Roger Corman is an artist, a businessman, and a teacher. His autobiography lays out his economic approach to movies (get the distributor to pay off the negative costs upfront so the company stays debt-free and the next project can be launched), as well as the technical details of shooting (plan, plan, plan, then fast, fast, fast). Also, recycle sets and bits of film from previous films to economize. As an artist, Corman puts the emphasis on keeping the eyeball interested by the use of movement and depth. In other words, interesting camera angles, not using the same view repeatedly (which "tires" the eye), and filling the foreground, middle distance and background with interesting things to look at. Directors like Coppola, Demme, Ron Howard and others cut their teeth with Corman, who was by all accounts a willing and generous teacher. One of the benefits of reading this excellent life story was being directed to a Corman-directed race drama, The Intruder, starring William Shatner in what is arguably his finest role. The story is bold, beautifully filmed and acted, and carries a strong message on the human mass mind.
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