But What I Really Want to Do Is Direct: Lessons from a Life Behind the Camera
The veteran film and TV director shares industry secrets and inspiring advice in this hilariously candid Hollywood memoir.

For over three decades, director Ken Kwapis has charted an exceptional career ranging from seminal shows like The Office to beloved films like He’s Just Not That Into You. But becoming one of the most respected directors in Hollywood wasn’t easy. With each triumph came the occasional faceplant.

Now, in this thoroughly entertaining memoir, Ken shares his hard-earned wisdom and inside knowledge, tackling plenty of Hollywood myths along the way. It’s a rollercoaster ride fueled by brawls with the top brass, clashes over budgets, and the passion that makes it all worthwhile. Combining inspiring instruction with behind-the-scenes hilarity, But What I Really Want to Do Is Direct is a celebration of the director’s craft, and what it takes to succeed on your own terms in show business.

“Ken Kwapis always brought out the best in the actors on The Office . . . Every aspiring director should read this book. (I can think of several ‘professional’ directors that should read it too!)” —Jenna Fischer

“In the years that I was fortunate to work with Ken on Malcolm in the Middle, he had an uncanny ability to guide actors right to the heart of a scene and reveal its truths.” —Bryan Cranston
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But What I Really Want to Do Is Direct: Lessons from a Life Behind the Camera
The veteran film and TV director shares industry secrets and inspiring advice in this hilariously candid Hollywood memoir.

For over three decades, director Ken Kwapis has charted an exceptional career ranging from seminal shows like The Office to beloved films like He’s Just Not That Into You. But becoming one of the most respected directors in Hollywood wasn’t easy. With each triumph came the occasional faceplant.

Now, in this thoroughly entertaining memoir, Ken shares his hard-earned wisdom and inside knowledge, tackling plenty of Hollywood myths along the way. It’s a rollercoaster ride fueled by brawls with the top brass, clashes over budgets, and the passion that makes it all worthwhile. Combining inspiring instruction with behind-the-scenes hilarity, But What I Really Want to Do Is Direct is a celebration of the director’s craft, and what it takes to succeed on your own terms in show business.

“Ken Kwapis always brought out the best in the actors on The Office . . . Every aspiring director should read this book. (I can think of several ‘professional’ directors that should read it too!)” —Jenna Fischer

“In the years that I was fortunate to work with Ken on Malcolm in the Middle, he had an uncanny ability to guide actors right to the heart of a scene and reveal its truths.” —Bryan Cranston
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But What I Really Want to Do Is Direct: Lessons from a Life Behind the Camera

But What I Really Want to Do Is Direct: Lessons from a Life Behind the Camera

by Ken Kwapis
But What I Really Want to Do Is Direct: Lessons from a Life Behind the Camera

But What I Really Want to Do Is Direct: Lessons from a Life Behind the Camera

by Ken Kwapis

eBook

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Overview

The veteran film and TV director shares industry secrets and inspiring advice in this hilariously candid Hollywood memoir.

For over three decades, director Ken Kwapis has charted an exceptional career ranging from seminal shows like The Office to beloved films like He’s Just Not That Into You. But becoming one of the most respected directors in Hollywood wasn’t easy. With each triumph came the occasional faceplant.

Now, in this thoroughly entertaining memoir, Ken shares his hard-earned wisdom and inside knowledge, tackling plenty of Hollywood myths along the way. It’s a rollercoaster ride fueled by brawls with the top brass, clashes over budgets, and the passion that makes it all worthwhile. Combining inspiring instruction with behind-the-scenes hilarity, But What I Really Want to Do Is Direct is a celebration of the director’s craft, and what it takes to succeed on your own terms in show business.

“Ken Kwapis always brought out the best in the actors on The Office . . . Every aspiring director should read this book. (I can think of several ‘professional’ directors that should read it too!)” —Jenna Fischer

“In the years that I was fortunate to work with Ken on Malcolm in the Middle, he had an uncanny ability to guide actors right to the heart of a scene and reveal its truths.” —Bryan Cranston

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781250260116
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date: 05/01/2024
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 356
File size: 16 MB
Note: This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

KEN KWAPIS is an award-winning director who has moved easily between the worlds of feature filmmaking and television directing. He has directed eleven feature films and helped launch seven television series, including NBC's The Office.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents


Introduction
Beyond Success and Failure in Hollywood
Cruising For Epiphanies
How To Take A Meeting
Memories Of Bird
Breaking It Down: A Director’s Checklist
HAL’S Ready For His Close-Up
He Directed, She Directed
Being Proactive On Your Own Set
Garry Shandling’s House of Mirrors The Shot List Challenge
Been There, Dreamt That
What Makes Sammy Climb? Playable Notes
Walking With Bernie
The Objective Correlative, or What Would Lubitsch Do?
Opening The Office
Escape From Video Village
Who Are You?
The Note Behind The Note
Trapped At Work
Designing A Fluid Master Recognizing Yourself
Totally Unreleasable
Too Clever By Half
Fear of Music
They Need Your Blood
Tenacity
Humans Were Involved
Biography

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