Part of the Encore Film Book Classics series, this is a reprint of the original text to Gus Van Sant: An Unauthorized Biography by James Robert Parish. Few directors in today’s moviemaking world have such a controversial and intriguing body of screen work as Gus Van Sant. At the start, the struggling Van Sant used his life’s savings to make his debut feature, Mala Noche (1985). This highly regarded independent picture was the springboard to Van Sant’s Drugstore Cowboy (1989) and My Own Private Idaho (1991). Although he long refused to be part of the Hollywood studio system, Van Sant nevertheless has created such later crowd-pleasing features as Good Will Hunting (1997), for which he was Oscar-nominated, and Finding Forrester (2000). Gus Van Sant: An Unauthorized Biography is a revealing study of a modern-day Renaissance man who has enjoyed highly successful gallery exhibitions of his paintings, who composes songs, performs, and records. He turns out sophisticated still photography, has written a satirical and controversial novel (Pink) and has directed music videos featuring Elton John, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Hanson. Based on interviews with family, friends, and colleagues, this book explores his successes and his artistic misfires. Above all, this biography reveals how a most unusual talent and independent film icon has succeeded on his own terms. About the Author: JAMES ROBERT PARISH, a former entertainment reporter, publicist, and book series editor, is the author of many published major biographies and reference books on the entertainment industry including Whitney Houston: We Will Always Love You; The Hollywood Book of Extravagance; It’s Good to Be the King: The Seriously Funny Life of Mel Brooks; The Hollywood Book of Breakups; Fiascos: Hollywood’s Iconic Flops; The Hollywood Book of Scandals; The Hollywood Book of Love; Hollywood Divas; Jet Li; Hollywood Bad Boys; The Encyclopedia of Ethnic Groups in Hollywood; The Hollywood Book of Death; Whoopi Goldberg; Rosie O’Donnell’s Story; The Unofficial “Murder, She Wrote” Casebook; Today’s Black Hollywood; Let’s Talk! America’s Favorite TV Talk Show Hosts; Prison Pictures from Hollywood; Prostitution in Hollywood Films; The Great Cop Pictures; Ghosts and Angels in Hollywood Films; Pirates and Seafaring Swashbucklers on the Hollywood Screen; Gays and Lesbians in Mainstream Cinema; The Jeanette MacDonald Story, Hollywood’s Great Love Teams; and The Fox Girls. Mr. Parish is a frequent oncamera interviewee on cable and network TV for documentaries on the performing arts. The author resides in Studio City, California.
