Video Books

I read this book quickly because I couldn't put it down. The research and thought that went into this book are tremendous. It is well organized and unbiased. Maybe the title for this post should be "if you want to tell others how bad TV is, read this book first". The research shows that parents need to parent their kids and take responsibility for kids and their own actions. Yes, some TV is bad, but you wouldn't let your kid listen to Howard on the radio would you? Yes, some TV is good - I won't go into details but given your parental intelligence you know what choices are correct. What Ms. Guernsey does though is break down shows and types of shows for specific age groups and she provides some enlightening insights on how some shows were developed. I recommend anyone who is a parent or works in the children's world read this book.

Into the Minds of Babes is a highly readable book that impresses with its lack of judgement (on a very controversial topic!) and clear information. Guernsey is able to take complicated research studies and break them down in a straightforward presentation of the facts. The author also does a great job of giving information that helps make good choices about tv without being preachy. I highly recommend this book for parents, educators, and all those involved with young children.

Most of the mothers I know are aware of the somewhat draconian guidelines issued by the American Academy of Pediatricians regarding children under 2 and TV-watching (don't let them, ever) and turn on Sesame Street anyway, fighting the urge to look over their shoulder to see which AAP spy is waiting to catch them and call "bad mama!" Lisa Guernsey's book gets to the bottom of the multitude of studies conducted on the effects of TV/media and children, explaining the most recent scholarly research in non-patronizing ways. By addressing some of the most debated/unresolved fears parents have when it comes to TV, she provides a practical guide to good decision making about media use and a wildly fascinating look at how young children develop cognitively, all without being boring.

Which, of course, is a huge plus, wouldn't you say?

Highly recommended to anyone who wonders about the effect of TV--you might be surprised by her findings!

Ms. Guernsey tackles the research, warnings, and well meaning 'advice' that parents are baraged with and presents the findings in a format that is a great mixture of research (fully annotated for those who want to delve deeper) and personal experiences of real parents.

Her writing style makes the book a joy to read, as you follow Ms. Guernsey through her journey to find answers. This is not simply another parenting book that espouses a particular path, rather it provides the tools for parents to make educated decisions.

As a busy parent, make the time to read this fascinating book.

With two preschoolers, I'm always looking for practical advice to manage the chaos. This book was both interesting and comforting, with a "real world" perspective on what screen time means in the American family. The book has a thoughtful discussion of the brouhaha raised by the American Academy of Pediatrics pronouncement that children under 2 should have ZERO time in front of the television. The intriguing result of Guernsey's research? The AAP made the pronouncement with no scientific basis, just the thought that eliminating screen time was bound to increase beneficial interactive time between parents/caregivers and children. Definitely worth a read by parents of young children.

The title of this book is somewhat misleading. "Jim Henson's Designs and Doodles" is as much a biography of Henson as a gallery of his artwork. Admittedly, the biographical details focus on Henson's career, rather than his personal life, but the fact still remains that the text still takes up about as much space as the pictures themselves. I think that this is something that people should be aware of if they are thinking of purchasing this book. I, for one, was hoping to see more of Henson's artwork, and was somewhat disappointed at the sparseness of it. Nevertheless, this is still a worthwhile book.
This is the first (and only, as far as I am aware) book to contain Henson's early sketches and artwork, and any fan of the Muppets is likely to find this fascinating. It is possible, through these pictures, to see how many of the Muppets have evolved. For example, in Henson's original sketches, Oscar the Grouch was purple with a long, skinny neck, a far cry from the green monster who now appears on "Sesame Street". Furthermore, in spite of the fact that I wish there was less text and more pictures, I did find the text to be of interest when I finally sat down and read it.

Hopefully, there will one day be a second book, featuring more of Henson's artwork. However, until then, this is all that is available and provided that you are aware of the limitations of this book, you shouldn't be too disappointed.

I ordered this book for my daughter who loves Jim Henson & the Muppets as a birthday present, and is a professional puppeteer inspired by Jim Henson. She absolutely loves this book and I highly recommend anything Jim Henson related as he was a pioneer in this area and one of the most creative people on the planet.

This is a must for all you muppet fans!

The wonderful new long awaited book, Jim Henson's Desings and Doodles is almost a museum on paper. It shows Jim's best artwork, from storyboards, to puppet desingns, even a very early Kermit sketch. The book also features a never before seen look at the never produced special, "Johnny Carson and The Muppet Machine" which was to be a physcedelic trip into the 1960's. The artwork is very detailed, and even has a stone carving of Ed Macmahon! The book also shows some of his early work, including silkscreen images of meloncholy (which was inspired by the death of his brother , Paul) and concert posters and crazy characters who were soon to be Frackles!

One of the best parts of the book is Henson 's early commercial storyboards, which feature the two popular commercial Muppets ,Wilkins and Wontkins, Hansel and Gretel Muppets, and Kermit, The Snerfs and Rowlf (the IDEAL doll ad where Kermit sings the unfamilliar jingle"Oh buy us, oh buy us, oh buy us we beg! If you do not buy us, we'll bite you in the leg!!!) . Early drawings of the La Choy Dragon, and Nutty Bird(Royal Crown soda ads, precursor to Big Bird) are also featured.

The book brings us for the first time many illustrations of show ideas that never made it to the small screen. The Zoocus (The Zoo Circus), The Entertainers, and Martian Landing are all examples shown by illustrations from Jim's fertile imagination. The Zoocus was to be a show full of new Muppets such as Mr. Ripple and Carbourator Jones and had a guest star on each show (Sound like TMS to you?). The show would be a variety but would mostly ,as shown in Henson's drawings,be a talk show with the guest, where the Muppets would lounge behind large alters and other sets. The Entertainer was to be a show about a travelling vaudevillian show where Muppet men (and a can can girl) would sing popular songs at the time. This was also to be a Variety type show. Martian Landing would feature Muppet Koosebaine like creatures that would swap jokes and do skits on another planet. It was to be a Live variety show. It ashame these didn't get aired.

This book has so much I haven't mentioned yet, (I don't want to spoil it!) and it is definetly worth every penny. By far, one of my favs. among a long line of Muppet Books. Enjoy!

I have always been a Jim Henson fan. After all, I grew up with Sesame Street and the Muppet Show. I was always fascinated with the strange and creative creatures that he came up with. This book is a gold mine of his ideas and sketches - some that you will recognize and some that you have probably never seen.

This is sort of an odd book for me to have. I don't collect books based on movies or TV shows. But this one doesn't really fall into that category at all. It's more of an artist's diary and sketchbook. I enjoy just paging through it to look at all of the wonderous things Jim Henson imagined. His work seems to have something "odd" to it that I can somehow connect with and be fascinated by it.

I think anyone who has enjoyed Jim Henson's productions will probably enjoy looking through this book. It's an adventure to page through time after time.

Jim Henson was a man who managed to sum up the whole intire feeling of what it was to be young, and full of energy in his fantastic creations. His work, from Mupets to films such as 'Labyrinth' and 'The Dark Crystal', showed us that he could tap that part of our minds that wanted to let go, and be free to live in our fantasies. This book, unlocks the back door to the mind that created our most cherished characters from the Henson world. It shows us where these characters came from, and also gives us an insight to the man who made it all happen. I found this book to be a real Gem, and an adventure. Just seeing the doodles Jim did as a child, or a teen, and some of his non character based art work, was fascinating. Buy this book If you are a fan of Mr hensons work. It is not the most complete book, as far as his other projects go, and some people may wish that some of his film work had got into the book. But for those that like to get closer to their idols, and want to feel like a close friend looking through his old scrapbooks, get this book. You won't be dissapointed.

Joe Bob goes to the Drive-in Is with out a doubt a great read reads. He makes anyone who passes his time seeing B movies and hanging out with his friends feel like they are not alone
and I love the times when he bashes a movie as a critic and then tells how he enjoys it as a fan, And if that is not enough Joe Bobs stories of His friends and Non Friends will definetly keep you entertained.
The drive in will never die

...and we're talking an anthology of uniquely American satire - by a man who truly believes that a sacred cow is worth but one thing (namely: steak!) - with that classic American institution of sideward mobility (the drive-in theater) serving merely as the setup man for the most classic lancing of America's boils since H.L. Mencken roasted the booboisie and Artemus Ward proclaimed that if we can't find a live man who's worth a thing, by all means let us find a first class corpse.

Beaucoup garbanzas, mountains of mashed internal organs, kung fooey out the yin-yang, slashings, smashings, chainsawings, bonechoppings, drillings, you name it. And it isn't just the cheeseball drive-in celluloid (yes, children, once upon a time there was celluloid) that gets dismembered, disemboweled, and dehydrated by the classic Briggs scythe: it's the absolute and utter pretentiousness of the smugger-than-thou film critic colony (there are exceptions; you will know them by their lack of implied slash in a typical Joe Bob joust) and the politically correct pissants who tried, and in the long run failed, to bring him down, that get the real roasting in here.

(Come on - you don't REALLY think "We Are The World" was either sacred or a cow, so much as it was a lot of bull, as any of those starving African children - who gorged themselves on all the food the monies didn't provide them, because it was lining the hips of the Communist french fry heads who ran the show in Ethiopia, gave one gander to the white man formerly known as the black man named Michael Jackson and friends, with their precious pietous paen to giving until it hurt, and decided they'd had their biggest laugh since the invention of the axle - can tell you. Do you? And these days, Joe Bob's slash-and-burn against Wacko and the gang would be considered downright lightweight, compared to some of the chazerei getting spouted off by cable TV comics and the lunatics fringe left and right.)

Rated OK for gratuitous satire. DukeBob says check it out. Five stars. (Actually, there's only one star of this show.)

by Delacourt, this is a cult classic just as much as any of the movies Joe Bob reviews. John Bloom's beer-guzzling, womanizing, politically incorrect alter ego unleashes subtle social commentary while reviewing some of the worst travesties ever committed to film based on the number of people who die, how they die, and how many women take their tops off. Bloom went so far as to get Joe Bob banned from Texas newspapers, for a racial satire on "We Are The World". Stephen King writes the intro. If you are a fan of all that is bad in cinema (lo-budget horror, women in jail films, kung fu), you cannot go thru life not reading this. ....

Five stars. I say check it out.

Joe Bob Briggs goes the distance to bring to you the ultimate list of the best Drive In movies. This collection of newspaper articles that Joe Bob wrote is funny and entertaining. Also, you get a peek into Joe Bob's life as well as his early career. From his very first article to him being run out of Texas on a rail, it's a great story!

Excellent reading for the b-movie (and otherwise) fan. Not only do we get movie reviews with blood, breast and decapitation counts, we get a bit of history watching Joe Bob's (John Bloom) Dallas newspaper column pro-gress. Part of the fun is knowing that this stuff was printed in the newspaper, in Dallas, in the 80s. He gets in spats with various entities (the mayor of Irving, TX) and creates endearing (or disgusting, depending on your perspective) fictional characters. I particularly enjoyed the letters-to-the-editor he would respond to. Only 4 stars because he basically says to check out every movie he reviews (even if it sucks).

As president of the Association of Personal Historians (an international network of professionals who help others preserve their life stories and family history), I was often asked to recommend books for people interested either in preserving their own family history or in getting into the business of doing this for others. There are many books on this topic, but Vera Rosenbluth's excellent book was always my number one recommendation. It is well-written, easy to understand and filled with helpful information.

Numerous oral history guides have come out since Vera Rosenbluth wrote the first edition of, and then expanded (2nd edition, 1997) Keeping Family Stories Alive, but Rosenbluth's book still is tops for what it aspires to do. Her approach works for any caring person who seeks to preserve the treasury of family lore. She also outlines solid oral history technique and gives careful attention to sensitive issues, making this book an equally valuable resource for the professional personal historian. Speaking as a seasoned professional, this is the book I would aspire to write if Vera Rosenbluth hadn't already done it.

Before I read this book I had written my own life story, however I knew nothing about interviewing other people. The book gave explicit instructions about how to conduct an interview as well as many ideas about generating memories when interviewing older people. I found the last chapter very helpful as it contained many interview questions.

I am just starting a personal historian business and I found this book very helpful, particularly the how to of recording interviews and the list of questions that are suggested. I'd say it's very useful for families and professionals. Really worth it!

Lesley Grant
Linking Lives
Saving Life Stories

Vera's easy to read style and engaging manner is hard to put down. I read it in one sitting and it propelled me to take the challenge of becoming a Personal Historian. I now love what I do everyday and owe it in part to Vera's book of inspiration.

This book is awesome..I mean if your already a crazy Shahrukh khan fan like I am, then you will know a few of the facts mentioned in the book but it is so fantastically written and a definite collectors item for all bollywood junkies. Overall I definitely reccomend this book, worth the price for sure:D

I fell in love with the Bollywood cinema in August 2005. After watching hundreds of movies I felt a hunger to know more, to understand what makes it tick, what lies behind the colour, drama, music and obsession with Indian movie stars. I was looking forward to "King of Bollywood: Shah Rukh Khan and the seductive world of Indian cinema"-it sounded most promising. When I got hold of the book (thanks to Amazon)I couldn't put it down. I devoured every page, every bit of information-loved everything about it. I recommend the book to anyone who is interested in Indian Cinema, you will find it to be a fascinating insight into what makes the industry so alluring and powerful.

Bollywoodmania is an addiction. For Westners that will discover and appreciate it in the next years (and be sure they will!) it is the disclosure of a fairytale world of moviemaking that was there all the time but that we simply didn't know. Well, when this will happen the first and probably most important gateway will be the actor and the movies interpreted by Shahrukh Khan. And after having seen some of these, no one will be able to resist curiosity on this great actor.

Anuparma Chopra is a member of the Chopra family that makes up the establisment of Bollywood and is also an estimated journalist. From her priviledged point of view she has written this biography of the still young King Khan integrating his personality with the history of Bollywood cinema in the last 20-30 years. Naturally, the biography is authorized and as such may not contain episodes that are not consistent with the image modern Bollywood and Shahrukh Khan want to convey. All the less, there is a sincerity that transpires throughout the book and allows the reader to connect with the actor and his environment.

The first part on the youth of the actor is full of episodes and sometimes takes on a mythical aspect, but that is a common feature of all biographies. The chapters on the later years are a little sketchy and skip many well known facts. But we must not forget that this book has and will have a different impact on Indians or the Indian-culture public and "Westner's". The Author wanted to write about something new or at least not well known to her main public, that practically reads at least two or three articles a day on Shahrukh Khan. Reading the Indian reviews of the book that criticize the small amount of new information this aspect is very evident.

The book's point of force is the analysis of the reasons for Shahrukh Khan's success, that trascend the actor's talent and are deeply rooted in the transformation of Indian society and how modern Indians envision themselves in these years. An important weight is correctly given to the directors (Chopra and Johar) that have created Shahrukh's winning image and cinema personality, while some movies and directors he also worked with are only mentioned.

The bibliography is quite extensive for a short biography such as this and cites many interesting books on Bollywood cinema. A filmography of the actor is missing and I would have appreciated a brief comment on his less well known movies.

I suggest to read this book even if you are not a Shahrukh fan just to be updated on modern entertainment and on the reasons and pulsions that contribute to create our "collective imagination".

Title: King of Bollywood
Author: Anupama Chopra
ISBN: 978-0-446-57858-5
Publisher: Warner Books
Review By: Diana Rohini LaVigne, Indian Life & Style Magazine

Packed with scrumptious lesser known facts of one of, if not the top Bollywood actor of modern day, Shah Rukh Khan, King of Bollywood is a fun book to read and fun book to share. Being one of the most talked about personalities in the world today, SRK is a legend already but King of Bollywood feeds the hunger of his fans globally on what is the man like behind the mask of superstar.

Although it shies away from some of the less flattering aspects of the actor's life and lifestyle, it does deliver some notions of challenges faced, failures along the way and allows readers to travel from his days as a penniless boy traveling to Bombay on a whim to the grand master of marketing and box office smashes. His story is so extraordinary and almost bigger than life, but Anupama Chopra tells the story in a way that allows fans to follow along and relate their own personal struggles to those of the actor's. Expertly written, King of Bollywood puts SRK's life into chronological order while recalling old memories into current day stories for insight into his physiological make up. Chopra really works on getting the actor's words into the book and calls on friends and family to help build the story from outside his prospective.

There is no doubt that Shah Rukh Khan is a master at the game of Bollywood and the art of persistence. King of Bollywood tells the tale of a boy, turned into a husband, who becomes the actor he always dreamed of being and then remaining the man he always was at heart. This wonderfully written book will provide entertainment to Bollywood lovers around the world and for ages to come.

Coming in at 250 pages, Anupama Chopra's authorized biography of Shah Rukh Khan covers from his parents' courtship in 1959 to January 2007. Ms. Chopra adds more details to Shah Rukh Khan's familiar backstory: on his father's business ventures, Shah Rukh's time at St. Columba's School, his parents' illnesses & deaths, & Shah Rukh Khan's training as an actor & his first steps in Mumbai. Several facets of Shah Rukh Khan's career are highlighted, particularly his daring acceptance of the anti-hero roles in Baazigar & Darr, the importance of Yash Chopra, Aditya Chopra, & Karan Johar in the creation of his screen persona, being contacted by the Mumbai mafia, box office slumps, in India, during the Dreamz Unlimited period, & resurgence with Veer-Zaara & Devdas. One gets new details on SRK's life & career but many questions go unanswered, like how did Shah Rukh train to dance, which parent did he inherit his dimples from, & what is a shooting day like on set?

Anupama Chopra's writing is skillful, so much so that I wished this biography was 3-4 times longer & more academic & detailed. There are no endnotes or footnotes within the chapters, but there is an extensive bibliography, arranged by chapter, at the back of the book & a list of people interviewed. There is information on Khan's parents that I had not read before, but Shah Rukh Khan's statements appear to be from past interviews. There are new photographs in the book provided by family & friends of Khan. I wish Ms. Chopra had given more information on the evolution & workings of cinema in Mumbai, on Shah Rukh Khan's & his family's personal lives, & on the family clans that dominate Hindi cinema. Neither her treatment of Shah Rukh Khan's career to present nor the discussion of Hindi cinema in Mumbai feels complete. However, I thoroughly enjoyed her writing (& the thoughtful translations of Hindi words & movie titles) & recommend the book for those who enjoy Shah Rukh Khan's work & Bollywood movies.

This is one of my favorite computer games of all time. It requires thinking and all the literature that comes with it. The plights of Prince Alexander are well-documented in this adventure game that will keep you hooked. The Isle of Wonder scenes are hilarious, and the vizier's genie has rather creative ways of trying to lure Alexander to his death. There are two main endings to the game and several variations on them, so there is plenty to play for. I enjoyed this game a lot. The interactions with the other characters (such as the pawn shop owner, bookstore operator, Jollo, and the ferryman) are essential, and the literary allusions are fun. All in all, a great game for anyone.

I beat the game today and started it yesterday, but i must tell you, its not a short game. I spent all day playing it, its a very long game. If you like crazy adventures, this is your game! You practically need the manual to beat the game though. This game is full of hard puzzles, so if you do not like puzzle games then this games probably not for you. I really reccomend people who are into puzzle/adventure games to get this...

This game is very simple minded. However, it also takes a lot of skill to go through the whole game and places that are needed to beat this game. Overall, a must play!

This is one of my very favorite computer games from when I was a kid. The storyline is creative and interesting, and will keep you playing until you win! There are also two different endings to this game so you can play it many times without getting bored. I can't recommend this game enough, it. is. amazing. It is quite a long game, and if you buy it for your children they may need some help because some difficult puzzles are involved and they might get stuck. And as some other reviewers have said, you DO NEED the booklet that comes with the CD case, it contains the Winged Ones alphabet that you will need to use to solve some riddles. But don't fret if you've lost it, it can be found on the internet along with many walkthroughs to help you-- it's a long game and you have to go to lots of places in the right order to finish!

People who play new computer games may not be thrilled by the graphics, but remember it is from the '90s and the coolness of the game makes up for anything the graphics my lack. Buy it!

Be warned, King's Quest VI cannot be won with out the "Alphebet Translator" located in the "Guide to the Green Isle" booklet. If this booklet is not icluded in you purchase, you will not be able to advance very far. This was Sierra's form of purchase protection.

Did you like the movie? (I loved it!) If yes then you will want this book ... it is all you want to know (and more) about King Kong 2005. A good read.

Having always been a fan of '76 version of King Kong and never having seen the original version, at first when I knew that Peter Jackson was making his updated version, I became excited because it was one of those iconic mosters from my childhood, and also because Peter Jackson's previous works with The Lord of the Rings, which was quite amazing.

This is one very detailed hell of a book!!! Really good technical stuff as well as concept work, I just wish there would have included more Kong pics, either concept art as well as any photo from the movie. But anyway, this stuff is great!!!!

This book is one of the best "Making of" volumes I have read - informative, interesting, intelligent, and with plenty of 'insider' views of the film making process. Refreshingly, the focus is less on the "let's chat with the movie stars" aspect, and far more on the complex process of pulling this huge movie together. A real salute to Peter Jackson and his team!

Very simple...a fantastic book from a fantastic film. Well written and concise. The photography is perfect and fills you in on the myriad of details that went into this stunning film. The parts on how Wellington, New Zealand became New York are worth the price alone. The detail is overwhelming. As someone who lives in New York I was amazed that Peter Jackson and crew captured the rows of piers that once jutted out into the Hudson, towards Hoboken, New Jersey. This didn't have to be put in...yet is a small example of the attention, pure attention to detail that went into the making of this film. This will not destroy the mystery behind the making of this epic...it will enhance it.

Having watched Peter Jackson's remake of King Kong three times already, I wondered so often during the film how they made it all look so real. I never doubted for a second that there was an uncharted island of the coast; it was all so real and vibrant I couldn't help believing. I wanted to know exactly how they created not only Skull Island and it's creatures, but the whole city of New York, the actor's takes on the movie, and Peter Jackson's vision. Having said so, I believe this is the best possible guide for the movie you could have.

Each page is a veritable explosion of color and detail as they take you through step-by-step, explaining the creations of miniatures and models, motion-capture of Andy Serkis, and blue and green screens suddenly turning into lush tropical jungles, or cold, dirty, city streets. They give histories into the Skull Island natives, personal actor narritations of their characters, and detailed explanations of the process of creating an image in the computer and bringing it to life on the big screen. This is one of those books with something for everyone, and you can skip around to whatever interests you most. Myself, I read the entire book and often went back to certain sections to just immerse myself in the creative genius of the people who made this production a reality. It also made me a bit amazed at times, when I learned that the famous log scene was conducted on a bucking constructed log in the middle of a sea of blue screens only 2 meters from the floor. Or that New York wasn't really New York at all. Or even that the biplanes were all reconstructed by hand from old blueprints, because there were no surviving ones. It also talked about teh detail put into the shop windows, where everything was bought or made by hand. After reading this, I had such a deep feeling of respect and amazment for the people who worked on this production, making it as realistic as possible. I know that sounds weird, because King Kong is a fantasy story, but with such heart and detail and life, it's hard to think of it as anything but real. In all, this is the perfect book for anyone who wants more insight into the world of Kong, or even wants to be entertained and amazed time and time again.

"Merlin's Musings" truly is a "love letter to writers everywhere." It's a validation of why we, as writers, do what we do, and why the process and the commitment have meaning and importance. In one chapter/column after another, words and ideas jump off the page to affirm support, honor the creative process, throw down challenges, and remind us how fulfilling the writing process can be. "The ability to write is a gift, and, as such, it requires time and care to make it blossom." "Perception is the miracle we're given each moment we notice we're still breathing." "You must not only see the movies you write, but feel, hear, smell, and taste them." We're encouraged to find the depth in our characters, craft the words that bring images alive and fine-tune moods, understand the importance of balance in a script, look inside ourselves for that authentic voice. It's daunting stuff, but it's delivered in a way that gives you a sense of excitement about going back to the script with a bit more critical eye.

And underpinning it all is the heart that comes through in every piece, the love and compassion and courage that infuse these musings, whether they're about writing, selling, movies, the industry, politics, or her own "remarkable family of writers." I believe that whether this book finds a writer who is still thinking about it, or just starting out, or has been at it for twenty years, the same message will be discovered: "Trust in what you know. Be brave. Welcome to the unknown."

...and all the better for it. If you are a fan of Sally Merlin's column in Scr(i)pt magazine you are already familiar with her witty and spiritual view of the writing process. If you are not familiar with Merlin's Musings you won't be disappointed. Far from another "how to," Merlin's poignant essays get right at the essence and heart of writing--the "why" is more important than the "how." (The section entitled "Magic" says it all.) From memories as a child of Hollywood writers to her own experiences in the film industry, her authentic voice rings through on every page. Her own hauntingly beautiful photos compliment the prose--she could have yet another career as a photographer if she so desired.

Sally's love of writing, and of writers, shines through these fifty-three columns spanning her thirty-some years in the film trade. As she says so herself in her introduction, "This book is my love letter to writers everywhere." And it shows. This is a book for the rest of us who are in it for the passion of the dream and the pure love of writing.

You don't have to be a screenwriter to enjoy and embrace Sally Merlins musings. Ms. Merlins compilation of personal anecdotes and philosophical musings is truly a gift of the spirit and a must read for all writers in all disciplines. Be prepared though, to learn the business and the magic of writing along with a thing or two about yourself. Musings manages to find
the common thread of spiritual truth within the film business and artfully weaves both together in a way that shows her great respect and love for all writers. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is either embarking on a writing path or is already on one. Even non-writers will enjoy Ms. Merlin's anecdotes of Hollywood and her depth of feeling for the process of writing.

Sally Merlin is the essence of what it means to be a writer.

In lyrical prose she sings to the very spirit of the artistic heart with a symphony of years of experience. Her book, 'Merlin's Musings,' is not only educational and insightful but inspirational as well.

Merlin's Musings is a must for every teacher, class, writer or novice not intimidated to sail the open seas of imagination and creativity.

Enrich your life and your craft. Get the book!

I've been reading Sally's column for many years, as well. It is the first thing I turn to when my magazine arrives and she NEVER disappoints.

I'm so excited to be able to hold all her columns in my hand and browse through them at will. Like Sally herself, this book lifts the writer to a magical and more creative plain, inspiring one to dig deeper and write with more honesty and clarity.

This isn't a book of "have tos." This is a book of "cans." This book is the next best thing to be mentored by her personally.

This is an absolutely fantastic book. It is a series of essays from very well known industry professionals and will help anyone to better understand the perspective of the other people you're working with on the set.

Lots of straight speak from people who really know the industry. For a newbie who wants to understand the mechanics and terminology of the business, this book is perfect. I haven't found a page yet that I wanted to skim over; there is no fluff. A wonderful bargain even at the ... list price.

Don't overlook this book despite the fact that it is ten years old. Sure, you'll need another source for DVD, new media and internet delivery. But this book covers everything up to home video very well.

I have recently bought over ten movie business making books, all starting with this one. I would have to say that out of all of the books I have read thought, this would have to be the best out of them all. Not only do they have chapters written by different people, they are all people that are in the business. They break down hollywood lingo and include a basic pay structure. This book is the most informative of the film books I have read. This is the book you buy if you want a break down of movie careers, but not for how to personally make it yourself into the business.

This is a great book on the business of movies written by people who actually are in the business. Each section is tackled by someone specializing in that aspect of the industry, from writing and production to distribution and marketing. They discuss where the money goes and how they try to get it back, the risks, the rewards, for big studios and independents, and for distribution channels domestic and international. It details mostly the process and structure of the business and leaves out most of the name-dropping common in most other books about the industry. As such, it is somewhat lacking in case studies. But I found this omission to be helpful because it did not cloud the structures and processes the book was trying to illustrate. (For a more recent book that discusses implications and outcomes of these structures, look into "The Gross" by Peter Bart.)

The text is a bit old now (last revision 1992), but most of the contributors seemed to have hit on trends that have continued to this day. In terms of the industry's structure and process, the book seems very current. Inflate the cited figures and it could have been written yesterday.

I searched high and low for a decent book about the business and I finally found it in this text.

My wife and I are movie fans...though not like those hard core guys who hang out at independent film festivals...and we love this book.

It's a wonderful introduction to all the ins and outs of the movie business. The writers talk about film as a business and how the business side of film influences their creative choices. Revenue streams, copywrite issues, and how to "make it in Hollywood" are all discussed thoroughly in this book.

The authors were obviously choosen because of their expertise, but most of them are surprisingly good at conveying information in a way non-industry people can understand. I was expecting that each chapter in this book would be filled with Hollywood jargon...like when you read an article in Variety, but that is not the case.

If you love movies and REALLY want to understand how they work, this book is a must. Other books are great at explaining the artistic side (for example, How to Read a Film is a great title), but The Movie Business Book is wonderful since all of its contributors understand that modern film cannot be fully understood as a work of art unless you understand how the economics of Hollywood influence how the art is shaped.

Movie Sets 101: The Definitive Survivor's Guide by professional special effects and makeup filmmaker Paul J. Salamoff is the complete and deftly written 240-page guide covering every important detail of the movie making business. Readers will be educated with seasoned and experienced advise drawn from over 70 working professionals, including Wes Craven, Ron Underwood, Tom DeSanto, James Gunn, Daniel Roebuck, Owen Roizman, Andrea Weaver, Kenny Myers, John Medlen and many others. Movie Sets 101 is highly recommended to all readers, whether they be aspiring movie makers, experienced professionals in the film business, or the ordinary movie enthusiast viewing the finished product. Movie Sets 101 it can really teach its readers every perspective of the movie making business and should be a part of any personal, professional, and academic library Film Studies reference collection.

A pragmatic guide to appropriate film set behavior with a complete and concise reference section. Simply put, it's a great tool for anybody starting out in the film production business, required reading.

An outstanding and unique guide to what the numerous players in producing a movie do and should not do with illustrations and antidotes from well known professionals in the field. Fascinating to the film lover, the curious and necessary for those plying the trade.

Why spend thousands of dollars on film school when you can learn everything you need to know for $17.95 on MOVIE SET 101? A certifiably great book, intensely well-researched, full of valuable info for the rookie and veteran alike. A must have!

This is a great book. Even if you already work in film and tv there's something unexpected to be read. It gives you a really good heads up about on-the-set mayhem you could never really anticipate and wouldn't expect until it happens. Invaluable stuff.