Films, cinema Books
Hyperion Tim Burtons The Nightmare Before Christmas Visual
Book Synopsis
£38.39
Rowman & Littlefield My West Side Story
Book SynopsisNatalie Wood and lovely Richard Beymer, to the mercurial Jerome Robbins and passionate Rita Moreno, with whom Chakiris remains friends. I know exactly where my gratitude belongs, Chakiris writes, and I still marvel at how, unbeknownst to me at the time, the joyful path of my life was paved one night in 1949 when Jerome Robbins sat Leonard Bernstein and Arthur Laurents down in his apartment and announced, I have an idea.'
£13.29
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc A History of Italian Cinema
Book SynopsisA History of Italian Cinema, 2nd edition is the much anticipated update from the author of the bestselling Italian Cinema - which has been published in four landmark editions and will celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2018. Building upon decades of research, Peter Bondanella and Federico Pacchioni reorganize the current History in order to keep the book fresh and responsive not only to the actual films being created in Italy in the twenty-first century but also to the rapidly changing priorities of Italian film studies and film scholars.The new edition brings the definitive history of the subject, from the birth of cinema to the present day, up to date with a revised filmography as well as more focused attention on the melodrama, the crime film, and the historical drama. The book is expanded to include a new generation of directors as well as to highlight themes such as gender issues, immigration, and media politics. Accessible, comprehensive, and heavily illustratTrade ReviewBy reconfiguring and expanding upon Bondanella’s original work, both authors have ensured that A History of Italian Cinema remains relevant and necessary as Italy’s cinemascape continues to evolve. It is, therefore, a piece of scholarship akin to that which it describes, adapting to waves of the present while grasping to the roots of its past. * Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television *Peter Bondanella's masterly A History of Italian Cinema was a monument to a lifetime of passionate scholarly engagement with the films and film-makers of the peninsula. This second edition, revised and expanded with Federico Pacchioni, integrates new themes and takes full account of the latest approaches to the history of Italian cinema. It will be an indispensable reference work for academics, students and general readers for years to come. * Stephen Gundle, Professor of Film and Television Studies, University of Warwick, UK *This new edition of History of Italian Cinema is the most comprehensive, insightful and appealing book on the subject. Ideal for teaching a variety of courses and levels, and well-suited for a general reader, "History of Italian Cinema" will remain the gold standard in a crowded field for years to come. * John P. Welle, Professor of Italian and Concurrent Professor of Film, Television, and Theatre, University of Notre Dame, USA *In this expanded, updated version, A History of Italian Cinema reclaims its status as the foremost English language work on the history of Italian film. Written in a clear and compelling style, balancing vast coverage with vivid sketches of individual films, this book provides an indispensable resource for scholars and film buffs eager to enrich their knowledge of this grand, and ever vital cinematic tradition. * Millicent Marcus, Professor and Chair, Department of Italian, Yale University, USA *This extensively revised edition of the classic English-language history of Italian cinema reads like a completely fresh work. Clearly written, it takes the reader from the beginnings of cinema to the most recent developments, covering everything from neorealism and art cinema to popular genres like the giallo, horror and comedy and combining a broad overview with detailed analyses of individual films. Lavishly illustrated and with an up-to-date bibliography, this book is the essential guide to the subject for students, specialists and general readers. * David Forgacs, Zerilli-Marimò Professor of Contemporary Italian Studies, New York University, USA *Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgement 1. An Ancient Cradle for a Newborn Medium: The Rise of Silent Cinema in Italy 2. Industry and Ideology: The Talkies during the Fascist Era 3. Neorealism: A Revolutionary and Problematic ?New Film Aesthetic 4. Neorealism’s Many Faces: Widening the Range of the Camera’s Eye 5. The Cinema of the Reconstruction and the Return of Melodrama 6. Entertainment on an Epic Scale: The Italian Peplum 7. Commedia all’italiana: Social Criticism for Laughter’s Sake 8. The Italian Art Film: Auteurism in Visconti, Antonioni, Fellini, and De Sica 9. Neorealism’s Legacy to a New Generation, and the Italian Political film 10. Myth, Marx, and Freud in Pier Paolo Pasolini and Bernardo Bertolucci 11. The Spaghetti Nightmare: The Heyday of Italian Horror Films 12. A Fistful of Pasta: Sergio Leone and the Spaghetti Western 13. Mystery, Gore, and Mayhem: The Italian Giallo 14. The Poliziesco: Italian Crime Films from the 1970s to the Present 15. Italy’s Truly Popular Genre: Tragicomedy from the 1980s to the Present 16. A Fellinian Ascendant: The Auteur in Contemporary Italian Cinema 17. Weaving Present and Past: The Contemporary Italian Drama Notes Bibliography List of photo credits Index
£33.24
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Hollywood Screwball Comedy 19341945
Book SynopsisA 2022 CHOICE Outstanding Academic TitleLove at first sight, whirlwind marriages, break-ups, divorces, remarriage What accounts for the enduring success of the Hollywood madcap comedies of the 1930s? Directed by masters of comedy (Hawks, LaCava, Leisen, Ruggles...) and featuring the decade's most iconic stars (Colbert, Dunne, Grant, Hepburn...), these films set romantic comedy standards for decades to come. Screwball comedy embarked on two challenging missions: to poke fun at established social norms and to undermine stereotypical depictions of gender roles, putting forward a discourse that postulated the possibility of equality between men and women. Grégoire Halbout's reexamination of screwball comedy provides a comprehensive overview of this (sub)genre, eschewing the auteurist approach and including minor works never before analyzed through the screwball lens. His book explains how these screwball stories met the expectations of a booming American middle class eager for theTrade ReviewThe book is smartly written and deeply researched, and it joins foundational work by such scholars of the genre as Stanley Cavell, Kathrina Glitre, and Wes Gehring ... This indispensable book will be valuable for those interested in screwball comedies or Hollywood history. Summing Up: Essential. All readers. * CHOICE *The book is smartly written and deeply researched, and it joins foundational work by such scholars of the genre as Stanley Cavell, Kathrina Glitre, and Wes Gehring ... This indispensable book will be valuable for those interested in screwball comedies or Hollywood history. Summing Up: Essential. All readers. * CHOICE *A rigorous and nuanced work which constantly brings to light the complexities of a highly unstable genre that captured many contemporary ideological challenges … a fresh and insightful perspective. * Miranda *A rigorous and nuanced work which constantly brings to light the complexities of a highly unstable genre that captured many contemporary ideological challenges … a fresh and insightful perspective. * Miranda *The result of Halbout’s insightful analysis is a stimulating appreciation of a beloved genre in American film. * Journal of American Culture *The result of Halbout’s insightful analysis is a stimulating appreciation of a beloved genre in American film. * Journal of American Culture *[The] book will be particularly relevant to scholars of American humor because of its unique interdisciplinary approach to genre studies. It is a much-needed addition to the comedy corpus, for as much as the screwball genre was a reflection of a specific historical moment, Halbout shows that there is also a certain transcendent quality about its style, themes, and democratic aspirations. -- Olympia Kiriakou * Studies in American Humor *[The] book will be particularly relevant to scholars of American humor because of its unique interdisciplinary approach to genre studies. It is a much-needed addition to the comedy corpus, for as much as the screwball genre was a reflection of a specific historical moment, Halbout shows that there is also a certain transcendent quality about its style, themes, and democratic aspirations. -- Olympia Kiriakou * Studies in American Humor *Synthesizing major strands of French and English-language scholarship on the theatrical and cinematic traditions of romantic comedy, Grégoire Halbout’s Hollywood Screwball Comedy,1934-1945 offers a fresh and lively reappraisal of Hollywood screwball comedies as a distinctly American film genre. The scope of his approach alone is impressive. Adroitly side-stepping the pitfalls of genre studies that are limited to the inspection of a handful of celebrated films, Halbout identifies and explores an expansive corpus, one with permeable boundaries and in flux throughout the years bridging the Great Depression and the Second World War. With exactness, he also dives deeply into the records of Production Code Administration to demonstrate how evolving censorship practices in Hollywood triggered the emergence of new visual and verbal comic styles. He charts a cultural discourse crisscrossed with contradictory and conflicting voices, echoing public debates about sex, intimacy, and marriage at a time when a democratic mythos was under great strain. Brought to light in these pages are the institutional practices and creative responses through which the dialects and effects of 'screwball' surfaced and flourished on and beyond the screen. * Charles Wolfe, Professor of Film and Media Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA *Synthesizing major strands of French and English-language scholarship on the theatrical and cinematic traditions of romantic comedy, Grégoire Halbout’s Hollywood Screwball Comedy,1934-1945 offers a fresh and lively reappraisal of Hollywood screwball comedies as a distinctly American film genre. The scope of his approach alone is impressive. Adroitly side-stepping the pitfalls of genre studies that are limited to the inspection of a handful of celebrated films, Halbout identifies and explores an expansive corpus, one with permeable boundaries and in flux throughout the years bridging the Great Depression and the Second World War. With exactness, he also dives deeply into the records of Production Code Administration to demonstrate how evolving censorship practices in Hollywood triggered the emergence of new visual and verbal comic styles. He charts a cultural discourse crisscrossed with contradictory and conflicting voices, echoing public debates about sex, intimacy, and marriage at a time when a democratic mythos was under great strain. Brought to light in these pages are the institutional practices and creative responses through which the dialects and effects of 'screwball' surfaced and flourished on and beyond the screen. * Charles Wolfe, Professor of Film and Media Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA *Initiated and propelled by the writing of Stanley Cavell, Grégoire Halbout offers here a capacious yet discerning analysis of the remarkably fecund genre known by the disarming, perhaps misleading name “screwball.” Delighting in the glories of taking democratic entertainment seriously, Halbout treats readers to a lively taxonomy of the characteristics and criteria that make these films recognizable, including savvy assessments of the many directors who artfully troped love and sex into conversation—thereby eliding with comic flair the chaste restrictions of the Hays Code. Moreover, despite the madcap and zany attributes of these plots and their characters, pursuits of happiness—in their many incarnations—remain of immanent concern for one and all, on screen and off. In Halbout’s company, we contend with the exigencies of marriage; the charged private and public spaces of intimacy and power; and the vexed romance of democracy. To these ends, Halbout seizes upon the narrative traits that keep these indelible films fresh, while encouraging us to ponder how and why they proliferated. Though readers familiar with Cavell’s contributions will recognize “his films” in the line-up, they will also encounter an expanse of additional works that thrill—placing the achievements of the marquee instances in dialogue with the lesser known. Befitting his signal inspiration, Halbout sustains Cavell’s influential investigation and extends it in dynamic ways, delivering in this volume what amounts to a now-indispensable companion for exploring the moral and aesthetic incitements of the genre—especially among its hilarious and profound exemplars. * David LaRocca, Cornell University, USA and editor of The Thought of Stanley Cavell and Cinema and Movies with Stanley Cavell in Mind *Initiated and propelled by the writing of Stanley Cavell, Grégoire Halbout offers here a capacious yet discerning analysis of the remarkably fecund genre known by the disarming, perhaps misleading name “screwball.” Delighting in the glories of taking democratic entertainment seriously, Halbout treats readers to a lively taxonomy of the characteristics and criteria that make these films recognizable, including savvy assessments of the many directors who artfully troped love and sex into conversation—thereby eliding with comic flair the chaste restrictions of the Hays Code. Moreover, despite the madcap and zany attributes of these plots and their characters, pursuits of happiness—in their many incarnations—remain of immanent concern for one and all, on screen and off. In Halbout’s company, we contend with the exigencies of marriage; the charged private and public spaces of intimacy and power; and the vexed romance of democracy. To these ends, Halbout seizes upon the narrative traits that keep these indelible films fresh, while encouraging us to ponder how and why they proliferated. Though readers familiar with Cavell’s contributions will recognize “his films” in the line-up, they will also encounter an expanse of additional works that thrill—placing the achievements of the marquee instances in dialogue with the lesser known. Befitting his signal inspiration, Halbout sustains Cavell’s influential investigation and extends it in dynamic ways, delivering in this volume what amounts to a now-indispensable companion for exploring the moral and aesthetic incitements of the genre—especially among its hilarious and profound exemplars. * David LaRocca, Cornell University, USA and editor of The Thought of Stanley Cavell and Cinema and Movies with Stanley Cavell in Mind *Table of ContentsForeword Acknowledgements Introduction Being happy Line of descent: from remarriage comedy to screwball film Deploying a new approach to an indeterminate and unstable genre A social and political reading of a typically American genre Part One – The screwball expression: a genre shows its credentials Preamble: the fertility of Hollywood comedy in the 1930s Chapter One: Proof of identity The origins of the genre 1934, a pivotal year The “Americanization” of fictional sources A matter of language The etymology and the improbable “trajectory” of the term screwball Genre signaling in film discourse and movie reviews Chapter Two: Protagonists: the artisans of screwball comedy The directors at the helm The reign of the jack of all trades The director and the “screwballization” of scripts The actors, stars of the genre American actors for American stories The stars, genre reference points Screwball timbres and tones The importance of the background: recurring secondary characters Chapter Three: Narrative tropes and genre categories Preliminary decryption Narrative structures: “New Love”, “Old Love” and fornication forestalled Plot types, a descriptive catalogue A first attempt at a delineation of narrative tropes Conditions precedent: zeroing in on the couple The masquerade and the faces of conflict The ordeal of alterity Crises of identity “Cocktails” and genre mixing The impact of current events Tones and subjects: a repetitive and polymorphic genre A generation fades away Shifting centers of interest and changing expectations Part Two – Screwball discourse: interdiction and indirection Chapter One: A socio-economic context conducive to censorship Hollywood and the consequences of the 1929 financial crisis New audiences, new censors Popular art and popular culture: the ideological straightjacket Men of circumstance take control The censors’ mission and their ideological apparatus An improbable coincidence Chapter Two: Expressions: Screwball comedy and the forms of censorship The objective signs A lengthy, comprehensive and conflictual approval process The imprint of censorship on the Hollywood work process Forms of regulation: rhetoric and frames of reference Phraseology of the PCA How the Hays Office intervened Efforts towards an evolving methodology and judicial policy What analytical tools for which interpretation? The “Charter”, jurisprudence and the reinforcement of prohibitions Chapter Three: Content: Ideological scrubbing Creation under supervision: a system of prohibitions Purified language to fit the needs of Hollywood’s social project Forbidden images: bodies and behavior The Code, protecting institutions from the screwball menace Echo and mirror: the press’s final seal of approval Chapter Four: Indirect discourse: The invention of the screwball style Procedural Delinquency The boomerang effect: censorship becomes fodder for comedy The screenplay for Bluebeard’s Eighth Wife, a model of narrative expurgation and lexical attrition The rule-breakers’ arsenal: words and images Wordplay: the ruses and pleasures of screwball language Gags and the advent of disorder The symbolic function of objects From one image to another: the metaphorization of forbidden gestures An unexpected mirror: the amplifying effect of marketing “Screwball Comedy, Sex Comedies” Part Three – The screwball celebration and the democratic discussion Chapter One: The screwball New Deal and the society of mutual consent The discourse on marriage in 1930s America A consumer society in a civilization of leisure America’s marriage debate “Advice” comes to the rescue of marriage Questioning marriage The failure of authority figures Screwball outlaws and their special arrangements The revolution of modern marriage Chapter Two: The tension of the screwball celebration; preserving the democratic space The persistence of the established order Paternal consent and the wife’s return to domesticity The missions of the screwball couple Negotiation between private and public space Escape from society Invasion and living together Conclusion The romantic relationship, a reinterpretation of the democratic bond Appendices Filmography Bibliography Index
£95.00
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc The Language of Film
Book SynopsisAn effective filmmaker needs to have a good understanding of how film language works, and more importantly, how to actively influence an audience's thoughts and feelings and guide their gaze around the screen.Packed with examples from classic and contemporary cinema, The Language of Film reveals the essential building blocks of film and explains how the screen communicates meaning to its audience. You will learn about fundamental theories and concepts, including film semiotics, narrative structures, ideology, and genre, as well as how elements such as shot size, camera movement, editing technique, and color come together to create the cinematic image.With insightful case studies and discussion questions, dozens of practical tips and exercises, and a new chapter on film sound, this new edition of The Language of Film is a must-have guide for aspiring filmmakers.Trade ReviewThe Language of Film is both a passionate and instructive book that illuminates the reader with the pleasures associated with the discovery of film theory, history and aesthetics. The essence of the book will awaken the desire to transform an understanding of these primary film elements into practice. * Richard Litvin, Undergraduate Film & TV, Tisch School of the Arts, New York University, USA *This exploratory reading is notably succinct, informative and moreover, digestible from a beginner's perspective. * Adrian Beasley, London Metropolitan University, UK *I like the idea of having a text for this class that isn't just about the technical aspects of what a camera is and how to use it; and I really appreciate the easy to read layout and and small bites of information. * Christine Dehne , Manhattanville, USA *An excellent book - relevant and interesting. Written in a clear manner. The case studies make the reading more enjoyable. Great style, clear format - very well presented. * Donna Stephens, Plymouth College of Art, UK *An extremely enjoyable and engaging read ... For novice film-makers complex theory is made accessible in bite-sized pieces, supported by interesting case studies and 'asides' of film fact/history. * Elaine Drainville, University of Sunderland, UK *This book provides the perfect blend between linguistic theory and visual entertainment. With its multitude of examples this edition presents core aspects of film analysis in an engaging and fun way. * Sonja Molnar, University of Salzburg, Austria *A good basic text, covering simple theoretical aspects of film in relation to practice. Used in classes and on reading list for the first project in Year 1. Useful as introduction to the relationship between theory and practice. * Liam Wells, Norwich university College of the Arts, UK *Tastefully done, and well illustrated to highlight the points it makes ... a healthy guide to students looking for an introduction to the art of film. * Meraj Ahmed Mubarki, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, India *Very good text and one of the best I have read on this subject. * Mikael Sorknaes, Business Academy Southwest, Denmark *An excellent book, brilliant resource, perfect layout. * Neil Smith, York College, UK *An interesting and contemporary look at cinema with a clear break down of topics and themes. I structured my classes around many of the chapter headings. * Nicole Antebi, California State University-Monterey Bay, USA *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Semiotics: Images; The Visual Mind; Reading the Signs; Making Meaning; Codes and Filters; Case Study: Seven; Chapter Summary Chapter 2: Narrative: Theories of Storytelling; Structuralism; Theories of Structure; Genette’s Narrative; Discourse; Music; Short Film and Narrative; Case Study: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty; Chapter Summary Chapter 3: Intertextuality: Text; Quotation; Allusion; Cult Film; Genre; Case Study: Citizen Kane; Chapter Summary Chapter 4: Ideology: Ideological Analysis; Realism; Ideology and Genre; Case Study: Dead Man’s Shoes; Chapter Summary Chapter 5: Frames and Images: The Shot; Distance, Height and Framing; Shot Distances; Mise en Scène; The Mobile Camera Frame; Time and the Long Take; Case Study: Hero; Chapter Summary Chapter 6: Sound: Film: An Audiovisual Medium; Sound Properties; Diegetic and Non-diegetic Sound; Offscreen Space and Audio; The Voice; Music; Case Study: Berberian Sound Studio; Chapter Summary Chapter 7: Constructing Meaning: Continuity Editing; Discontinuity Editing; Montage; Pacing; Case Study: Psycho; Chapter Summary Conclusion Film Language Glossary Index Acknowledgements and Credits
£29.69
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Third Cinema World Cinema and Marxism
Book SynopsisThird Cinema, World Cinema and Marxism offers an analysis of Third Cinema and World Cinema from the perspective of Marxism. Its starting point is an observation that of all cinematic phenomena none is as intimately related to Marxism as Third Cinema, which decries neoliberalism, the capitalist system, and the Hollywood model of cinema as mere entertainment to make money. This is largely to do with the fact that both Marxism and Third Cinema are preoccupied with inequalities resulting from capital accumulation, of which colonialism is the most extreme manifestation. Third Cinema also defines cinematic modes in terms of representing interest of different classes, with First Cinema expressing imperialist, capitalist, bourgeois ideas, Second Cinema the aspirations of the middle stratum, the petit bourgeoisie and Third Cinema is a democratic, popular cinema.Trade Review[T]his elucidating book ... [highlights] the continued relevance and crucial importance of politically engaged film practices and scholarship in all their diversity. * Film-Philosophy Journal *Mazierska and Kristensen have put together a collection of bold, provocative and at times incendiary essays that challenge the alleged progressiveness of concepts such as world cinema and transnationalism by inviting Marxism back into the debate. The book succeeds in rescuing and reinvigorating the concept of Third Cinema by expanding it into other, hitherto unexplored avenues, and by opening its canon to overlooked works, past and present. In so doing, Third Cinema becomes Third Cinemas and World Cinema undergoes a fierce Marxist critique that puts its very relevance and validity to the test. * Cecília Mello, Senior Lecturer in Film Studies and Film Editing, University of São Paulo, Brazil *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Ewa Mazierska and Lars Kristensen Part 1: Revisiting Films Chapter 1: Exporting Cinemarxism in the 1960s: The Case of Soy Cuba Andrei Rogatchevski Chapter 2: Brazil’s Open Cities: Mimicry, Sexuality, and Class Dynamics in the Urban Landscape of Cinema Novo Bruce Williams Chapter 3: “Unreal City”: The Aesthetics of Commitment in Pratidwandi and Interview Koel Banerjee Chapter 4: The Peruvian Kuntur Group: A Marxist- Indigenist Filmmaking Practice Isabel Seguí Part 2: Comparative Readings Chapter 5: Third Cinema in the 21st century: political utopia in the new documentary films of Fernando Solanas Mariano Paz Chapter 6: Third Cinema after the turn of the millennium: Reification of the sign and the possibility of transformation Paulina Aroch and André Dorcé Chapter 7: We Have Never Been Transnational: The Female Condition in Socialist Realism, Postsocialism, and Third Cinema Lucian Tion Part 3: Third Cinema versus World Cinema Chapter 8: Dialogical Encounters on the Cinema of Revolution: Save the Children Fund Film and Metalepsis in Black David Archibald and Finn Daniels-Yeomans Chapter 9: Newsreel Front: A Revived Vision of Third Cinema in Slovenia Andrej Šprah Chapter 10: Listening to the Future: The Film- Philosophy of Abderrahmane Sissako William Brown Chapter 11: Class, Gender and Ethnicity in Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma Ewa Mazierska Chapter 12: ‘After’ or Back to Third Cinema? Plebeian Film, the National Popular, Fingernails and the Resilient Behemoth Enrique Uribe-Jongbloed and Toby Miller Index
£114.00
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc The Science of Writing Characters
Book SynopsisThe Science of Writing Characters is a comprehensive handbook to help writers create compelling and psychologically-credible characters that come to life on the page. Drawing on the latest psychological theory and research, ranging from personality theory to evolutionary science, the book equips screenwriters and novelists with all the techniques they need to build complex, dimensional characters from the bottom up. Writers learn how to create rounded characters using the ''Big Five'' dimensions of personality and then are shown how these personality traits shape action, relationships and dialogue. Throughout The Science of Writing Characters, psychological theories and research are translated into handy practical tips, which are illustrated through examples of characters in action in well-known films, television series and novels, ranging from Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri and Game of Thrones to The Bonfire of the Vanities and The GolTrade ReviewFor every film-goer or TV viewer who has thought, "I could write a better script than this", Dr. Pelican shows them how to make their ideas real, attention-grabbing and above all truthful. The Science of Writing Characters is exactly the book we need now. * Paul Brett, Executive Producer of The King's Speech (2010) *Kira-Anne Pelican’s The Science of Writing Characters is a valuable tool to help screenwriter’s think consciously, objectively, and methodically about aspects of character that for most of us are unconscious, intuitive, and automatic. It provides a structured psychological approach to developing film characters, using engaging examples from both classic and contemporary films and TV shows, such as Gone With the Wind and Game of Thrones. Dr. Pelican explains complex psychological ideas very clearly, and her book would be useful for screenwriting students and screenwriters at every level, as well as for faculty who are specifically interested in applying psychological theory to the process of character development in screenwriting. * William Indick, Associate Professor of Psychology, William Paterson University, USA *Dr. Kira-Anne Pelican expands the scope and arena of the art and craft of screenwriting by delving more deeply into the psychology of characters. She is knowledgeable, insightful, clear, supportive of the writer, and welcomes the writer to embrace this method of deepening the craft. * Dr. Linda Seger, author of 10 books on screenwriting including Making a Good Script Great (3rd ed. 2010) *No one I know has blended science with creativity like Kira-Anne Pelican. Any writer who ignores her research and fails to heed her advice risks being left in the distribution wilderness. * Elliot Grove, Founder of Raindance and British Independent Film Awards *Good writing, as Kira-Anne Pelican notes, is the result of imagination, observation and instinct, an understanding of human behavior. Yet most writers fail. Early drafts are too often underdeveloped, as writing fast trumps writing deep. Pelican’s book is a salutary reminder to those for whom it does not come naturally: that complex characters are more engaging, that if successfully drawn they take the reader or viewer on a compelling and emotional journey. The Science of Writing Characters is not prescriptive but is an excellent guide to what you can do to help your imagination create powerful, memorable and emotionally engaging characters. * Julian Friedmann *The Science of Writing Characters is a godsend for those who wish to write cogent, exciting and distinctive screenplays. Most discussions of the craft focus on “plot points” and other such structural elements; comparatively few discuss character in any depth. Yet drama is at its essence an instrument with which a writer investigates the inner life of human beings, so this new book fills an important gap. Kira-Anne Pelican draws on extensive scientific research available and presents dimensions of personality (extroversion, agreeableness, neuroticism, conscientiousness, openness to experience), providing their historical origins and examples of them in fictional characters — and providing insight that goes way beyond the standard Myers-Briggs diagram. She then breaks these down further into their various subtleties, belief systems, capacity for transformation, emotional arcs, mental illness, and the intriguing “dark” and “light” triads of personality. Ms. Pelican does not present any kind of formula for creating character; instead, her book is a mind-opening tool chest for further investigation into the nature of humanity, a process that for a good writer never ends. * Paul Gulino, author of Screenwriting (2013) and The Science of Screenwriting (2018) *The Science of Writing Characters is an artful bridge between science and craft, thorough in both areas, and imaginative and insightful in connecting the two. The book’s introduction invites you to use it as you need: as a guide, as a toolbox, or as an academic core text. But however you will end up using it, you will feel supported every step of the way. * Raindance *There is much here that is interesting and helpful, and all of it is thoroughly grounded in research. The book is essential for any writer ... It is a remarkably thorough tool kit for a writer aiming to explore the mysteries that lie within all of us, and explore those mysteries through the medium of drama. * The Journal of Screenwriting *Table of Contents1. Introduction 2. The Dimensions of Character 3. How Personality Shapes Dialogue 4. Motivating Character 5. When, Why and How Characters Transform 6. The Emotional Journey 7. Secondary Characters 8. A Character Workshop Footnotes Glossary Filmography Bibliography Index
£22.79
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc The DriveIn
Book SynopsisThe Drive-In meaningfully contributes to the complex picture of outdoor cinema that has been central to American culture and to a history of US cinema based on diverse viewing experiences rather than a select number of films. Drive-in cinemas flourished in 1950s America, in some summer weeks to the extent that there were more cinemagoers outdoors than indoors. Often associated with teenagers interested in the drive-in as a passion pit' or a venue for exploitation films, accounts of the 1950s American drive-in tend to emphasise their popularity with families with young children, downplaying the importance of a film programme apparently limited to old, low-budget or independent films and characterising drive-in operators as industry outsiders. They retain a hold on the popular imagination. The Drive-In identifies the mix of generations in the drive-in audience as well as accounts that articulate individual experiences, from the drive-in as a dating venue to a segregated space. Thro
£28.99
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Transnational Arab Stardom
Book SynopsisBuilding on the work of star studies scholars, this collection provides contextual analyses of off-screen representation, as well as close textual analyses of films and star personas, thereby offering an in-depth study of the Arab star as text and context of Arab cinema. Using the tools of audience reception studies, the collection will also look at how stars (of film, stage, screen and new media) are viewed and received in different cultural contexts, both within and outside of the Arabic-speaking world. Arab cinema is often discussed in terms of political representation and independent art film, but rarely in terms of stardom, glamour, performance or masquerade. Aside from a few individual studies on female stardom or aspects of Arab masculinity, no major English-language study on Arab stardom exists, and collections on transnational stars or world cinema also often neglect to include Arab performers. This new book seeks to address this gap by providing the first study dedicated en
£24.99
Workman Publishing You Are What You Watch: How Movies and TV Affect
Book SynopsisVirtually anyone who has ever watched a profound movie, a powerful TV show, or read a moving novel understands that entertainment can and does affect us in surprising and significant ways. But did you know that our most popular forms of entertainment can have a direct physical effect on us, a measurable impact on society, geopolitics, the economy, and even the future itself? In You Are What You Watch, Walter Hickey, Pulitzer Prize winner and former chief culture writer at acclaimed data site FiveThirtyEight.com, proves how exactly how what we watch (and read and listen to) has a far greater effect on us and the world at large than we imagine.Employing a mix of research, deep reporting, and 100 data visualizations, Hickey presents the true power of entertainment and culture. From the decrease in shark populations after Jaws to the increase in women and girls taking up archery following The Hunger Games, You Are What You Watch proves its points not just with research and argument, but hard data. Did you know, for example, that crime statistics prove that violent movies actually lead to less real-world violence? And that the international rise of anime and Manga helped lift the Japanese economy out of the doldrums in the 1980s? Or that British and American intelligence agencies actually got ideas from the James Bond movies?In You Are What You Watch, readers will be given a nerdy, and sobering, celebration of popular entertainment and its surprising power to change the world.Trade Review“Pulitzer Prize winner Hickey presents a refreshing analysis of media consumption… A worthy, fun dissection of pop culture that’s full of infographics and data.”—Library Journal, starred review"Hickey’s argument is cogent and original and couched informally, with palpable enthusiasm. He enlivens his research with witty opinions, amusing digressions, and arresting visuals... Hickey’s lighthearted approach will prove especially enticing for fellow data heads and devotees of pop culture.”—Booklist“The trivia surprises and the bounty of colorful charts and graphs offer fun insight into popular culture. This is a blast.”—– Publishers Weekly“Every page is lovingly written, reported, charted, and graphed in a way that only Walt Hickey could do.”—Nate SilverTable of Contents INTRODUCTION 1: HOW CULTURE AFFECTS OUR BODIES 2: HOW CULTURE CAPTURES US 3: HOW CULTURE RELFECTS US 4: HOW CULTURE CHANGES US 5: COMMERCE & CULTURE & COMMERCE 6: HOW CULTURE FUELS EMPIRES 7: HOW CULTURE SURVIVES 8: WHAT STORIES DO TO THEIR CREATORS INDEX SOURCES PHOTO CREDITS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
£22.50
Workman Publishing Wickedly Popular
£8.54
Manchester University Press Sally Wainwright
Book SynopsisThis book-length study of Sally Wainwright's television, including analysis of globally recognised television series such as Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax, and Gentleman Jack, considers Wainwright's work in terms of genre, melodrama and through the concept of emotion. -- .
£76.50
Manchester University Press Hammer and Beyond: The British Horror Film
Book SynopsisPeter Hutchings’s Hammer and beyond remains a landmark work in British film criticism. This new, illustrated edition brings the book back into print for the first time in two decades. Featuring Hutchings’s socially charged analyses of genre classics from Dead of Night (1945) and The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) to The Sorcerers (1967) and beyond, it also includes several of Hutchings’s later essays on British horror, as well as a new critical introduction penned by film historian Johnny Walker and an afterword by Russ Hunter. Hammer and beyond deserves a spot on the bookshelf of anyone with a serious interest in the development of Britain’s contribution to the horror genre.Trade Review' A must read for horror film historians.'ChoiceReprinted with permission from Choice Reviews. All rights reserved. Copyright by the American Library Association.‘When Hammer and beyond first appeared, it immediately set new standards for the study of British horror and our understanding of genre through national cinema. This welcome new edition returns Peter Hutchings to the centre of these debates, where he will always belong. Johnny Walker’s new introduction and thoughtfully selected supplementary materials frame Hutchings’s contributions alongside contemporary developments in scholarship and film production, making this an essential volume for the past, present and future of British horror studies.’Adam Lowenstein, University of Pittsburgh, author of Shocking Representation: Historical Trauma, National Cinema, and the Modern Horror Film‘Few academics understand the balance between industry and artistry, history and heritage, and few can articulate the impact each has had on the other as well as Peter Hutchings. When first published, Hammer and beyond was a turning point in the study of British horror and served as a liberation of ideas that began decades before. Hutchings’s entire career served the genre, the films and the filmmakers he deeply loved, but it all started here. This new expanded edition is cause for celebration and, as required reading, should be placed beside your collection of Hammer films for immediate reference, constant study and eternal enjoyment.’Constantine Nasr, filmmaker/writer‘This new edition of Hammer and beyond updates and extends Peter Hutchings’s trailblazing work and his determination to take British horror cinema seriously. Johnny Walker’s work on this volume is a testament to the great esteem in which Hutchings was held by the academic community: he is sorely missed as a critical voice in horror film studies and in the scholarship of British cinema. Walker’s introduction to this volume insightfully places the new edition, and Hutchings’s work in general, in its historical and intellectual context, mapping out the changes in British horror cinema since Hammer and beyond was first published. It will be an essential addition to any horror studies syllabus.’Helen Wheatley, University of Warwick, author of Spectacular Television: Exploring Televisual Pleasure -- .Table of ContentsA return to Hammer and Beyond: introduction to the new edition – Johnny Walker Part I: Hammer and Beyond: The British Horror FilmIntroduction to the first edition1 For sadists only? The problem of British horror2 1945–55: from Dead of Night to The Quatermass Experiment3 1956–64: Hammer and other horrors4 Frankenstein and Dracula5 1964–69: horror production6 Horror and the familyConclusionPart II: Selected writings on British horror film The Amicus House of HorrorAmerican Vampires in Britain: Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend and Hammer’s The Night CreaturesPutting the Brit into Eurohorror: exclusions and exchanges in the history of European horror Afterword – Russ HunterIndex
£21.00
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Hollywood's Dark History: Silver Screen Scandals
Book SynopsisThe dawning of the nineteenth century brought with it a new era for entertainment. Vaudeville was the preferred form of entertainment, until the popularization of the silent film. This new medium proved to be a draw for many of the stars of the Vaudevillian stage and soon they migrated to the exciting possibilities that the movies had to offer. Audiences were instantly enthralled and captivated by the stars of the silent screen. The early days of Hollywood were full of glamour and a newfound decadence. The stars in these films were instantly catapulted to fame and fortune and the spotlight of the public eye. The real people behind the glamour were far different than the characters that audiences grew to know and love and much like Hollywood today, the lives of the stars were often full of scandal and debauchery. This book examines the forgotten scandals of yesterday, featuring silent and silver screen stars like Jean Harlow, Mae West, Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin and Errol Flynn. Don't let the romanticized black and white world of yesterday fool you, their stories are rife with sex, drugs and murder.
£11.69
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Early Years of Charlie Chaplin: Final Shorts
Book SynopsisCharlie Chaplin's career has been described, critiqued, and scrutinized. There are book-length studies on Chaplin's music hall career, his career at Keystone Studios and the Mutual Studios. Somehow, his tenure with First National studios, however, has been largely neglected, even though it was during this several-year contractual time period that Chaplin built and occupied his own studio for the first time, that he attempted and succeeded in filming a comedy feature (The Kid) and that he helped to set up United Artists, an organization that protected the salaries and creative freedom of actors in Hollywood. This period in Chaplin's story is especially interesting because such landmark moments are accompanied by Chaplin's first marriage and divorce, the death of his first child, his friendship with French silent film comedian Max Linder, World War I and the role he would play in it, and the production and release of several unsuccessful films that marked Chaplin's first creative blockage - one that threatened his future career. This book will discuss the transitional periods just before and after the First National contract, as well as the all-important period satisfying it. Archival evidence provides most of the support for the book's assertions, from the Chaplin archive (property of Roy Export, digitised by Cineteca di Bologna, Italy), and the personal archives of other individuals or institutions discussed. Rare photos will illustrate the story.
£17.00
BBC Audio Doctor Who The Edge of Destruction
Book SynopsisCarole Ann Ford narrates the complete TV soundtrack of this eerie adventure set entirely on board the TARDIS.We are at the very beginningEscaping from their previous adventure on Skaro, the Doctor, Susan, Ian Chesterton (William Russell) and Barbara Wright (Jacqueline Hill) are inside the TARDIS when it appears to be taken over by an outside force.Bewildered and confused, the travellers become suspicious of each other's motives, and tensions within the Ship begin to rise. The TARDIS appears to be trying to tell them something, yet the Doctor has very little idea of how to stop it hurtling backwards in Time, towards destructionCarole Ann Ford, who played Susan in the BBC TV series, narrates the visual action, and in a bonus interview she recalls making the TV episodes, which were written by David Whitaker and first broadcast in February 1964.''The tight, two-episode story works brilliantly as an audio experience. It is augmented by linki
£10.64
Little, Brown & Company Movies (And Other Things)
Book SynopsisMovies (And Other Things) is a book about, quite frankly, movies (and other things).One of the chapters, for example, answers which race Kevin Costner was able to white savior the best, because did you know that he white saviors Mexicans in McFarland, USA, and white saviors Native Americans in Dances with Wolves, and white saviors Black people in Black or White, and white saviors the Cleveland Browns in Draft Day? Another of the chapters, for a second example, answers what other high school movie characters would be in Regina George's circle of friends if we opened up the Mean Girls universe to include other movies (Johnny Lawrence is temporarily in, Claire from The Breakfast Club is in, Ferris Bueller is out, Isis from Bring It On is out...). Another of the chapters, for a third example, creates a special version of the Academy Awards specifically for rom-coms, the most underrated movie genre of all. And another of the chapters, for a final example, is actually a triple chapter that serves as an NBA-style draft of the very best and most memorable moments in gangster movies.Many, many things happen in Movies (And Other Things), some of which funny, others of which are sad, a few of which are insightful, and all of which are handled with the type of care and dedication to the smallest details and pockets of pop culture that only a book by Shea Serrano can provide.
£19.00
Melville House Publishing Marilyn Monroe: The Last Interview
Book Synopsis
£11.69
Michael Wiese Productions The Art of Immersive Storytelling
Book SynopsisLevel up your storytelling with award-winning experience designer, world builder, and former Disney Imagineer. Immersive experiences and interactive exhibits are popping up all over the world, telling stories that engage our imaginations and sense of play like never before.Exploring the parallels between video games and the world?s most exciting, innovative spaces, this sequel to the groundbreaking Immersive Storytelling for Real and Imagined Worlds explains how the same techniques that pull players into games for hours at a time can be employed to draw participants into immersive experiences. Join Margaret Kerrison as she guides our next generation of immersive storytellers on a deep dive into the creative possibilities of this new realm of storytelling.
£22.46
The New Press Paul Robeson
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£12.34
Allworth The Documentary Filmmaking Master Class Second Edition
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£26.25
Angel City Press,U.S. Citizen Kane: A Filmmaker’s Journey
Book Synopsis
£17.85
WW Norton & Co Live Cinema and Its Techniques
Book SynopsisSo convinced is Francis Ford Coppola that "live cinema" will become a powerful medium within the larger film industry that he has crafted this instructional book, filled with lively anecdotes and invaluable lessons—a boon for cinema addicts, film students and teachers alike. As digital film-making can now be performed by one director or by a collaborative team working across the Internet, it is a matter of time before cinema auteurs will create "live" films of the highest creative quality that will be sent instantly to be viewed in faraway theatres. Whether recounting his boyhood obsession with film, tracing the origins of "live cinema" through a history of early film and 1950s television or presenting state-of-the-art techniques on everything from rehearsals to equipment, Coppola demonstrates that the spontaneity of "live cinema" will transport film-making into a new era of creativity previously unimaginable.Trade Review"Live Cinema is packed with detailed diaried notes as well as other, directorial, observation, as Coppola outlines the concept-to-reality. Worth a skim through, whatever your present industry role." -- Screentrade"Part technical manifesto, part riveting history of live movies and TV, and part freewheeling artistic reflection, Live Cinema compactly presents Coppola's innovative ideas, depth of knowledge, and enduring passions in the live cinema space." -- Entertainment Weekly"... the ideas conjured in this brief, filmy volume will interest any movie nut." -- Jonathan Dean, Stage & Screen Books of the Year 2017 - The Sunday Times"Live Cinema and its Techniques is a short, accessible, vividly personal, defiantly oddball and fascinating book." -- Viewfinder"Part manifesto, part instruction manual, Live Cinema is a melange of film theory, professional advice, personal history, television history, work notes and Coppola’s assorted thoughts on live film production." -- Times Literary Supplement
£12.34
Bloomsbury Publishing USA The Wild Bunch: Sam Peckinpah, a Revolution in
Book SynopsisW.K. Stratton's definitive history of the making of The Wild Bunch, named one of the greatest Westerns of all time by the American Film Institute.Sam Peckinpah's film The Wild Bunch is the story of a gang of outlaws who are one big steal from retirement. When their attempted train robbery goes awry, the gang flees to Mexico and falls in with a brutal general of the Mexican Revolution, who offers them the job of a lifetime. Conceived by a stuntman, directed by a blacklisted director, and shot in the sand and heat of the Mexican desert, the movie seemed doomed. Instead, it became an instant classic with a dark, violent take on the Western movie tradition.Fifty years after its release, W.K. Stratton tells the fascinating history of the movie and documents for the first time the extraordinary contribution of Mexican and Mexican-American actors and crew members to its success. Shaped by infamous director Sam Peckinpah, and starring such visionary actors as William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Edmond O'Brien, and Robert Ryan, the movie was also the product of an industry and a nation in transition. By 1968, when it was being filmed, the studio system that had perpetuated the myth of the valiant cowboy in movies like The Searchers had collapsed, and America was riled by Vietnam, race riots, and assassinations. The Wild Bunch spoke to the country when war and senseless violence seemed to define both domestic and international life. Stratton's The Wild Bunch is the authoritative history of the making of a movie and the era behind it.
£11.69
Permuted Press Married With Children vs. the World
Book SynopsisA rollicking account of the groundbreaking show from one of the show’s producers, featuring the voices of the stars, creators, and executives involved with bringing it to life. “I had the pleasure of working with Richard Gurman for eleven years. When he sent me his new book Married… With Children vs. the World, I figured it would be a trip down memory lane. So I was stunned by some revelations I never knew. And reminded how brilliant much of the writing was. What a time that was. If you liked Married… With Children, then you should read this book. You’re in for a treat!” —Ed O’NeillMarried… With Children burst onto the airwaves with a full-frontal attack on the myth of domestic tranquility depicted in family comedies since the dawn of TV. The outlier series, created by two rebellious writers given carte blanche from a fledgling FOX, became one o
£18.70
Cypress Hills Press The Invisible Man: The Series
Book Synopsis
£18.99
Insight Editions Star Wars: Tiny Book of Legendary Women
Book SynopsisCelebrate the women of Star Wars with this tiny book of quotes from the galaxy’s greatest Jedi, villains, scoundrels, and more!Hold thrilling adventures in the palm of your hand, with this pocket-sized tribute to incredible Star Wars women! The perfect gift for any Star Wars fan, this tiny book is a fun homage to the indelible women of the Star Wars galaxy. • BELOVED MOMENTS IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND: With its 1.34” x 1.73” size, this tiny book packs a galaxy’s worth of adventure into a pocket-sized format. • ALL OF YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTERS: Star Wars: The Tiny Book of Legendary Women features art and quotes from Leia Organa, Rey Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Fennec Shand, Bo-Katan Kryze, Rose Tico, Jyn Erso, Doctor Aphra, Grand Admiral Rae Sloane, and more. • DECOR AND DISPLAY: A ribbon marker doubles as a hanger to let you use this tiny book as an ornament or as decoration. The beautiful and sturdy slipcase turns a delightful book into a treasured keepsake. • COMPLETE YOUR COLLECTION: A tiny but thrilling companion to your collection, Star Wars: The Tiny Book of Legendary Women is an epic addition to Insight Editions’ line of tiny books, including Star Wars: The Tiny Book of Grogu, Star Wars: The Tiny Book of Jedi, and Star Wars: The Tiny Book of Sith.
£8.54
Insight Editions Disney: Mickey and Friends: Mini Book of Classic
Book SynopsisJoin Mickey Mouse on a series of whimsical adventures with this collectible mini book filled with stories and art from the classic Disney animated shorts.One of the most iconic characters of all time, Mickey Mouse has charmed audiences for decades with his fun-loving personality and exciting adventures. Now, fans can keep Mickey and his friends Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and Pluto close to their hearts with this mini collection of classic Mickey Mouse stories. Illustrated with beautiful artwork straight from the screen, this storybook is a unique collector’s item that Disney fans will treasure for years to come. MINI SIZE: At only 2.5 x 3.5 inches, Mickey and Friends: Mini Book of Stories makes a great stocking stuffer, novelty gift or decor on a shelf or desk. CELEBRATE MICKEY: Featuring imagery from beloved Mickey Mouse cartoons —including his first-ever appearance in Steamboat Willie—this mini book includes some of Mickey’s most iconic escapades. ADD TO YOUR DISNEY COLLECTION: A tiny but magical companion to your collection, Mickey and Friends: Mini Book of Stories joins Disney: Ninety Years of Mickey Mouse and Disney: The Mini Art of Disney Villains in Insight Editions’ delightful line of Disney mini books.
£10.44
American University in Cairo Press The Arab National Project in Youssef Chahines Cinema
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£23.74
Weldon Owen I Wanna Dance with Somebody: The Official Whitney
Book SynopsisThe official behind-the-scenes guide to the making of the movie about the life and music of Whitney Houston, one of the greatest female R&B pop vocalists of the 20th century.The film I Wanna Dance with Somebody tells the joyous, emotional, and heartbreaking story of Whitney Houston's journey from obscurity to musical super stardom. This stunning accompanying volume tells the story of bringing Whitney's life to the big screen, with behind-the-scenes photography and interviews with key cast members including star Naomi Ackie (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker), Tamara Tunie (Flight, The Devil’s Advocate), and Nafessa Williams (Black Lightning), as well as key members of the production crew. Learn how the pivotal moments and places in Whitney's history, as well as her spectacular wardrobe and her look, were recreated for the film, with additional insight about the film from director Kasi Lemmons and about Whitney herself from producer Pat Houston. It is the ultimate book for the Whitney Houston fan. A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK: Rare production stills and behind-the-scenes photography show how a monumental movie like this is made. INTERVIEWS WITH STARS AND CREW give an intimate portrait of what it was like to portray people such as Whitney Houston and Robyn Crawford, and what it took to re-create those characters with hair, makeup, and costume. OFFICIAL MOVIE TIE-IN with exclusive content including production and film stills, interviews, and script excerpts.
£24.00
Turner Publishing Company Hollywoodski
Book SynopsisA compelling novel-in-stories, Hollywoodski showcases a self-described “faded” screenwriter’s forty-year career.Dale Davis is a man encumbered by a natural writing talent, corrupted by early success, and reduced to scrambling for crumbs. He arrives in Hollywood, unbattered and innocent, with a novel about his days as an almost Olympic-caliber swimmer. But his faith in the prevailing powers of talent and justice in Tinseltown leaves him essentially black-listed and unemployable, a talented writer who just can’t get paid. Despite the fading of a once-promising career, Davis still believes that his talent will propel him back into prominence. But that belief, in Hollywood, is about as realistic as the belief that “Someday my prince will come,” and as likely to make you depressed and crazy.Hollywoodski is a nonlinear journey through Davis’s life, weaving his memories with stories he’s written over the years, charting how his hopes and dreams have changed over time. Featuring stories originally published in prominent publications such as The New England Review, The Los Angeles Reader, and Six Three Whiskey, Hollywoodski is a sweeping and inventive telling of the strange avenues that a life follows.
£11.39
Fantom Films Limited Attack of the Cybermen: Alternative Doctor Who
Book Synopsis
£13.56
Collective Ink Seen and Not Seen – Confessions of a Movie Autist
Book SynopsisPopular culture mirrors the human soul and it can't lie about the state it is in-which is what makes it an essential guide on the quest for self-knowledge. Seen and Not Seen: Confessions of a Movie Autist is a series of autobiographical explorations which slowly uncover the author's secret life to himself. Revisiting his former writings on film and deconstructing old texts, he engages in a literary dialogue with his past as he struggles to bust open his fantasy life and reach the truth behind it. Moving into and through the cultural, social and political dimensions of movies, the book maps previously undiscovered psychological and spiritual realms of the movie-going experience to create an engaging, thought-provoking, utterly original narrative about the essential acts of movie-watching, writing, and self-examination.
£15.19
Intellect Books Downtown Film and TV Culture 1975-2001
Book SynopsisDowntown Film and TV Culture 1975–2001 brings together essays by filmmakers, exhibitors, cultural critics and scholars from multiple generations of the New York Downtown scene to illuminate individual films and filmmakers and explore the creation of a Downtown Canon, the impact of AIDS on younger filmmakers, community access to cable television broadcasts, and the impact of the historic downtown scene on contemporary experimental culture. The book includes J. Hoberman’s essay ‘No Wavelength: The Parapunk Underground’, as well as historical essays by Tony Conrad and Lynne Tillman, interviews with filmmakers Bette Gordon and Beth B, and essays by Ivan Kral and Nick Zedd.Table of ContentsDowntown Cinema Revisited - Joan Hawkins Acknowledgements Downtown Body - Ward Shelley Part I: Moments Chapter 1: In the Movie-Viewing Machine: Essential Cinema and the 1970s - David Sterritt Chapter 2: No Wavelength: The Para-Punk Underground - J. Hoberman Chapter 3: At Last Real Movies: Super 8 Cinema from New York - Tony Conrad Chapter 4: Downtown’s Room in Hotel History - Lynne Tillman Part II: Scenes Chapter 5: The Blank Generation and Punk/Downtown History - Mark Benedetti Chapter 6: Birth of the Blank Generation - Ivan and Cindy Kral Chapter 7: Downtown Godard - Jonathan Everett Haynes Chapter 8: ‘A Crack in the Veneer’: A Conversation with Beth B - Beth B and Joan Hawkins Chapter 9: Lydia Lunch, The Right Side of My Brain - Chuck Kleinhans Chapter 10: Pleasure and Danger: Bette Gordon’s Variety - Joan Hawkins Chapter 11: Interview with Bette Gordon - Bette Gordon and Joan Hawkins Chapter 12: The Time of His Life: Spalding Gray - Laurie Stone Chapter 13: Mixing Blag Flag, DIY, Lo-Fi, and Oulipo: Jon Moritsugu’s Mommy Mommy Where’s My Brain - Jack Sargeant Chapter 14: Cast Iron TV and Friends: Artists’ Public Access in Manhattan - Terese Svoboda Chapter 15: TV Party: A Cocktail Party That Could Also be a Political Party - Benjamin Olin Chapter 16: The Case of Electra Elf: Towards New Possibilities of Underground Counterculture in the Twenty-First Century - Nick Zedd and David Sjöberg Chapter 17: Cock Worship: Todd Haynes, Fassbinder, and Queer Praxis - Chris Dumas Chapter 18: Downtown’s Queer Asides - Lucas Hilderbrand, Alexandra Juhasz, Debra Levine, and Ricardo Montez Part III: Memorials Chapter 19: Canonization and No Wave Cinema History - Mark Benedetti Chapter 20: The Downtown Scene in the Digital Era - Laurel Westrup Chapter 21: You Had to be There: The Downtown Archive and the Future of an Impossible Past - Richard Toon and Laurie Stone Chapter 22: The Centre Cannot Hold: Blank City (2010) and the Problems of Historicizing New York’s Independent Cinema of the Late 1970s and Early 1980s - Juan Carlos Kase Chapter 23: Experimental Film - Chris Kraus Filmography and Videography - Mark Benedetti
£30.71
Titan Books Ltd The Autobiography of James T. Kirk
Book SynopsisThe Autobiography of James T. Kirk chronicles the greatest Starfleet captain's life (2233-2293), in his own words. From his birth on the U.S.S. Kelvin, his youth spent on Tarsus IV, his time in the Starfleet Academy, his meteoric raise through the ranks of Starfleet, and his illustrious career at the helm of the Enterprise, this in-world memoir uncovers Captain Kirk in a way Star Trek fans have never seen.Trade Review“A fascinating look at the exploits of one of pop culture’s greatest and most wonderfully flawed heroes” - Pop Culture Vulture"Looking for the perfect holiday gift for the Trek fan in your life? This might just be it...A fantastic book." - Nerdophiles“Another great touch was the addition of "editor's notes" throughout the narrative that lent a feeling of verisimilitude to the pages of the book. Little things that Kirk gets wrong in the book that are "corrected" by the editor make this feel like a real autobiography. Also, a full color insert of pictures in the middle of the book from Kirk's life, including his Academy graduation photo and travel documents to Tarsus IV, lend even more credibility.” - Trekcore"The Autobiography of James T. Kirk" is a wonderful addition to the stories of the fabled captain who sat in that center seat aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise for longer than any other leader in Starfleet history." - The News Hub"An accomplished, stirring tribute to a beloved sci-fi series that will captivate fans and newcomers alike." - Kirkus - Starred Review"A cause to celebrate for any fan." - City of Films"For readers like me, who loved that show and remember it with extreme fondness, it is an absolute treat of a book. I read it in one sitting, mostly with a smile on my face. And occasionally with a pang in my heart." - Reading Reality "The Autobiography of James T. Kirk serves as the perfect accompaniment for any fan looking to revisit the series with a refreshing new perspective on the well-known and beloved character." - Hypable“If you are a Star Trek fan, you will enjoy this book. In fact, the bigger a fan you are, the more you will appreciate it.” - Popmatters
£8.54
Titan Books Ltd The Art & Making of Independence Day Resurgence
Book SynopsisThe Art at Making of Independence Day Resurgence takes readers from the aftermath of the '96 invasion, through there building of the planet, and the new, terrifying threat about to hit Earth. This official companion is packed with incredible concept art, costume design, behind-the-scenes photography, and exclusive interviews with cast and crew including Jeff Goldblum and director Roland Emmerich.
£23.99
Titan Books Ltd Hidden Universe Travel Guide: Star Trek: Qo'nos
Book SynopsisExplore the homeworld and vast dominion of Star Trek's most formidable race, the Klingons, in this thrilling travel guide. nuqneH! Bored of standard vacations to places like Risa or Wrigley's Pleasure Planet? Want to discover a unique and ancient culture not bound by standard niceties and social mores? Then Qo'noS and the vast Klingon Empire are for you! This one-of-a-kind travel guide will give you all the information you need to plan, enjoy, and survive your trip to the very heart of Klingon territory, from an overview of Klingon history to tips on what to wear (fur and leather are very popular) to a glossary of important phrases like "mamI' DaneH'a'? nItebHa' mamI' DaneH'a'?" (Would you like to dance with me?). Every major location in the Klingon Empire is covered in-depth, with tips on where to eat (you've not lived until you've eaten Klingon skull stew), how best to get to and from your chosen destination, and what to do if you find yourself challenged to a bat'leth battle to the death.Locations include the homeworld Qo'noS and its famous locales such as the First City, the Caves of No'mat the Hamar Mountains, and the city of Krennla, plus neighboring moons Corvix and Praxis, and many, many more must-see areas. The book also features exclusive maps and illustrations that bring to life the Klingon Empire and form the perfect reference guide for any visitor. So what are you waiting for? Qapla'!
£13.49
Titan Books Ltd The Making of Dunkirk
Book SynopsisA behind-the-scenes look at director Christopher Nolan's gripping action-thriller Dunkirk, which brings to life one of World War II's most pivotal battles.
£28.00
Titan Books Ltd Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Postcard Book
Book SynopsisA set of four removable lenticular postcards celebrating Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, along with sixteen other fascinating non-lenticular postcards from the film. At the end of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter is given a magical gift by Hagrid: an album of moving photographs, including a photo of Harry's parents and one of Ron, Hermione, and Harry together. Inspired by Harry's album, this postcard book includes a set of four removable lenticular images that re-create some of the beloved scenes from the Harry Potter movie. Also included are sixteen regular postcards featuring fascinating images from the wizarding world, perfect for sending to friends and family.
£8.54
Titan Books Ltd The Serenity Handbook: The Official Crew Member's
Book SynopsisIf you've ever wondered what it's like to soar through space like a leaf on the wind in a Firefly spaceship, this is the manual for you. The Firefly-class transport ship was originally created by the Allied Spacecraft Corporation, but since the Browncoats' Independence War, it has become a favourite among smugglers on the Rim worlds. The aircraft's many nooks, crannies, and hidden compartments give it an incredible cargo capacity, and its speed and small size make it the perfect getaway vehicle. The many secrets of Serenity are revealed in this fascinating crew-created owner's manual, which features in-depth technical specifications and insightful commentary from the entire crew. Designed as an in-world crew-made manual for the ship, this book will allow fans of Firefly and Serenity to explore the iconic Firefly-class Series 3 ship in a whole new way.
£21.24
Ebury Publishing Lovely Jubbly
Book SynopsisLong Live Hookey Street ... Ménage et trois! It's been more than 40 years since John Sullivan's Only Fools and Horses first graced our television screens. In this official guide, updated with new and never-before-seen material, Mike Jones and Jim Sullivan - son of John and co-writer of the hit West End show Only Fools and Horses the Musical - chart the creation and evolution of the nation's favourite comedy series. Including behind-the-scenes info and interviews with those who helped make the show a success, and more than a word or two from Del, Rodders and the rest of the Peckham faithful, here we take an episode-by-episode look at what made Only Fools and Horses work.
£15.29
Atlantic Books Hollywood Wants to Kill You: The Peculiar Science
Book Synopsis'A wonderful book... Delightfully varied... As with all the best science writing, this book doesn't just give answers, it also asks interesting questions.' Daily Mail'Captivating and intelligent! Who knew death could be this much fun?' Richard OsmanAsteroids, killer sharks, nuclear bombs, viruses, deadly robots, climate change, the apocalypse - why is Hollywood so obsessed with death and the end of the world? And how seriously should we take the dystopian visions of our favourite films? With wit, intelligence and irreverence, Rick Edwards and Dr Michael Brooks explore the science of death and mass destruction through some of our best-loved Hollywood blockbusters. From Armageddon and Dr Strangelove to The Terminator and Contagion, they investigate everything from astrophysics to AI, with hilarious and captivating consequences. Packed with illustrations, fascinating facts and numerous spoilers, Hollywood Wants to Kill You is the perfect way into the science of our inevitable demise.Trade ReviewA wonderful book... Delightfully varied... As with all the best science writing, this book doesn't just give answers, it also asks interesting questions. * Daily Mail *A witty and informative look at how Hollywood kills us off. As a film buff and scientist I love this book. * Maggie Aderin-Pocock, space scientist and presenter of The Sky at Night *Great fun and makes you feel a hundred times cleverer. * Charlie Higson, actor, comedian, and bestselling author *Explores everything from the ins and outs of black holes (Interstellar) to artificial intelligence (Ex Machina)... Edwards and Brooks don't take themselves too seriously and their cartoon heads pop up throughout deconstructing the films wittily while explaining the underlying science simply. * Sunday Times on Science(ish) *Deeply funny, academically accomplished, and unfalteringly engaging. Entertaining as it may be, it's difficult to escape the fact that Edwards and Brooks have just made the world of popular science much harder work for the rest of us. * Ben Miller - comedian and author of It’s Not Rocket Science on Science(ish) *Chirpy [and] bantering. * Strong Words *Table of Contents1: Hollywood Wants to Kill You. WITH A VIRUS! 2: Hollywood Wants to Kill You. WITH ASTEROIDS! 3: Hollywood Wants to Kill You. WITH PREDATORS! 4: Hollywood Wants to Kill You. WITH ROBOTS! 5: Hollywood Wants to Kill You. WITH INFERTILITY! 6: Hollywood Wants to Kill You. WITH CLIMATE CHANGE! 7: Hollywood Wants to Kill You. WITH INSOMNIA! 8: Hollywood Wants to Kill You. WITH PLANTS! 9: Hollywood Wants to Kill You. WITH OLD AGE! 10: Hollywood Wants to Kill You. WITH NUCLEAR ARMAGEDDON! 11: Hollywood Wants to Kill You. WITH DEATH!
£10.44
University of Wales Press New Blood: Critical Approaches to Contemporary
Book SynopsisThe taste for horror is arguably as great today as it has ever been. Since the turn of the millennium, the horror genre has seen various developments emerging out of a range of contexts, from new industry paradigms and distribution practices to the advancement of subgenres that reflect new and evolving fears. New Blood builds upon preceding horror scholarship to offer a series of critical perspectives on the genre since the year 2000, presenting a collection of case studies on topics as diverse as the emergence of new critical categories (such as the contentiously named ‘prestige horror’), new subgenres (including ‘digital folk horror’ and ‘desktop horror’) and horror on-demand (‘Netflix horror’), and including analyses of key films such as The Witch and Raw and TV shows like Stranger Things and Channel Zero. Never losing sight of the horror genre’s ongoing political economy, New Blood is an exciting contribution to film and horror scholarship that will prove to be an essential addition to the shelves of researchers, students and fans alike.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Figures and Tables Notes on Contributors Horror 2020: Introducing New Blood - Eddie Falvey, Joe Hickinbottom, Jonathan Wroot Part One: Framing Horror 1. Apprehension Engines: The New Independent ‘Prestige Horror’ - David Church 2. Hardcore Horror: Challenging the Discourses of ‘Extremity’ - Steve Jones 3. From Midnight Movies to Mainstream Excess: Cult Horror Festivals and the Academy - Xavier Mendik Part Two: Horror Reception 4. A Master of Horror? The Making and Marketing of Takashi Miike’s Horror Reputation - Joe Hickinbottom 5. Bloody Muscles on VHS: When Asia Extreme Met the Video Nasties - Jonathan Wroot 6. Streaming Netflix Original Horror: Black Mirror, Stranger Things and Datafied TV Horror - Matt Hills Part Three: Emerging Subgenres 7. The digital gothic and the Mainstream Horror Genre: Uncanny Vernacular Creativity and Adaptation - Jessica Balanzategui 8. Nazi Horror, Reanimated: Rethinking Subgenres and Cycles - Abigail Whittall 9. Digital Witness: Found Footage and Desktop Horror as Post-cinematic Experience - Lindsay Hallam Part Four: Horror in the World 10. Revisiting the Female Monster: Sex and Monstrosity in Contemporary Body Horror - Eddie Falvey 11. The Kids are Alt-right: Hardcore Punk, Subcultural Violence and Contemporary American Politics in Jeremy Saulnier’s Green Room - Thomas Joseph Watson 12. Twenty-first-century Euro-snuff: A Serbian Film for the Family - Neil Jackson Bibliography Index
£40.50
Titan Books Ltd Star Wars Insider: Fiction Collection Vol. 1
Book SynopsisIncluding tales starring iconic characters such as Han Solo, Lando Calrissian and Darth Vader, this collection also features stories showcasing supporting characters such as Darth Plagueis, Cad Bane, and Temmin "Snap" Wexley. Includes fiction written by renowned best-selling Star Wars authors such as Jason Fry, Matthew Stover, Timothy Zahn, John Ostrander, and Christie Golden, this volume also includes stunning art from some of the saga's best-loved interpreters, including Joe Corroney, Brian Rood, Jan Duursema, and John Van Fleet. Stories included: "Vader Adrift" Author: Ryder Windham Artist: Joe Corroney "First Blood" Author: Christie Golden Artist: Brian Rood "Buyer's Market" Author: Timothy Zahn Artist: Brian Rood "And Leebo Makes Three" Author: Michael Reaves and Maya Kaathryn Bohnoff Artist: Greg and Tim Hildebrandt "A Fair Trade" Author: Christie Golden Artist: Joe Corroney "The Teneborus Way" Author: Matthew Stover Artist: Brian Rood "Maze Run" Author: David J. Williams and Mark S. Williams Artist: Brian Rood "The Guns of Kelrodo-Ai" Author: Jason Fry Artist: John Van Fleet "Hunting the Gorach" Author: Jeff Grubb Artist: Joe Corroney "Getaway" Author: Christie Golden Artist: Joe Corroney "Roll of the Dice" Author: Karen Miller Artist: David Rabbitte "Reputation" Author: Ari Marmell Artist: Tom Hodges "Eruption" Author: John Ostrander Artist: Jan Duursema "One Thousand Levels Down" Author: Alexander Freed Artist: Joe Corroney and Brian Miller "Orientation" Author: John Jackson Miller Artist: Brian Rood "Blade Squadron (Part One)" Author: David J. Williams and Mark S. Williams Artist: Chris Trevas "Blade Squadron (Part Two)" Author: David J. Williams and Mark S. Williams Artist: Chris Trevas "Blade Squadron: Zero Hour" Author: David J. Williams and Mark S. Williams Artist: Chris Trevas "Blade Squadron: Kuat" Author: David J. Williams and Mark S. Williams Artist: Chris Trevas Blade Squadron: Jakku" Author: David J. Williams and Mark S. Williams Artist: Chris Trevas
£18.69
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC From the Margins to the Mainstream: Women in Film
Book SynopsisThis book explores the various issues raised by women’s fraught integration into the mainstream in film and television, whether it be off screen as filmmakers and film critics or on screen in film and TV series. Marianne Kac-Vergne and Julie Assouly consider the varied representations of women in films such as Jackie Brown (1997), Marie Antoinette (2006), It’s a Free World… (2007) and Wonder Woman (2017). They particularly look into the overlooked gendered aspects of voice-overs and the adverse tropes used to represent maternity in television series as well as the complex motif of the vagina dentata in contemporary film and television. The chapters analyze independent, art-house, Hollywood and TV productions often in transnational contexts, shedding light on how definitions of femininity are culturally specific yet cross national, class and racial lines. The contributors include renowned scholars such as Yvonne Tasker, Celestino Deleyto, David Roche and Nicole Cloarec, as well as emerging yet well-published film scholars.Trade ReviewAddress[es] enthralling issues, such as the relationship between the male gaze and spectator identification; beauty, desirability and the white and black female body ... and the gendered hierarchy in American TV series’ voice-overs, to name but a few. ... The message of this essay collection is loud and clear * Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television *Table of ContentsList of illustrations Acknowledgements Series Editors’ Foreword Introduction Part I: Women speaking from the margins Interview with Vivienne Dick 1. Lizzie Borden and Vivienne Dick: Fighting for Female Filmmaking - Céline Murillo 2. Daughters behind the camera - Nicole Cloarec 3. Molly Haskell’s take on feminist film theory: the place of feminist film criticism outside academia -Anne Hurault-Paupe Part II: Women in semi-independent cinema 4. Racial bodies in Kathryn Bigelow's Strange Days (1995) - Hélène Charlery 5. ‘She’s a Whole Lotta Woman’: Pam Grier’s Star Image in Jackie Brown (1997) - David Roche 6. Women on the Border: A Cosmopolitan Approach to the Representation of Contemporary Femininity in It’s a Free World… (2007) - Celestino Deleyto 7. Marie Antoinette (2006), Fashion Queens and Hollywood Stars - Sara Pesce Part III: Women protagonists in mainstream television and blockbusters 8. Voice-overs: renewing gender representations in American TV series - Anaïs Le Fèvre-Berthelot 9. Moving into the Mainstream: Pregnancy, Motherhood, and Female TV Action Heroes - Anne Sweet 10. In the Mouth of Fearfulness: Women, Power and the Vagina Dentata in Contemporary American Cinema - Charles-Antoine Courcoux 11. Can Women be Superheroes? Reflections on American Cinema and Beyond - Yvonne Tasker (University of Leeds, UK) List of References Index
£85.50
Titan Books Ltd Harry Potter: The Film Vault - Volume 12:
Book SynopsisHarry Potter: The Film Vault compiles the filmmaking secrets and visionary artistry behind the Harry Potter films into a series of twelve deluxe collectible volumes. Each intricately designed book features gorgeous concept art and unit photography from the Warner Bros. archive paired with striking insights about bringing JK Rowling's Wizarding World to the big screen. In addition, a collectible poster accompanies each volume.
£13.49
Titan Books Ltd Halloween: The Official Making of Halloween,
Book SynopsisOfficial companion book to the most recent trilogy of Halloween films featuring behind-the-scenes photography and interviews with cast and crew. Four decades after the original Halloween took the world by storm, Miramax, Blumhouse Productions and Trancas International bring a terrifying new trilogy of films in the iconic horror franchise to cinemas. In these direct sequels to John Carpenter's 1978 movie, Laurie Strode and the residents of Haddonfield once again fall prey to escaped killer Michael Myers. As the police desperately try to track him down, Laurie, along with her family, prepares to face her murderous nemesis one more time in a confrontation 40 years in the making... The making of this much-anticipated movie trilogy is covered in fascinating detail in this official companion book. The creative processes behind the stunts, costumes, production design and make-up effects are revealed through interviews with the cast and crew, while captivating on-set photography captures the shooting of the key scenes and action set-pieces. A must for all horror fans, Halloween 2018-2022: The Official Making of the Films reveals the method behind the terror.
£31.99
Titan Books Ltd Harry Potter: Ravenclaw Magic - Artifacts from
Book SynopsisLike founder Rowena Ravenclaw, the members of Hogwarts' Ravenclaw house, including Luna Lovegood and Cho Chang, are known for their wit and cleverness. Now you can capture the magic of Ravenclaw house like never before and collect a stunning array of artifacts inspired by the Harry Potter films. Inside, fans will learn about all things Ravenclaw, relive moments from the films, and delve into the behind-the-scenes magic that brought Harry Potter to life on the big screen.
£16.99