On Set With John Carpenter
Negative experiences
Release Date: 24 October
176 pages | £ 24.99 ( hardback) Author: Kim Gottlieb- Walker Publisher: Titan Books
Photographer Kim
Gottlieb- Walker worked on five features with John Carpenter, from 1978’ s Halloween to 1983’ s Christine, and this collection of stills will fascinate fans of the director.
There are some classy, artistic shots here: in moody portraits, the likes of Donald Pleasence and Lee Van Cleef direct a piercing gaze into the lens. A fair share are pretty unremarkable, but a scattering of priceless images of cast and crew goofing around make up for that: Nick Castle ( one of the men behind Michael Myers) making the mask “drink” a can of Dr Pepper. Kurt Russell eyeballing a caged rat on the set of Escape From New York.
Accompanying quotes add anecdotes about on- set mishaps and pranks – the cameraman falling through the floor; the producer convinced his Porsche had been crushed. By all accounts, a Carpenter set was a place of camaraderie, laughter and fun. Ian Berriman