Through words and pictures, Cassavetes is shown to have been a deeply thoughtful and self-aware artist and a profound commentator on the American experience.

American filmmaker John Cassavetes (1929-1989) made only nine independent films during a quarter century, but those films affected the cinema culture of the 1960s to the 1980s in unprecedented ways. With a close nucleus of actors and crew members on his team, including his wife Gena Rowlands, Peter Falk, and Ben Gazzara, Cassavetes created films that explored the gritty side of human relationships. He staunchly advocated the right of actors and filmmakers to full artistic freedom over their work. Attracting both fervent admirers and harsh critics, Cassavetes's films have garnered prestigious awards in the US and Europe and continue to evoke strong reactions. Starting in New York with his first film Shadows (1959), Cassavetes moved on to the West Coast with Faces (1968), Husbands (1970), Minnie and Moskowitz (1971), A Woman Under the Influence (1974), The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976), Opening Night (1977), Gloria (1980), and Love Streams (1984). He also directed several studio films, which often rankled his independent streak that rebelled against a loss of artistic freedom. Cassavetes's work in the theater and his performances in numerous television programs and films, including The Dirty Dozen (1967) and Rosemary's Baby (1968), made him, as a director, fiercely protective of his actors' right to self-expression. Cassavetes's contributions to film as actor, writer, director, producer, and cinematographer at a time of radical changes in cinema history continue to inspire independent filmmakers to challenge creative restrictions and celebrate actors' artistic contributions. John Cassavetes: Interviews captures this "maverick" streak of an intensely personal filmmaker who was passionate about his art.

Drawing on interviews with his closest collaborators, Tom Charity's critical biography explores the pain and perseverance of Cassavetes, widely known as a passionate and charismatic film director and producer.

Essays in film and the humanities.

Cassavetes was the prototypical outsider who rebelled against all conventions even as he established the foundations for a new one: seemingly improvisory cinema of emotional truth and immediacy. Fine looks at the life and impact of Cassavetes, based largely on interviews from the people who knew the man and his work best: his wife Gena Rowlands and their children; Peter Falk; Ben Gazzara; Martin Scorsese; John Sayles; Seymour Cassel; Sean Penn; Sidney Lumet; Robert Altman; Jon Voight and many others who shed light on this illustrious cinematographer.

Each of the 635 entries in this revised and illustrated edition includes a biography and a complete filmography for each of the film stars.

A biographical and bibliographical guide to current writers in all fields including poetry, fiction and nonfiction, journalism, drama, television and movies. Information is provided by the authors themselves or drawn from published interviews, feature stories, book reviews and other materials provided by the authors/publishers.

Each entry contains information, lists of cast and crew, a select bibliography and an essay by a specialist in the field. Many include a still shot.

Calling it 'a virtual cinemath'que on video', the Telluride Film Festival gave its coveted Silver Medallion award to Facets Video Encyclopedia. The Encyclopedia lists more than 35,000 rare films on video, laser disc and DVD. Included are foreign, independent, classic American, silent, documentary, experimental, cult and children's films. Each is carefully described and lists director, country of origin, year and running time credits and is categorized and cross-referenced by director and country. All films are available for sale or rent from Facets Multimedia.