"Who is like Anna? Is there another person in another industry who is? Not Bill Gates, not Steven Spielberg - they’re accomplished, but you don’t need them to have your own career. Maybe you don’t need Anna, but I think you do. And if you don’t need her you’re a rare exception. I can make a movie, but Steven Spielberg doesn’t have anything to do with my film. But if I were a fashion designer I would be singularly focused on Anna Wintour’s approval,"
- R.J. Cutler, filmmaker
The fashion world awaits the release of "The September Issue," - and with good reason. The film goes behind closed doors at Vogue where fashion editrix Anna Wintour rules the world of fashion. "The September Issue" gives a behind-the-scenes look into the making of the September 2007 issue of Vogue and, of course, the life of Wintour, its editor in chief. Filmmaker R.J. Cutler documents the nine months leading up to the printing of Vogue's highly anticipated issue. And in 2007 the pressure was on. The magazine went down in history as the largest magazine ever made. Without a doubt, the film is a glamorous production. It includes some of the world's most influential fashion designers including Jean Paul Gaultier, Nicolas Ghesquiere, Isabel Toledo and Thakoon Panichugal as well as photographer Patrick Demarchelier and cover girl, Sienna Miller. I was fortunate to see the debut of the documentary at the Sundance Film Festival in Feb. and it has since racked up countless awards at festivals around the world. Wintour herself was in Park City, Utah for the premiere and according to Cutler was the inspiration behind the making of the film. At a pre-show cocktail soiree, I caught up with Cutler who said the film was Wintour's idea. "I approached her about making a film, but it was her idea to do this film and to structure it around the September issue," said Cutler. "And I thought that’s a great idea, she’s absolutely right." The film debuts tonight to a select group of insiders at the Paley Center Center for Media in Los Angeles and on Aug. 28 in New York - interesting timing as what could be the smallest Sept. issue of Vogue will hit newsstands just as the film is released. The contrast obviously because of the economy. Luxury fashion was at an all time high at the time of filming in comparison to this year when magazines are struggling for advertisers. But fashion is a subject of intrigue and the film should do well - especially as the popularity of documentary and reality shows continues to grow. Think "Project Runway," "The Rachel Zoe Project," and “Valentino: The Last Emperor." And in "The September Issue" Cutler gives a rare glimpse into the offices of Vogue and the real lives of its editors. It is most intriguing as it unravels the mysteries behind Vogue - the force that has the power to shape the direction of fashion. And Wintour is needless to say, a complex character who is both passionate and perfectionistic in her position at the helm of the fashion world. Her influence is apparent as she meets with key industry players, edits photo shoots and guides the careers of designers such as Panichugul. Highlights of the film include behind-the-scenes footage at the couture shows, the process of shooting Miller for the cover and the debate over whether to retouch a camera man's belly (gasp!) on one of Grace Coddington's shoots. It was fascinating to see the personalities behind the magazine and the dedication each maintained throughout the demanding production process. The film provides a greater understanding of Wintour who is quite candid about her family’s disinterest in fashion and her daughter Bee Schaffer who claims to not want to follow in her mother's footsteps. As expected, there were a few "Devil Wears Prada" moments, but I was mostly captured by the dedication and passion of Wintour and her staff. Not to mention the over-the-top outfits of the eccentric Andre Leon Talley! And for me Coddington's passion for her work as creative director of Vogue was quite inspiring. As a fashion editor I could relate to the intensive creative process, the decisions made on set and the sometimes emotional editing process. It was interesting to see the 20 year repoire between Coddington and Wintour as the two sometimes battled it out as creator and curator of what is arguably the most influential fashion magazine in the world. After all, when preparing the largest issue in history, only perfection will do. And for Wintour and Coddington, it is that delicate balance of creativity and perfectionism that keeps them both at the top of the fashion game.
Here are some images from the film:
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