Mike Figgis

All drama takes the form of one of 36 situations. That was Georges Polti's theory about theatre, which he put forward in his book 36 Dramatic Situations, published in French in the mid-19th century. A century and a half later, Mike Figgis was struggling with a film treatment. He couldn't get it right. But when he turned to Polti's book, the sample situations helped clarify his ideas and broaden the landscape of his creativity. He saw just how useful this sort of a framework could be for writers, and decided to rework Polti's theory for a modern, film-focused audience. Combining re-imagined situations with cinematic examples, and chart-based analysis of 150 great films, the resulting book is an invaluable and stimulating tool for any writer.

The Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations

An astounding collaboration between Agent Provocateur, Mike Figgis and Kate Moss, "The 4 Dreams of Miss X" breaks new ground. Genius innovators in haute couture, AP have commissioned Mike Figgis to portray Moss in her first acting role, resulting in four unique films: "Shadows", "Scale", "Exhibitionist and "Narcissus" - "The 4 Dreams of Miss X". Shot in night vision, these films are intensely intimate: a beautiful woman's private dream experiences. Two films have been released online in 2006, with the final two released in January and March 2007. Brought together for the first time on DVD, you can now enjoy Kate Moss' first ever speaking role at home and full screen.

The 4 Dreams of Miss X

For well over a century, going to the movies has been a favorite pastime for billions across the globe. But is film actually good for anything? This volume brings together thirty-six scholars, critics, and filmmakers in search of an answer. Their responses range from the most personal to the most theoretical--and, together, recast current debates about film ethics. Movie watching here emerges as a wellspring of value, able to sustain countless visions of "the good life." Films, these authors affirm, make us reflect, connect, adapt; they evoke wonder and beauty; they challenge and transform. In a word, its varieties of value make film invaluable.

On the Values of Spectatorship

What Film Is Good For

The original 36 Dramatic Situations was written in in French by Georges Polti in the 1850s. Polti synthesised all drama as belonging to combinations of 36 situations. In the book he illustrates each 'situation' with examples from classical and French theatre. When Mike Figgis used the book as an aid in putting together a treatment for a film, he found that his landscape of creativity had altered quite radically and ideas came forth with relative ease.He realised that Polti's book was system of reference which could be a powerful tool for writers. So he began updating all of the references, moving the focus away from theatre and focussing primarily on cinema. In the first half, each 'Dramatic Situation' is laid out under the 36 headings. The specific 'Situation' is then explained more fully, followed by an example from a specific film, accompanied by an explanation of how the device is used in the film. In the second half of the book there are a series of charts which analyse 150 great films (of all genres) based on the 36 situations.

'Now there is no reason to prevent anybody from making a film. The technology exists, the equipment is much cheaper than it was, the post-production facilities are on a laptop computer, the entire equipment to make a film can go in a couple of cases and be carried as hand luggage on a plane.' Mike Figgis In this indispensable guide, leading director Mike Figgis offers the reader a step-by-step tutorial in how to use digital filmmaking technology so as to get the very best from it. He outlines the equipment and its uses, and provides an authoritative guide to the shooting process - from working with actors to lighting, framing, and camera movement. He further dispenses wisdom on the editing process and the use of sound and music, all the while establishing a sound aesthetic basis for the digital format. Offering everything that you could wish to know on the subject, this is a handbook that will become an essential back-pocket reference for the digital film enthusiast - whether your goal is to make no-budget movies, or simply to put your video camera to more use than just holidays and weddings.

Digital Film-Making

Kate Moss

Agent Provocateur

An astounding collaboration between Agent Provocateur, Mike Figgis and Kate Moss, The 4 Dreams of MIss X breaks new ground. Genius innovators in haute couture, AP have commissioned Mike Figgis to portray Moss in her first acting role, resulting in four unique films: Shadows, Scale, Exhibitionist and Narcissus - 'The 4 Dreams of Miss X'. Shot in night vision these films are intensely intimate: a beautiful woman's private dream experiences. Two films have been released online in 2006, with the final two released in January and March 2007. Brought together for the first time on DVD, you can now enjoy Kate Moss's first ever speaking role at home and full screen. Beautifully presented in a display box, the limited edition book, complete with silk binding, is accompanied by the dvd of all four films and 5 limited edition prints of Kate Moss produced by Mike Figgis.

Terence Rattigan

Maryam D'Abo

Albert Finney

Michael Gambon

Matthew Modine

Julian Sands

Greta Scacchi

Ben Silverston

Schrei in die Vergangenheit

Mike Figgis has always been intrigued by the workings of the Hollywood System. As he progressed from his acclaimed US debut Internal Affairs, through hellish studio wrangles on Mr. Jones, to Oscar-laurelled success with Leaving Las Vegas, Figgis always wanted to find a way to document the mores of the Hollywood industry, before it could swallow him whole. For Projections, he accepted an invitation to return to LA in late 1998 and create just such a document. In conversation with established players such as Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster and Jerry Bruckheimer, plus ascending talents such as Salma Hayek and Paul Thomas Anderson, Figgis paints a refreshingly honest but unmistakably dark portrait of an industry where money does more than talk. Mike Figgis's witnesses include Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, Mickey Rourke, Nastassja Kinski, Elizabeth Shue, Salma Hayek, Paul Thomas Anderson, Jerry Bruckheimer and many more . . .

Mike Figgis

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