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Theatre Cinema Bookshelf from the Midwest Book Review
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Monthly theatre and film book selections from Midwest Book Review.
THE THEATRE/CINEMA SHELF
Latin American Cinemas
Nayibe Bermudez Barrios
University of Calgary Press
2500 University Drive NW
Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 1N4
9781552385142, $34.95, www.uofcpress.com
Quickly gaining prominence, Latin America is becoming an artistic force in today's world. "Latin American Cinemas: Local Views and Transnational Connections" looks at modern Latin cinema and the themes throughout them, and how they talk to today's people. With a focus on the need for unity among the countries while trying to remain individual, the strong nature of sexuality in film, and Latin America's place in the world, "Latin American Cinemas" is a scholarly look at this rapidly growing medium in a rising region in today's world.
Voiceovers
Terri Apple
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd. #1111, Studio City CA 91604
9781932907902, $26.95, www.mwp.com
VOICEOVERS: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HOW TO MAKE MONEY WITH YOUR VOICE provides the only complete guide on the market to making money in the world of voiceovers. From understanding personal strengths and voiceover stereotypes to marketing voice, language, personality and more, this covers everything from coaching to making a demo CD, and tells how to make successful auditions to gain coveted voiceover jobs. No film or business collection should be without this!
Story Line
Jen Grisanti
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd. #1111, Studio City CA 91604
9781932907896, $26.95, www.mwp.com
Story Line: Finding Gold in Your Life Story provides a powerful survey of how 'universal' life experiences can be translated into story material suitable for TV, film and novels alike. It's an instruction manual packed with insights on developing plot, dilemmas, and understanding action and characterization, covering all aspects of a story line's ultimate goals and achievements. Both film and literary collections will find this a specific, important reference to superior plot development.
Henry Ford's Moving Picture Show
Phillip W. Stewart
PMS Press
PO Box 1496, Crestview, FL 32536
9780981744476, $39.95, www.pmspress.com
Dominance of the auto industry alone was not enough for Henry Ford. "Henry Ford's Moving Picture Show: An Investigator's Guide to the Films Produced by the Ford Motor Company" looks at Henry Ford's foray into motion pictures, as he formed a motion picture studio in 1914. Ford made primarily non-fiction styled endeavors, focusing on news and educational products, while supporting America through the World War. Philip W. Stewart focuses on this decade of dominance from Ford in the movie theater, covering 935 films produced by the company and putting it all in perspective. "Henry Ford's Moving Picture Show" is a complete and comprehensive study on the period, and a core addition to any film history collection.
Literary Lost
Sarah Clarke Stuart
Continuum International Publishing Group
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 704, New York, NY 10038
9781441140807, $19.95, www.continuum-books.com
LITERARY LOST: VIEWING TELEVISION THROUGH THE LENS OF LITERATURE offers a fine scholarly analysis of the allusions, literature and biblical references in the hit TV series, considering its social and philosophical reflections, its recurring images and themes, and nearly a hundred books in Lost's literature. Its many literary allusions have played key roles in wider discussions of the series: this pinpoints those literary references and lends to a powerful survey of Lost and its wider-ranging literature.
Bringing Up Oscar
Debra Ann Pawlak
Pegasus Books
c/o W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9781605981376, $27.95, www.pegasusbooks.com
BRINGING UP OSCAR: THE STORY OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO FOUNDED THE ACADEMY is a 'must' for any general or film collection interested in how the Oscars were founded. It surveys the pioneers who transformed movies into art by founding the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, telling of nearly forth achievers who created a platform for awards and critiques that would change the movie industry. The lively survey and movie history makes this a top pick.
Literary Lost
Sarah Clarke Stuart
Continuum
80 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038
9781441140807, $19.95, www.continuumbooks.com
Nothing is without its influences, and Lost was no exception. "Literary Lost: Viewing Television Through the Lens of Literature" hopes to trace the roots of the television phenomena Lost and connects the pieces of where the program gained its literary roots. Lost drew from everything from classical literature like the Wizard of Oz to great twentieth century works like Slaughterhouse-Five, and the countless allusions to hundreds of novels throughout the series long run. A critical study of the show, "Literary Lost" is a must for fans of the show or those studying the literary applications of the medium of television.
Frederick Wiseman
Joshua Siegel & Marie-Christine de Navacelle, Editors
Museum of Modern Art
11 West 53rd St., New York NY 10019-5497
9780870707919, $39.95, www.moma.org
Frederick Wiseman is published to accompany a year-long exhibition of his films and is the first in English to provide a review of all his works, from film to opera and theater. Small black and white and color photos from his films accompany in-depth coverage, including analysis and plot synopsis, of his productions, collecting essays that offer insights into his work and world. Any modern film library will find this a winner!
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd. #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
www.mwp.com
Richard D. Pepperman's ILLUMINATIONS: MEMORABLE MOVIE MOMENTS (9781932907780, $26.95) is a pick for any college-level film collection strong in screenwriting, film and video. It investigates the impact of movies and the effects of nostalgia and history on movie-making choices, offering chapters that pinpoint and discuss memorable shots of particular, significant movies. Quotes from critics, discussions of genre, and surveys of producer choices make this a top pick for any film library. Joshua A. Friedman's GETTING IT DONE: THE ULTIMATE PRODUCTION ASSISTANT GUIDE (9781932907889, $20.95) is for any performing arts or film reference collection, and shows how to become indispensable on film and TV sets. From the different roles of a PA to insider practices drawn from his own expertise and years of real-world experiences, this provides a tutorial for beginners as well as a reference for filmmakers with some experience under their belts, offering keys to understanding the functions of different departments involved in a production and daily set operations. Any film how-to library needs this! Hester Schell's CASTING REVEALED (9781932907872, $20.95). Hester Schell's CASTING REVEALED is a top pick for any performing arts or video collection, telling how to obtain a great cast to make a great movie. All steps of the casting process are covered, from filing union paperwork and posting audition announcements to running casting sessions. Chapters break down the entire process of casting in a fine survey.
The Way I See It
Melissa Anderson
Globe Peqot Press
246 Goose Lane, Suite 200, Guilford, CT 06437
9780762759705, $22.95, www.globepequot.com
THE WAY I SEE IT: A LOOK BACK AT MY LIFE ON LITTLE HOUSE provides a fine survey of a TV star who played Mary Ingalls on the show, and tells her side of the story of her TV experiences for the first time. At age 11 Melissa became one of TV's most beloved young characters in one of the most watched shows in TV history: her autobiography reveals the special challenges of coming of age as a child actor, winning awards, and interacting with fellow actors and crew members. A 'must' for any fan of Melissa Anderson and the Little House series, general lending libraries will find this a popular lend.
American Idol
Richard Rushfield
Hyperion Books
77 West 66th Street, New York, NY 10023-6298
9781401324124, $24.99, www.hyperionbooks.com
AMERICAN IDOL: THE UNTOLD STORY goes beyond the scenes of the American Idol TV show, conducting thousands of hours of interviews with cast and crew and offering a history of the popular TV show. The rare, candid interviews with Idol creator Simon Fuller, star Simon Cowell, and many others offer unique revelations to be found only here, including how Idol votes work and how judges relate to one another on- and off-stage. It's a 'must' for any American Idol fan.
The False Promise of Green Energy
Andrew P. Morriss, et.al.
Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20001
9781935308416, $24.95, www.cato.org
The False Promise of Green Energy considers the claims green energy proponents make about its potentials, from economic changes to environmental impact, and refute many common beliefs. An alliance of special interests have demanded public support for a range of programs under the idea of 'green jobs', making claims that are simply untrue. This book doesn't refute the notion of real environmental problems: it does show how special interests are taking advantage of issues to form a new breed of politician. College-level business and political science collections need this discussion.
Byte-Sized Television
Ross Brown
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd. #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
9781932907865, $26.95, www.mwp.com
Byte-Sized Television: Create Your Own TV Series for the Internet is the only book in print to show how to create an Internet TV series to reach millions of audiences. It's based on the author's own courses at a top American film school and offers aspiring Internet filmmakers an opportunity to create a series and produce a short-form internet TV show. From deviating from the outline in pilot scripts to production challenges, this offers fine keys to successful Internet production and marketing. Film libraries - and many a computer collection - will want this!
Directing Animation
David B. Levy
Allworth Press
10 E. 23rd St., New York NY 10010
9781581157468, $24.95, www.allworth.com
Directing Animation collects a fine set of real stories from the animation world and discusses management, leadership and keys to industry success. Experienced as well as neo-professional directors will find this covers the entire role of the director in managing animation film from beginning to end. Animation directors need to direct people who animate as well as writers, creators, crew and clients. From directing commercials and TV series to Web production and full-length films, this surveys it all!
Gilbert and Sullivan
Carolyn Williams
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street, New York, NY 10023-7015
9780231148047 $35.00 www.cup.columbia.edu
College-level collections strong in stage analysis and social commentary on the arts will find GILBERT AND SULLIVAN an outstanding pick, offering a survey of the comic operas they produced and their social impact. From her analysis of how anxiety drives some characters and reflects social conflict to the use of magic in The Sorcerer, this is a recommendation for any college-level course in Gilbert in Sullivan, and for readers who would receive a fine reinterpretation of their works and impact.
The Art of Tron Legacy
Nachie Castro, Editor
Disney Editions
114 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10011
9781423131496 $40.00 www.disney.com/tron
Any fan of Disney's Tron will love this keepsake book which celebrates and explains the creation of the movie. Changes made from the 1982 version to the Legacy movie involved employing ground-breaking filmmaking techniques mixing live action, 3-D photos and computer-generated images: TRON: LEGACY is thus a far different creation and provides a truly epic adventure captured here in an oversized photo-packed presentation explaining both the movie and its technical creation.
Independent Film Distribution, second edition
Phil Hall
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd. #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
9781932907858 $24.95 www.mwp.com
Independent Film Distribution: How to Make A Successful End Run Around the Big Guys appears in a second updated edition to pack in keys to success. It provides range of interviews with filmmakers, distributors, festival programmers and critics alike, offering a well-rounded assessment of the elements of film success. Case studies and commentary blend in chapters covering changing film standards and world views, changing opinions about the film festival circuit's effectiveness, and much more. No independent small filmmaker should be without this 'bible' of facts.
Horror Film Aesthetics
Thomas M. Sipos
McFarland & Company
Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640
9780786449729 $35.00 www.mcfarlandpub.com
Horror Film Aesthetics: Creating the Visual Language of Fear deserves ongoing recognition as a basic study of how cinematic tools have been used to create horror in film. From defining the horror genre and aesthetic uses to chapters covering framing, photography, lighting and sound, this is a specific coverage from a script reader and actor who has extensive experience in film. Very highly recommended for any college-level collection strong in film analysis in general and the horror genre in particular.
Casting Revealed
Hester Schell
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd. #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
9781932907872 $20.95 www.mwp.com
CASTING REVEALED: A GUIDE FOR FILM DIRECTORS covers all the basics of casting for film, video and performing artists, and explains all the steps involved, from filing union paperwork and posting audition requests to running casting sessions. Learn all the basics of contacting agents, assessing actors for roles, and reasonable expectations of actors in a practical guide packed with practical tips.
At This Theatre
Robert Viagas & Louis Botto
Hal Leonard
7777 West Bluemound Road, Milwaukee, Wi 53213
9781557837646, $38.99, www.applausepub.com
Broadway in America is synonymous with theatre. "At This Theatre: 110 Years of Broadway Shows, Stories, and Stars" looks at the long history that the Publication 'Playbill' has had in crafting programs for many of the greatest show in the past century and then some. With an assortment of color photos showing the many important shows of the major theaters from across the country. With plenty of history and discussion of these productions, "At This Theatre" is an ideal pick for any collection focusing on theatre history or for one searching for a coffee table for one who can't get enough of Broadway.
Riding the Alligator
Pen Densham
Michael Wiese Publications
12400 Ventura Blvd. #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
9781932907841 $24.95 www.mwp.com
RIDING THE ALLIGATOR: STRATEGIES FOR A CAREER IN SCREENPLAY WRITING (AND NOT GETTING EATEN) explores screenwriting techniques and comes from a Hollywood filmmaker who documents the secrets of a successful career that have helped him through 14 feature films and numerous TV series. Ideas on overcoming common challenges to successful writing offers his discoveries plus short essays from other top successful Hollywood screenwriters.
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 https://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
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