Jerry Bruckheimer: When Lightning Strikes Four Decades of Filmmaking

By Michael Singer

Jerry Bruckheimer released his first film in 1972, and since then, he has left an indelible mark on the landscape of motion pictures and television. He has produced a prodigious list of box office blockbusters, as well as a considerable resume of compelling cinema. Moviegoers have flocked to see Bruckheimer's high-octane hits, notably Top Gun , Days of Thunder , Beverly Hills Cop , Bad Boys , Crimson Tide , The Rock , Con Air , Armageddon , Gone in Sixty Seconds , Pearl Harbor , Black Hawk Down , the Pirates of the Caribbean series, and the National Treasure series. And yet some film fans are unaware that Bruckheimer is also the producer behind such influential and heartfelt achievements as Flashdance , Dangerous Minds , Remember the Titans , Veronica Guerin , and Glory Road . Jerry Bruckheimer's versatility extends to television as well. His media-altering contributions to the realm of the small screen include the CSI franchise, The Amazing Race , Cold Case , and Without a Trace . Bruckheimer's ability to recognize aptitude has also helped to establish, solidify, and reinvent the careers of many exceptional talents. He has been a driving force behind the successes of actors Johnny Depp, Tom Cruise, Nicolas Cage, Richard Gere, Eddie Murphy, Will Smith, Ben Affleck, Denzel Washington, Keira Knightley, and Jake Gyllenhaal. And he has helped to nurture the skills of directors Michael Bay, Tony Scott, Gore Verbinski, Jon Turteltaub, Paul Schrader, Michael Mann, and Martin Brest. Jerry Bruckheimer came from very humble beginnings. Born in Detroit, Michigan, to a clothes-salesman father and a bookkeeper mother, Bruckheimer grew up in a house so small that he could stretch out his arms and touch both walls of his bedroom. He visited the local movie theaters as often as he could, and dreamed of making films for a living. After finishing college, Bruckheimer took a job at an advertising firm and quickly rose through the ranks. Three-and-a-half years later, he decided that it was time to pursue his real passion, so he moved to Los Angeles. The rest, as they say, is history. Jerry Bruckheimer: When Lightning Strikes - Four Decades of Filmmaking commemorates the uber-producer's entire body of work, from The Culpepper Cattle Co. (1972) to The Lone Ranger (2013). The stories behind his films and television shows are revealed through insightful text written by Michael Singer, who has worked beside the producer in deserts, on tropical islands, and at every conceivable filming location in between. The images that accompany the text tell their own tales of directors, actors, and writers coming together with Bruckheimer to create films, characters, and screenplays that have become iconic, beloved, and oft-quoted. With a foreword by Johnny Depp, an exclusive interview with Bruckheimer's wife, Linda, and an introduction by Bruckheimer himself, this comprehensive and stunning volume is an actualization of the impact Bruckheimer has had on the spheres of film, television, and pop culture. It is clear that the inspiring lightning bolt of his company logo has struck a chord time and again, and it is sure to continue doing so well into the future.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1423130693
• ISBN13: 9781423130697
• Release Date: October 2013
• Publisher: Disney Editions
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 7.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 11.5" x 16.5"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary