Video Production Books

I think this is the best Peckinpah bio. Yes, even better than the excellent "If they move, kill em". Why? First of all, this book gives MUCH better coverage of his non-western films. I happen to think that "The Getaway", "Killer Elite" "Garcia" "Cross of Iron" are great films. These films get very little coverage elsewhere, but our covered in depth here. I also think Fine has a better sense of the man. How drinking, drugs, fighting and chaotic relationships with women hurt him in the end, but were part of his personality, lifestyle and art. It also covers his political and religous beliefs better, showing them grounded in his anti-establishment views. The other bio gives good coverage on the westerns, and is excellent and in depth on "Wild Bunch", but I think this book gives the best view of the non westerns and the man himself. Great read - funny in many parts, and touching and sad.

The title BLUE SKY is from the name of the company. Company director Chris Wedge says that they started out in 1987 with blue-sky ideas. They had big, seemingly impractical plans. But they believed that dreams could come true. They also believed that we're only limited by our imaginations.

Blue Sky studios began in advertising. Their reputation for high quality computer animation and effects drew in big clients, such as Bell Atlantic, Gillette, and Rayovac. In 1992, their TV commercial for Braun had a computer-generated image of an electric razor. It was so well done that even experts didn't know it wasn't the real thing.

The company then got into films. They went on to win an academy award for "Bunny," as the best animated short film in 1998. The film ended up with 25 international awards for excellence in animation. With all this attention, the company, in 1999, became part of 20th Century Fox feature animation. With this kind of money, power and reputation behind them, in 2002 the company released a computer-generated-image feature film, Ice Age.

The book is about animating Ice Age. Peter Weishar starts from building a scene by watercolor sketches, all the way through lighting and live-action. In between, there's modeling of characters and props, for scanning into the computer. There's storyboard drawings of who, where, what for each scene. There's rigging of skeletons inside characters for movement. There's lip syncing speech. There's 3-dimensional layout of all physical sets and movements of camera and characters. There's texture mapping of objects and surfaces. There's special effects, such as geysers and lava. There's making convincing fur for a mammoth, a sabertoothed tiger, and a sloth, as well as self-shadowing hair for a human baby and parents. Whew!

All along the way there are clear explanations, good examples, and telling illustrations. There are also interesting anecdotes about the business, the company, and the film. So it's a fascinating read. It's also a pleasantly easy learning experience, along with the author's DIGITAL SPACE.

Jay Boyer transports us across the lifetime of a gifted director, illustrating the gowth, successes and failures of Bob Rafaelson, while punctuating it with fascinating life details. A scholarly writing with necessary references, yet told in a compelling, human way. I recommend this for anyone, student or afficionado.

This was written by the editor of FIRSTS magazine, the publication for those who collect or are simply interested in first editions and other collectable books.

Each essay in the book features a picture of the dustjacket of the first edition discussed, along with the story of the book and the film made from the book, the side story of how the film was adapted, the players involved, and sometimes a plot analysis.

This book has led me to discover, or rediscover, many of the classics I had previously passed over. James Hilton's FAR HORIZON, for instance, which differs from the movies made from it, although the movies have their special value too. William Faulkner's INTRUDER IN THE DUST, Harper Lee's TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, B. Traven's THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE, John Le Carre's THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD, Erskine Caldwell's TOBACCO ROAD, James Jones's FROM HERE TO ETERNITY, Walter Van Tilburg Clark's THE OX-BOW INCIDENT, and many, many others.

Some of the selections are well known classics; others are little known gems, ripe for rediscovery. Each book/film essay runs three or four pages, and the author shares his own favorites and insights. It is a handsome volume in hardcover, with the Maltese Falcon on the dustjacket, with about 275 pages and an easy-to-read print. It is full of delights.

For instance: Of Jessamyn West's THE FRIENDLY PERSUASION, the author says his favorite episode is when Jess, the father in the family played by Gary Cooper in the movie, becomes "morbidly interested in a "wen"--a small growth--on his neck. He is convinced the wen is a sign of some fatal disease and that he is going to die. He plans to visit his parents' church as a farewell to life. Jess packs up his new nursery stock and sets out to visit his customers."

"On the trip, he finds that one customer after another has real trouble. Jess's obsession with the wen fades as he is confronted with others' genuine afflictions. His last stop is the most disturbing. A young woman is desperately ill; her weak husband, perceiving trouble, has left her alone to die. Jess spends the evening comforting her and listening to her talk. When he returns home, the ordinary wen has returned to its proper perspective: a small, harmless bump on his neck."

I'd seen the movie and read the book long ago, but I could not recall that incident--until I read of it again in here. Now I see it afresh, in context with the making of the book and the making of the movie from the book.

If you are looking for a gift for the film buff or the first edition collector, you cannot go wrong here, as this one brims with such delightful items.

Highly recommended.

There aren't too many books out there on De Palma, so when I saw this one I was very excited. I must say, I wasn't disappointed when I got it. Great interviews that are very informative, covering the majority of his films throughout his fascinating career. De Palma comes off as a very intelligent, humourous man, and his thoughts on films and directing are refreshingly frank and wise. A must-own companion to "The Devil's Candy" and "Double De Palma", this book should be on every film buff's nightstand. Except the ones who suck.

I am a counselor and used this book to make my own documentary. Having very little knowledge of where to start it was a tremendous help.

My latest reading theme has been collecting memoirs and/or histories about Hollywood from the 1920's thru the 60's. This memoir is both honest and interesting. Mr. Moonjean does not idolize movie stars and describes them in a truly honest light. His background and descriptions regarding film making and the people behind the camera are also quite enlightening. One of the best of the hollywood memoirs published in recent years. I recommend this book.

To start off, i happen to be OBSSESSED with Bringing Up Baby. I have the movie at least one hundred times, and can quote the entire script. So, you can imagine how thrilled i was, while browsing the cinema section in my local bookstore, to find an entire book devoted to my favorite movie of time. I immediately devoured it. The book contains the script (which is useful if you miss some of the rapid-fire dialogue in the film), as well as essays and the story the film is based on. i LOVED it. it gave me new incite to the quintessential screwball comedy. i highly recommend it to anyone who loves Bringing up Baby.

Perks galore in this perky effort that will perk up the most jaded film buffs, even those who pine for the pertinacity of pantomimic pulchritude - dedicated to all those brave souls who wear their underpants round their ears

As a film editor, this book is particularly amazing to me. I see it as the textbook I couldn't find in school. It really should be in the curriculum for anyone interested in film, art and music...pretty much everyone. Each interview comes across as what I imagine it really was: a casual conversation between artists...artists relevant to most everything we see today. An eclectic collection of people with insight you might not get anywhere else.

Read it and lets expand the conversation.