Suggested New Literature on Filmmaking: The Incredible Clint, Abel Ferrara, Reevaluating Ed Wood, Jonathan Demme, and More

      The world has long awaited a memoir from Abel Ferrara, and now it has arrived, alongside insightful examinations of the lives and careers of Clint Eastwood, Jonathan Demme, and Ed Wood. Moreover, there’s a captivating analysis of The Crow, among other features—continue reading for our inaugural column of the fall season.

      **Clint: The Man and His Movies by Shawn Levy** (Mariner Books)

      Clint Eastwood merits an epic biography, and Shawn Levy delivers in *The Man and His Movies*. Despite being a substantial 500 pages, Levy’s work reads surprisingly quickly and encompasses Eastwood’s entire life while providing extensive insights into each film. Even lesser-known works like *Pink Cadillac* and *Jersey Boys* are examined from their initial concept to release. Levy is candid with his critiques, his remarks on *Hereafter* being both severe and comedic: “Regardless of your beliefs concerning life after death, you will likely perceive *Hereafter* as a tedious experience that diminishes the significance of existence.” Notably, this biography does not shy away from controversy, aptly reflecting the complexities of its subject. As Levy poignantly states towards the end of the book, “Here was a man in his nineties grappling with themes and demons that had plagued his career. If that doesn’t typify a lifelong artist, then nothing does.”

      **Scene by Abel Ferrara** (Simon & Schuster)

      For those familiar with the work of director Abel Ferrara, known for *Ms. 45*, *King of New York*, and *Bad Lieutenant*, it will come as no surprise that his memoir, *Scene*, is sharply humorous, profanely delightful, and strikingly candid. It’s packed with witty yet melancholic one-liners: “If you've never been evicted from your apartment, I suggest you either pay your rent or vacate voluntarily.” “My crew was comprised of individuals in recovery, making them the last group I wished to associate with.” “I penned a song titled ‘Tonight Will be the Night’ for *The Funeral* soundtrack. It mirrored Bob Dylan’s ‘Blind Willie McTell,’ but we couldn’t afford the original track.” Ferrara's narratives—ranging from his alcoholic father's influence to his personal struggles with addiction, interactions with producers and difficult actors, along with his failures and achievements—are utterly captivating. *Scene* stands out as one of those significant successes.

      **Ed Wood: Made in Hollywood USA by Will Sloan** (OR Books)

      Will Sloan, an entertaining and insightful voice in cinema on the X platform (@WillSloanEsq), produces his magnum opus with *Ed Wood: Made in Hollywood USA*. Sloan's reassessment of the “alleged ‘Worst Director of All-Time’” intelligently recognizes the established reputation of the man behind *Plan 9 from Outer Space*, drawing from the Medveds’ *Golden Turkey Awards* and Tim Burton’s exceptional *Ed Wood*, which glosses over the harsh realities of its subject’s troubled final days. Sloan expresses, “My interest in Wood is reinforced, not diminished, by the understanding that he is not entirely redeemable—intellectually, aesthetically, or politically.” According to Sloan, Wood created something “stranger” than “competent, professional films in the classical Hollywood style,” making him and his work truly fascinating. (For more insight, check out our interview with the author.)

      **It Can’t Rain All the Time: The Crow by Alisha Mughal** (ECW Press)

      There hasn’t been a film-centric book in 2025 that has impacted me as deeply as *It Can’t Rain All the Time*. Alisha Mughal’s contribution to ECW Press’ “Pop Classics” series is an emotional powerhouse, beautifully underscoring the brilliance of Alex Proyas’ *The Crow* and the late Brandon Lee’s performance. Additionally, it acts as a memoir for the author herself. Mughal discovers that Eric Draven’s story closely parallels her own: “[A]s I revisited *The Crow* repeatedly while writing this book, I found myself getting emotional. That I felt moved to tears while watching this film, after a period of being unable to cry, fills me with joy—my emotions signify not only a celebration of my own life but also the life embodied within this film, a life that continues to resonate.” *It Can’t Rain All the Time* is a book you may wish to carry and reread—it’s that impactful, especially as the iconic soundtrack to *The Crow* (particularly tracks like the Cure’s “Burn” and Medicine’s “Time Baby III”) plays in the background.

      **There’s No Going Back: The Life and Work of Jonathan Demme by David M. Stewart** (The University Press of Kentucky)

      You might be surprised to learn that David M. Stewart’s *There’s No Going Back: The Life and Work of Jonathan Dem