University of Alabama at Birmingham Professor Larry Powell, Ph.D., co-wrote a book that gives a fascinating behind-the-scenes look into the making of some of the greatest movies of all time.

In “The Films of John G. Avildsen: Rocky, The Karate Kid, and other Underdogs,” Powell, along with Sam Houston State Associate Professor Tom Garrett, writes of Avildsen’s journey into making his world-famous movies. Avildsen, who won the Academy Award for Best Director in 1977 for “Rocky,” directed the Rocky I and V movies, as well as Karate Kid I, II and III, as well as others.