What is the role of the movie director in Hollywood? How does he work with his technical team and with the actors? What impact can he have on the final editing process? How much influence does the "star system" really have? What are the industry's standard work methods? Are independent films a viable alternative?

By compiling the testimonies of famous men and women of the French cinema about their experiences in the United States, the book offers diverse views about how films in the United States and France are conceived, produced and perceived. The contrast between the French and American cinematographic models produces a fascinating "film course."

N. T. Binh is a critic, exhibition organizer and director of documentaries on the cinema.

José Moure teaches Aesthetics of the Cinema at Université de Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. His notable works include: Vers une esthétique du vide au cinéma (L'Harmattan, 1997), Michelangelo Antonioni, cinéaste de l'évidement (L'Harmattan, 2001), (co-authored by Daniel Banda) Le Cinéma, naissance d'un art (1895-1920) (Flammarion, Champs Arts coll., 2008) and Le Cinéma : l'art d'une civilisation (1920-1960) (Flammarion, Champs Arts coll., 2011).

Film-maker Frédéric Sojcher heads a Masters programme in screen writing and film direction and production at Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne