Video Books

We use this CD at a Music and Movement class for preschoolers. They love the songs, and the words are very clear and easy to hear. The repitition, and focus on animals helps too. We also give them away to Moms with new babies...a treat for the big brother or sister.

My daughter who is a 18-month-old just loves this book! Whenever I read the book to her with the motions suggested by the author, my daughter would just smile and sometimes laugh out loud. I just enjoy this cute little book and I enjoy my daughter's smile and the time we share together with this book.

Thank you for writing this excellent book and I also highly recommend another book by the same author... "Love, that's why."

I bought this because my two-year-old was coming home from Mother's day out singing songs that I didn't know. I asked the caregiver about the cow song and was told it was from this CD. As soon as my daughter heard this, she was singing right along.

My children absolutely love this book and video. The songs have a great message and are easy to learn for young children. My daughter received this as a Birthday gift and now we give this as a gift to her friends. They all love the music. I highly recommend these books and tapes for any child on your list.

We received this tape as a Christmas gift and my 2-year-old daughter loves it. It has fun action songs and easy-to-learn words with simple truths about God and Jesus. My daughter even learned subtraction from one song which counts down from 5 ladybugs to no ladybugs. I'm buying a copy for my niece and for the children's choir at church. Highly recommended.

"Five Stars" deserves five stars.

I read an early edition from Sutro Press, and "Five Stars" is truly a marvelous guide to making your dreams a reality, without any film school snobbery to weigh it down. The book surveys all the stuff you need to know to write credibly about movies, coaches you through the writing process, and even provides excellent tips on how to get your words published.

The author is a web entrepreneur, a seasoned magazine editor, and even a novelist, so he really knows what he's writing about, and that really comes through in the book. Whether you want to pursue film review as a career or even as an occasional hobby, or you just want to go see a lot of new movies and DVDs for free, this book is a fabulous way to start.

I love movies. I love to criticize movies. But I really just want to share my criticism with my friends, and I really don't care to be eloquent about it. Take the movie "Four Brothers" for instance. My review would run something like this: "WTF??? I gotta see that again!"

Now, if Christopher Null had written about how to become a food critic, I'd be all over that. I wonder if it would work to just replace words like "film" and "movie" with "food" and "eats", or "actor" and "actress" with "meat" and "potatoes". But then I would have to come up with all kinds of substitutes, and that would get complicated. Would I pick "flambe" or "brussel sprout" to replace "director", "chef" or "gourmet" for "producer", or "curry" or "whip cream" for "writer"? No I guess it wouldn't work.

Hopefully, Mr. Null has a food critic friend who will write a similarly great book entitled "Five Stars! How to Become a Food Critic, The Galaxy's Greatest Job." Let's face it, film critiquing may be great, but food critiquing, what could be better than eating for a living?

normally, i wouldn't want to be a film critic but christopher null makes you really think about it. a great critic...he's interesting and inventive--and has an appreciation for the out of the ordinary... just check out his wacky website. [...]

Other reviewers have gone into great detail about what's in this book so I won't repeat their efforts. Simply put, this book is written by a critic, Christopher Null, which knows movies and can put that knowledge on paper in an informative and still entertaining way. Each point he makes in this book includes at least one movie as an example and it's obvious by the movie titles he lists that he has watched thousands of them. This is a must buy for anyone that wants to be a film critic (or already believe they are one) and a highly recommended purchase for those of you, like me, that simply love watching movies.

If you're one of the millions who dream of turning your love of cinema into a lifelong vocation, you need to read Five Stars. This is the only book on the market today that tells you, step by step, exactly how to break into this business.

Without weighing you down with a bunch of worthless theory that means nothing in the real world, Five Stars quickly gets down to the nitty gritty. In this book, Christopher Null, one of the most widely published and respected movie critics on the internet, walks you through every phase of your personal development on the path to a successful career.

The tips in Five Stars clearly show you how to:
-Educate yourself about the larger world of cinema
-Become a smarter and more active movie goer
-Communicate your thoughts coherently
-Write lively, entertaining movie reviews
-Find outlets to publish your work

Even with the best guidance in the world, becoming a successful film critic isn't easy. But Five Stars will arm you with the knowledge you need to roll up your sleeves and put your talent to work. Whether you're a young upstart with a passion for movies or an established critic with years of experience, this book is a must-have for your personal library.

I have been teaching music to young children for 22 years and this book has changed the way I teach. I read it through twice and will read it again. The combination of technique and experience with warmth and humor is unbeatable.

Roger Mason, Ph.D.
Miami, Florida

This book is so easy to read, clear, and helpful to music teachers and students alike. It has step-by-step guidelines, reviews often, and is written as a story that can read in an hour. I found it very insightful and helpful in my teaching.

I bought this book on sale a couple of years ago and just got around to reading it this summer. I'm an elementary school music teacher. This book has helped me organize my approach to teaching note reading not just sight singing. Mr. Bertalot explains that his approach works best with 2 to 4 students at a time. Nonetheless, in the past 12 weeks of school, I've been using his approach with my regular classes (25 kids in each class with 2nd through 5th grades targeted). Much success already. There is a video that also goes along with this. I'm looking for a resource so that I can order it. If you teach kids or adults, this is a VERY helpful book. The appoach is fresh (yet, traditional) and well laid out. If you would like to e-mail me regarding the book feel free

This is the best approach to teaching sight-singing I've seen. The five wheels are an analogy to a car - four wheels plus the steering wheel. Each wheel represents a point that a choir director or music teacher should use to guide the student quickly to learn how to pick up a piece of music and sing it successfully. You can memorize the five wheels if you assign one to each finger of your hand.

But the author - wonderfully patient, experienced, and something of a genius among choir directors - doesn't leave you there. He then gives you 12 easy steps he has found will bring students to look at, think about, and thoroughly enjoy the sheet music they have in front of them.

Oh, how many hours have I wasted getting my choir to learn songs by getting them to repeat unthinkingly what I play or sing to them? The author of "5 Wheels to Successful Sight-Singing" makes every rehearsal a lesson in improving the student's ability to read music. For choir directors this saves enormous time - you just hand the music to the choir and they sing it, even if they've never seen the music before.

If you want to teach choirs or small groups of students to sight-sing quickly and thoroughly, I don't think you will find a better way to do it than by following the simple method in this book.

This short book was highly recommended to me, and as a choir director, I enjoyed reading it.

I have also read John Bertalot's Immediately Practical Tips for Choral Directors, and found that to espouse some of the same helpful ideas.

Bertalot's short book is a quick and easy read as it takes the shape of a fictional dialogue between a music student and a master teacher. Bertalot does not support the idea that sight-singing should be taught for a few minutes at the beginning of each rehearsal and put away. His main thesis is that children should instead to learn to read music while they are learning the very same music. Bertalot then provides instruction as to how to best go about doing that.

Some of his ideas may at first seem counterproductive. For instance, Bertalot thinks the accompaniment should be played as lightly and/or as seldom as possible. In addition, students should practice more often in small groups than in larger sections. While they may not pick up their part in rehearsal as quickly, singers will develop their inner hearing and ability to read the notes. Bertalot provides twelve very basic steps to sight singing, starting with the singing of one note and moving on from there.

This book is clear and concise, and Bertalot's ideas are well explained. Some may not like the dialogue-style of writing, as Bertalot's ideal "choirmaster" seems to have everything go perfectly for him. This book is geared for those who teach children. There is a short section at the end which covers different approaches for adults, but overall the book is less helpful for them.

I strongly recommend this book to any music teacher who works with children and singing. They will appreciate it.

THE FORCE IS WITH YOU

THE FORCE IS WITH YOU is a mesmerizing account of what it's like to be a movie producer. Besides sharing his own stories, Stephen Simon has written a thought provoking analogy of over 70 movies and the mystical messages he found in them.

Who will cherish this book? Movie lovers; people pursuing spiritual growth; anyone interested in any aspect of movie making... anyone...

I believe it was Mr. Simon's unquenchable love for humanity and the planet kept him going against all odds. The word "no" is unrecognizable in his consciousness. Oh - he's heard the word all right, more than most people. His heart has been shattered over and over, but love pieced it back together and motivated him on the relentless pursuit of his dreams. Did you know, for instance, that "What Dreams May Come" was 20 years in the making? Twenty years! And that "Somewhere In Time" bombed when it came out in theaters? Read the haunting and amazing story of how it resurrected itself and became one of the best loved
films of all times.

Stephen Simon is a visionary. The human race is evolving rapidly now and movies are one of the most profound tools we have to assist our evolution. Mr. Simon is forging a path for the genre of mystical movies (a genre Hollywood has not recognized). He discusses the industry and where he sees it heading.

Read this book. But be prepared to cry, to laugh, to be inspired and to grow in consciousness.

...

Stephen Simon's book is an inspiring read. Right from the beginning, you realize that this author, a producer and film executive with over twenty-five years experience in the Hollywood arena, is writing from the heart. He is passionate about awakening us to the spiritual cinema genre, movies that contain spiritual messages. Although this is a genre as yet not recognized by Hollywood, Simon maintains that these movies already exist, and indeed have done so for quite some time. He takes us on an entertaining, intimate, thought provoking and often humourous journey through a personal selection of seventy or so such films. Rest assured that this is not a book that critiques film, rather it illuminates. Perhaps Neale Donald Walsch says it best in his forward to the book: "If you love movies, you're going to love this book. If you love life, you're going to adore it. And if you love a good story, get set, because you're about to hear some great ones." I thoroughly loved reading "The Force is With You", and I think you will too.

Author Stephen Simon writes an excellent book about spiritualism and the messages in movies; movies that speak to the emotional context of a person's soul. I realized that the messages Mr. Simon writes about the very things that I found missing in most mainstream films. (Thank God I live in city where art houses exist, but I realize not everyone has that luxury) Finally someone was able to show that there is more going on up on the big screen than what meets the eye. Every movie that he writes about in his book is in some way or another a winner, regardless of what it did in box office receipts. Still this book is a lot more than just a much of plot synopsis and message of some really great movies. Mr. Simon writes about his life growing up in movie industry. His battle to get both "Somewhere in Time" and "What Dreams May Become" (both based on books by author Richard Matheson-a great writer himself) made into films. His elation of getting both films made and then watching as the critics ripped both of them both apart , only to become resurrected and warmly welcomed on cable, video and DVD by thousands of people years later. Plus, his very telling reasoning on why mainstream movies have to stay "commercial," he writes volumes in a few pages that will generate debate for years to come. Whatever your spiritual beliefs, I think there is something in this book for every movie lover.

This is new movement and a new way of thinking about movies and I'll gladly be in the front row watching as those beautiful, special images and messages flicker over me.

Hallelujah! We finally have a book that's dedicated to covering the newly emerging category of spiritual cinema! THE FORCE IS WITH YOU is written by Hollywood insider Stephen Simon, who writes straight from his heart about the significant messages in more than 70 movies. Spiritual Cinema is all about exploring the meaning of love, life, death, time, and space -- which are the topics I most enjoy seeing in the movies. Most of my favorite movies are included here: The Matrix, Sliding Doors, Somewhere in Time, The Kid, Frequency, Star Wars, Lost Horizon, The Sixth Sense, Ghost, What Dreams May Come, Defending Your Life, Groundhog Day, Contact, Phenomenon, Powder, Being There, The Truman Show, Sleepless in Seattle, Family Man, and It's A Wonderful Life.

What I love best about THE FORCE IS WITH YOU is the way it so clearly conveys a sense of hope, inspiration, and purposefulness about the way humanity learns about its worst fears and greatest hopes through stories. Yes, we love to vividly imagine the end of the world... but we also love to dream of ways we can find solutions to our biggest problems. We know that it's not easy being more spiritually and psychically evolved... but we love to imagine how those of us who are different can be accepted in mainstream society.

THE FORCE IS WITH YOU is priceless for clarifying what the new genre of "Spiritual Cinema" is all about, and for providing an inspiring list of the most spiritual movies of all time. It is my deepest hope that this book will help establish awareness in film-makers everywhere of the importance of making spiritual movies, as it helps movie-goers better understand the significance of the movies they see.

I apologize up front to those who can't stand anything negative, but hey, someone has to speak up and make all you positive types feel superior, right?

First let me say I enjoyed the book. If you love movies, you will also enjoy the book. It did need a good editor, though, as it had misspellings, repetition, bad grammar and even attributed FDR's famous "fear" quote to Churchill. Do you think I'm a bad person for pointing that out? Then you're a bad person for having thought that. Ha!

Lastly, its unrelenting positive tone drove me a little bananas. Why? It did not reflect life and so Stephen Simon did not feel authentic. I don't think life on Earth is ever going to be 100% positive. Why? Because life would die. One hand clapping produces nothing but silence. We humans happen to have two hands. For those of us who are not saints nor are aspiring to be, there is good and bad. Yeah, it's all relative, but hey, it's a structure that helps you keep your balance. Don't take it all so seriously. To read a book in which nothing but good things are said about everybody, with the usual (and constant) Hollywood adjectives: amazing, unbelievable, wonderful, fantastic, etc., is to find one's teeth suddenly coated up with sugar and gagging on it.

You can say that someone did a bad job without condemning them, can't you? You can point out that someone made a mistake without wanting to throw them away, right? This is Earth, folks. It's all about context. We have sunshine and rain. We also have drought and floods. To point out these latter conditions does not make you negative or unspiritual. But we are in the movie business so we don't want to offend anyone. Fine. Here's your heads up. With this book you'll find yourself in a rowboat with only one oar. You'll go in circles, but will still enjoy the ride.

This book is a perfect mechanism for catching up on the early years of Frasier or to relive those wonderful moments. I started watching Frasier in season 6 and this book has been a constant companion to fill the gaps and relive the moments I loved from the episodes I have caught up on. Having this book WILL lift your IQ!!

This book is great because it is an original! You have the original storylines and no additions from other authors. You learn how such a series is made and how important the actors are to bring the action to live.

Frasier was long one of my favorite television shows, and purely from a writing standpoint, I enjoy reading screenplays and scripts to see just how different writers structure their stories. This book collects 15 scripts from the show's first six seasons, and having seen most of the episodes, I can concur that they have chosen 15 of the best episodes.

From a storytelling standpoint, these are just great tales. The pilot episode, in which Frasier and his father try to adjust to living together, is touching and funny in all the right proportions. Stories like The Matchmaker and Ham Radio lose almost nothing in their pure script form, and The Ski Lodge is just as funny as it was on television. Even moments of pure slapstick, like the classic "silent movie" opening scene from Three Valentines, is delivered very well here.

From a writer's standpoint, the book is also entertaining. We can see how the many wonderful writers crafted their stories. Those segments that don't work as well in the script fall a little flat only because the performances on the program were so wonderful. For that, the actors and writers both deserve credit -- the actors for having that talent and the writers for knowing how to use it. There are a lot of things that don't quite work if you don't know how it was delivered, and the fact that it made it into the show proves that the the writers knew what they had and how to use it. If you aren't familiar with the episodes presented here, some of the scripts may not read as well, but if you're a fan of the show, this really is a wonderful collection.

This book was a lot of fun reading. The Fraiser Scripts is a great book. A must have for the die hard Fraiser fan.

Since losing David Angell in the September 11th tragedy, I am so happy to have a copy of this book. Dave was a great guy, and I miss him.

Thomas Schatz argues in this brilliantly detailed book that even more remarkable then the motion pictures Hollywood produced from the early 20's through about the end of the 40's, was the detailed process of how Hollywood was able to churn out these quality films on a routine basis.

Schatz does a remarkable job of diagraming the rise of the studio system in Hollywood. The book is remarkably easy to follow (compared to any of Andrew Sarris's works) and includes numerous photographs. He focuses most on the trials and tribulations of Universal Studios, Warner Bros. and MGM and their distinct, integrated studio styles (RKO is mentioned to a lesser extent as well).

Producers Irving Thalberg, David O. Selznick, Daryl Zanuck and director Alfred Hitchcock are featured prominently and rightfully so. Also, includes many of the behind the scene battles between studios and directors/producers.

There are some minor criticisms though. He almost completely ignores Paramount and Colombia Pictures. Paramount was as much a factory set-up as MGM and deserves more attention. And the decline of the studio system is sparse compared to the rise of. But aside from that, this book is an enjoyable read and recommend it to anyone who is fascinated with early Hollywood.

Schatz's book is well-rounded and nicely structured. It was a good decision on his part to take a round-robin focus on each studio instead of trying to mix them together, as some authors have. All of the studios had different ideas about what they wanted to achieve in their work, so this approach makes sense. Twentieth-Century Fox and Paramount were left out completely, but Schatz was clearly trying to choose one studio of each type of size and characteristic so as to keep control of the scope of the book.

I did find a glaring error--the finale to "Babes in Arms" was not the minstral number, but the song, "God's Country." In a book of this size, or of any size for that matter, errors will creep in, so it isn't the kiss of death. However, if the reader is familiar with MGM musicals, it may be a small turn-off.

Also, I wasn't satisfied with the epilogue. Instead of citing examples of the comeback of the studio system (LucasFilm, for instance), Schatz simply outlines the creative decline of Alfred Hitchcock. Huh.

Slight shortcomings aside, this book is very entertaining. I wish my film studies textbooks had been this interesting.

Film theorist Andre Bazin once wrote "The American cinema is a classical art, but why not then admire in it what is most admirable, i.e., not only the talent of this or that filmmaker, but the genius of the system." Quite simply author Thomas Schatz had done just that with this groundbreaking and wondrously entertaining history of the Hollywood studio era.

Up until its publication in 1988, film history had been defined by the "auteur" school of thinking where the director is the supreme artist who nurtured the art form. The studio executives- the money men- were relegated to the background and often depicted as crass capitalist who often hindered the creative process.

In Schatz's eyes, men like Carl Laemmle, Darryl F. Zanuck, David O. Selznick, Harry Warner, and Irving Thalberg were intuitive geniuses who understood the art of storytelling and were able to systematically deliver that art to the masses with drive and innovation. From the low rent beginnings of the Nickelodeon to steady decline of the studio system amid the dawn of Television, these men set standards that are sadly not met by today's faceless conglomerates. They all created "the movies" as we fondly perceive it and Schatz lets the creation of 20th century popular culture unfold with a finely turned narrative sweep.

Prof. Schatz does not suffer from the scholar's disease of academic-speak and writes a book that clearly demonstrates his expertise on the studio structure. Most books I have read extended the view of the outsider looking in at the star system and not the economics of the studios. "Genius of the System" chronicles the history of the studio's business, that is to say the economics and the people behind the economics.

If you want to read about the business structure of Hollywood during its beginnings, this is the book for you. I cannot recommend it enough.

An easy to read writer, Thomas Schatz details how the studio system worked from the silent era to its final collapse in the 1960s.

He illuminates both the art and the business of films, with keen analysis of how producers, directors and screenwriters created such fine art (and rich profits) -- especially the producers, who are more the authors of Hollywood films than any other group.

He convincingly portrays MGM's Irving Thalberg as a genius of art and commerce and MGM's Louis B. Mayer as a clod (except when dealing with difficult stars).

Schatz offers telling portraits of many others who did their best work under the constraints of the Hollywood system. He details the major studios' styles and how they evolved over the years. It's clear he has read file cabinets of documents, from endless -- but revealing -- memos to how much the stars made(!).

He also puts the film industry in social and cultural context; he even says the anti-communist witch hunts of the 1940s and 1950s were a disguised form of anti-semitism.

In the end, Schatz offers a convincing alternative to the auteur theory.

While a major Hollywood luminary of the late 1920s and early 1930s, British-born stage/film star George Arliss (who won an Oscar for 1929's Disraeli) is too little known by modern generations. This detailed biography provides a rich study of Arliss's long life--both on and off camera--bringing the unusual (by Tinseltown standards) leading man into sharp focus.

A book well worth buying and reading!

Once famous as "The First Gentleman of the Talking Screen" and winner of the Best Actor Oscar (1929/30) for "Disraeli", George Arliss returns to the limelight thanks to the (almost) single-handed efforts of Mr. Fells (Turner Classic Movies also occasionally shows Arliss films). More than a biography, this book places Arliss' personal story of defying conventional wisdom to become successful on stage and screen (silent and sound) in the larger context of Hollywood in the 1920s-30s. Thoroughly researched and elegantly written - in the Arliss tradition!

"George Arliss: The Man Who Played God" was not only an interesting portrait of the man, but also a snapshot of the entertainment industry in general during the 50 years Arliss appeared on stage and film. Although Arliss' career may be obscure to contemporary moviegoers, after reading Mr. Fells' well-researched biography, Arliss' legacy was apparent - both on and off screen - through both his artistic and financial successes. In my choice of reading material, I enjoy being entertained while I'm being educated, and this book certainly met that criteria - I highly recommend it!

George Arliss, in his day a top star, is today the least-remembered of any, which makes this book especially welcome. Too bad its style is a bit pedestrian, but it does whet the appetite for Arliss's largely-unavailable output (Amazon has, through its contract supliers, his Oscar-winning "Disrael" and "The Iron Duke" and "Dr. Syn", and Movies Unlimited has "The Guv'ner" and "East Meets West", but his reputed two best, "The House of Rothschild" and "The Man Who Played God" don't seem available anywhere). The book points out Arliss's dedication (he insisted on two weeks's reheasal before shooting, even if he had to pay the Cast himself), sterling character (never a hint of scandal, no marital infidelity, etc), and modesty (he had full charge of all films and often wrote or rewrote screenplays, but insisted on being billed solely as an actor). For further info, see his two autobiographies, "Up the Years from Bloomsbury" and "George Arliss".

Full Disclosure compels me to say that I am the author so you know already that you won't be getting an exactly impartial viewpoint. My purpose here is two fold: first, to thank the individuals who have taken the time and effort to comment on my Arliss biography/critique. Researching and writing the book was a labor of love and, besides, there's nothing worse than being ignored.

My second reason is to merely add a point of information. As has been stated, very few of George Arliss's films are available on video, either VHS or DVD. But thank heaven for cable stations Turner Classic Movies and the Fox Movie Channel. With a little bit of patience, you can see all 13 of Mr. Arliss's American films on these two stations. Fox has gotten quite generous by running The House of Rothschild (1934) and Cardinal Richelieu (1935) every month, although Fox seems to be stingy about running the finale scene in "Rothschild" in its original Technicolor brilliance. It did show it in color back in 2001, but in the last year or so, Black & White seems to be the rule. Perhaps if we all email Fox, they might change its corporate mind. And while we're at it, let's urge FMC to run Arliss's comedy, The Last Gentleman (1934).

Turner schedules the Warners films, The Man Who Played God, The Working Man, and Voltaire, a couple of times a year. Perhaps with a bit of encouragement, TCM will program Disraeli, Old English, The Green Goddess, The Millionaire, Alexander Hamilton, A Successful Calamity, and The King's Vacation more often than once every few years. Is it possible that George Arliss could be a TCM Star of the Month? We'll never know if we don't ask!

I have admired Grace Kelly all my life and this is by far the most beautiful book about her. The pictures are all stunning, and truly depict what a glamourous and classy woman she was. There is not a great deal of information - or pictures - of Grace, and this compilation is simply wonderful to look at. Definately recommended for any fan.

Jenny Curtis' "Grace Kelly: A Life in Pictures" is a must for Grace fans. Lovely reproductions of some of Kelly's most enchanting photos fill the book. It is a pleasant addition to any collection, and it is exactly what it is entitled, a life in pictures...nothing more and yet, nothing less.

Along with Ann-Margret, I firmly believe Grace Kelly is the most beautiful woman to ever grace the silver screen. As a kid, I had a huge crush on her, and was sad to learn she was dead (a scenario similar to The Who song "Pictures Of Lily", but that's a whole differnt story). YHowever, I was still transfixed at how beautiful she was, and I bought this book looking for great photos of her.
This book does not disappoint. The photos in this book paint a far more entetaining and accurate portrait of the life of this beautiful and talented woman who became a princess who devoted her life to charity. The photos in this book are breathtaking. It's sad to read this book, not only because you'll be reminded of her tragic death in 1982, but also because it you'll remember who elegant and classy Grace was, and then you'll remeber how trashy all the "beauties" of modern Hollywood are, and you'll be reminded of the steap decline the entertainment industry today. Even so, a defintite must have.

Lovely pictures and interesting text make this book well worth buying. It showcases Grace's life from early childhood to her untimely death.

There are far too few books available about Grace Kelly, but this is the cream of the crop. Not only is it bargain priced, it has over 120 high quality photos covering all aspects of her life, from her childhood to her tragic death. Despite her rather short film career, she'll always be remembered for her great performances in classics like "High Noon", "High Society", "Dial M for Murder", "Rear Window", "To Catch a Thief", and especially her oscar-winning role in "The Country Girl". Just when she was America's leading lady she threw her career away for a marriage to Prince Rainer of Monaco. Her charm, elegance, and incredible beauty captured the hearts of people all over the world. This book is a definite must-have for all her fans whose hearts are still captured!

if you need to learn the basics of gripping this is a good place to start

Michael Uva knows his stuff. Stimultaneously entertaining and informative. In addition to expertly covering the grip business, Mr. Uva strongly advocates working hard, working safe, and being honest. His own personal success indicates that he practices what he preaches. The grip book covers not just what the equipment is and how it works, but how the grip should work and interact with other professionals on the set, (even the ones with which the grip might rather not interact). Much of the advice given in this book could be just as easily applied to any area of life where a person wants to be successful and respected when working with others. I haven't read a better book on this subject. It's required reading for anyone who grips for us unless they went to one of the better film schools, in which case it's not required, just recommended.

A wealth of information. Good for helping newbies get familiar with the equipment and how it's used. Great illustrations and DVD. Experienced grips will find the TOT's (tricks of the trade) helpful as well. The "Grip Rap" theme song is hilarious.

It is what the title says. I think it is missing some of the older industry jargon but that probably doesn't matter. This is the only grip book you'll need. The only way to learn more is to actually work on a set.

I hit the dvd first and it was great! Very fast paced, but that's what is needed. Don't have a lot of time to sit and watch tv. Author goes over each piece of equipment so by the end of the dvd, you've been introduced to a very large selection of grip stuff and know how it's used.

The book then goes more in depth and more about how to act and how to get along with the others around you. Very Very valuable stuff here even if you're just dabbling in the business.

Highly recommended.

Great book. Would highly recommend. Loads of interesting facts for serious Hairspray fans.

This book is indeed one that all "Hairspray" fans must own. There are behind-the-scenes secrets, bios and details on the main cast, and never-before-seen photos,(as well as a few little "surprises" that I won't give away!)
All in all, it is well worth the investment for those, like myself, who were enchanted by the film.

I was given this as a gift and I absolutely love it. It's full of fun facts to know and tell, and is the perfect addition to any Hairspray Fan(atic)'s collection! :)

The just released movie on DVD "Hairspray" is a phenomenon and a force to be reckoned with. Possibly one of the best movies of the year, Hairspray is about acceptance in a time when it wasn't expected. The Adam Shankman movie is fun, energetic, and full of life. And so is this marvelous companion book.

Filled with pictures, behind the scenes stories, and narratives by all of the principal movers and shakers in the movie, "Hairspray: The Movie Musical" serves as a wonderful guide. The information contained in the book offers a peek inside the creative process. It's amazing the amount of talent and work that goes into an hour and a half movie.

Just as fun as the movie is, this book covers it all, and doesn't leave you hanging. If you have a Hairspray Fan in your family, this is the PERFECT Christmas present: affordable and really, really fun!

Awesome. I like the fact that it has inserts of little things that happened during that time in history and I especially like the cards that show the danceres that were on the Corney Collins Show. Grat product