Entertainment Books

While watching a drive-in movie as a teenager, I became aware of an incredible actress. She was playing a woman being stalked by the killer of children in the horror film, "When a Stranger Calls". I could not take my eyes off of this middle-aged actress who was... not beautiful in the classic sense, a bit heavy and possessing an unusally deep and gravelly voice, for a woman. Her character, a lonely, world-weary person, who although street smart and a bit jaded, would flash bits of the warmest eyes and smile that I had ever seen. This was Colleen Dewhurst. This was also the nature of Dewhurst's career in film and televisiom; too often, bringing much more to the materisal than it was capable of ever giving back.
This a very good autobiography, finished after her death by family, friends and lovers. It is loving account of the extraordinary life of an, equally, extraordinary woman. A fascinating and very fummy history of the world of American theatre, from the 1940's through the 80's and the myriad characters Dewhurst attracted to her during her time here.
The book makes one wish that one had been among the very fortunate "strays" that Colleen Dewhurst was famous for takiing into her home and her heart. I think that you, too, will enjoy her telling (and those who survived her) of her life on the "Farm".

Colleen was a true artist.The fact that her book was ultimately unfinished reflects her life. She did not acknowledge dying, so therefore, she left an unfinished book. It was great to learn more about her, both as an actress and mother, and I enjoyed reading others accounts of events.

This was a great biography to read. Not strictly an autiobiography because Colleen never finished working on it herself, but it makes up for that by including many stories & chapters written by her friends, fellow actors & family. This was the first biography I read that really made me wish I had a chance to know the person in life. I've always considered Colleen Dewhurst a respected actor but after reading this, I know that she was truly a warm & wonderful person. She will be missed.

If you're interested in the New York theatre during the 50s and 60s (and later), this book is not to be missed. Dewhurst procrastinated for years about this book; hence it was unfinished when she died. But the additional pieces from her family and colleagues add immeasurably to the book's richness. An unforgettable memoir from a very great artist and personality - her personal warmth and her professional dedication are evident on literally every page. If you care enough to have checked this book out, you will want to have it!

does he have a real name?

This entry into the Simpsons Library of Wisdom, COMIC BOOKS GUY'S BOOK OF POP CULTURE, is an excellent book for any serious fan of the show. Comic Book Guy, the nameless owner of the Android's Dungeon and Baseball Card Shop, has made many appearances throughout the series' history, but is one character that less frequent viewers tend to forget. He is one of the best on the show, however, and his sarcasm and wits make him very entertaining whenever he comes up in an episode.

For a surprisingly low price of $10, you get a hardcover, very well done book that measures about 7" x 6" and roughly 100 pages thick. That may not sound like very much, but it is very high quality work and the layout of illustration and text is quite appropriate. This is a book similar to Bart Simpson's Guide to Life, but instead of discussing all aspects of life, it's on a smaller scale and more focused on a particular character's views and opinions. Therefore, this is not a book that is in any particular order. It consists entirely of CBG's views and opinions on all things nerdy. Some choice pages include: The 12 Types of Fantasy Gamers, CBG's Guide to the Internet, The Amazing World of Collectible Food, Romance [Where No Fanboy Has Gone Before!], and reoccuring/variant pages of CBG's t-shirts for particular situations and CBG's Places To Be (with descriptions of every landmark.)

Overall, this book is fantastic. It's not so long that it becomes tedious yet it's very intriguing and the dimensions make it smaller than your average book and durable enough for travel. The price can't be beat and the quality is just superb. I'd recommend this book to any serious Simpsons fan, or maybe just one who is a bit geeky or sarcastic. Very good read!

This bloke who runs a small shop in this town of Springfield is a fascinating fellow. His insights to the workings of the modern world are fascinating. We should all aspire to be more like him. This chapbook of his philosophies is required reading for self-improvement.

I worry that he may devote too much of his attentions to TV, but I fear that without something he derives from it he would not be quite the Master that he is.

CBG has always been one of my faves and this book does NOT let the hardcore viewer down. Rarely seen footage of CBG in the past and some of his more ridiculously funny Tshirts are scattered throughout the book. A must have for any Simps fan - especially on one of the funniest, yet rarely seen "actors".

Business consultant Philip E. Meza has done his research on the history of entertainment technology and the growing pains that have followed each innovation. Unfortunately, his slightly muddy larger concepts sometimes fail to justify the detailed histories that support them, sometimes making the book feel sort of padded. getAbstract says you need to read it anyway, if you are a content creator or decision maker in the media, entertainment or information industries. Meza provides real value by identifying a pattern in content companies' resistance to the very changes that eventually help them. In two particularly utilitarian appendices, he surveys the technologies that are pressuring media companies and reviews the current state of U.S. copyright law. His analysis of the content industries' lame responses to technological change and his prescriptions for the future are useful and insightful.

COMING ATTRACTIONS? HOLLYWOOD, HIGH TECH AND THE FUTURE OF ENTERTAINMENT instructs media and tech companies to understand convergence, showing how Hollywood and technology can benefit from each other's focus to bolster both the entertainment industry as a whole and high tech interests. Chapters discuss the switch to digital and web formats and how this represents huge potential market opportunities for both entities, exploring the history and development of different systems of entertainment delivery and their competitive options. California libraries both business and public will find COMING ATTRACTIONS an outstanding, specific survey key to understanding long-standing issues, conflicts, and relationships between entertainment, high tech and media industries alike.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

While this book helped me think more clearly about what I see in today's headlines, gave me tools for understanding the current convergence and to judge how companies such as Google and Viacom respond. It also helped me think about patterns in other industries where there is resistance to innovation and how early adopters can benefit. I found the history of the industry fascinating as well.

I got this book because I wanted to learn more about the changes I see taking place in entertainment, things like YouTube and watching new TV shows on iPods. The book covered this and a lot more. It provided an eye opening look at similiar intersections btw tech and entertainment in the recent past as well as a look into what the future holds. I don't work in either industry, but I found the book to be well written and easy to read (very entertaining, really!).

Arts/Entertainment

An Insider's Tale
Book Review by Denise Cassino

Betty Jo Tucker is in love. She always has been. From early childhood, Betty Jo has been smitten with the silver screen. Her love started as an infatuation and grew into a mature study of film and renown as a world-class movie critic.

In her book, Confessions of a Movie Addict, Betty Jo takes us through those early childhood memories of movies, covering her eyes at the scary part, acting out the roles of her favorite stars. Then she landed herself some real jobs as a film critic which gave her a pass into all of the biggest movie events from premieres to the Academy Award Presentations.

This book takes us through many of the hilarious adventures of a movie critic, from embarrassing moments to dining with the stars. Betty Jo shares with her reader many of her best and most clever interviews, sometimes with animated characters! Betty Jo also includes a plethora of reviews on dozens of movies giving the reader a critical, but fun summation of everything from box office hits to cult sleepers. This is a real insider's tale of seeking, meeting and interviewing many of the hottest movie stars ever to flash across a marquee.

If you want to know what it's like to dish and dine with the Hollywood crowd, this book will do the trick. A great gift for any movie lover, Confessions will make you green with envy at Betty Jo's inside access to the stars.

Reviewed by Jill Cozzi,

Recently I received a press release announcing a Malcolm McDowell retrospective at the Walter Reade Theatre. I forwarded it to a friend, along with a message:

"Gee, do you think I should go to this, walk up to
Malcolm McDowell and say, 'I saw A CLOCKWORK
ORANGE at my college auditorium and three weeks later
was deflowered by a guy who looked an awful lot like
you did then?'"

Now, of course I would never do such a thing, because such an occasion would reduce me to a babbling idiot. But then, I'm not Betty Jo Tucker.

If I WERE Betty Jo Tucker, however, it wouldn't even be an issue, for she would just walk up, make her confession without batting an eye, and two hours later walk away with notes from a truly killer interview. That's just the way she is.

Tucker is arguably the most unique presence among the many film critics on the Web today. In a world dominated by snarky teenagers and twenty-something self-anointed cineastes, Betty Jo Tucker is a gleeful, unabashed movie-lover; not a film buff, but someone who loves the experience of filmgoing. At seventy-plus, she retains the same joy in moving pictures projected on a screen as she did that first time she walked into the "picture show" to see FRANKENSTEIN -- in its first run. A critic who came into the business late in life after raising two children, one divorce, one remarriage (to the same husband), and a distinguished academic career, she is an anomaly among Web critics in that she does NOT subscribe to the Alice Roosevelt credo of "If you can't say something nice, come sit by me."

In her new book CONFESSIONS OF A MOVIE ADDICT (Hats Off Books), Tucker shares her infectious joy in the moviegoing experience with the rest of us. It is truly "a life story with everything but the movies edited out." Written in a breezy tone, CONFESSIONS is truly a snark-free zone. Tucker, who has set herself up as the premier lobbyist for the Return of the Movie Musical has even managed to find the good in such crap-fests as the Britney Spears vehicle CROSSROADS. She doesn't love everything put on film, but you've got to love a critic who's eligible for Social Security but can still laugh her way through the likes of the surrealistically sophomoric CABIN BOY and who reacts to the ghastly THE PRINCESS DIARIES by remembering to call her granddaughters and tell them how terrific they are just as they are.

Where CONFESSIONS OF A MOVIE ADDICT falls short is in Tucker's underestimation of our interest in the journey of a woman through academia, homemaking, and into film criticism at an age when most of us have long since given up our dreams. This may be "a life story with everything but the movies edited out", but many of us would love to see what's left on the cutting-room floor.

Whether she be recalling a mishap at an X-rated film, admitting she laughed out loud during 'Cabin Boy', or taking an imaginary film festival trip, film critic Betty Jo Tucker's novel 'Confessions of a Movie Addict' will have you envisioning her tales of a life at the movies as if she were talking directly to you. Betty Jo's stories are vivid, enthralling, and quite often amusing. Not only does it provide one wonderfully detailed story after another, Betty Jo's book comes with several of her to-the-point film reviews, a collection of celebrity interviews, a photo gallery, an index of movie-related books and websites, and a checklist to see if you indeed are a movie addict. I have read 'Confessions of a Movie Addict', and as a critic myself, I can proudly assure you that Betty Jo Tucker is one of the finest critics out there and a person who flat-out loves the movies, from the good to the bad. 'CoaMA' is an excellent slice of cinema life.

As a recently retired college professor who can go to more movies now, I was delighted by this substantive insiders tale told with such happy and light-hearted grace, candor, and humor. The sophisticate and the novice, young and old, will find Betty Jo Tucker's "show-don't-tell" approach solid, informative, and entertaining. She charmed the socks off me! Betty Jo takes us into her fascination with this dimensional art form, with her life story deftly stitched into the background. "Because confession is good for the soul," she tells us, "I admit enjoying films mostly for their escapist entertainment qualities. But I also love to be enchanted by cinematic artistry, enlightened by a great story, and inspired by memorable performances." We grow together with this unpretentions, knowledgeable professional hooked on movies as she moves from going it alone, to being mentored by the best, including the famous "UK Critic" Ian Waldron-Mangani--who, she tells us, could have been her grandson. I found "Confessions" to be a great three-in-one deal: HerStory, terrific interviews, and crisp reviews. We meet some of the greatest names in film from the U.S.--directors David Lynch and M. Night Shyamalan, Oscar winners Anjelica Huston and Angelina Jolie, and the legendary Debbie Reynolds, along with top international figures, including British actor Sir Ian Mckellen, French actress Judith Godrech, Japanese filmmaker Masayuki Suo, and Oscar-winning Czech director Jan Sverak. Stellar interviews include those with Annette Bening, Willem Dafoe, Tony Shalhoub, and Aidan Quinn. Among her top reviews are "Chocolat," "Bridget Jone's Diary," "Mouline Rouge," "Planet of the Apes," "Legally Blond," and "Scary Movie." Along the way, she tells some delightful stories on herself: great gaffs--foot in the mouth, clear to the knee, as Josh Wise, one of my former students, once wrote. After enjoying "Confessions," you'll never read a review the way you used to!

This book was fabulous. The author certainly knows his subject matter. I am looking forward to a film version of this book.

Contessa is the most touching book I have ever read. I was unable to put it down until i had finished it. I had gotton so emersed in the story that after I had finished it, it took another week to get over it. It affected me more than anything I had ever read before. This book gave me hope for my life! Her story is one of such success, in career and mainly in friendships. This is a truly wonderful story of overcoming extreme hatred and surviving through anything. Read it. It may open or change your mind, or at least allow you to understand!

I thought CONTESSA was sheer magic. I couldn't put it down. If there ever were a book where you dared not stop reading, CONTESSA is it. I was vividly entertained and in the process learned a lot more than in many sociology, psychology and history courses I've taken. This book is a MUST read!

I found Contessa to be a most entertaining book. It was difficult to put down because I became truly interested in the lives of Contessa and her friends. The book also paints a vivid portrait of pre Castro and present day Cuba.I think the book provides the perfect vehicle for a screen play and should be seriously considered by some Hollywood producer.

I had to buy this book for a class I am taking, and it has proven very helpful and useful.

John Huntington's book is the THE reference tool in our lighting shop for show control. It has everything you need for the different control languages, in clear and concise formats.It is a must on every theatre technician's bookshelf

John Huntington's new book, Control Systems for Live Entertainment, is one of the most useful and informative books available for anyone interested in theatre technology. The book covers such technologies as MIDI, DMX512, MediaLink, MIDI Show Control, and others.

A well dog-eared copy of the first edition has been in my tool kit / computer kit for the last couple of years. I have found it a valuable resource. It has helped me on-site more than once. The second edition is more comprehensive and organized. Kudos to John in publishing a great resource fit for the student and experienced professional.

George Tucker- Show Control Engineer- Scharff Wesiberg NYC

I agree with Kyle Wagner. I just finished this book last night and I was glad to have read it. I've been a huge fan of hers for the past 8 or so years, and I've never come across it. I like the fact that this was closer to the end of her life when she wasn't trying so hard with journalists. It seems like in her earlier days she tried to hard to fit the "Marilyn" type she had created. This book shows more of her, Norma Jean.
I also found it cute and interesting how he played hard to get with her, not trying to talk to her.
After so many years of being a fan, it's nice to read something about her. I now feel like I know her and all her insecurities, emotions, and even the joking side of her.
I have long known that she was never the "dumb blonde" that was portrayed on screen and often found myself having to defend her to friends and family. At least this book gives me proof.
I highly recommend this book and feel it is a most to any Marilyn Monore fan.

This book caught my eye in a used book store, and after eenie-meenie-mynie-moeing it and two other books... I walked out with Mr. Weatherby's book, and I'm so glad I did. I read it very quickly over two mornings, and was astonished at how factual and real it seemed to be.

After being hired by The London Observer to cover the making of "The Misfits", W. J. Weatherby strikes up an unlikely acquaintance with Marilyn. I suggest you read the book to discover how this came about - it was a fun & delicious little "courtship" that took place between the two. (Marilyn initially refusing interviews and Weatherby, upon hearing this, spoke with all cast members - very visibly - but Marilyn.) In time the two shared occasional telephone calls, and conversations that took place mostly in an anonymous bar on 8th avenue in NYC.

In the pages of this book are glimpses of the real person who inhabited the character of Marilyn Monroe. ("Marilyn" was a creation of the studios, and Norma Jean.) In one fascinating account after another we find out little every day things about MM (or Norma Jean): how she was almost supernaturally able to turn "Marilyn" on and off as though by flicking a switch. Sometimes it's fun for her to evoke "Her", and sometimes she prefers to be skillfully anonymous.

What makes this book even more fascinating to me is that the author was also following Integration in the South at the time, and was dating a black woman with whom he discussed his conversations with Marilyn. Likewise with Marilyn he discussed the subject of Integration. I'd never thought about Marilyn as being, one of the very few "Stars" that black people could identify with (at the time) but all parties speak candidly on this subject.

This is a well written and fascinating book that resonates as true to me. It makes me not want to read other sensational books about dear Marilyn, and also makes me think in my heart that her death was indeed the (possibly) accidental cause of a drug over-dose. And that behind this sensationalized creature there lived a woman-girl who read books, drank, and suffered from every day dilemmas like anyone else.

Very Highly Recommended.

This book really lets you see the real person. The insecure, sweet woman we all love. I would reccamend this book very much

The author knew Marilyn and liked her very much. He first met her during the filming of "The Misfits." Later, he would meet her in a NYC bar and discuss all types of subjects, from MM's lovers, her views on civil rights, her compassion and kindness towards her fans, her future, her secret affair with a famous politician (she didn't reveal the name). This is one of the best books ever written about MM because the English author is careful to remain objective. This is NOT a kiss and tell biography and that makes it more valuable to the MM fan. Don't miss this one!

Great Book! I applied the techniques at work and they worked like a charm! A 'must have' book for every working woman. Easy to read - straight forward and to the point. You will love this book.

This is NOT your typical, dry business book. Robyn offers a new perspective on getting ahead that is fresh, fun, insightful...and little naughty! I loved it.

This fascinating and entirely unique book will be read by every woman in the workplace who has ever been ogled, patted on the fanny, been unable to make eye contact with a guy at work because his gaze was fixed lower, or been talked down to, overlooked, or otherwise treated differently than a man would have been treated in her job. Who would have thought that learning the tricks of a dominatrix could make a woman such a dangerous adversary! The only effective defense I can see is for men in the business world to sneak out and buy a copy, read it, and learn how to defend against this new female tactic. And it is a pleasure to read -- sexy topic, great writing.

The Corporate Domantrix is so delightfully interesting, you will want to share it with your entire office! I had never thought about the corporate environment in this way before and will never look at it the same way again. Finding out what role you play is fascinating... It will change the way you look at yourself and those around you. The book is entertaining and highly interactive. This is a really interesting look at a fascinating topic!!

Author recounts troubles of a person born deaf in france,compounded by the fact that sign language was outlawed there as "too sensual" until 1979. It's also a beautifully written book which captures the softness and gentle love of words often found in many english-as-a-second-language authors {except,for her,english is a third language!}.

I lost all my hearing suddenly in 1999. The whole world runs like a silent movie. I am excluded and don't understand what is going on around me anymore. This book offers insight,direction,hope. Maybe it will make people more sensitive to the cruel isolation of deafness.

Emmanuelle Laborit writes her autobiography with such expressive detail. Some parts were hard to believe what the deaf have to go through to let themselves be heard for others. I recommend this book for any parent of a deaf child. What choices they have to make in the education of their child. There are so many different choices. Emmanuelle expains how her education was, she did nearly everything. When she started to learn sign language the world became more understanding to her.

Author recounts troubles of a person born deaf in france,compounded by the fact that sign language was outlawed there as "too sensual" until 1979. It's also a beautifully written book which captures the softness and gentle love of words often found in many english-as-a-second-language authors {except,for her,english is a third language!}.

I lost all my hearing suddenly in 1999. The whole world runs like a silent movie. I am excluded and don't understand what is going on around me anymore. This book offers insight,direction,hope. Maybe it will make people more sensitive to the cruel isolation of deafness.

This book caught my eye, because I really only read non-fiction. My interest in human development has been encouraged by my rather stilted childhood. This book is written with such candidness, that you are literally enveloped. I have laughed out loud, shed some tears, and loved every moment.

This is one of the best books I have read on filmmaking in quite a while. It's doesn't dive into technicalities, which is good on some occasions, but "Dakota Epic" is more of a hands-on experience book. It's a good read from the point of view of an extra, and it's not too personalized, that it gets boring. And the illustrations in the book capture the feel of what is being read to tee. This is a great book about the making of a great film, and why the heart of that film didn't come from its big star and director, but from the native Dakota blood involved in its making. Great job!
-G. M. Collias

I liked this book so much that I ordered another one for my son, Mark Tapio Kines, who makes indie movies. It's a riotous look at a re-enactor who had to dress the part of a southern soldier at the start of this movie, then change his uniform and represent the North toward the end of the movie. The attitudes of the soldiers on the "other side" created a riot, as seen through Bill Markley's eyes. The set designers in the movie wanted the scene to look autumnal so they painted the leaves on the trees orange and gold. However, the soldiers had to be absolutely authentic. It's a nice comment on Hollywood at its best.

Bill Markley sheds light on many behind the scenes action that takes place in the filming of a major movie. His highly descriptive account of his days as a reenactor makes one feel as if one were actually on set. He also explains some of the tricks that were used to film the scenes, making them look highly authentic. The author tells of the boredom from long hours on the set and what cast and crew do to entertain themselves while waiting for their call. There are fantastic sketches by another reenactor, Jim Hatzell, which illustrate the book. The sketches were also done while on set.
Markley shares what it was like to meet and work with a famous actor, something most everyone dreams of but never gets the opportunity. The odds of a "Dakota" boy being cast in a Hollywood epic were one in a million, so dream your dream with "Dakota Epic!"

Enhanced with black and white illustrations by Jim Hatzell, Dakota Epic: Experiences Of A Reenactor During The Filming Of Dances With Wolves is Bill Markley's fascinating, first-hand, personal account of what went on behind the scenes of the award-winning 1990 movie Dances With Wolves. This is the revealing viewpoint of a hard-working extra who kept a journal during the filming of what was to become an acclaimed and successful major Hollywood movie. Sometimes humorous, sometimes poignant, always fascinating, Dakota Epic is a superb, up-close scrutiny of the trials, tribulations, and successes of a great move and highly recommended reading for film buffs, aspiring actors, and anyone who sat in a darkened theatre and got completely caught up in the Kevin Costner's award-winning epic film.