Product Description
The complete, clear guide to creating compelling plots for film
* Integrate plot, characterization, and exposition to make stories real
* Examples from new and classic movies examine great plots in action

Plot must be as much about the emotions of the characters as it is about the events of the story. That’s the message of The Art of Plotting, which teaches screenwriters how to integrate plot, characterization, and exposition to make stories compelling. Using examples from recent and classic movies, author Linda J. Cowgill demonstrates how the plot springs naturally from the characters--and how that technique makes audiences connect with the story on a more intimate level. Examples include American Beauty, Shakespeare in Love, Erin Brockovich, Spider-Man, Chinatown, Jaws, and more. Easy exercises reveal common plot problems and help writers overcome them. Clear and easy to understand and to use, The Art of Plotting shows exactly how great plotting evolves from characters caught in life-changing conflicts--and how to create great plots driven by that idea. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Too repetitive, Low substance, Very Broad
I've read A LOT of books on screenwriting so I'm comparing this not only with other books but also with how it would improve my writing.

I'll be very fair and explain both the pros and cons. Before I bought this book, I wanted something to help me plot out my script better and create dynamic and engaging characters.

As you read the book, you'll see she hits home on some important "obvious" ideas. A lot of what she says you will agree with, but she won't specify or give proper example. On top of that, she constantly repeats the same ideas over and over again. These ideas are so broad that you agree but you don't know how to PHYSICALLY apply them into your script.

I respected where she spent one paragraph on saying that she won't discuss the three-acts and recommended another book. Fair enough. But after a couple of paragraphs down she begins talking about ACTS 1, 2, and 3, for pages and pages straight (which are also general ideas rather than specific examples).

I finished this book in a couple of hours and got NOTHING out of it except what I already know. It reminds me of when I used to do English essays in school and I didn't have enough content to put in my paper. I would simply repeat the same idea but with different words every time just to add word count. This book seems like the same thing.

There's better books that can properly cover plotting, character depth, and emotion.

This helped me with my movie...
Was working on a script for a new movie when I purchased this.

The info in this book was just what I needed to clarify my story at that time. Best part is, my movie ended up in the biggest filmfest in France in 2009.

Thanks to this book!!!

Great Book
I just recently jumped on the screenwriting bandwagon. Most of the books I've read were very general and basic overviews. They gave me an idea of formatting, structure, how to plot and write commercially viable scripts but never really discussed why. This book told me how toand answered why in great detail, yet it did so in a way that was organized making it easy to absorb. All the other books throw darts but most often miss the target.. this book truly nails it! The Art of Plotting taught me how to write a screenplay.

Wonderfully insightful.
This is by far the most understandable book on how to create a great plot. I thought I knew what I was doing until I read this fantastic book... and I've been writing professionally for over 30 years. You never stop learning...

best of the bunch
There are so many, too many books on writing screenplays, many of them intelligent and correct, but many of them useless helping to actually write a script.L. Cowgill can't write your screenplay for you, but her book is the best of the bunch in providing actual assistance, even inspiration in creating and scrutinizing ones own brilliant movie. ... Read more

Product Description
This text contains lift-up flaps and pop-ups of more than 60 works of art, showing how art is made. There is a model to make, a primary colour wheel which can be used to make secondary colours, plus a pair of 3-D glasses to see illusions and models of famous paintings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

fabulous book
my mother collects pop-up book and art
this book amazed her and is now he number one favorite. ... Read more

Product Description
The imaginations and passions of a whole new generation of Star Wars fans have been ignited by The Clone Wars the new animated TV series from Lucasfilm; over 8 million viewers tuned in to watch the series' debut on Cartoon Network. This richly illustrated book is the only publication about the art and making of the popular series, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at the immensely talented Lucasfilm Animation team and its groundbreaking work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Impressive, most impressive.
This is a great source for the average fan. The source material and commentary are great.This is called the "art" of and not the complete background of development, so the commentary is light which the average fan will like but a wierdo fan like myself is left feeling I missed the main course. I also got it for a steal! Under $10 total, gotta love Amazon!

A true "Art Of" book...
I think it was fitting that a great revival (because, let's face it, the Prequels kind of killed it) of a beautiful franchise comes with a wonderful "Art Of" book. It is chock full of character, vehicle and set designs that really show the level of professionalism and fandom infused into the show by its creators. The book, along with the show itself, will transport you back to the happier time of 70's and 80's...

Capturing moving artwork
The style of this book captures the artwork of the Clone Wars in great detail.It shows all of the workings as it is produced for each episode, and shows the working process.But then again, the Clone Wars is moving art in itself.This book is a great find for those who want to see the ideas before they are on the screen.The visuals are just as pretty as the finished composite. It will contend with the movie versions of The Art of Star Wars and is a good buy for those who are collecting.

The Art of Clone Wars
The Art of Star Wars: The Clone Wars is a coffee table book that looks excellent and is packed with renderings from the theatrical release and Season I of the TV series. The book also includes a quick peek at Season II. The emphasis is on concept art and you can get a real feel for the development of characters and places. My suggestion would be to take your time going through the book. Study the pictures and absorb the artwork.

Each picture in the book has a caption explaining specifically what you are looking at and what the artist's name is. Many of the pictures also come with much longer explanations giving excellent background information, e.g., a particularly interesting write-up on the influence of Ralph McQuarrie. We hear from Director Dave Filoni a good deal as he explains the initial concepts of The Clone Wars and takes us through some of the changes that took place as the project came to fruition.

If you are a fan of The Clone Wars and enjoy the visual presentation, then this book is for you

I found it nice
It covers a lot of good things, all episodes of season 1 are included in this book. So that's so good, with so many precious images... ... Read more

Product Description
Oban Star-Racers is the hugely popular animated TV series which shows around the world. In the year 2082, Earth has been invited to compete in the Great Race ofban, an intergalactic competition held every 10,000 years, which promises to grant the winner any wish they chose. Eva “Molly” Wei joins her father’s racing team incognito as the driver to compete in the galaxy’s greatest race.

This art book is an in-depth look at the development and making of the series Oban Star-Racers. Packed with beautiful full colour images, this shows every stage from concept art through to finished animation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Nice art, great production stories
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R176I2K5P1OEFM There are two parts to The Art of Oban Star-Racers. The first part is a visual guide to the animated series and the second part has stories on the production. If you haven't watch the animation, be forewarned that there are spoilers in this book, on page 60 and on the episode guide at the back.

The first part serves as a good introduction to the story and the characters. The writeup on the characters are really interesting in part because the characters are interesting themselves.

The character designs are unique and really fun to look at. Head character designer Thomas Romain has done a tremendous job for creating such a diverse set of characters. I found the design for Ceres pretty hilarious. He either looks like a cross between an "oceanic statue and a Picasso sculpture" or a piece of thin brown circuitry board that has arms and legs. One character Aikka, flies a giant beetle for a ship.

The background concept drawings are beautiful and I'm glad they printed them big. I like the style of the set designs, particularly the colour choices.

In the second part, creator and director Savin Yeatman-Eiffel talks candidly about the production challenges he faces. There was great uncertainty in the direction of the story and he had to motivate his team. He recounts his multiple rejections from investors until he saw a message from Minoru Takanashi, a producer in chief for Bandai Visual (Japan) who's willing to invest. It's interesting though not surprising that only someone who has done 2D animation can see saw the potential. So his team moved over to Tokyo to create the animation. There are stories on working with the Japanese, with the 3D studio back in France, the interaction, script and of course, the occasional crisis.

This book an inspiring read for those love animation and into animation. For those who are just fans of the series, there might be a new sense of appreciation, after finding out the effort that went into creating it.

Great book. Highly recommended.

(More pictures are available on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.) ... Read more

Product Description
This vibrant pop-art alphabet book explodes with vivid color and energy. Everyday objects familiar to children pop off the pages. A fuzzy yellow chick hatches from an egg, a red race car zooms away after filling up with gas, and an umpire calls a baseball player safe at home. The bright colors and bold design are just right for young children. Learning the alphabet is eye-popping fun with this visually stimulating, artfully illustrated ABC book.

"The energy and bright colors will captivate young viewers."
-School Library Journal ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

5 Stars
What a great book!!! I think these drawings belong in a museum. There was a lot of talent and creativity that went into this. I will purchase this book for any children, both young and old, that I know. Thank You Ms. Isadora

POP it is
I am a school librarian and my class and I are writing this review. Everyone thinks it is a great classic. We have done pictures in the various styles displayed in the book and have had the greatest time. We will be visiting the museum nearest to us which has modern art just to see where Ms. Isadora's inspiration came from. We want to thank her for letting us see the world in a different way.

Wow! Pop!
What a magnificant book! I am an artist and a father and bought this book for my son Abe and we just love it. It has inspired him to draw in this modern style and I enjoy seeing the results. Right on Ms. Isadora!

Wow POP!
I simply loved this book, it's about time a great visual Pop art book came out. I think the pictures are so original and yet draw on the artwork of the original artists. Looking at this book is like visiting a museum. Thank you, Ms. Isadora and I hope there will be more!

POP Magic!
Went to the library and found this book for my son. We have enjoyed many hours discussing modern art because of its stimilation. We discussed color, style and form. I explained how this art has influenced style, art, music, etc. today. And then we went to the museum to look at Pop art. What awonderful book- I will always treasure it- I hope Ms. Isadora comes up withmore books like this....Numbers POP! and I hope she reads this review! ... Read more

Product Description
This introduction to film appreciation uses both contemporary and classic movies to help students develop critical skills in the analysis and evaluation of film. By suggesting what to look for and how to look for it, the text challenges students to sharpen their powers of observation, establish habits of perceptive watching, and discover complex aspects of film art that will further enhance their enjoyment of watching films. In addition it makes the link from literature to film in chapters on Thematic Elements, Fictional and Dramatic Elements and a unique chapter on Adaptions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

Great Book! Where is the CD-ROM?
The book arrived in great shape and in plenty of time for me to use it for my class; However there was NO CD-ROM with it... being that it was a used book I didn't expect to get the CD... but when the book says it comes with one , I think it should!

Great book!
This book is great! The information given is perfect for those wanting to get a better understanding of films...

The Art of Watching FIlms -Book Review
This was an amazing book, esp. because I was taking a film and literature class. It's readable; there aren't any big words that you can't understand just to make the text seem scholarly. The quality of the shipping was good. I got it the second week of class which was a good thing because usually when I order a book off of here I get it two weeks later and by that time I'd be three weeks behind in an 8 week course. All in all, it was a good experience.

Class book for Ashford University
This was a class book I needed for Ashford University.The seller's price was much less than buying it through the school bookstore, which I really appreciate!The book was in super condition!Thank you!It's an interesting book, for anyone who loves movies, to read.It give you a lot of things to look for in movies.

Homework assignment
The tutorial CD-Rom did not come with this book.It was needed for part of my homework assignments so I was not able to complete some of them without it. ... Read more

Product Description
Pop Art was one of the most revolutionary art movements of the 20th century. In the 1950s, a group of artists in Great Britain and the USA, rather than despising popular culture, gladly embraced both its imagery and its methods, using photographs, advertisements, posters, cartoons and everyday objects to form the basis of their art. Their audacity at first scandalized the Establishment, but by the mid-1960s their work dominated the world art scene and names such as Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Robert Rauschenberg were familiar to many. This book examines the formation and growth of the movement with selected examples from the style's most important exponents. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Work!
I love the Phaidon Colour Art Library.I have bought 7-8 of these books, including the Durer, Rembrandt and Klimt treatments, which were all superb books with excellent analysis and ultra-high-quality color reproductions.The Durer and Rembrandt books alone made me spend another $120 on books bythese two.This Pop Art treatment was also quite fascinating and opened myeyes and made me go out and spend another $100 on modern art books.Itsurveys a fascinating, well-chosen selection of the works of dozens ofrepresentative pop/modern artists.A thoughtful analysis accompanies eachpainting/work, and taken collectively these descriptions comprehensivelycover a range of themes, ideas, thoughts and paradigms of 20th centurypost-World War II art.For those who think that 20th century art, pop artor post-World War II art is "flimsy" in character orinsightfullness compared to previous eras, this book is well-tailored.Onefinds that in fact there is a vast quantity of substance to the various artparadigms covered in the works represented here, and that these works dobuild new foundations and directions for thought.I personally found mostof the works fascinating, from Jasper John's "Flag" and"Fool's House," which alone made me travel to the MOMA in searchof Johns works and spend $33 on a MOMA book by Johns, to Rauschenberg'sOdalisque, to Warhol's Cambell Soup Can, to Jim Din's "Child's BlueWall," to Oldenburg's hilarious and lurid "Shoestring PotatoesSpilling from a Bag," to the "Wham" comic book"rendition" by Lichtenstein, to works by Wesselmann, Peter Blake,Ruscha, and many others.The book covers many important classics of recenttimes, and may well be, for such a low price, the best all-aroundintrouction to both pop art and modern art. For [the price], I think itgives a great return in terms of "units of education acquired"per dollar spent. ... Read more

Product Description
Among the most useful tools in the production of any TV show or film is the storyboard, which is the visual blueprint of a project before it is shot.The director's vision is illustrated in the manner of a comic strip and handed on to the crew for purposes of budgeting, design, and communication.

Storyboards: Motion in Art 3/e is an in depth look at the production and business of storyboards.Using exercises, real-life examples of working in the entertainment industry, interviews with people in the industry, and sample storyboard drawing, this book will teach you how to :

* Develop and Improve your boards
* Work with directors
* Develop your resume and your portfolio
* Market your talent
* Create and improve a storyboard using computers

Packed full of practical industry information and examples, this book will help the reader improve their skills to either land their first assignment or advance their career.

New to this edition:

* NOW IN FULL COLOR!
* Feature samples from top storyboard artists
* 20 NEW CHAPTERS reflecting latest industry knowledge!
* More information on the artistic side of storyboarding
* Storyboards from TV shows and films including The Simpsons, The West Wing, Captain Scarlet, seaQuest DSV,The Matrix, and much more
* New interviews with top storyboard artists
* Brand new art throughout ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Recommended reading for the aspiring artist
Simple to read and understand, very straight forward book with plenty of color illustrations. I recommend this for any who want to learn the elements of storyboarding and animation. Even if you don't plan on becoming a layout or storyboard artist, it will give you insight into forming strong compositional designs.

A Waste of money
I'm amazed that someone, who is clearly such a bad artist, writes a book about the art of drawing Storyboards. A waste of money.

Storyboards: Motion in Art, Third Edition
I enjoyed much of the information that was given in the book. It was helpful to see the type of renderings were being done and to see how other professionals have been able to accomplish given tasks.

Quantum Leap
First of all, since my work is represented in the book, this could be seen as a biased review.It is not though.What Mark has put together for the 3rd Edition is so diverse and advanced, and in such great quantity, that a comparison to his previous book isn't really fair.Full color printing, samples of art at all stages from scribble to digital rendering, and a wide variety of artists' styles with a fair amount of work from each really make this the most comprehensive book available on the subject.There isn't an area of application I can think of that isn't addressed.I was taken aback by the size of this edition, and very pleased to see all the effort that went into it.This book has a dual focus of art technique and business that stays on message throughout, just like Mark does.It's a great book.

Unbelievable
I've never seen a book that covers half of what this book covers on storyboards. I had no idea there was this much to doing storyboards. The new 3rd edition is also beautiful with tons of great sample art.

Plus, the information is well written and easy to understand. I've been struggling to find an easy way to color my digital boards and this book quickly showed me how.

You won't believe how big this book is. I can't believe it costs less than the last edition, and this one is in full color. I've always been interested in storyboarding, and now I feel it's something I can tackle.

This is my new bible on storyboarding. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review
Book Description
Director J.J. Abrams’ new vision of the greatest space adventure of all time, Star Trek features a young, new crew venturing boldly where no man has gone before, as it tells the story of how the brash Starfleet cadet James T. Kirk first meets a Vulcan named Spock, and earns the Captain’s chair of the Starship Enterprise. The film quickly became a critical and commercial smash hit worldwide, as audiences — confirmed Trekkers and newcomers alike — thrilled to a state-of-the-art action epic which both respected the legacy of Gene Roddenberry’s archetypal modern myth and forged ahead into an exciting future of its own.

Star Trek: The Art of the Film is a lavishly illustrated celebration of that new vision, tracing the evolution of the movie’s look through a stunning array of previously unseen pre-production paintings, concept sketches, costume and set designs, unit photography and final frames.

Written by New York Times-bestselling author Mark Cotta Vaz in close co-operation with the film’s production team, and including a Foreword by J.J. Abrams, this is the essential companion to the film.

Look Inside Star Trek: The Art of the Film

Click on thumbnails for larger images

---

... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Trek: Art of the Film Rocks
I purchased the Star Trek: Art of the Film when I had spotted the $19.77 price tag. I had been interested in the book, but preferred not to pay the original price tag.

This retrospective book is quite possibly the prettiest Art of Trek book I've ever checked out.

Concept art, renderings, digital photos/set photos, creatures, the characters, the ships are all explored and shown in the book. I particularly liked the glimpse at the USS Kelvin with the bridge photos, crew uniforms, and renderings of the vessel.

I'd recommend the book to either a Trek fan or a science fiction art fan.

Star Trek (XI): The Art of the Film - Shows How Good The Film Could Have Looked
This book shows the chosen as well as the rejected designs for the 2009 Trek film (11th in the series).
Had the film utilized some of the discarded designs the film would have looked more like it belonged in the Trek universe.
Excellent book.

Just like being there.
Having been fortunate enough to have been part of the production, I am happy to say that this is as close to the behind the scenes experience as actually being there. The production quality of this tie-in book is top notch with many comments from the director, actors and designers. It is great to be able to share all the love and hard work of the cast and crew in this wonderful book. I highly recommend it. Enjoy!

Great Start, but Need More!
Like others have already mentioned, this book is a great concept and executed well, except that it is very thin on included material.

Each different category of artwork that is explored (sketches of the Enterprise, uniforms, aliens, sets, etc.) are only given one or two pages of space at the most. I for one would have greatly enjoyed seeing the evolution process of getting from the original Enterprise to the new Enterprise explored in much more detail rather than the few random sketches we are given. Why were some of the decisions that were made made? All the different sketches/paintings of different aliens were fine, but most of those were not actually seen in the movie. It's good to see the concepts but again, why were some in the movie, but others weren't?

Don't get me wrong, I liked the book and do not regret purchasing it, but I would have loved to have seen a lot more meat to it, even if it meant at a higher price.

Skinny On Material
Enjoyed the book, but it comes up awfully short on the subject matter. The design for the Enterprise, for example, could have been far more in-depth considering how iconic it is. Just would have liked to have seen more, higher price would have been worth it. ... Read more

Product Description
This official illustrated tie-in book showcases over 400 spectacular images from DreamWorks Animation first feature film produced in digital 3-D technology.

The Art of Monsters vs. Aliens is a spectacular, full-color book celebrating DreamWorks Animation's first film using groundbreaking InTru(tm)3D that transports the world of stereoscopic animation to a bold new level. This lavishly illustrated volume features: more than 400 images of concept art, character design, and architectural plans * insider information about the creative process behind developing the story and the characters * descriptions of the animating, rigging, surfacing, and lighting processes; and creating an all-new 3D environment.

The original story reinvents the classic monster movie into an entertaining modern-day action comedy. The Art of Monsters vs. Aliens is a book for anyone who loves moviemaking, animation, art, and big blue gobs of superheroes.

The Story:
When California girl Susan Murphy is unexpectedly clobbered by a meteor full of outer space gunk, she mysteriously grows to 49-feet-11-inches tall and is instantly labeled a "monster" named Ginormica. The military jumps into action, and she is captured and held in a secret government compound. The world learns that the military has been quietly rounding up other monsters over the years. This ragtag group consists of the brilliant but insect-headed Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D.; the macho half-ape, half-fish The Missing Link; the gelatinous and indestructible B.O.B.; and the 350-foot grub called Insectosaurus. Their confinement time is cut short, however, when a mysterious alien robot lands on Earth and begins storming the country.

As a last resort, under the guidance of General W.R. Monger (on a desperate order from The President), the motley crew of Monsters is called into action to combat the aliens and save the world from imminent destruction. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

GORGEOUS AND INFORMATIVE
Monsters Vs. Aliens is already a smash hit for DreamWorks in the theaters and now you can own a piece of the hit with this gorgeous book from Newmarket press.This over-sized hardcover book takes fans behind-the-scenes with a look at every aspect of the film's development.

We start with a look at the character designs from pencil sketches to mock theater posters to digital paintings.You'll see firsthand how the various characters were developed into what we finally saw onscreen.What I love is the retro look to the designs.It's a throwback to cartooning of the 50s and 60s with a nod to influences like Ed "Big Daddy" Roth's Rat-Fink character, and 1950s Sci-fi films.Part two looks at the creation of the film's locations like "Area Fifty-Something" and the alien mothership.Again, we get loads of concept art, sketches, thumbnail frames.

Part three look's at the film's special F/X, and part four looks at the animation development.But part five might be my favorite as it looks at some of the ideas and concepts that DIDN'T make the final cut of the film.These include an alternate opening to the film featuring an alien invasion, as well as various other robot, alien, and monster designs.Very cool. The book is 192 pages and absolutely loaded with full color art.The perfect complement to the film!

Good Movie...Amazing "Art of" Book!
If you love these "Art of" books this one is a must have. I have all of the Pixar art books and a few others and this one is one of the best! While I did like the movie, It doesn't hold a candle to the great Pixar line up of films, but it's art book is a great buy for a few reasons: (1) Huge, beautiful, full color, painted character designs. (2) Awesome retro monster movie posters introducing each character. (3) Tons and tons of concept scketches and ideas. (4) Great explainations of the characters and their developement. Basically, just a ton of cool stuff! Sometimes these books can tend to run kind of light with the material chosen to be included, but that's not the case here.

If you are an animator or you just love animated movies and the work that goes into them, you should seriously consider adding this book to your collection!

One of my Favs!
I would highly recommend this book. It is one "Art Of" book that I keep pulling off my shelf for inspiration.
Lots of character designs, backgrounds, and paintings. There is a nice balance of traditional media and digitalon display.

Cool !
Awesome book showing some characters development and lot of sketches !
100% recomended !

A winning and colorful survey
Over 400 color illustrations accompanies a survey of the film MONSTERS VS ALIENS, with five sections highlighting all aspects of the film's production from character personality and development by the DreamWorks design team to digital sets created for the movie, and special effects. Film libraries, especially those strong in contemporary animation, will find this a winning and colorful survey.
... Read more

Product Description
THE ART OF STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK is a magnificent, full-color celebration of the amazing artistic and technical accomplishments in the second chapter of the most spectacular space epic of all time.Lavishly illustrated with production sketches, production paintings, costume designs, construction drawings, matte paintings, storyboards, and stills, and complete with biographies of the outstanding artists and technicians who created the film, THE ART OF STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK is an indispensable volume for fans and special-effects buffs alike.This volume includes:

* The complex stop-motion animation technique used for the tauntaun, the beast Luke rode on the frozen planet Hoth

* The design and animation techniques used in the creation of the immense Imperial walkers

* The fascinating development of the swamp planet Dagobah

* The evolution of the character of Yoda

* Enthralling matte paintings that bring Cloud City to life

... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Can't say enough good about this book
I'm an artist, and I have been ever since I was a kid.I have loved Star Wars since I saw the original one when I was 6 (not in the theater, of course).When I was about 12 I found "The Art of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi" at my local library, and once I realized what it was, my goal in life was set: to become a concept artist for Lucasfilm.Tall order, I know, and now in my early 30s, I'm still striving for that goal.But of the three books I got (one for each of the original trilogy), this one has impacted me the most.

"Empire" is my favourite of the original three, and one can learn just as much about art technique as they can about filmmaking by looking at this book.Hundreds of drawings, some rough and some finished, models, props, photos, matte paintings, and storyboards adorn the pages, and as a result, Ralph McQuarrie and Joe Johnston (the two Lucasfilm artists who had the biggest impact on the look of Star Wars) have become heroes of mine.

The only qualm I have (and this was mentioned in the reviews for the book about Star Wars: Episode IV) is that the binding is pretty weak.Granted, I use my books a lot.A LOT.But I've lost the first 35 pages out of my Empire book because the glue they used is second-rate.So minus one star for that.

But bad glue aside, this book is absolutely, hands-down must-have if you are an art lover or Star Wars fan (or both).

This one is by far my favorite of the "Art of" series
The paintings of cloud city and the Probe droid are among my all time favorie McQuarrie works.

There are great concept pics.

And with Empire as the general concensus for "favorite movie" it stands to reason this would be among folks favorite art collections.

The best of the original "art-of" series
Of the three original Art-of Star Wars books, this is the best, for it does not include the screenplay that the other two do, and instead has useful information about the production of the film instead. The only drawback is that many of the illustrations run across the center of the page, where the binding obscures a portion of the image, but this is fairly common in softcover of this type. Recommended for fans and serious film buffs alike.

The best of the original "art-of" series
Of the three original Art-of Star Wars books, this is the best, for it does not include the screenplay that the other two do, and instead has useful information about the production of the film instead. The only drawback is that many of the illustrations run across the center of the page, where the binding obscures a portion of the image, but this is fairly common in softcover of this type. Recommended for fans and serious film buffs alike.

Four And A Half Stars-Great Pictures But Lack Of Text
This book is the best in the Art Of Star Wars series, but has a few downfalls.

This book is filled with color photos, but the text that goes with the pictures hasn't improved much. A good thing about this book, is the artwork is divided up into sections: HOTH, STAR DESTROYER, ASTEROID FIELD, DAGOBAH, BESPIN, REBEL CRUISER, and at the beginning of each section is about one and a half pages of text that describes how the "section" was done for the movie.

The "features" of the book such as the technique for the Imperial Walkers and Tauntauns to make them move, was included in the paragraphs at the beginning of each section, but really was poorly written. And the evolution of Yoda wasn't even written in text at all. All it consisted of was pages of drawings that looked different.

The pictures are, as always, magnificent, and included photographs, drawings, sketches, paintings, matte paintings, and blueprints, although the blueprints are on two pages, and a portion of them disappear where the two pages meet. But the rest is great, and it is so amazing to see how real the matte paintings look!

All four and a half stars are for the great pictures, organization, and text, but the missing half star is due to the lack of text. The lack of text is the real downfall, but since the pictures are great, I don't regret getting it. Especially since this is the only ART OF THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK book there is. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (16)

Self-Indulgent Tripe
Loved the movie, but this book is drivel. Self-indulgent self-aggrandising rubbish. Boring and pointless - a waste of a good tree. To cut a long story short Linson seems to have only got where he is thanks to Robert (Bobbie) De Niro's coat tails. Yes I know the title contains the word Bitter and that should have been a clue and maybe this was a public point-scoring exercise with those in Hollywood who wronged him, but I think he'd have been better off just slashing their tyres. Buy Adventures in The Screen Trade - at least Goldman had real successes to his name.

A Zany Laff Riot.
We don't usually think of producers as "literate types."They're the guys with the million-dollar Armani wardrobes and the thousand-dollar Gucci Pucci shoes up on their huge shiny desks.The last thing they ever wrote, aside from their signatures, was a high school term paper on the three branches of government.

But Art Linson is a different breed.His memoirs -- for that's what these are -- are informative, perceptive, sometimes hilarious, unsentimental, and treat the reader as intelligent enough to understand messages that are left covert.

It reminds me a little of William Goldman's experiences as described in "Adventures in the Skin Trade" and his second book, which was even more entertaining but the title of which I forget.The difference is that Goldman viewed events from the perspective of the underdog, the screenwriter, whereas Linson sees things from the top, as a movie producer.

There's no particular sentimentality in the book.Linson doesn't heap his calumny on any special individuals.Betrayals and insincerity come with the territory.It's the way things work, and Linson spreads his cynicism around generously.A friend of his "pissed everybody off by dying of a cerebral aneurism" at an early age.And he's got moviespeak down pat.If you send a script to an actor and he replies, "It's a good movie," that means "no."If he says "I'm interested," that means "maybe."

There's no hogwash about esthetic integrity. "We're just trying to make quality movies here."Instead he expresses a certain envy of the people who establish and inherit a franchise like the Rocky movies or the Die Hards.He doesn't envy them for the product, but for their luck.Their futures are secure, while nobody else's is.

He's anything but egotistical.He limns in the development of his flops (eg., "Sunset Strip") more in sorrow than in anger.And his description of the first studio viewing of the controversial "Fight Club" is neither angry nor said.It's frankly hysterically funny.The expressions on the bloodless faces of the men and women shuffling out of the screening.The comments -- "I don't care what anybody says.I think it's still a good movie."

The internal dynamics of the movie business are explored, maybe not thoroughly but accurately.We get to know the structure of the Hollywood totem pole.The guy at the top whose head is on the chopping block.The guy like the head of marketing who has little to lose, no matter how he handles the distribution of the movie, because he can always claim it was lousy to begin with and nothing could have saved it.The temperamental star, Alec Baldwin, who is supposed to be a greedy and murderous fashion photographer in "The Edge" but shows up porky and with a full beard, looking the way his co-star Anthony Hopkins is supposed to look, then throwing a tantrum when it is tentatively suggested that the beard might as well go.

There's a complete screenplay tacked on at the end for reasons I didn't quite get.And I don't think I'll bother with more of the many felicities in the book.I'll bet Linson had fun writing it.I know I would have.Some might find it boring if they're not film buffs or pros, or if they're not especially interested in descriptions of an alien life style.The rest will read it with relish.

A breezy, fun look at life as a Hollywood producer
Though written in 2002, Art Linson's enjoyable "What Just Happened" has just been turned into a movie starring Robert DeNiro that will has been released in select cities in October of 08.I had a good time reading this book, with its name dropping and discussions of movies I had seen and enjoyed, such as "Fight Club" and "The Untouchables."If you are a movie fan, buy this book!

That just happened
Art Linson's tales of Hollywood provide some intrigue and entertainment, but some of his writing falls flat. The ongoing relationship between the narrator and a former producer isn't a good enough excuse for the exposition in the storytelling. Not sure why Linson didn't just write a non-fiction tell-all and skip the part about his character getting things off his chest for "therapy." A life full of events that would have been more enjoyable in the hands of a stronger storyteller.

How can we understand Hollywood without addiction?
As one who writes and researches alcoholism and the role it plays in human misery, misbehaviors and the bizarre, this book was a huge disappointment. There is bizarre, there is misbehavior (Baldwin's little fit over his beard)--but there is no alcohol or other drug use or addiction. We can't possibly understand Hollywood without inserting alcohol and drug use in a third or so of the characters--usually the ones written about (after all, they provide the most interesting stories). In addition, there was a lack of depth from someone who was so entrenched. There should have--and easily could have been--something far better than the superficiality sprinked throughout this little book. Thus far, I rarely write reviews and wouldn't ordinarily consider panning a book. Unfortunately, this one deserves it. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
The most comprehensive collection of video nasty and pre-certificate video sleeves ever reproduced in one volume. In the early 1980 s video was a new technology that allowed people the freedom to view films in the privacy of their own homes. It was also a technology forever stigmatised by its association with the video nasty . The Art of the Nasty explains and conveys the media furore, fear and the rush for political legislation that greeted the arrival of uncensored horror films on video in the UK. The hysteria was generated and fuelled as much by the sleeves and marketing as by the films themselves. In fact, many of the biggest critics of the nasties only ever saw the sleeves. Some of the early video sleeves are indeed an unbelievably over-the-top mixture of outrageous graphics and in-your-face visual shock tactics, guaranteed to offend. The nasty sleeves were to sow the seeds of their own destruction. Banned by an Act of Parliament after a frenzied and hysterical press campaign, the video nasty was deemed at the time to be a threat to society as we know it, even being directly implicated as a catalyst for murder. The Art of the Nasty reproduces almost 400 pre-certificate video covers in all their lurid glory. From the ludicrous and extreme imagery of SS Experiment Camp and the gross savagery of Cannibal Holocaust to the powerful and confrontational rape victim used to promote I Spit On Your Grave. The early video distributor was brash and out for profit, using packaging and marketing techniques reminiscent of the '30s pulps ; video s image was the catalyst of its own demise. Provoking reactions of revulsion and disgust in the viewer, these video sleeves were often far more extreme than the films themselves. With over 300 reproductions covering the whole gambit of pre-certificate video sleeves, from the Official 39 nasties which were found obscene by the Director of Public Prosecutions through to sleaze epics like Killer Nun and Confessions of a Lesbos Honey, the Art of the Nasty is an invaluable visual record of a time the mainstream video industry would like to forget. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Loosely based on some possible stories
This is a book loosely based on some of the things that people in The Living Theatre may have done until 1985.All but the last chapter trods already well-worn ground of the "crazy" Living Theatre, and says nearly nothing about the work itself.The Living Theatre has continued to work and grow up until the present day (2008), and nearly nothing is mentioned about what they have learned and created since the mid 1970s.For more scholarly treatments, consult some of the avant-garde studies of Shank, Aronson, or Innes.Or better yet, go see the current Living Theatre for yourself on Clinton Street in Manhattan.

informative
i got this book cause i attended a living theater performance of paradise now at yale in 1968. reading a history of julian beck and judith malina took me back to those days.the struggle to find and mount their vision was intriguing. the number of now-famous artistic colleagues they hung outwith - john cage, merce cunningham, truman capote, and many more - with makes this quite the book for name-droppers. the book is comprehensive and interesting, if a bit dry.

The Living Theatre in A Whole!
I read this and I must say it's very thick. It's about the life of Julian Beck and The Living Theatre though the eyes of John Tytell. Although John tells the Biographical part of Beck's theatre, he doesn't go into too much detail about the actual performances. My guess would be is that you had to experience them for yourself. It's a very detailed about Beck's intentions, his view of theatre, and why he ripped away the conventions to bring the performers and their audience closer together. For those into theatre it is a must book to have. ... Read more

Product Description
Many arts organizations today find themselves in financial difficulties because of economic constraints inherent in the industry. While other companies can improve productivity through the use of new technologies or better systems, these approaches are not available in the arts. Hamlet requires the same number of performers today as it did in Shakespeare's time. The New York Philharmonic requires the same number of musicians now as it did when Tchaikovsky conducted it over one hundred years ago. Costs go up, but the size of theaters and the price resistance of patrons limit what can be earned from ticket sales. Therefore, the performing arts industry faces a severe gap between earnings and expenses. Typical approaches to closing the gap--raising ticket prices or cutting artistic or marketing expenses--don't work.

What, then, does it take to create and maintain a healthy arts organization?

Michael M. Kaiser has revived four major arts organizations: the Kansas City Ballet, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater,American Ballet Theatre, and London's Royal Opera House. In The Art of the Turnaround he shares with readers his ten basic rules for bringing financially distressed arts organizations back to life and keeping them strong. These rules cover the requirements for successful leadership, the pitfalls of cost cutting, the necessity of extending the programming calendar, the centrality of effective marketing and fund raising, and the importance of focusing on the present with a positive public message. In chapters organized chronologically, Kaiser brings his ten rules vividly to life in discussions of the four arts organizations he is credited with saving. The book concludes with a chapter on his experiences at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, an arts organization that needed an artistic turnaround when he became the president in 2001 and that today exemplifies in practice many of the ten rules he discusses throughout his book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Loved it!
Great stories of the rise of some of the great arts institutions in this world. And very practical information about identifying issues in failing organizations and, subsequently, how to turn them around.

Very helpful arts management tool
Terrific book by Michael Kaiser.A must read for all arts organization board of directors.

For More than the Arts
Hearing Michael Kaiser in person is what prompted me to explore this very interesting book. Kaiser has had remarkable success in nurturing several professional arts organizations to good fiscal and organizational success.

I was part of a group of several hundred patrons and representatives of the arts to hear Mr. Kaiser interviewed by Maestro Michael Stern of the Kansas City Symphony. Honestly, I had no idea what to expect. It quickly became apparent that Kaiser is very smart, has an abundance of common sense accompanied by great instincts, and provides leadership that keeps people focused on the mission. The bulk of the interview was his "off-the-cuff" review of ten principles that have guided him in turning around struggling organizations. Also obvious, was that these ten principles apply not just to the arts but to many organizations, especially NPO's that rely on donors for their existence.

Kaiser's principles are profoundly simple, yet powerful if diligently and faithfully applied. Immediately, I ordered copies of his book for key people on a number of NPO boards on which I serve. The principles are found right up front and the rest of the book illustrates them by recounting Kaiser's personal experiences of turnarounds. I highly recommend this book.

Good if you work for a famous and large organization
I've been an arts administrator for 13 years and have a masters degree in the field.I felt the book was very readable, but lacked applicability to smaller arts organizations....ones that make up the majority of our arts community.

The over-arching message of, [programming and marketing are key, and should be the last thing cut in a financial crisis], is universal. But beyond that, the anecdotal approach to the book leaves the smaller organization needing more guidance. Where's the book for the organizations that will NEVER have access to the Jumbo Tron?

The author was more successful in a speaking engagement than in this book.

Not worth it in my humble opinion.

Not worth it
This book is not worth the purchase price. Interesting anecdotes and insights into Michael Kaiser's life but nothing of substance here to assist real life arts organizations with real life problems. Arts organizations need to operate more like businesses instead of begging for money all the time. This book will not provide much insight into how to make that happen. I was disappointed. ... Read more

Product Description
Jean Shepherd (1921-1999), master humorist, is best known for his creation A Christmas Story, the popular movie about the child who wants a BB gun for Christmas and nearly shoots his eye out. What else did Shepherd do? He is considered by many to be the Mark Twain and James Thurber of his day. For many thousands of fans, for decades, "Shep" talked on the radio late at night, keeping them up way past their bedtimes. He entertained without a script, improvising like a jazz musician, on any and every subject you can imagine. He invented and remains the master of talk radio. Shepherd perpetrated one of the great literary hoaxes of all time, promoting a nonexistent book and author, and then brought the book into existence. He wrote 23 short stories for Playboy, four times winning their humor of the year award, and also interviewed The Beatles for the magazine. He authored several popular books of humor and satire, created several television series and acted in several plays. He is the model for the character played by Jason Robards in the play and movie A Thousand Clowns, as well as the inspiration for the Shel Silverstein song made famous by Johnny Cash, "A Boy Named Sue." Readers will learn the significance of innumerable Shepherd words and phrases, such as "Excelsior, you fathead," and observe his constant confrontations with the America he loved. They will get to know and understand this multitalented genius by peeking behind the wall he built for himself - a wall to hide a different and less agreeable persona. Through interviews with his friends, co-workers and creative associates, such as musician David Amram, cartoonist and playwright Jules Feiffer, publisher and broadcaster Paul Krassner, and author Norman Mailer, the book explains a complex and unique genius of our time. "Shepherd pretty much invented talk radio ... What I got of him was a wonder at the world one man could create. I am as awed now by his achievement as I was then." - Richard Corliss, Time magazine online ... Read more

Customer Reviews (33)

Outstanding Shepherd Biography
Mr. Bergmann's book about author Jean Shepherd is filled with close-up views of Shepherd's work as a writer and as a brilliant pioneer of talk radio. It is a book based not upon hero worship, but rather upon a profound respect forand genuine understanding of Jean Shepherd's genius and its important place in American society.This biography crackles with intelligent connections that help the reader know more about the sources of Shep's sense of comedy, social angst, and sense of his self-invention and self-preservation.

Being a recently transplanted Hoosier, I thought I knew a lot about Jean Shepherd until I read Mr. Bergmann's book. Though the book is a loving look at Shepherd and his work, it is also a very thorough and at times dispassionate look at the wider views of Mr. Shepherd's roots and his eventual separation from the Midwest and attraction to New York CIty.

This book is as thorough and entertaining as Boswell's LIFE OF JOHNSON, and it helps to put Jean Shepherd on a level with other great American satirists like Will Rogers, James Thurber, Robert Benchley, and even Mark Twain. The book is superbly written and meticulously researched. Mr. Bergmann is a master of his craft and shows his readers most effectively how and why Jean Shepherd was a master too.I cannot recommend this wonderful book too highly.

JB

Art Lover
Bergmann's book clearly illustrates the depth and breadth of Shepherd's work while giving insight into the man behind that art.It causes the reader to ponder Shepherd's obvious sensitivity and intelligence, which runs counter to parts of his rather selfish personal life.

Like most readers, I was a devoted listener in my teen years.This was during gangly growth spurts, so each week night at 10:15, I could be found in the kitchen slapping together grilled cheese, minute steak,or BLT sandwiches while Shepard testified to the high heavens from a yellow plastic transistor radio.It was all there; music, poetry, literature, pop-culture, slobism, every facet of the human condition.Where else could a boy of 17 get the truth in the 1970's?

The book re-ignited my interest so much so that I purchased over 400 mp3's of old Shep shows.What a blessing.It turns out that Shepherd's take on human kind is just as relevant today.And where else can a boy of 54 get the truth in the 2010's?His work makes me feel less lonesome.

With his vast body of radio work, I believe Shepherd "wrote" the Great American Novel.And ol' Bergmann has written a fine tribute to the creator of that work, and I thank him for reacquainting me with ol' Shep.

From out here in right field, my eyes are open, and my knees are loose.

This book is about some cranky old bore, not Jean Shepherd.
I bought this book hoping the author would get to the heart of Jean's unique philosophy and discuss Jean's opinions and wry humor.Instead I got some sketchy details of superficial themes often slanted towards a portrayal of Jean's alleged bitter side without any details on how or why it came to be. Considering Jean made a career on broadcasting offbeat ideas, I was very disappointed with the authors choice of banal topics, e.g. Jean disliked commercials, Jean didn't get along with some of his coworkers.... yawn.

I'm not sure what this book was supposed to be, but it was not a biography, not philosophy, not anthology.Whatever it was, it wasn't an enjoyable read, and not one that gave me any deeper insight to Jean Shepherd.I was going to give three stars, simply due to the choice of subject matter, but on further thought, I have to agree with the 1 and 2 star reviews given here.

Not worth the aggravation
Someday Shep will get a biography worthy of his genius, but this one is a godawful mess. The writing is genuinely awful, with all the personality of a washing machine's instruction booklet. Even worse, the author repeats his not-terribly-insightful insights over and over again: I literally lost count of the number of times he professed to be shocked, SHOCKED!, that perhaps not everything in Jean's monologues was strictly 100% true.It's like he doesn't even understand what storytelling is.It would almost sort of be worth it to read the transcriptions of Shep's radio monologues, but since literally hundreds of hours of same are available online for free, it's not even worth that.Skip this, download the podcasts, buy Shep's own books, and hope that someday someone will do the job right.

classic
Christmas Story was Jean Sheppards mainstreem moneymaker, and God bless him. This is how most people know Jean, if they have the absolute privalge.

But Sheppard did radio on WOR in New York from the 1950s to the 1970s. This was the era of civil rights, student protests, Woodstock, where everything happened. The radio was the place where the night people gathered to get the skinny--the Google of the 50s and 60s.

It was also a period where you could talk on the air for hours without a hint of meanesss. What a cool time to do radio.

Sheppard was from the midwest and was as American, down to earth and folksy as they come. Yet he went to the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington--did a hell of a show on it the next day. He also had sympathy with the hippies. The way he combigned his Americana roots with his big hearted liberalism and kind hearted satire was masterful. He spun a stories about mom making bread and peace rallies in the same show, giving them the same ammount of love and care from his sweet, giant character.

We need A lot more of this now, though I doubt people could take it in the spirit given, Isn't that sad? You could argue that Garrison Keilor's work is like this, but it does not have the same social scope. It is impossible in today's world for something this clean and genuine to wind up anywhere except PBS.

This book explains all this in detail and is a perfect sketch of the world Sheppard came from and how he made his life into high art. It is a great biography Read it, but when you do, make sure you also Google Jean and hear the shows, widely available on line.

I have a list of superheros. The Beatles, Coltrane, Sidney Portier

Not far from the top is Jean.

... Read more

Product Description
This Fall, The Walt Disney Animation Studios returns to its timeless art form of hand-drawn animation. From the creative minds of directors John Musker and Ron Clements (The Little Mermaid and Aladdin) comes an American fairy tale and musical set in the heart of New Orleans during the Jazz Age. This unforgettable tale of love, enchantment, and discovery features Tiana, a young girl with big dreams who is working hard to achieve them amid the elegance and grandeur of the fabled French Quarter. The Art of The Princess and the Frog showcases the lush concept art of this sure-to-be-classic movie, including sketches, character designs, lighting studies and storyboards, alongside inspiring quotes from the directors, producers, artists and designers, including veteran hand drawn animators that brought you many of Disney's most classic and unforgettable characters. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Another piece of Art
This book is very inspiring for me like a character designer.
Great drawings and concept arts. Specially the character design
developments.

I love it
hugs, from Laqua (Brazil)
[...]

Great book!
If you like animation and ilustration, tris book is for you. The study of New Orleans is really nice.

Great, but please talk more about how the movie was made.
The princess and the frog is one of my favorite movies and considering that I want to be a movie director I got this book. This is my 3rd "art of" book that I have and while it has wonderful pictures in it, it mostly talked about New Orleans. Which is not a bad thing because I learned a lot about it but the real reason I got this book was so I could see how the movie was made. It only has a couple pages on how the movie was made but not a lot. But all in all a amazing book that I would suggest to anyone.

The GREAT golden book!
I'm from Spain, totally obsessed with animation and, of course, with Disney. Their last work of art was just so good I had to order this book when I knew of its existence, since it is awfully difficult to find it in my country. It was what I expected it to be. I truly recommend this book to the real fans of the movie. Better than any form of merchandise, it reflects perfectly the spirit of the film in every way and it will be the best purchase to make if you want something to match the DVD in your shelf. I believe that even if you weren't very impressed with the movie, the book will amaze you. It is full of imagination, colour and a "gumbo" of ideas you will sure enjoy. While I wasn't very satisfied with the "text" part, it was fun to read anyway and I'm glad I have it now with me. It's a beautiful golden book to admire.

A great New Orleans creative art
This book is a entire New Orleans creation, that is because all the argument of the film is there. The art of the backgrounds, creation of characters and al the concepts for scenes is great, in my opinion, one of the best "the art of..." that I've seen. Recommended for artist and colectors. ... Read more