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The Wah-Wah Diaries

The Making of a Film

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The Wah-Wah Diaries

By: Richard E Grant
Narrated by: Richard E Grant
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Summary

Ten years after the publication of With Nails, Richard E Grant’s brilliant memoir of his years in Hollywood, Macmillan Digital Audio are proud to be publishing Wah-Wah, the very personal diaries of his debut behind the camera, as writer and director of his autobiographical movie of the same name. It is both a fascinating insight into the intrigues and agonies he encounters along the way, and also a deeply moving portrait of his childhood and his love affair with Swaziland, where he was born and brought up during the last throes of the British Empire.

Through the mayhem – never-ending financial pressures; hostilities and finally breakdown of communication with his Producer; the nerve-racking quest to persuade the King of Swaziland to grant permission to film in his country; the assembly of a stellar cast including Gabriel Byrne, Miranda Richardson, Emily Watson, and Julie Walters – Richard E Grant has written and reads, with characteristic humour and charm, an extraordinarily honest and revealing account of a labour of love and the realisation of a dream.

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An (at times unbelievably) frank, deep dive into the peaks/troughs journey of getting an independent film made. Funny and moving. I found it addictive listening

Super honest

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A Must for any film buff interested in the movies and their making. Richard's wonderful dulcet tones take us on his very personal journey, from writing the script, through the trials, tribulations and production nightmares, to the birthing of his small independent baby.

A Must For Any Film Buff.

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I stumbled on to this book after hearing its mention on the empire podcast. Richard E. Grant was being congratulated on his Oscar nomination. He came across so humble and funny in podcast I thought I’d give the book a listen and so happy I did. The book is a tells the story of the making of the movie, from the very first meeting with a producer to movie getting a distribution deal, and all the ups and downs in between. Richard E. Grant doesn’t so much perform the book but relives each moment and you can you can hear genuine joy and sadness as he reads his own words. I’ll never look at an independent movie again in the same way. The blood, sweat and tears that went into making the move are all there. I was sorry when I finished it, because it was so interesting and enjoyable. I look forward to seeing the movie.

A fantastic insight into the world of filmmaking

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I like Richard E. Grant very much and hoped his book would be enjoyable. I wasn't disappointed. He reads it with enthusiasm and laughs when obviously it was funny when it happened. So you get a feeling of being there very much. The only thing was I thought it could have been trimmed by about 15 minutes. The build up to the filmimg was great and I enjoyed the later episodes of the editing and promotion more than the actual filming part of the story. But thats only me. Well worth the purchase.

Excellent

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I loved listening to this. I had just listened to “A Pocketful of Happiness”, Richard E Grant’s diary of his wife Joan Washington’s illness and passing. I think I needed to go back to happier times in his life, so I came across this wonderful book. Richard had a tough time with his parents, so it was bitter sweet, but I hope cathartic for him to make the film and record his emotions in this book. I have a personal interest in Wah Wah because a dear friend from University, Sindi Nxumalo, was in it. I was delighted to hear her mentioned 3 times. It’s a wonder this film was ever made with the incompetent producer almost deliberately failing to do her job at every turn! The warmth of the relationships with the cast is magical, as are the descriptions of Swaziland. I want to watch the film again now! Great book. Withnail next! I’m a bit of a fan!

Fantastic account of the making of Wah Wah

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