ISBN 13: 9780006491002
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 128