Seen Behind The Scene

It's privilege of a very few, being able to bypass all barriers, formality and security, and get right into the midst of all the mystery and intrigues of a film studio, wander around into major stars' private dressing rooms, film sets, and even onto the actual shooting of a picture, recording with your camera whoever and whatever you wish. Rubbing shoulders with the genius and not so genius who make possible miracles on screens. Mary Ellen Mark has been doing just that, for nearly half a century.

The famous American photographer remembered her very first time in that wonderland that's Hollywood, in 1960. With her camera and a little note book; no other equipment or tools of trade is necessary. She captures scenes behind the scenes meant for publication or for cinemas, the drama behind the drama, the tears of a star right before or after her smiling face was caught by the official cameras for a film. She goes in and out of dressing rooms and studio canteens, recording real life's ups and downs behind the make belief emotions dictated by scripts and by order of the director. All that is now collected in a big volume titled: 'Seen behind the scene' (edited in Phaidon Press and available in Spanish book-stores).

It's logical. She became a photographer because she was in love with seeing ever changing emotions and sensations frozen in images. The book also serves, involuntarily, as a record of the film history in more modern times from the 60's onwards. From Satyricon to Tootsie. From Gandhi to Showgirls, Moulin Rouge to Babel. As well as the changes registered in the film industry during the past 50 years. The book has also been dotted with her many observations, like: directors today do not always sit on the set, but in front of their monitors away from the shooting. That actors in modern days have put distance between themselves and any 'intruders', they are now guarded or protected by publicists, agents, bodyguards, secretaries and timetables .... all constituted to authentic walls.

Apart from the 250 photos, It includes texts of words of many stars telling their experiences behind the scene, the wait, the nerves, the worry, the rehearsing, the preparation, the cultivation of emotions to get into the skin of a stranger ... and the sparks of magic of the shooting. There are impressions and conversation, remarks and opinions of other personalities closely connected with the studios or the stars, the work team, and visiting friends.

It's not just in the film art that Mark has become famous. Back in 1981, she published under the title: 'Falkan Road' her photographs and text of the brothels of Bombay, life in the circus and camps of the Gipsies. Her images are always true, humane and compassionate especially to the poor and unfortunate; strong contrast and counterviews from the sophistication of Hollywood.

Francis Ford Coppola directing 'Apocalypse Now' and Patrick Swayze in drag.

Tags:Book,Brothel,Hollywood

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