| "Ken Adam : The Art of Production Design" book [message #254465] |
Do, 20 April 2006 05:46 |
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Just noticed when reading a local newspaper that the book "Ken Adam :
The Art of Production Design" was released by Faber and Faber on
January 10, 2006. Adam was production designer for seven of the first
eleven Bond films. I haven't read the book, my post is intended as a
heads-up...
Memphis Flyer
book review by Leonard Gill
April 14, 2006
http://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/Content?oid=oid%3A14271
Early in his film career, he designed the sets for Around the World in
Eighty Days (1955). Late in his film career, he designed the sets for
The Madness of King George (1994). But it was in mid-career that Ken
Adam rose high above the ranks of production designers when Stanley
Kubrick called on him for Dr. Strangelove and Barry Lyndon. (Adam's
influential sets for Dr. No, Goldfinger, and Thunderball weren't
exactly small potatoes, but they didn't cause Adam, as Kubrick's
projects did, to have a nervous breakdown.)
This and more info on the art of production design comes to you
courtesy of an outstanding series of interviews with Ken Adam
conducted by Christopher Frayling of the Royal College of Art in
London. The book is Ken Adam (Faber and Faber), and in it, Frayling
comes across as absolutely on top of the subject in question. That
subject comes across as one of the most self-effacing master craftsmen
who ever worked in film. No wonder he seems to have worked for or
partied with everybody in the industry.
You're interested in filmmaking, the tricks of the trade? Meet a man,
Ken Adam, very much behind the scenes.
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| Re: "Ken Adam : The Art of Production Design" book [message #254473 ] |
Do, 20 April 2006 14:05 |
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ILuvBond! wrote:
> Just noticed when reading a local newspaper that the book "Ken Adam :
> The Art of Production Design" was released by Faber and Faber on
> January 10, 2006. Adam was production designer for seven of the first
> eleven Bond films. I haven't read the book, my post is intended as a
> heads-up...
I have read the book and recommend it highly. In addition to the
discussion of the art & craft of production design, it contains some
nice gossipy stuff. My only complaint is that all illustrations are
black and white.
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| Re: "Ken Adam : The Art of Production Design" book [message #254475 ] |
Do, 20 April 2006 16:47 |
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Kai Penttilä wrote:
> ILuvBond! wrote:
>> Just noticed when reading a local newspaper that the book "Ken Adam :
>> The Art of Production Design" was released by Faber and Faber on
>> January 10, 2006. Adam was production designer for seven of the first
>> eleven Bond films. I haven't read the book, my post is intended as a
>> heads-up...
>
> I have read the book and recommend it highly. In addition to the
> discussion of the art & craft of production design, it contains some
> nice gossipy stuff. My only complaint is that all illustrations are
> black and white.
Is this book radically different from the splendid "Moonraker, Strangelove
and Other Celluloid Dreams: The Visionary Art of Ken Adam" which was
available from the Serpentine Gallery at the time of the Adam exhibition?
--
--Mac
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| Re: "Ken Adam : The Art of Production Design" book [message #254476 ] |
Do, 20 April 2006 17:26 |
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Mac wrote:
> Is this book radically different from the splendid "Moonraker, Strangelove
> and Other Celluloid Dreams: The Visionary Art of Ken Adam" which was
> available from the Serpentine Gallery at the time of the Adam exhibition?
I haven't seen the other book, but the new one conforms basically to the
Faber 'NN on NN' series of books--the book is basically one long
interview with an introductory chapter.
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| Re: "Ken Adam : The Art of Production Design" book [message #254486 ] |
Fr, 21 April 2006 01:58 |
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Kai Penttilä wrote:
> Mac wrote:
>
>> Is this book radically different from the splendid "Moonraker,
>> Strangelove and Other Celluloid Dreams: The Visionary Art of Ken
>> Adam" which was available from the Serpentine Gallery at the time of
>> the Adam exhibition?
>
> I haven't seen the other book, but the new one conforms basically to
> the Faber 'NN on NN' series of books--the book is basically one long
> interview with an introductory chapter.
Thanks, Kai. I'll pick that up. I also managed to get the UA book you posted
from a while back.
--
--Mac
Last film I watched: CARANDIRU (Hector Babenco, 2003)
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| Re: "Ken Adam : The Art of Production Design" book [message #254490 ] |
Fr, 21 April 2006 09:07 |
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<< My only complaint is that all illustrations are black and white. >>
<< Is this book radically different from the splendid "Moonraker,
Strangelove and Other Celluloid Dreams: The Visionary Art of Ken Adam"
which was available from the Serpentine Gallery at the time of the Adam
exhibition? >>
Most of the books on Adam contain only B&W sketches since the bulk of
his work is pencil or marker on paper. Only his final drawings use much
color and even then his pallette tends toward the monochromatic.
The "Moonraker..." book is certainly more profusely illustrated, which
makes sense, given that is is effectively the catalog of an exhibition.
Two other books--both German--which strike a bit better balance 'tween
text and pictures are "Die Welten des Ken Adam" and "Production Design:
Ken Adam." Not certain either is still in print.
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| Re: "Ken Adam : The Art of Production Design" book [message #254492 ] |
Fr, 21 April 2006 09:37 |
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Mac kirjoitti:
> Kai Penttilä wrote:
>
>> Mac wrote:
>>
>>> Is this book radically different from the splendid "Moonraker,
>>> Strangelove and Other Celluloid Dreams: The Visionary Art of Ken
>>> Adam" which was available from the Serpentine Gallery at the time of
>>> the Adam exhibition?
>> I haven't seen the other book, but the new one conforms basically to
>> the Faber 'NN on NN' series of books--the book is basically one long
>> interview with an introductory chapter.
>
> Thanks, Kai. I'll pick that up. I also managed to get the UA book you posted
> from a while back.
Mac, you're welcome. Both would be worthwhile additions to your library
even if you weren't a Bond fan.
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