As If!: The Oral History of Clueless as told by Amy Heckerling and the Cast and Crew

by Jen Chaney

Overview

Will we ever get tired of Clueless? Ugh, as if!

Acclaimed pop culture journalist Jen Chaney celebrates the twentieth anniversary of the classic film’s release in the first book of its kind, weaving together original interviews with writer and director Amy Heckerling; key cast members, including Alicia Silverstone (Cher), Paul Rudd (Josh), Stacey Dash (Dionne), Donald Faison (Murray), Elisa Donovan (Amber), Wallace Shawn (Mr. Hall), Twink Caplan (Ms. Geist and associate producer); and other crucial Clueless players like costume designer Mona May, casting director Marcia Ross, director of photography Bill Pope, former Paramount chairwoman Sherry Lansing, and many more. Cast and crew also pay heartfelt tribute to the late Brittany Murphy, who lit up the screen as Cher’s protégée, Tai.

Chaney explores the influence of Jane Austen’s Emma as the unlikely framework for Heckerling’s script, the rigorous casting process (including the future stars who didn’t make the cut), the functional yet fashion-forward wardrobe, the unique slang that drew from the past and coined new phrases for the future, the sun-drenched soundtrack that set the tone, and—above all—the massive amount of work, creativity, and craft that went into making Clueless look so effortlessly bright and glossy.

As If! illuminates why plaid skirts and knee socks will never go out of style, and why Clueless remains one of the most beloved comedies of all time.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476799087
Publisher:	Gallery Books
Publication date:	07/07/2015
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Jen Chaney has been a journalist for twenty years and has spent much of that time writing about movies, television, and popular culture. She currently writes reviews, feature stories, essays, and TV analyses for numerous publications, including New York magazine, The Washington Post, Esquire, Salon, and Yahoo.com. Chaney is a graduate of the College of William & Mary, and lives with her husband, son, and beagle just outside of Washington, DC.

Table of Contents

Introduction v

Part 1 Before Clueless

From Yes to No to Yes Again: How Clueless Got off the Ground 3

When Emma Met Cher: Clueless and the Spirit of Jane Austen 14

From Beverly Hills to Bronson Alcott High: The Real Teens Behind Clueless 20

The Language of Clueless 25

Casting Clueless: A Tale of Two Studios and Many Actors 32

Part 2 Making Clueless

The Joys and Challenges of Making Clueless 69

The Bright Sunshine of Clueless: Establishing the Film's Visual Aesthetic 89

The Fashion and Beauty of Clueless 97

All That Plaid 104

Ensembly Challenged? Hardly: Dressing the Girls 109

All the Young Dudes: Dressing the Boys 120

Classic Clueless: Key Scenes 126

Cutting Clueless: The Editing Process and the Scenes That Got Deleted 205

Part 3 The Impact of Clueless

The Screening and Selling of Clueless 213

The Story Behind the Clueless Soundtrack 221

The Very Beachy Premiere of Clueless 234

Summer Sleeper: The Critical and Box Office Success of Clueless 239

Clueless the TV Series and the Merchandising of Cher Horowitz 249

The Impact of Clueless on: The Careers of Cast and Crew 257

Remembering Brittany Murphy 271

The Impact of Clueless on: Fashion 277

The Impact of Clueless on: Girl Power and Progressiveness 285

Twenty Years Later: Why Clueless Endures 295

Biographical Notes for All Clueless Sources Quoted in This Book 305

Acknowledgments 319

Editorial Reviews

"It's one of those books we needed without realizing it: an oral history of the making of Clueless. . . . A treat for fans."

People

"Chaney expertly peppers juicy details about the film's making . . . with honest celebrity insights."

Flavorpill

In As If!, everyone involved with the picture is interviewed, giving fans a window into how the movie became a classic.

New York Post

"This book is a must-read for every girl who ever considered buying a white Jeep in honor of Cher Horowitz."

The Zoe Report

"Chaney’s homage does not disappoint. . . . [She] weaves a glittery web, one that’s hard to walk away from once you’re drawn in. . . . For us middle-aged Gen X-ers and our adolescent offspring who still watch Clueless at sleepovers, As If! is a must. In fact, it’s phat! Which is high praise, indeed."

Washington Post

For its 20th birthday, the 90s classic Clueless gets a hilarious—and comprehensive—oral history.

Entertainment Weekly (Must List selection)

[Chaney] seems to have gotten just about everyone involved in Clueless to talk to her about the making of the movie. . . . The behind-the-scenes memories will thrill those who loved the movie, and Chaney makes a good case for its enduring influence.

Boston Globe

Chaney rounded up the cast, crew and other crucial Clueless players to spill behind-the-scenes secrets about the movie. All the juicy stories are in her new book.

Metro

"Packed with awesome behind-the-scenes shots, old-fashioned Polaroids, and every factoid you'll ever need to know, the book should be a bible for 'Clueless' trivia contestants and uber-fans everywhere."

Refinery29

Chaney rounded up the cast, crew and other crucial Clueless players to spill behind-the-scenes secrets about the movie. All the juicy stories are in her new book.

Metro M D

Chaney rounded up the cast, crew and other crucial Clueless players to spill behind-the-scenes secrets about the movie. All the juicy stories are in her new book.

Metro

In As If!, everyone involved with the picture is interviewed, giving fans a window into how the movie became a classic.

New York Post

"Chaney’s homage does not disappoint. . . . [She] weaves a glittery web, one that’s hard to walk away from once you’re drawn in. . . . For us middle-aged Gen X-ers and our adolescent offspring who still watch Clueless at sleepovers, As If! is a must. In fact, it’s phat! Which is high praise, indeed."

Washington Post

08/01/2015
Director Amy Heckerling's 1995 film Clueless was a touchstone movie for those who were young in the 1990s and now there is a book that describes the whole experience. Entertainment journalist Chaney presents a light, quick, detailed read describing many of the behind-the-scenes experiences of getting the movie off the ground, the selection of the cast and crew, the importance of using the correct teen language, the role fashion plays, and the making of the film. Clueless, one of the most accurate contemporary adaptations of Jane Austen's Emma, is a lovely coming-of-age comedy that follows the lives of Cher Horowitz and her friends in 1990s Los Angeles. It's fun to read about many of the high jinks that happened during filming and what the actors were thinking while performing critical scenes. Also interesting is the impact of the movie even today, 20 years later—on fashion, girl power, and language. VERDICT Recommended for readers who adore Austen adaptations, teen movies, and stories about the entertainment industry.—Sally Bryant, Pepperdine Univ. Lib., Malibu, CA

Library Journal

2015-06-03
The legacy of the 1995 movie described as "a Rodeo Drive version of Jane Austen's Emma." Pop-culture journalist Chaney, a former staff writer for the Washington Post, examines the enduring popularity of the teen comedy Clueless, written and directed by Amy Heckerling. The movie is an update of Austen's 1815 comedy of manners about a spoiled, self-assured matchmaker. Chaney's interview subjects, who include the film's producers, filmmakers, designers, actors, and artists, repeatedly "express[ed] feelings often bathed in warmth and nostalgia for a time that not only shaped their careers but, on many days, was just a joy." Many of the contributors coo over star Alicia Silverstone's adorable nature—e.g., associate producer Twink Caplan: "she was so pure, Alicia, so sweet and just a joy, just really a joy, you know." The tell-all aspect of the book consists of saccharine and tedious accounts about how it was "a happy movie to watch and…a largely happy movie to make as well" and how the set was "a harmonious, low-key environment." As composer David Kitay notes, "it was just this awesome haze of fun." Later, Chaney argues weakly for "The Impact of Clueless" since the movie's release—though "the virgin who can't drive" remains timeless—and she oversteps in her claim that it demonstrates how women in the early 21st century are disciples of protagonist Cher Horowitz. The author focuses more on the movie's influence on fashion and language than her subchapter titled "The Impact of Clueless on: Girl Power and Progressiveness" would suggest. Her position that Clueless was a culturally significant movie with an enduring legacy is more fitting for Heckerling—who proved the Hollywood naysayers wrong about the film's marketability, eventually selling it to Scott Rudin—and the resourceful and assertive women in media and academia who followed her. For Clueless obsessives—and perhaps Jane Austen fans.

Kirkus Reviews