The View From Here by Matthew Hays

Winner, Lambda Literary Award, LGBT Arts/Culture One of Quill & Quire'sBooks of the Year, 2007The history of gay and lesbian cinema is a storied one, and one that became much larger with the recent success of Brokeback Mountain, Capote,and Transamerica. But the history of gay and lesbian filmmakers is its own story. In The View from Here, queer directors and screenwriters'some mainstream, others who work defiantly from the margins'speak passionately about the medium, in particular their personal experiences navigating through the often-cynical and cruel film industry. All of them offer fascinating anecdotes and opinions about cinema, and speak candidly about their attempts to combat studio apathy and demands of 'the market' and still create films that are entertaining, engaging, and truthful.Containing numerous black-and-white screen stills and production photos, The View from Hereprovides fascinating insight into the filmmaking process'a book for serious film fans and gay culture aficionados alike.Filmmakers profiled include: John Waters (Pink Flamingos; Hairspray), Pedro Almodovar (Volver; Bad Education), Gus Van Sant (My Own Private Idaho; Good Will Hunting), John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig & the Angry Inch; Shortbus), Don Roos (The Opposite of Sex; Happy Endings), Randal Kleiser (Grease), Don Mancini (the Chucky films), Kenneth Anger, Gregg Araki, Lea Pool, Wakefield Poole, Monika Treut, Rosa von Praunheim, and Canadian filmmakers such as John Greyson, Bruce LaBruce, Robert Lepage, Patricia Rozema, David Secter, Lynne Fernie, and Aerlyn Weissman.