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Vaz, Mark Cotta

 Person

Biographical History

Mark Cotta Vaz (1954-) is a film historian and author. Among his many books is "Living Dangerously," a biography of film producer Merian C. Cooper.

Mark Cotta Vaz (born September 16, 1954, in San Francisco, California) is an American author, editor and film historian. He has authored over thirty books, focusing on documenting film special effects and other behind-the-scenes aspects of visual presentation in motion pictures. He has written about these aspects for both Star Wars and Star Trek. He has also written many movie companion books, such as those for The Spirit, Beautiful Creatures and four for the Twilight series. His book "Living Dangerously" on Merian C. Cooper is highly acclaimed, and the drafts and research materials associated with this book are among BYU's special collections.

Citation:
UPB files, February 14, 2013 (film historian and author; author of "Living Dangerously," biography of film producer Merian C. Cooper)

Wikipedia, via WWW, March 21, 2017: Mark Cotta Vaz (b. 16 Sept 1954, San Francisco, Calif.; American author, editor, film historian; wrote 30 books mostly on special effects; written on Star Wars and Star Trek; written movie companion books for The Spirit, Beautiful CreatureL, and Twilight series films; living Dangerously is acclaimed biography on Merian C. Cooper)

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:

Doug Fabrizio interview with James D'Arc and Mark Cotta Vaz

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197225546875]
Identifier: MSS 3666
Scope and Contents Interview on compact disc about the 1933 film King Kong and its director and co-producer Merian C. Cooper. Released during the Great Depression and in the year of Franklin D. Roosevelt's election, this film explored the theme of civilization vs. nature. D'Arc and Vaz accredit Cooper for much of the motion industries success and for building the bridge between the 19th and 20th centuries. They discuss parallels between Cooper and the film's star Carl Denham. They point out the influences in...
Dates: 2006 April 7
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Doug Fabrizio interview with James D'Arc and Mark Cotta Vaz

Mark Cotta Vaz papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8036
Scope and Contents

Collection contains research, notes, and drafts of Mark Cotta Vaz's biography of Merian C. Cooper, "Living Dangerously". There are also proof copies of the book, two paperback editions of "King Kong," and an audiobook of "Living Dangerously". Items were collected and/or created from approximately 2003-2010.

Dates: Approximately 2003-2010
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Mark Cotta Vaz papers

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