This interview collection takes us back into the roaring 1980s, when the home video market changed the whole world of film making. For a short time, everything seemed possible, and in a way everything was possible. Shapiro Glickenhaus Entertainment was in the right place at the right time. Although SGE closed its doors in 1995, films like THE EXTERMINATOR, BLACK ROSES, SHAKEDOWN, MOONTRAP, RED SCORPION, NO RETREAT NO SURRENDER II, BASKET CASE II & III, FRANKENHOOKER, MANIAC COP, and several others remain cult favorites today.
Enlightening interviews with business legends and producers are combined with extended conversations with well-known genre filmmakers. On top of this are the voices of all the key people that marketed and sold the SGE movies to the world, managed the productions, or ran the office during this fast forward period of maverick film making. Neither Jim Glickenhaus nor Leonard Shapiro have ever opened up this much about their fantastic careers in the film industry.
Includes a foreword by Charles Band. All Interviewees: Leonard Shapiro, James Glickenhaus, Stephen A. Roberts, Nadia Bruce-Rawlings, Lewis Horwitz, Ted Rosenblatt, Sonoko Sakai, John Alexander, William Lustig, Frank K. Isaac, Frank Henenlotter, Kevin Tent, Jefferson Richard, Cynthia Cirile, Andi Elliot, Christian Ingvordsen, Jalal Merhi, Jacqueline Palmiere, Cynthia Rothrock, Joseph Zito, Stephanie Denton, Bob Berney, Marilyn Moore, and Robert Chapin
A CAREER-SPANNING INTERVIEW BOOK ABOUT THE BELOVED HOLLYWOOD DIRECTOR SAM FIRSTENBERG. A TRIP LOADED WITH UNIQUE BADASS FILM HISTORY!
Sam Firstenberg is mostly recognized as one of the important in-house directors during the outrageously successful heyday of the legendary Cannon Group. The journey of this interview collection starts even before he made his way to direct box office hits just like REVENGE OF THE NINJA, NINJA III: THE DOMINATION, BREAKIN‘ II: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO, AMERICAN NINJA, and several others. The conversations shed light on his origins and influences, including childhood memories, private biographical chapters, his years as a film student in Los Angeles, and his early work as an assistant director and technician for people like Menahem Golan, Charles Band, Ephraim Kishon, Boaz Davidson, and many more. The interviews are not chronological, but focus on every career-step, just as well as on every single movie Firstenberg ever directed until his retirement in 2002. His memories about all the projects he was involved in are packed with adventurous stories about ninjas and breakdancers, about directing action entertainment in exotic countries, and about working with numerous stars, among them Michael Dudikoff, Eric Roberts, JonRhys Davis, Hulk Hogan, Grace Jones, Nick Cassavetes, Zachi Noy, Richard Roundtree, Steve James, Sho Kosugi, and many more.
Thirty years of filmmaking: STORIES FROM THE TRENCHES is also a book about the early film industry in Israel, the Hollywood star system and the no longer existing mid-budget movies. It’s about the home video boom, about the uprising and the decline of Cannon, but it also discusses the rules and traditions of the industry. Other topics are the practical way a film was put together in that era, the technical changes through the years, the different market situation compared to nowadays – and last but not least it’s a inside story about the early years of Nu Image and how Avi Lerners company continued the spirit of Cannon, but under different circumstances and times.
"Heartfelt, Inspiring, and Entertaining. A well-written book that painted vivid imagery of a life-changing experience. You will read this book and find confidence along with the courage to pursue your own dreams. Enter the author's heart and soul as he sheds a positive light in your life."
Rambling Across America was about manifesting your desires into reality. Loathing a desk job, looking for a way out. A vision, a sign from a higher power sent him on an adventure to change his destiny. Armed with nothing but a dream, Tommy, struck out as the "Confession of a Dreamer."
Would you like to forge your dreams into reality? Rambling Across America will spark your own inner voice to leave your mark on this world in a positive manner.