Christian Bale: The Inside Story of the Darkest Batman - Softcover

Cheung, Harrison; Pittam, Nicola

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1936661640 ISBN 13: 9781936661640

Publisher: BenBella Books, 2012

Synopsis

The darkest Batman is unmasked.

During the London press junket for The Dark Knight in the summer of 2008, Christian Bale was infamously accused of assaulting his mother and sister at the five-star Dorchester Hotel. Six months later, a recording of Bale’s rant on the set of Terminator Salvation was leaked, and the star’s anger began to define him.

But beyond his notorious temper, Bale, an Academy Award-winning actor for his role in The Fighter, is known for his ability to physically transform himself for roles in American Psycho, The Machinist, and as one of Hollywood’s most revered and bankable characters Batman.

In Christian Bale: The Inside Story of the Darkest Batman, Best Biography winner in the 2013 Indie Excellence Awards and finalist in the 2013 Indie Book Awards, Bale’s former publicist and assistant Harrison Cheung his real-life Alfred shares an inside look into the little-known personal life of the intensely private and reclusive actor. In the first biography of the Batman star, Cheung, who lived and worked with Christian and his father for 10 years, shares firsthand accounts of the Bales’ familial dysfunction, Christian’s morbid fascinations and dark humor, and his extreme dedication to his craft.

Aware that Bale hated his traditional publicity duties, Cheung launched an extensive Internet marketing campaign for the actor, built the first official actor website for him, and cultivated the Baleheads, an online fan community that was used to garner editorial coverage and ultimately help Bale secure the role of the Caped Crusader.

Written with veteran Hollywood and entertainment reporter Nicola Pittam, Christian Bale: The Inside Story of the Darkest Batman uncovers Bale’s transformation from shy, English child actor to Internet sensation to Hollywood bad boy.

*FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE U.S. AND CANADA ONLY*

About this title

About the Author

Meet the real-life Alfred! Harrison Cheung worked for Christian Bale as publicist, marketer, and personal assistant for almost a decade. As a family friend and confidant, Harrison was involved with practically every aspect of Christian’s life, including his publicity, finances, immigration, fan mail, and, of course, web marketing. With web marketing, Harrison created the Baleheads Christian’s online fan community and made him the biggest star on the Internet. Entertainment Weekly touted Bale as one of the "Top Cult Figures of the Past Decade" because of his Internet presence.

Born in Scotland and educated in Canada, Harrison has been writing all of his life. His first novel, Idol Worship, was a finalist in the Writers' Guild Fiction competition. In 2002, he produced an award-winning short film called Rising of the Moon, about IRA hunger striker, Bobby Sands. Most recently, his short story, Witness, won Honorable Mention in Glimmer Train’s 2010 Short Fiction competition. He is currently working on a series of novels.

Harrison is a digital marketing professional at IBM, where he earned an Innovation Award for his work in Internet marketing. He lives in Austin, Texas.

Nicola Pittam has been living and working in Los Angeles for the past fourteen years as a celebrity news journalist. She supplies news and features to a variety of publications in the U.S. and the U.K. including The New York Post, USA TODAY, People Magazine, Us Weekly, TMZ, RadarOnline, London Times, The Telegraph, The Sun, The Mirror, Daily Mail, Hello!, OK, Glamour, and Cosmopolitan.

She has also written a biography with Angie Best ex-wife of England’s most famous soccer player George Best and fitness trainer to world-renowned entertainer Cher. George And Me: An Autobiography was published in the U.K. by Virgin Publishing in September 2001.

Nicola started her career as a writer at the age of 19 when she wrote for her local paper in Northampton, England. She has come a long way since then, including spending almost four years, from the ages of 22 to 26, working for Rupert Murdoch's Sun newspaper in London, which is the highest selling daily newspaper in the UK. Nicola, now 40, still writes for all the British daily newspapers, based in Los Angeles but reporting from across America. In addition, she is working on several scripts including a TV pilot and a YA novel.

Review

"When (Cheung) refers to himself as Bale's majordomo, he is not kidding."
N.F. Mendoza, former journalist at Los Angeles Times, People, TV Guide

"This intimate and revealing biography of Christian Bale is full of details few people know about Hollywood’s most-lauded Batman, and how a child actor by harnessing his fans on the Internet became the star he is today."
BraveNewHollywood.com

"A new picture of Christian Bale emerges..."
Huffington Post

"Cheung's first-hand observations of Bale's rising career and early roles including Patrick Bateman in American Psycho provide an interesting perspective on the making of a star..."
Publishers Weekly

"A 'Must Read' for Summer"
Austin Monthly

"Recommended Summer Reading List"
Los Angeles Magazine

"'What's Hot for Summer' List"
Tribute Magazine

"Three stars Batman's former wingman speaks out!"
Jamie Russell, Total Film

"The book is good - a fun, informative read."
Christopher Heard, author and film historian

"...a revelatory glimpse into Bale’s personal life... it does contain much interesting information for fans."
Movie Maker

"More than just a tell-all expose. Make no mistake, Cheung was privy to a fair amount of behind-the-scenes drama."
Hamilton Magazine

"Great Book."
Melissa Cronin, The Daily

"One of the best biographies of the year."
Kathryn Raaker, Let's Just Talk

"3 1/2 stars a gripping read!"
Filmophilia

Edition details

• Publisher: BenBella Books
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1936661640
• ISBN 13: 9781936661640
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 312