Those Who Made It

"People often talk about movie legends, but in this star-studded collection of interviews John C. Tibbetts actually talks with those legends. Whether you're interested in cinematic innovators as different as Jim Henson and Michael Moore, great directors like Robert Altman and Steven Spielberg, or the masters of special effects, sound engineering, movie criticism and preservation, you'll want to read this insight-filled and extremely entertaining book." Michael Dirda, Pulitzer Prize-winning weekly book columnist for The Washington Post

"Those Who Made It is, for film scholars, much like that box found tucked away in Grandma's attic full of wonders and unexpected links to the past, all carefully preserved for future generations. Once discovered, it grants insights, reveals secrets, and becomes a place to which our imaginations return again and again." Cynthia J. Miller, Scholar-in-Residence, Emerson College, USA

"Following his passions, John C. Tibbetts has conducted hundreds of interviews with filmmakers, musicians, writers and other artists. I am delighted to see that many of the best interviews are now available in this volume." Peter Lev, Professor, Electronic Media and Film, Towson University, USA

"John C. Tibbetts is a genial host crafting two-dozen conversational portraits of such high profile and diverse talents as John Houseman, Steven Spielberg, Bernardo Bertolucci, Mira Nair and Philip Glass. Always intimate and revealing, these conversations are a must-read for anyone interested in the changing face of Hollywood over the last century." Gary R. Edgerton, Dean of the College of Communication at Butler University and co-editor of the Journal of Popular Film and Television

"John C. Tibbetts brings his vast knowledge of film history to this endlessly fascinating collection of interviews covering a wide range of filmmakers: from John Houseman to Wayne Wang, from Ollie Johnston to Mira Nair. Thanks to his decades of experience as a film journalist, Tibbetts immediately establishes a comfortable rapport with both his subjects and his readers, striking a tone that is stimulating and compelling, accessible yet substantial. Film fans and scholars alike will derive great joy from these pages!" Rodney F. Hill, Lawrence Herbert School of Communication, Hofstra University, USA

"John C. Tibbetts is a rare person these days: a scholar, film enthusiast and polymath who knows precisely the right questions to ask of his interviewees, so that they have the opportunity to talk comprehensively about their lives and work. Those Who Made It provides a shining example of this technique. He interviews some of Hollywood's greats through many historical periods, including Ray Bradbury, Robert Altman, John Houseman and Roger Ebert, many of whom are no longer with us. Nonetheless their words and thoughts live on through a series of inspiring pieces. This book is one of those texts that can be described as unputdownable, to be enjoyed by specialists and aficionadoes alike." - Laurence Raw, Baskent University, Turkey