As someone with a fairly rudimentary tech background, my main question while on set and in post-production was often, “What’s this button for?” If I have ended up pushing any of the wrong ones in person or in print, the responsibility is entirely mine.
Many people gave me visuals for the book. Particular thanks to Wylie Griffin and the art department for all the great images that adorn the earlier parts of the book, especially to the still photographers Phil Bray, Peter Sorel, Jake Netter, and my dear friend Mary Ellen Mark, for making me agonize over which of the tens of thousands of fascinating photos I should select for the brief span of these pages; to Alexis Rockman for the scary, beautiful sketches and the chance to hang out in the lower depths; and to everyone in post-production for the stills which virtually bring the subject of special effects to life.
Grateful thanks to my editor at Harper Design, Elizabeth Viscott Sullivan, who edited my sometimes tardy text with a sharp eye and colorful balloon comments in the margins. I’d also like to thank Harper Design’s art director Iris Shih and book designer Jason Snyder for putting everything in its place beautifully.
And as always, to the Writers’ Room—for community, sanctuary, and a clean, well-lighted desk.
Deep gratitude and much else besides to my wife, Lisa, who gave me great editorial advice, and then reminded me which was the better story (the one with family); and to my boys August and Prosper, whose heads will be filled with dreams of shipwrecked boats, boys, tigers, and (this one’s for you, Prosper) carnivorous islands in a couple of years’ time—I can’t wait.
And finally, with respect and affection to Ang Lee, who has always been an inspiration to work with, and who turned out to be a fascinating and generous subject to write about as well. This is his book.
credits
Cover design: Jason Snyder
Cover photography: © Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved.
copyright
The Making of Life of Pi: A Film, A Journey
© 2012 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
First published in 2012 by
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ISBN 978-0-06-211413-6
Epub edition © November 2012 ISBN 9780062114143
Library of Congress Control Number: 2011931359
First Printing, 2012
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The Making of Life of Pi Page 14