Video Books

A graduation requirement for my high school is a year-long senior research project on a subject we choose. This project includes a year-long research portfolio, a piece of work applying the research, as well as a 20-30 minute presentation. I decided to research costume design for films. The first book I found was this book by Richard La Motte, and it was the most helpful book out of all 27 that I read for my research project. This book not only tells of costume designing itself, it shows what goes on behind the curtain, the business of it, the organization and preparation involved in costume design, etc. This book truly is a costume designer's manual. There is so much helpful information written in a clear way, there are examples in the book that help the reader understand the information even more clearly, as well as some designs by the author himself. This book helped me ace my Senior Project, and also inspired me to study and pursue costume design for films.

I found this book to be incredibly useful. Even though I work in stage theater, its information is immediately applicable for all levels of productions. It has tips for organizational skills, outlines of how things work, who does what, advice on how to manage your time, working with actors, dealing with unexpected problems, etc.

I've read it several times and each time I get something new out of it. Read this book, apply it, and you will be a shining star that gets hired again and again for productions.

An excellent "how to" for anyone in the costume or fashion business, or someone wanting to know more about the inside scoop of what it takes to make the costumes in a movie come together. Well written. Gave me a better appreciation for how movies look.

This book is probably THE most informative book I have ever read, irregardless of the subject. Everthing you need to know about costume design is here, in this book. Critical information when contemplating a career, that you cannot get in a classroom. The author has been there, worked in the "trenches", for years, has had a successful career, and is now willing to share years of accumulated knowledge. I was amazed at all I gained from this book.

This book is a hybrid of interview collections and workbook exercises, designed to help filmmakers with their creative processes, not using the dumbed-down how-to-manual approach that so many filmmaking books employ, but in an intelligent and subtle way that engages and challenges the reader. These authors have assembled a formidable list of filmmakers -- the brains and souls behind The English Patient, Toy Story, E.R., Boys Don't Cry, many more -- and asked them more than the usual-suspect kind of questions, and by doing so have managed to go deeply into the creative process. The book interweaves the interviews with anecdotes, proverbs, and a group of creativity exercises which are several levels above the kind of artists' self-help books that have sometimes insulted our intelligence in the past. Ever wonder how Anthony Minghella thought of the opening shot for The English Patient? Or how Merchant Ivory get those stellar casts? This book actually tells you things you want to know, and then challenges you to go out and make a movie.

Inspiring! This book reminds you that the most important thing you have to contribute as an artist is already within you. Essential reading for anyone in any creative endeavor. Buy this book and fly!

I teach a seminar for teenagers in digital video. When I started designing the curriculum, it was mostly a "how-to" kind of thing. After reading this book, I changed the whole focus of the seminar. I asked the kids to look inside themselves and think about what they, personally, had to say. I said, "You are like kids who have been given a big box of crayons. Do you want to scribble on the wall, or do you want draw something special from your heart?" When they turned in their treatments for their video projects, they had taken the ideas of this book to heart.
This book should be required reading for anyone who teaches filmmaking or is starting out as a filmmker. It will get them on the right track!

"Creative Filmmaking From The Inside Out," is a brilliant book! This book utilizes industry experts, who through their own experiences and examples, explain the creative process of filmmaking from concept though completion.

At the end of each chapter, the authors outline suggestions and exercises to evoke the reader's own creativity and abilities.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that is either interested in filmmaking or is already involved in a film career, as it is always fascinating to see how successful people approach their own creative problems. Creativity is the one commodity which Hollywood is always looking for, but for which there are no formulas.

This is a very nice guide that has pretty much all the info you would ever need to succeed in the game. It has nice descriptions of all the nanosuit abilities and the weapons. It's easy to read and gives tons of suggestions on how to complete all the levels. In fact, your head starts to spin when you consider all of the possible ways to defeat your enemies. The photos are a tad small, but I guess the publisher had to compensate for all the text. Each objective is described in detail. David Hodgson has authored several very good guides, and this is no exception.

Excellent guide for an excellent game.Describes multiple options for a given scenario and also has tips on free-lancing if you don't want to follow the guide.

This guide covers every mission in Crysis in great detail. Gives several options for getting to the next checkpoint with efficiency. The reading gets a little tedious because of the game detail so it can only be read one mission at a time. It does not read like a fluid novel - but that's not its objective.

This book has everything I wanted to know about Crysis. It arrived in good time and good condition.

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.

Dances with wolves is one of my favourite movies ever. Once you see the movie as many times as I've seen it :) you try to find something else to continue the story. The ilustrated story of the epic brings you back to the movie and has very nice photos and comments of several scenes. I reccomend it to any fan of the movie.

I got this book at Waldens ages ago and have enjoyed looking it over repeatedly. Dances With Wolves is truly a masterpiece and brilliant work. Kevin Costner is simply the best in acting, directing, and entertaining us.
Penni Weston
Author of Accidental Outlaw a novel written for Kevin Costner.

If you liked the movie then this book is a must! Not only was Kevin Costner make one of the best films in history but he followed it up with this great book! My daughter picked this one up for me at a library sale. I didn't even know it existed to be honest or I would have purchased it myself. The book is a bit tattered so I checked out the local bookstore and although they didn't have it on the shelf, it can be ordered. If you liked the movie then consider this book for your collection. I fully recommend this great work of art by Mister Costner and friend.

I wonder if Kevin Costner even realizes the artistic and historic contribution he has made with this film. As an artist I found this book to satisfy my graphic appetite and as a romantic I have, once again, been allowed to travel back in time. Mr. Costner has shown us his artistic brilliance in so many ways and I thank him for his efforts. Enjoy the book; it is a treasure.

This book is INDISPENSABLE in using the expansion pack of Catacombs. You can play without it fine, but with this book, you can play Outstandingly. Maps are out of this world!!! Explanations of changes are marvelous. I highly recommend this to any DAoC player ! :)

I found this helpful in that most of what I needed to learn about Catacombs is in one place. Much less time spent searching for new merchants,other NPCs, mobs and drops. The maps are a lot nicer than the ones found in earlier DAOC Prima guides and in color. As stated in earlier reviews you also get maps for the New Frontiers.

The downside is that as the game continues to evolve some of the info will be out of date.

Ranorian Syraandor here, author of most of the Albion section and the Passage of Conflict/Darkness Falls strategy sections. Like Larian said, this book is totally worth it, and invaluable for exploring the new zones. Even if you're not that interested in Catacombs, the New Frontiers maps are great, especially considering they have all the individual regions named, and have mob lists.

The book itself is packed with information: Mob lists, zone writeups, gorgeous full-color maps with NPCs, zone points, and dungeons clearly marked, along with class writeups <<by the developers!>>, strategies for the Passage of Conflict and Darkness Falls dungeons, backround on the new classes, the lore of each of the new zones, and even a full loot list for the new Darkspire instanced epic dungeon! There's also blurbs explaining Arulite and instanced dungeons.

Trust us on this one, the guide is really worth the money. Of course, it's not 100% accurate, but pretty darn close. Total accuracy is almost impossible, since the game literaly changes every week due to Mythic putting through new patches. But like I said...it's VERY useful, even with a few minor flaws.

I must say that I am extremely pleased with how this book has turned out. Deadlines prevented us from getting everything 100% nailed down, but we did manage to get this book looking really good! The maps by Kallisti and Brasse alone make the book worth the price. These maps are far superior to any maps previously published in a Prima Guide (those familiar with Kallisti's maps know what I am talking about).

Not only are the maps extremely well done, but the listing of items and monsters is very comprehencise, and has the sort of information that a player will need.

The new character classes are amazingly detailed in this book as well. There is the added bonus that each class has a section written by the developer hiimself! This way you get an inside view into the class, as well as getting a player's perspective on the class.

And the additional material included makes for very enjoyable reading! There is a lot of background lore on Catacombs included as well as some RvR strategies, information on housing, and the ever popular humour from Kwip!

A great lesson! I bought this book to refresh my memory of screenplay style as I begin to prepare writing my own. Tarantino is known for his dialogue between characters and that is why I purchased this. It was a good read and did not disappoint. I took away from it several lessons on screenplay style.

Do not be swayed by the Tarantino haters out there. If you want to learn style he is one of the best today. There are many that throw around the terms "boycott", "overrated", etc. I am still fascinated by the number of people that go out of their way to drag down Tarantino's work yet they still see his movies. You would think by now that they would have learned to just not watch them. In reality these people are just jealous of the success he has had. Tarantino very often is referencing other movies that he watched while growing up. He is usually not doing anything original but is instead giving a film history lesson giving us glimpses of the movies of the past.

Follow your own path. Make your own decisions and do not listen to the haters.

If you like Tarantino, you'll like the Screenplay he has written for Death Proof. Simple as that. Plus, it helps young screenwriters to know what to look for and what to do when attempting to write a screenplay of their own.

This is an amazing piece of screenplay literature to own! I am a music major and after reading this and viewing Grindhouse several times I am seriously considering changing my major to film. This is an amazing addition to your library as it weaves you in and out of action, horror and sex; the "100% Death Proof" Tarantino way.

Wow. Tarantino does it again, and is still at the top of his game. Quentin took a break from his smooth dialogue in both Kill Bill films. But he returns and scores gold once again. I recommend this to anyone interested in Quentin Trantino.

Dan Birlew (better known to survival horror fans on the web as "President Evil") penned this easy-to-follow strategy guide.

I'm one of those players who doesn't have great reflexes and normally gets sliced to ribbons playing a game like this. But thanks to Birlew's guide, I was able to survive some of the toughest bosses, bad reflexes and all. The book points out the bosses's strengths and weaknesses, how to attack them and how to avoid them, as every good game guide should.

Oh, yeah, I did find one mistake in Birlew's guide: he states that you can't purchase untouchables (items that temporarily make you invincible). In fact, untouchables can be purchased at any time, though it'll cost you. Perhaps this was a change in the game that was implemented after Birlew's guide went to press.

Even I have to admit that Dan Birlew is getting much better. After that FFIX guide I thought this guy would be bad. Anyways, to start off. I've been a HUGE collector of video game guides (I may be 15 and have high expectations for a guide such as they do need to help me a give me a gaming experience in the process) and I know a good guide when I see it.

This guide is defenitely good. Anyways, I read the other reviews, and Dan Birlew didn't do the Xenogears guide nor did David Cassady, it was Ronald Wartow, its right there on the fron cover. The maps are easy to read while I do admit they get tiresome every guide does. I know the maps aren't done by Dan Birlew but still they could use a little work. I look more at the detail in the walkthrough rather than how flashy the maps and screenshots are.

The walkthrough helps you out a lot and doesn't give off any spoilers at all and gets right to the point. I like this guide because the walkthrough is put together organized and doesn't look like it was rushed to get out. Its 160 pages and the guide has extremely good detail to it. Unlike the Prima (only 90 pages) and VERSUS BOOKS (112 pages) this guide has a ton of info.

I'd recomend this guide for anybody who likes strategy guides as much as I do.

This guide is absolutely brilliant in ways that can't all be described! This guide is very detailed with some brilliant things to offer. Detailed maps, great walkthrough, and some bonus material make this DMC guide a must own.

Anyway, the guide really seems to live up to my expectations. Detailed maps of EVERY AREA unlike some of the other guides, and they pin-point the location of items and blue orb fragment. Not to mention that the strategy is very good as well. The maps are colorful and very detailed.

The walkthrough is well done giving you a brief details on bosses. For each boss they show you a suggested Life Gauge and a suggested Devil Trigger. Now thats something that I found really helpful in this guide.

The guide covers all the secrets including how to lock hidden characters and game modes! The guide also features an art gallery and exclusive Interviews! Again, it doesn't hurt to read them!

Overall, this is probably the best DMC guide out there. Much more detail and organization went into the walkthrough. Forget VERSUS BOOKS, this is your perfect guide to DMC!

Addressing the previous reviewer: Dan Birlew didn't even write the Xenogears guide, someone else named David Cassidy did. And why would you compare Mr. Birlew to Casey Lowe who writes guides for Pokemon? That's comparing apples to apples seeds. As for the maps, they were obviously not done by the author, just read the credits. Now for a more mature and observant review: This particular Devil May Cry guide is concise and thorough. It's written for an audience that is intelligent and sharp, a compliment to all gamers. The writing style does not talk down to the reader, as some guides tend to do. The slick design and stylized cover are done in such a way that it attracts gamers like me--adults with jobs and money to spend on toys. Overall, this guide is perfect for those gamers who do not fall into the "living in my parent's basement" stereotype. Kudos to BradyGames for targeting mature gamers with jobs!

The first film covered by Charles Mitchell in this fine book happens to be my favorite "devil" movie of all time - the film noir "Alias Nick Beal," starring Ray Milland as Satan and Audrey Totter as his unwilling femme fatale accomplice out to ensnare the soul of an ambitious politician (Thomas Mitchell). And reeling me in, Mr. Mitchell also includes such classics as "The Devil and Daniel Webster" and "Heaven Can Wait," the wonderfully camp "The Devil's Rain" (with Ernest Borgnine, of all people, as the Devil), and the abysmal "Satan's School for Girls." In addition to the ninety-five films and terrific photos presented in this exhaustive work, there are two appendices - one listing more than 100 obscure "devil" films dating from 1896 to 2000 and another covering 18 actors, including Fred Astaire, Burgess Meredith, Mickey Rooney, and Julie Newmar(!), who have portrayed the Devil on television. Mr. Mitchell, the author of "Screen Sirens Scream!" and "The Hitler Filmography," has written a detailed and entertaining book that deserves to be in every film buff's library.

This is a dun book with a "Devil may Care" approach. Each film is completely annotated with witty and sometime hilarious reviews (and, as a change of pace, a few profound observations). Are you looking to learn more about the silent classics? STUIDENT OF PRAGUE (1913 or 1927) or Murnau's FAUST. This is the right place to come. Many delightful photos, plus rating system that separates the wheat from the chaff. You will find more scree devil's than you ever dreamed existed..singing devils (such as Ray Walston and Danny Elfman), comic devils (such as George Burns and Stanley Holloway), charming devils (such as Laird Cregar and Vincent Price), charming devils (such as Ray Milland or Max von Sydow), sinister devils (such as Richard Burton or Victor Buono) or really creepy devils (such as Jeff Goldblum or Michael York). This book can be enjoyable when read in short spurts or an all night readathon. Plus the information in the appendix alone is an expert compendium. Recommended

This is a colorful, informative and delightful book about all the films in which the devil appears. The book is also scholarly even if it is ligthearted in tone. Also well illustrated. Love the caption of Lon Chaney in THE DEVIL'S MESSENGER in which Satan has the names of all the damned filed away on a rolodex. Although the main section of the book only covers features, the appendix covers all movies with the devil dating back to the late 19th century and scree wizard Georges Melies. There is also a section of TV devils in the second appendix? Did you know that Fred Astaire, Jack Benny and JHulie Newmar all played TV devils? My favorite point is that the author recalled humorist Jean Shepherd's hilarious depiction of the devil taking a holiday in New Orleans. I though nobody else remembered that program which I taped on my VCR. Bravo to THE DEVIL ON SCREEN. Highly recommneded!

When I first began reading THE DEVIL ON SCREEN, I looked for my favorite films---Mitchell begins with ALIAS NICK BEAL (1949)with Ray Milland as 'the Devil.' He goes through all of the screen credits, gives an annotated cast listing, an appraisal and succinct synopsis, a word on the actor's performances and finally, some notable quotes from the screenplay. Stills and lobby cards are included wherever possible.

The author's forte is that he uses this configuration for every film he analyzes---and his perception is always on target!

For example, besides the fantasy element in BEAL, Mitchell also
catches the aspects of "film noir," which make his review doubly rewarding. He knows his film music, especially the noirish Franz Waxman score (which has gone unrecorded all of these years) but more importantly, despite all of the detailed turns of the plot, Mitchell uses original source information to enhance the chapter.

He interviwed Audrey Totter, one of the film's stars, who related some "inside information" about her fellow actors, their attitudes on the set and her dissatisfaction with the studio, Paramount, which promoted the film badly. Mitchell hopes for its "rediscovery" and as a reader, I applaud his critique---not for just this film but the hundred or so films he accurately and astutely examines with his fine sense of critical purview.

Mitchell's book is an A to Z of "devil films," with two excellent appendices, a thorough and useable index and wonderful stills and lobby cards that entice the reader to read a review of a film that he or she may NOT have seen. His publisher has also done justice to the author's work because of its beautiful, artful and colorful front and back covers and has produced a library bound edition worthy for purchase for collectors, libraries and for those of us who are fascinated by the theme of the "devil in cinema."

Too bad Mitchell had to begin his critical analysis in 1913 and ended it in 2000---for there must be some "devilish" films out there through 2002---and his gaze is not only on American cinema but international films that come under his critical view--such as the 1922 silent Danish work by Ben Christensen, HAXAN, which was recently brought out on DVD by Criterion and that French sound marvel from 1942, LES VISITEURS DU SOIR with Arletty and Jules Berry as the Devil. Certainly, Mitchell's exploration of the theme is comprehensive, detailed, insightful and at times, even humorous.

This is a book I have always wanted for my own collection---and Mitchell's other books, one on APOCALYPTIC CINEMA and a GUIDE TO FILMS OF CHARLIE CHAN (both published by Greenwood Press)[Note: Mitchell's book on CHAN is the BEST ONE ON THE MARKET!]-- are worthy forerunners in film criticsm to this new DEVIL work from McFarland & Co. I hear by the critical grapevine that Mitchell has something in the works about "HITLER IN FILM" and possibly a biography of RICHARD BASEHART, one of the most neglected character actors of the late forties and early fifties. I hope my sources are correct and we also see these future volumes--but I am still content with THE DEVIL ON SCREEN for now---there is so much good "stuff" in it that I can hardly put it down.

Excellent information on a huge range of topics. Highly recommend book.

This is the best resource book I have ever seen about all aspects of digital design. It covers computer basics then has sections on print and web. Descriptions are clear, easy to understand, beautifully illustrated and absolutely up to date. This is a must-have book for teachers.

This is something a new graphic/web designer will refer to, if he/she needs to know about certain terms used in the business or about the tools that he/she may need to get his/her job done. It doesn't go into details but provides enough information to go further. Excellent layout, design and printing.

I am a newbie to digital design and this book covers everything, from color management to printing processes to how to price your work and manage work flow.
A MUST for any beginner...this is the best reference I have come across by far.