Q&A with TONY ZAZA, author of Widefilm Widescreen

Q&A with TONY ZAZA, author of Widefilm Widescreen

What inspired you to  write Widefilm Widescreen?

I studied film in college and worked in Hollywood during a period of rebirth of large screen entertainment in the 1970s.  I worked with many craft people and got involved in sound recording which led to my first book, Audio Design. It defined a new union craft. Years later , I thought about a book that would trace the technical evolution of large format cinema having worked at an equipment house near the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood. It was visited by many technicians of the widescreen era.

There have been other widescreen books. What makes your book special?
Widefilm  is the first comprehensive history tracing the slow evolution of technology and technique starting with the  pre-cinema era  1800s to present. It also focuses on “showmanship” as the driving force behind widescreen.

What are some of the features of your book?
There is a focus on equipment as well as the inventors and tinkerers, the personalities behind widescreen. I designed charts to illustrate the screen size differentials of all the widescreen systems. The study is global in scope. I document the many variations of Widescreen outside the USA. There is a chapter on current trends in digital presentation and special venue entertainment. 

What are some of the sources you researched to compile this book?
I started with knowledge gained from the “old timers” of Hollywood, their experiences and stories about widescreen cameras and production. I sourced all existing materials on a variety of presentation technologies as preserved in various Cinemateques and Libraries. I gathered information from manufacturers and exhibitors engaged in the widescreen development.

Can you site the primary benefit of this book for the average reader as well as the cinema buff?
It presents a fascinating story from early roadshows to the experience of IMAX.Dome.  It is a never-ending story of spectacle. Widefilm Widescreen is the complete reference. 

What are some of the ancillary features of the book ?
It is a thorough expose’ of how “showmanship”. the desire to capture an audience, lure that audience away with something bigger and better, something “Colossal”. Boxoffice is driven by competition. I included in the Index, lists of films released in various formats or shot with various cameras.

Is the book still relevant in the age of streaming?
Nothing beats the experience of sitting in a dark space and viewing action and adventure literally gliding over and around you. That experience is not lost. Worldwide, there are many theatres showcasing widescreen in their original formats on large screens. 
What is the relevance of the book to today’s filmmakers, practitioners in the digital age?
Everything still starts with the script. I wrote a book, Script Planning  which focused on how to convey your visualizations through words in many types of formats. My book is a reminder of how others translated their vision through the technology. Composition and movement are reflected in the many illustrations of widefilm and widescreen and you can follow how creativity evolved almost page by page.

The book is a history but do you cover anything new?
There is so much production for theme parks and other special venue attractions like a World’s Fair, the new Disneylands all over the world, I felt I had to include a basic reference chapter highlighting current trends . 

What is the audience for this book?
It begins as a “film fan” and general reader book. But it is also usefull to programmers at museums, cinemateques, libraries such as the Library of Congress who have film showings,. It’s a prime reference for film preservationists, collectors. The book can also serve as the basis for University-level coursework in cinema history and technique.