Francis Ford Coppola is convinced that "live cinema" will become a powerful medium within the larger film industry, which is why he created this instructive book, full of vivid memories and valuable lessons—a treasure for cinephiles, film students, and teachers everywhere. As digital cinematography can now be accomplished by a director or by a collaborative team working via the Internet, it is only a matter of time before filmmakers create "live" films of the highest creative quality that are immediately sent for viewing in distant theaters. Whether recounting his childhood obsession with cinema, exploring the roots of "live cinema" through the history of early cinema and 1950s television, or showcasing cutting-edge techniques for everything from rehearsals to equipment, Coppola proves that the spontaneity of "live cinema" will usher filmmaking into a new era of creativity, previously impossible.