Premium Members Stephen Murphy Posted May 12, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 12, 2004 Do any of you remember a couple of posts in previous years about an Italian book on Steadicam? Just wondering if the english version ever materialised or if anyone knows of any plans to release it? I think the author was a guy named David Ballerini. There was also mention of a book on the making of "Heat" in the forum a few years back: somebody was online looking for Jimmy Muro's number so they could do a follow up interview with him? Any sign of that book? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Louis Puli SOC Posted May 12, 2004 Moderators Report Share Posted May 12, 2004 Do any of you remember a couple of posts in previous years about an Italian book on Steadicam? Just wondering if the english version ever materialised or if anyone knows of any plans to release it? I think the author was a guy named David Ballerini. There was also mention of a book on the making of "Heat" in the forum a few years back: somebody was online looking for Jimmy Muro's number so they could do a follow up interview with him? Any sign of that book? Hi Stephen The only book on steadicam that I know is Serena Ferrara "Steadicam Techniqes & Aesthetics Printed by Focal Press Great read Louis Puli Melb Australia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members charlesneufeld Posted May 12, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 12, 2004 Hi Stephen, I second Louis's nomination, as I own an english copy and it is a great read. However, the original, or what the english version was based on, was published as her thesis in the History of Cinema (1997?). It was in Italian. Enough with my blathering..here is the information you need. STEADICAM: TECHNIQUES AND AESTHETICS by Serena Ferrara: Focal Press, 2001 ISBN 0-240-51607-9 I think that should point you in the direction you wish to go. Take Care! Charles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Frederic Chamberland Posted May 12, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 12, 2004 Here is the link to amazon.ca for the book.... Strangely enough, could'nt find it on amazon.com... But hey, you have a better deal in Canadian currency. :rolleyes: Amazon.ca Frederic Chamberland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Stephen Murphy Posted May 12, 2004 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted May 12, 2004 Thanks guys but i already read that one. Back in the 2000 forum a post was made by David Ballerini about a new steadicam book. An italian only version was available but an english version was also promised. Here is the original post: "The First Official Book on Steadicam is now available!!! 280 big pages full of all about Steadicam, and a lot of photos (provided by Garrett Brown, Dan Kneece, American Cinematographer, George Paddock, C.P. and others)! Introduction by Garrett Brown. Original writings and interviews with Larry McConkey and Jim Muro. A long never-published-before interview with Ted Churchill by Charles Papert. Approved by SOA. “STEADICAM: A Revolution In The Way Films Are Shot” tells you the whole history of Steadicam, from its invention by G.B. to now in all its details. The book traces the history of the fortune of the Noble Instrument, and analyses all the most important Steadicam shots of those films which made that history: Bound for Glory, Rocky, The Marathon Man, Exorcist II, Halloween, Raging Bull, The Shining, One from the Heart, Bad Boys, Birdy, Body Double, The Untouchables, Born on the Fourth of July, Casualties of War, The Doors, The Bonfire of the Vanities, Goodfellas, JFK, Terminator 2, Alien3, Raising Cain, Carlito’s Way, The Age of Innocence, True Lies, Casino, Strange Days, and others. The book tells you how the Steadicam changed the language of cinema, the relation between the operator and the director, between the operator and actors, and the role of the operator in the crew. The book tells you how Steadicam changed even the way of building and lighting the set, of organizing the work; tells you about the very new and particular nature of the job of Steadicam Operator, made up of art, technique and dance… A book that you can’t really miss! A book for operators, but not just for them: a book also for directors and DP as well, and for everybody who wants to look at the last 25 years of cinema history from an unusual point of view. Unfortunately the Italian version only of the book is available at present, but an English version has been already planned, and it will be soon coming in U.S. in a few months. Who is now speaking is the author, David Ballerini (you can ask G.B., Larry McConkey or Dan Kneece about me and the book), and the publisher is the Italian “Edizioni FalsoPiano”. In the meanwhile, if someone wants an Italian copy of the book (it’s a wonderful book anyway), he can buy it in Italy or ask Cartoni (our sponsor) or directly to the publisher. Publisher’s email account is: fforfake@tin.it LET THE PUBLISHER HEAR YOUR VOICES: the more you want the English book, the sooner you’ll have it!!! Each comment is welcome! If I can, I’ll post a photo of the cover. All the best, David Ballerini." Sounds cool right? So does anyone know anything about this book?:) Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Marc Abernathy Posted May 15, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 15, 2004 ya i rememeber that post. i have not heard anythng else about it or the author... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Marc Abernathy Posted May 16, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 16, 2004 i emailed Dave about the book and this was his reply: Dear Marc, I'm very glad about your message. At that time, American CInematographer, was willing to buy the english version of the book and to distribute it. However, my publisher wanted not to spend the money for the english translation. In this way he also went against our deal, which included an english version of the book. Unfortunately, since then, I have had not enough money for a lawyer to take al the rights back and have the book translated. And this is the whole true story of the book. Now I have just finished my first feature film as a film director (the film is quite good and it's, of course full of Steadicam!), and if I'll be lucky, maybe I'll be able to take the book back from the publisher. However, the production of the film is a very small, indipendent firm, and we have very little distribution... We'll see. The film is entitled "Il silenzio dell'allodola" (The silence of the lark) and it's about the story of Irish young hunger-striker Bobby Sands: a very hard story of violence and torture... something like today. Greet for me all the Steadicam operators. Sincerely yours, David Ballerini I also told him to stop by and sitck his head in the door to say 'hi'.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Stephen Murphy Posted May 17, 2004 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted May 17, 2004 Thanks Marc: lets hope he finds the money some time soon. That book sounded really cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Marc Abernathy Posted May 18, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 18, 2004 yet more correspondence from David: It's up to me to thank you for your kind interest. I'll be very glad if you post my message in the forum, and, moreover, tell the tale to your friends, and to the friends of your friends: maybe someone among you -for any reason or by any mean - could know an U.S. publisher or a sponsor, or whatever else, or he could have got some good idea or suggestion for making my publisher change his mind about the translation... The book is still unique in its genre, and still up-to-date. Here in Italy, all the copies were sold in less than a year. And all the cinema magazines appreciated very much my book... Thank you very much. David Dave really would like for us to get this book released in english but his hands are a little tied it seems. I wish there was more i could do to get this ball rolling... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Erwin Landau Posted May 18, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 18, 2004 It's interesting how things come full circle... or repeat themselfs... I got a signed copy of this book (Steadicam: Una rivoluzione nel modo di fare cinema) from Garrett back in April of 2000. I contacted David Ballerini back then and got about the same answer from him about the english version... No offence but half of the book are excerts from the AOL folders, SOA board, American Cinematographer and older interviews with American Operators... (If you ever read the AOL folders and the artcles in the ASC mag, you are fairly up to speed...) So the book is already half in english.... at least most of the original script. David said that he would send me updates and expects the english version in a short time... that was 3 years ago. Also the publisher "Edizioni Falsopiano" were less then helpfull, seamed like they were not interested to sell out side the italian speaking areas... Also they refused to answer me in english, all communication was in italien and my italien sucks... so much for the open european union... I guess. Erwin" there are 3 books on Steadicam written right now" Landau, SOC www.landaucamera.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Stephen Murphy Posted May 18, 2004 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted May 18, 2004 Erwin" there are 3 books on Steadicam written right now" Landau, SOC Hi Erwin, Apart from Serena Ferrara's book, and presumably the italian version of David bellarini's book, whats the third book you mention and do you know when it's going to be published (is it Garrett's?) Anyone have any word on that "Heat" book with the Jimmy muro interviews? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Erwin Landau Posted May 21, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 21, 2004 Hi Stephen, David's book was published in 1999. Serena Ferrara's book was published in 2001, I was fortunate to contribute to it a little... No, I'm talking about 3 new books that are written right now, I heard also Garrett was working on one... I guess we will see once they are published... what can take years... at the rate that some people write. Erwin Landau, SOC www.landaucamera.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Stephen Murphy Posted May 21, 2004 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted May 21, 2004 Hi Erwin, 3 new steadicam books! Sounds great:)! Be sure to let us all know when they get published. Thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Marc Abernathy Posted May 21, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 21, 2004 erwin thanks for the update! yeah i read some of the aol archives (ancient chinesse secret) and i have been fortunate enough to rub elbows with some top operators in my short Steadi life but i would always love to have as much material in print as i can get my hands on, so yes erwin "ear to the ground" landau please keep us updated! :ph34r: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brandon Zachary Posted June 7, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 7, 2008 Erwin or anyone else who knows... Any update on steadicam books other than David's book from 1999 (only in Italian?) and Serena Ferrara's book? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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