40 years ago as a graduate student I wrote a book about Spaghetti Westerns, called 10,000 Ways to Die... In the intervening period I have had the interesting experience of being a film director. So now, when I watch these films, I'm looking at them from a different perspective... 10,000 Ways to Die is an entirely new book about an under-studied subject, the Spaghetti Western, from a director's point of view.' - Alex Cox'
The autobiography offers a deep dive into the craft and influences of filmmaker Alex Cox, showcasing his unique perspective as a radical auteur and insightful critic. It combines personal reflections with guidance for aspiring independent filmmakers, addressing the challenges of the creative process. Cox shares his thoughts on digital distribution and intellectual property, creating a compelling narrative that explores contemporary film innovations and the exciting possibilities for future filmmaking. This blend of personal confessions and practical advice makes it a valuable resource for new filmmakers.
Emerging filmmakers need to know the basics of their art form: the language of the camera, and lenses, the different crew roles, the formats, the aspect ratios. They also need to know some bare-bones theory: what an auteur is, what montage is, what genres are. Most important, all filmmakers require serious grounding in film. You cannot be a great artist if you aren't versed in great art. An Introduction to Film covers all these aspects, from director and filmmaker Alex Cox's perspective
Cult TV show The Prisoner is widely considered surreal. In his new book, Cox takes an opposing view. According to Cox, the key to understanding The Prisoner is to view the series in the order in which the episodes were made - not in the re-arranged order of the UK or US television screenings. In this book he does exactly that, and provides an entirely original and controversial 'explanation' for what is perhaps the best, the most original, and certainly the most perplexing, TV series of all time.