The Mad Hot Adventures of an Unlikely Documentary Filmmaker
Thursday, May 17, 2007
The Mad Hot Adventures of an Unlikely Documentary Filmmaker
By Amy Sewell
Published by Hyperion
Amy Sewell a stay-at-home mom to twin girls, with absolutely no experience at filmmaking, fell in love with the idea of making a movie about New York City’s scholastic ballroom dancing program. This book follows her journey from “light bulb over the head” stage all the way through completion of one of the most successful documentaries of all time, Mad Hot Ballroom. When the author first started doing the research for the article that turned into first a film, and then this book, she was amazed at how quickly the fifth-graders from diverse economic and social backgrounds took to boring ballroom dancing; and how hard they worked to get in shape for the city wide competitions.
Mad Hot Ballroom was named by the kids, when Sewell learned that the ten and eleven-year-olds used mad as an adjective meaning very in front of everything – mad hot, mad crazy, mad cool – she knew she had the film title. An enormous relief to her director who hated the working title of Not the Same Old Song and Dance. This illustrates just how much the making of both the film and the book was driven by the kids. Without them there would be no story.
As much a primer as a narrative, the author includes all the information the reader would need to follow in her footsteps, including an action plan at the end of each chapter which reinforces the important points. Sewell is obviously enthusiastic about her subject making it a joy to read. The book is upbeat and bubbly. Using a series of amusing anecdotes to relay her story she makes the reader feel as if they are a part of the film making process.
At only 175 pages, this is a very short book, and it went all too quickly. It could have used more about the dancing and competitions to really capture the reader’s interest. Even so, it would be a great addition to the shelf of any aspiring filmmaker, because it really reinforces the idea that nearly anyone really can do it with enough drive, possibly a grant or two and support from friends and family.
Mad Hot Ballroom was named by the kids, when Sewell learned that the ten and eleven-year-olds used mad as an adjective meaning very in front of everything – mad hot, mad crazy, mad cool – she knew she had the film title. An enormous relief to her director who hated the working title of Not the Same Old Song and Dance. This illustrates just how much the making of both the film and the book was driven by the kids. Without them there would be no story.
As much a primer as a narrative, the author includes all the information the reader would need to follow in her footsteps, including an action plan at the end of each chapter which reinforces the important points. Sewell is obviously enthusiastic about her subject making it a joy to read. The book is upbeat and bubbly. Using a series of amusing anecdotes to relay her story she makes the reader feel as if they are a part of the film making process.
At only 175 pages, this is a very short book, and it went all too quickly. It could have used more about the dancing and competitions to really capture the reader’s interest. Even so, it would be a great addition to the shelf of any aspiring filmmaker, because it really reinforces the idea that nearly anyone really can do it with enough drive, possibly a grant or two and support from friends and family.
Reviewed by Sarra Borne for Hyperion and Front Street Reviews
edited by Sarra at 10:28 AM 05/17/2007
|
