The Gross, Peter Bart
The Gross, Peter Bart
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The Gross
The Hits, the Flops: The Summer That Ate Hollywood

Author: Peter Bart

Narrator: Stuart Langton

Unabridged: 10 hr 12 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/01/2007

Synopsis

When movies cost hundreds of millions to make and market, the magnitude of the wagers is astonishing. Vast riches rain down on those who gamble wisely, and careers are made and lost in one weekend. But never is this boxoffice race more feverish than during the summer blockbuster season, when the studios roll out their most expensive, effectsladen pictures in a feverish race to win the boxoffice derby.Peter Bart, editorinchief of Variety, brings us a marvelously entertaining behindthescenes portrait of moviemaking, spotlighting the summer of 1998. He takes us through the entire cycle of wouldbe summer blockbusters, from script through casting and production and finally into release. Interviewing dozens of the most powerful names in Hollywood, Bart gives an indepth account of why some succeeded and others failed.

About Peter Bart

Peter Bart was the editor of Variety from 1989 to 2009. He was a studio executive at Paramount, Lorimar, and MGM/UA and a journalist with the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. He has authored several books on the movie industry and now cohosts Shootouton AMC. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Jared

Interesting read, but at times the organization of information is sloppy. Also, if the personal opinions of the writer were left out it would be more interesting - IMHO. Let the reporting speak for itself, which is quite good overall. Regardless, as a glimpse into the insanity of one Summer of movie......more

Goodreads review by Kevin

In 1969, William Goldman penned The Season, the quintessential insider's guide to the triumphs and failures of one Broadway season?but no author has since managed to do the same for Hollywood. Who better to attempt it than Bart, a former studio executive at Paramount, MGM/UA and Lorimar and currentl......more

Goodreads review by Jeremiah

I was probably the perfect audience for this book, which covered the 1998 movie season. I went to the movies almost weekly in 1998, because that's what you did with your free time. I saw every movie written about by Bart, and it was fun seeing it from the other side. Some of those questions that had......more

Goodreads review by Mark

If you’re interested in box office grosses, movie budgets and Hollywood industry workings; The Gross is an excellent read. A little dated now as it focuses on the summer of 1998, but thoroughly enjoyable to historically view Hollywood as commercial machine in the late 1990's. The style is quick and......more

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