|
|
|
Theatre Cinema Bookshelf from the Midwest Book Review |
Monthly theatre and film book selections from Midwest Book Review.
THE THEATRE/CINEMA SHELF
Angels & Demons
Columbia Pictures
Newmarket Press
18 E. 48th Street, New York, NY 10017
9781557048332, $19.95, www.newmarketpress.com
The creative work put behind some of Hollywood's best is truly awe-inspiring. "Angels & Demons: The Illustrated Movie Companion" is a collection of photographs and concept art focused on the blockbuster new film created from the bestselling novel by 'Da Vinci Code' author Dan Brown. With a foreword from Brown, there is much to enjoy for both fans of the book and movie. "Angels & Demons" is a fine addition to any movie buff's collection.
Channeling the Future
Lincoln Geraghty, editor
Scarecrow Press
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9780810866751 $45.00 www.scarecrowpress.com 1-800-462-6420
Edited by film studies lecturer Lincoln Geraghty, Channeling the Future: Essays on Science Fiction and Fantasy Television is an anthology of thoughtful essays exploring popular culture sci-fi and fantasy TV from the 1950s to the present day. Individual essays re-examine overlooked and forgotten series, as well as exploring the appearance and feel this genre of television as a whole, from location, landscape, and iconography to special effects, set design, props, and costumes. Individual television series spotlighted include "The Twilight Zone", "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea", "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.", "Star Trek: The Next Generation", "Angel", "Firefly", "Futurama", and the new "Battlestar Galactica". The essays range in subject from "Irwin Allen's Recycled Monsters and Escapist Voyages" to "There Can Be Only One: Highlander: The Series' Portrayal of Historical and Contemporary Fantasy", to "Kinky Borgs and Sexy Robots: The Fetish, Fashion, and Discipline of Seven of Nine". A remarkably studious examination of the implications of imaginative popular culture, especially recommended for media studies shelves with a focus on science fiction and fantasy.
America's Film Vault
Phillip W. Stewart
PMS Press
PO Box 1496, Crestview, FL 32536
9780979324307, $39.95, www.pmspress.com
Archives are the world's greatest tool in preserving its own history. "America's Film Vault: A Reference Guide to the Motion Pictures Held by the U.S. National Archives" is a look into the deep-reaching archives of the federal government's vault, which is filled with countless films that document the history of our country, be it from news broadcasts, military films of the 1940s, donated films from personal libraries, and more. Each entry chronicles the date of the film, what its purpose is, and its source. "America's Film Vault" is a fine resource to what lies deep inside the world of public records.
Slumdog Millionaire
Simon Beaufoy
Newmarket Press
18 E. 48th Street, New York, NY 10017
9781557048363, $19.95, www.newmarketpress.com
Winning many Oscars this past event, 'Slumdog Millionaire' has much for viewers and moviemakers to learn from. "Slumdog Millionaire: The Shooting Script" is a look at the screenplay for this runaway hit film that took theatres by storm. The story, following an eighteen-year-old boy on the cusp of millions, begins in tragedy and leads to the point where his life may finally turn around. "Slumdog Millionaire: The Shooting Script" is well worth the purchase for any who want to study the critically acclaimed film.
Rain/Drizzle/Fog
Darrell Varga, editor
University of Calgary Press
2500 University Drive, NW Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4
9781552382486, $34.95, www.uofcpress.com
Where does regional film lie in the modern world? "Rain/Drizzle/Fog: Film and Television in Atlantic Canada" is a look at the rise and decline of regional film in eastern Canada. Concerned with the state of modern TV, author Darrell Varga discusses programs that have grown into continent-wide sensations, as well as the early roots of television. Standing against the assimilation of Canadian culture into one identity, "Rain/Drizzle/Fog" is fascinating reading for anyone intrigued by the international history of television.
Television: The Life Story of a Technology
Alexander B. Magoun
The Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9780801890727, $25.00 www.press.jhu.edu 1-800-537-5487
Written by Alexander B. Magoun (executive director, David Sarnoff Library), Television: The Life Story of a Technology lives up to its title with an in-depth examination of the history of a media that continues to transform the world. Though television has been prevalent only for approximately fifty years, the earliest conception of the technology that would become television had its roots over one hundred years in the past. Chapters cover the innovation that brought television into existence, and then to the masses; how its commercialization affected human culture; and how modern digital media is chipping away at television's dominance - indeed, could the Internet bring about television's final end? A handful of black-and-white photographs, a bibliography, and an index enhance this highly readable account, sure to fascinate lay readers and scholars alike.
Make Movies That Make Money!
Philip R. Cable
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640
9780786441631, $39.95, www.mcfarlandpub.com
There's a formula Hollywood has figured out, but you don't need millions to do it as well. "Make Movies That Make Money! The Low-Budget Filmmaker's Guide to Commercial Success" is a guide for filmmakers of any level, from those playing with their grandparent's video camera to independent producers with a moderate budget. Author Phillip Cable says you don't need a massive budget to gain success, and gives tips for these film makers without funds to make their mark in the world of Hollywood blockbusters. "Make Movies That Make Money!" is a fine and highly recommended guide for those who don't want to be a starving artist.
Jack & Walter
Ben Costello
Five Star Publications, Inc.
4695 W. Tyson Street, Chandler, AZ 85226
9781589851184, $45.00, www.jackandwalterbook.com
There is sometimes a chemistry between two people where it just clicks and there is gold. "Jack & Walter: The Films of Lemmon & Matthau" chronicles the career of the two legendary actors when they were placed together, though each was a legend in his own right. Author Ben Costello looks at the pair's joint films ranging from their earliest work together in 'The Fortune Cookie', to their most well-known film 'The Odd Couple', to their much more recent films 'Grumpy Old Men' and 'JFK'. Chapters also cover both men's solo careers. Each movie gets its own chapter, complete with production stills and personal photos in black and white. "Jack & Walter" is a must for any fan of either actor.
Milk: A Pictorial History of Harvey Milk
Dustin Lance Black, Introduction
Newmarket Press
18 E. 48th Street, New York NY 10017
9781557048288, $19.95 www.newmarketpress.com
Film collections interested in contemporary sagas and documentaries will relish Milk: A Pictorial History of Harvey Milk It comes from a screenwriter who in 2004 began to retell the story of a gay politician who was murdered in San Francisco. The making of the movie and results of research, interviews, and news stories makes for a powerful presentation.
The Greatest Sci-Fi Movies Never Made
David Hughes
Titan Books
144 Southwark Street, London SE1 OUP
9781845767556, $14.95 www.titanbooks.com
Any collection strong in science fiction movies of the past needs THE GREATEST SCI-FI MOVIES NEVER MADE. From Spielberg's NIGHT SKIES to Kubrick's CHILDHOOD'S END, this covers some legendary unmade films, expanding and updating a prior edition and revealing details of efforts that never made it to the screen and public eye.
Stagestruck Filmmaker
David Mayer
University of Iowa Press
119 West Park Road, Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
1587297906, $49.95 www.uiowapress.org
D.W. Griffith was an actor and dramatist before he became a filmmaker and used the resources of the theatre to create pioneering films, using older stage forms of comedy, vaudeville and variety to translate to film. His blending in of traditional theatre forms to create new visual motion picture displays made Griffith an early American film artist, and STAGESTRUCK FILMMAKER traces his techniques and films as it considers his impact on the American stage. Any college-level library strong in modern stage history will find this an absorbing study.
Stargate Atlantis: The Official Companion Season 4
Sharon Gosling
Titan Books
144 Southwark Street, London SE1 OUP
9781845767143, $14.95 www.titanbooks.com
The hit TV series Stargate: Atlantis enters its fourth season with a companion book recommended for collections catering to series fans. It provides behind-the-scenes interviews, an episode guide, photos, and is a top pick for any collection catering to avoid Stargate Atlantis TV show watches.
The Art of Monsters vs Aliens
Linda Sunshine
Newmarket Press
18 E. 48th Street, New York NY 10017
9781557048240, $40.00 www.newmarketpress.com
Over 400 color illustrations accompanies a survey of the film MONSTERS VS ALIENS, with five sections highlighting all aspects of the film's production from character personality and development by the DreamWorks design team to digital sets created for the movie, and special effects. Film libraries, especially those strong in contemporary animation, will find this a winning and colorful survey.
The Lean Forward Moment
Norman Hollyn
New Riders
1249 - 8th Street, Berkeley CA 94710
0321585453, $44.99 www.newriders.com
In all forms of moving media it's the filmmaker's job to create a meaningful product that truly affects audiences - and The Lean Forward Moment is devoted to finding and highlighting this moment, where techniques lead to audience involvement. It comes form a film editing instructor and shows how to create this moment, with chapters packing in examples, tips, film illustration from successful moments, and much more. Highly recommended for any collection strong in film production and editing.
Here's The Story
Maureen McCormick
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
www.williammorrow.com
9780061490149, $25.95 www.harpercollins.com
Brady Bunch fans will relish the inside story of Marcia Brady in her autobiography HERE'S THE STORY: SURVIVING MARCIA BRADY AND FINDING MY TRUE VOICE. It goes behind the scenes of the TV show, probing friendships, the illusion of the TV family, and how Maureen became caught up in Hollywood's drug culture. It's a powerful story, hard to put down and a top pick for any prior fan of the Brady Bunch TV series.
Milk: The Shooting Script
Dustin Lance Black
Newmarket Press
18 East 48th Street, New York NY 10017
9781557048271, $19.95 www.newmarketpress.com
Harvey Milk's activism for gay rights extended into San Francisco politics before the gay movement in the city really took root. This shooting script is for any who have seen and loved the movie, and includes an introduction by director Gus Van Sant, the complete shooting script, a color photos collection, and scene notes by the author. Film libraries and individuals seeking a keepsake of the movie will find it an excellent acquisition.
Synecdoche New York
Charlie Kaufman
Newmarket Press
18 E. 48th Street, New York, NY 10017
9781557048134, $19.95, www.newmarketpress.com
Charlie Kaufman is one of the most unique and innovative movie makers in the modern era. "Synecdoche, New York: The Shooting Script" is the complete screenplay of last year's film, and Kaufman's directorial debut. With an introduction to the script by Kaufman, a Q&A section, color photographs and complete credits as bonuses to the script, "Synecdoche, New York" is a must get for fans of the film or Kaufman's fans in general.
Actor Training the Laban Way
Barbara Adrian
Allworth Press
10 East 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010
9781581156485, $24.95, www.allworth.com
One can tell quite the story while never opening the mouth. "Actor Training the Laban Way: An Integrated Approach to Voice, Speech, and Movement" is a drama teaching manual using the teachings of skilled actor and coach Rudolf Laban. Author Barbara Adrian also adds her own touch to the lessons, which emphasize the importance of every little body movement in the field of acting. Breath, functional strength and agility, vocal range, and more are all covered with meticulous detail, making "Actor Training the Laban Way" a must for would be actors and those who coach them.
One on One
Joyce E. Henry
Applause Theatre & Cinema Books
c/o Hal Leonard
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201, New York, NY 10010
9781557837011, $14.95, www.applausepub.com
The monologue is an important part of the theatre, but even the best actor will falter with poor material. "One on One: The Best Men's Monologue for the 21st Century" is an anthology of great monologues geared towards male actors. Comprised of contemporary writers' best work, the monologues range across diverse topics, from serious social issues to entertainment-based matters. "One on One" is a must for any theatre producer or writer who wants to be inspired or use the best.
Sacred Terror
Douglas E. Cowan
Baylor University
PO Box 97363, Waco, TX 76798
9781602580183, $24.95, www.baylorpress.com
Demonic creatures, the undead, and evil are all vaguely religious concepts. "Sacred Terror: Religion and Horror on the Silver Screen" is a discussion of the strong presence of religion in horror films. Saying that horror films tend to prey on the religious sense that exists in most people, even those who are not exactly weekly church goers, author Douglas Cowan discusses many examples of popular movies and the most common fears used in these films. "Sacred Terror" is a key volume to better understanding horror and why it's frightening.
Western Film Series Of The Sound Era
Michael R. Pitts
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
9780786435296, $95.00, www.mcfarlandpub.com
The enduring popularity of those old western movies series such as Hopalong Cassidy, The Durango Kid, and the Three Mesquiteers, continued with the advent of television and even today can be seen by whole new generations of viewers on specialty television channels with western movie themes. The western genre of filmmaking produced popular culture heros and movie stars that ranged from John Wayne and Johnny Mack Brown, to Ken Maynard and Tim McCoy. Now movie fan and historian Michael R. Pitts has compiled a 480-page reference that details all of these western movie series including plot synopsis and analysis of each series' place in cinematic history. Profusely illustrated with 137 photos, and enhanced with filmographies, a bibliography, and an index, "Western Film Series Of The Sound Era" is a welcome and highly prized addition to personal, academic, and community library film history reference collections and western film buff supplemental reading lists.
The Columbia History Of American Television
Gary R. Edgerton
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street, New York, NY 10023-7015
http://cup.columbia.edu
9780231121651, $24.50, www.amazon.com
Most people are not aware that the technology of sending images and sound over the airwaves was well underway prior to the outbreak of World War II. The demands of the war effort were what delayed the introduction of television to the American population didn't get underway until after the war's end. In "The Columbia History Of American Television", Gary R. Edgerton (Professor and Chair of the Communication and Theater Arts Department at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia) lays out the developmental history of television beginning with its pre-war inception, then takes the reader through the Network Era that basically ran from 1948 to 1795, then the Cable Era from 1976 to 19943, and concludes with an examination of the current Digital Age of television. Along the way, Professor Edgerton addresses an enormous number of relevant issues such as television as an art form, its impact on American popular culture, its gender, racial, and ethnic components, its impact on politics and social issues, its effect as a commercial venture for the American economy, and so much more. A seminal work of meticulous scholarship, "The Columbia History Of American Television" is a welcome and highly recommended addition for academic and community library American Popular Culture reference collections, as well as an informed and informative work suitable for non-specialist general readers with an interest in the history of television in America.
Self-Management for Actors, third edition
Bonnie Gillespie
Cricket Feet
PO Box 1417, Hollywood, CA 90028
9780972301992, $29.95, www.cricketfeet.com
Agents are sneaky creatures, out like parasites to suck money off anyone they can get their hands on. So who needs them? "Self-Management for Actors: Getting Down to (Show) Business" is the third edition of the guide designed to help actors shake the monkey that is the agent off of their backs. With many tips and advice on building the connections and clout needed to be one's own agent and be responsible for one's own success, author Bonnie Gillespie draws on her insider knowledge to give readers what they need to get their foot in the door without a parasite taking credit for their work. "Self-Management for Actors" is a must for any agentless actor who wants to stay that way.
The Great American Book Musical
Denny Martin Flinn
Limelight Editions
c/o Hal Leonard
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201, New York NY 10010
9780879103620, $19.95 www.limelighteditions.com
THE GREAT AMERICAN BOOK MUSICAL: A MANIFESTO A MONOGRAPH A MANUAL traces the development of libretto, music, lyrics and staging over the history of American musicals, considering the factors that make for a great book musical and demonstrating that quality happens when dialogue, lyrics and dance present a seamless integration of the story line. His history of American musicians and how great musicals integrate these experiences makes this a 'must' for any library serious about American stage productions.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.
The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at http://www.midwestbookreview.com
Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
Support your independent bookstore--and your local economy. Buy the books you read about here.
If you'd rather order from Amazon.com, please click here.
Many of the 1,000+ articles on Frugal Fun and Frugal Marketing have been gathered into magazines. If you'd like to read more great content on these topics, please click on the name of the magazine you'd like to visit.
Global Travel Review - Global Arts Review - Peace & Politics Magazine
Frugal Marketing Tips - Frugal Fun Tips - Positive Power of Principled Profit
|
|
Some of the links on our sites are sponsored ads. This financial support allows us to bring you the consistent high quality of information and constant flow of new content. Please thank our advertisers if you do business with them.