Dance Books

Hollywood is a vicious dog eat dog world and surviving in it can be difficult. This is where "One Less Bitter Actor: The Actor's Survival Guide" comes in, and grants aspiring thespians great and sage advice such as how to combat being typecast, bad habits to avoid, the deadliest questions to be asked, and dealing with the crushing disappointment of rejection. Written by Hollywood veteran Markus Flanagan with over two decades of experience, "One Less Bitter Actor: The Actor's Survival Guide" is recommended for actors everywhere and needs a place on every community library shelf devoted to the art of acting.

This book was well written and spoke to not only the Actor inside you but the starving artist. And no matter how successful you are that fear is always there. So stop putting off figuring a way to channel that energy "until I make it", and start now by reading this book. In my career I will recommend two books and this is one of them... Sean Rogers

A concise quick read, a highly entertaining, well-written indispensable book for actors who want to keep their head and keep acting. Great advice, not so much about technique, but about how to better do what you are doing. Recommended for veterans and neophytes alike and covers auditions, the industry, staying sane, staying focused, and advice on melding the actor as artist with the actor in show business. Stop stewing, start smiling. What are you waiting for?

As a non actor I enjoyed reading this distilled documentation of an actors life. It was like walking for a while in his shoes learning the fear, embarassment,and pain that goes into tying to make it in the world of show buisness.

I learned that like with most difficult things it's your mindset that can ultimatly save you and preserve you for yet another audition and another challenge. I also got that treating others as you would like to be treated goes a long way in making an otherwise difficult situation better all the way around.

I would recomend this to non-actors as insight into another world, and of course actors as a first rate guide into what's in store and how to handel "the Biz" successfully.

"Acting is a collector for those without a career plan." This is one of the sharpest observations in this no-nonsense guide to navigating the "madness" of the business. It is also a wake up call for those of us who enter this industry prepared to work but under-prepared for the workplace: the dynamics and casting decisions that are mystifying but rule our day-to-day perspective as creative people. If we let them.
With a tone of urgency (yet the cool voice of a pragmatist) the author urges actors to look beyond the guesswork of booking to keep perspective and focus when egos jostle or "entitlement syndrome" gets the best of us. "Do the work," he says, and he sounds like he's been there.

The author's experience makes for a survival guide that offers both seat-of-the-pants advice for the audition ("hold the room hostage") and encouragement to look beyond the call to the nuts-and-bolts of career building: "Perform a career activity each day." This valuable yet overlooked key to success is crucial for the 99% of us who spend our time thinking about why we're not making it, when we could be doing something to increase our odds. Behind every star there is a hard-won battle for success, and from the stories in the book these battles are not always glamorous. But a well-tended career - like a garden - is likely to yield delicious fruit, though weeding may not be fun.

I liked this book because it was a voice of encouragement from one actor to another to weed, prune, and water our careers - and our creative impulses. The simple advice is to "do the work." We act because we want to, he reminds us, but too often drudgery, insecurity, and uncertainty get in our way. But we're in a career for which no high-school counselor or acting program could prepare us, and indeed we do need a survival guide. The book is a helpful reminder to keep the work in the foreground, focus on long-term success, and let everyone else worry about the stuff that we can't control.

Bought this as a present for my husband though i had a look in it and it covers a-z of Sci-Fi flicks. Would recommend to any fan.

This is an outstanding book. Great reference and all that implies. I like Science Fiction and this book is indispensable. Seems to be little known but it is an outstanding reference work.

This really has to be recognised as a monumental reference work. The sheer breadth of material found and reviewed by Hardy is extraordinary. I will be using this book for years to come.

I've had this excellent book for several years, and I still go back to it at least once a month to look something up. There is simply no more complete reference guide to science fiction films available. Think you know science fiction cinema? Prepare to be humbled by the sheer volume of this book. I especially appreciate the reviews of the early, silent films, many of which we will probably never get to see.

Some of the reviews are better thought-out than others. And you may occasionally marvel at how a film you were sure was an all-time classic only gets a mediocre review. But these are minor quibbles for an otherwise excellent volume.

If you're a fan of sci-fi films, you absolutely MUST own this book. Yes, it's pricey, but it also might be the last film reference book you will ever need.

You can spend hours browsing trough this encyclopedia. Of course you will recognize many of the classic. Yet you may be surprised at the multitude of great films that you missed. There are better descriptions and stills than you find in most of the genre magazines.

Contents:

THE EARLY YEARS: Innocent Beginnings (1895-1919)
THE TWENTIES: Dark Visions and Brash Adventure
THE THIRTIES: Mad Scientists and Comic Book Heroes
THE FORTIES: Science Fiction Eclipsed

THE FIFTIES: Science Fiction Reborn
THE SISTIES: Science Fiction Respectable
THE SEVENTIES: Big Budgets and Big Bucks
THE EIGHTIES: Science Fiction Triumphant

I am not going to bore you with the list of my favorites but I challenge you not to fine one of yours.

Well researched and poetically rendered, this book tells a compelling story of The Little Town That Could. It's not just for R.E.M. fans, either; some of the best passages take the reader to the early 70s, when chance meetings, boredom, a thriving gay subculture, and some unsung movers-and-shakers who watched from the wings made things happen. Rodger Lyle Brown was there for much of the action and he captures the voices (and vices) of scores of characters who sowed the seeds that were reaped by bands such as the B-52's and R.E.M..

This book is a must for anyone interested in the Athens music scene (REM, B52s). Actually, it's insight on the challenges new bands face in breaking through makes it a must read for anyone in the music business. Greatly entertaining and a fast read. And I actually knew a few of the people mentioned in the book.

It's great to see this book back in print - seemingly a modest look into a grass-roots community of eclectics and artists, PARTY OUT OF BOUNDS actually presents a valuable piece of history - the rise of the Athens GA music and arts scene.

The reverberations from Athens ultimately threw a spotlight onto similar developments in Austin, Boulder, Chapel Hill, Winston-Salem, Minneapolis, Seattle/Olympia, Monterrey MX, and countless other places off the beaten track of the commercial culture industry, spawning a tremendous amount of great and influential work in the process, and this book is - amazingly - still one of the only documents of it all.

Browne was a part of the scene, so his resources, contacts and memories aid in the construction of a rich cultural history. The DIY spirit of the times has been reflected in other works (Clinton Heylin's FROM THE VELVETS TO THE VOIDOIDS springs to mind) focusing on other places, but certain other aspects - the diversity among the people and participants - is largely overlooked in most histories, and Browne gives the art influences, the 'Southern' influences, and the gay influences that all formed some of the scene's foundations the respect they deserve.

And Browne does detail just how stressing and grueling being in a struggling young rock band can be - the joy and the myth is here for sure, but so is the work and financial strain. Browne hits the perfect balance in the writing - he manages to convey, with equal import, the cultural significance, and the fun and energy in scenes like the one that exploded in Athens, and one is also left with a great picture of how such developments can impact (culturally) cities and towns for decades afterwards: again, though this book is Athens-specific in its' historical focus, this in many ways is the story of many places.

At every level, this is an essential recounting of the history of grass-roots and underground creativity in the US.

-David Alston

Just so that the author isn't the only one posting reviews, let me just say that I've lost track of the number of times I've enjoyed this book. Every time I reread it, it conjures up a movie in my mind, artistic college kids in the deep South living to party and play music. Although I grew up in Minnesota, the early punk/new wave scene of the late seventies was much the same here as it was in Athens, GA, and the (hazy) memories of that time are lovingly recounted here.

Hey folks. Yes, this is a facsimile of the original edition from 1991, except this one has a great new cover that's much more like what I wanted for the first edition. Got a new intro, too. Folks have been asking for copies for years, but it's been out of print (with used copies for as much as $50, if you can imagine). If you have any rem, b's, or otherwise fans of athens, let em know.

Any questions, email me at rodlbro@aol.com

rodger brown (author)

This book, gives an incredibly close look at Boston legends, the Pixies', best album. Way ahead of its time, Doolittle is probably in my top 10 greatest albums of all time and Ben Sisario goes straight to the source to dig up the dirt on it. Ben literaly takes a ride with the Pixies frontman, Charles Thompson (AKA Black Francis, aka Frank Black) in Thompson's big body Cadillac where he spills the beans on some of his most violent/beautiful/mysterious lyrics. From the first demos to years of obscurity on the shelves of record stores, you get to look from all angles (except Kim Deal's, who refused to be interviewed) at this influential and monumental masterpiece and truly understand it's beauty and significance.

While the 33 1/3 series seems short, it's the perfect length to tell the story/history of great albums. By the time you get through the first chapters, you're chomping at the bit to listen to Doolittle. And yes, you'll go back to these wonderful books for info on songs, recording techniques, and to re-read weird stories attached to different songs. Buy them and enjoy.

Doolittle has been my favorite album since it came out... I read this book sitting on a beach in Vancouver, CA, surrounded by drag-queens, interpretive dancers, Sikhs, Chinese families, and with a fireworks show in the harbor... the surrealism of the surroundings was only enhanced by the book...
Sisario's humor and obvious literary knowledge made this book about one of the greatest albums and bands ever an amazing treat... art, philosophy, music, biography, psychology, all compounded to make this an ideal book for even non-Pixies fans.

Ben Sisario's Doolittle is the most insightful book in the 33 1/3 series I have read so far. His interviews with Charles Thompson (Frank Black, Black Francis) and others involved in the formation of Doolittle make this a near perfect resource. This book has made listening to Doolittle, if you can believe it, even more enjoyable!

Outstanding study of Doolittle and snapshot of the Pixies themselves. Rare access to Frank Black, very illuminating analysis. Highly recommended.

I love this book!!
First, the book's name as its cover photo: Polar Dance. It's really a creative and vivid name for the whole book.
Second, it's the largest polar bear book I've ever seen. Of course, there are plenty of amazing photos inside. I love the way of the author introducing the photos: you can see all the photos without any words disturbance in your field of view, using your own imaginary to give a name for the photos and the check it at the end of book. Maybe first time you will find it not convenient; however, after a while, you're gonna love it.
Third, the quality of printing is worthy the money. I'm fortunate to get a used book but like brand new condition.
I haven't finished reading the words but at least for the photos, it is really an amazing polar bear book.

I found Tom Mangelsen's gallery in Jackson a few months ago, and while I was there, I had a chance to see many of his just downright stunning images.

As an aspiring wildlife photographer, I truly appreciate the superb work of Tom Mangelsen. Also, while in his gallery, I had the chance to talk to as well as meet Mr. Mangelsen himself.

This book is just simply stunning. I cannot think of any other description. The many different images of the polar bear in its natural environment has to be seen to be appreciated.

What I like the most about this book over so many other "nature" books is that we get to see the many facets of the polar bears life, from the tender side with a mother and her babies, to the savage nature of these beautiful animals...not just some glossy expose that says nothing.

I would encourage anyone who loves nature photography, whether you are a "couch" photographer/explorer or are planning on a career in wildlife photography.

Heartily recommended!!!!

Mangelsen has created an outstanding work of art that can be appreciated by polar bear lovers and nature lovers alike. The intentional ommission of captions until the end of the book allows the reader to view each photo as a work of art, absorbing the beauty and magic of each piece. It is an essential coffee table book for those intrigued and mystified by the polar bear, and strongly recommended for anyone who enjoys nature photography. A definite bargin in the world of nature photography books.

This is an essential book for polar bear and nature photography lovers alike. There are over 250 photos of polar bears, and arctic wildlife captured in the beautiful frozen world they live in.

I found the photography truly captivating. The adorable bears are shown splashing in the water, dancing, taking afternoon naps & wandering through the snow. There is even one of the mother making friends with a sled dog.

I was deeply touched by the many images of the cubs snuggling close to their mother. I found the other wildlife photos featuring many foxes and birds equally impressive. The captions for all the images are in the back of the book.

Along with the pictures, there is a wonderful story of a year in the life of a mother polar bear & her 2 cubs. The author switches pleasingly between factual accounts of the arctic world, folklore, & the personal story of the bear family.

I discovered the work of Thomas Mangelson about ten years ago in Jackson, Wyoming, when I stumbled across a gallery devoted to his work. The most famous image there, the one of two grown polar bears "dancing," is on the cover of this book.

The book encapsulates all the artistry of this outstanding photographer. As difficult as it is to capture wildlife images, it's doubly so when you are photographing white animals against snow! Mangelson spends some four months a year in the Arctic, enlarging his huge repertoire of images. I can't begin to imagine the patience and meticulous attention to detail that is required to gather these pictures, but I'm glad Mangelson can!

I love the fact that this book shows the chronological sequence in the life of a bear family, and also that it doesn't have captions on each page. That allows you to follow the sequence of images undisturbed by human intrusion - you become a part of the life cycle, so to speak. Mangelson's work enables the viewer to see the bears as a complex family unit in addition to their usual portrayal as hardy predators. It cannot fail to move the viewer; this is a book to savor again and again.

I'm a huge fan of just about every image this photographer has ever published, and this book is, to me, the culmination of his work. I recommend it to everyone, bear fan or not!

This is a fun, yet provacative read. I recommend that anyone interested in music read this book, "The Quotable Musician: From Bach to Tupac". She covers the entire genre of music.

Ms. Anderson has compiled the best book of quotes that I have ever read. I hope that there'll be more to come.

For those of you who love music and want more insight into
the lives of artist, this is the book for you ! Knowing what
certain individuals said in public and in private situations
is quite revealing !

What musicians say when they're not playing their instruments or singing their songs is shrewd, surprising, and provocative, and "The Quotable Musician" gives it to us straight up. Brava to Sheila E. Anderson for listening and for orchestrating this composition of musical wit and wisdom for us all to enjoy. Encore! Encore!

Sheila Anderson's QUOTABLE MUSICIAN offers quotes and vignettes from a range of musical genres, from rock to classical to hip hop music. More than a thousand quotes are accompanied by explanations of their origins, making for a title which goes beyond a quote bible to explore the insights into musicians and the music industry reflected in each saying.

I thought this book was very well done. Detaild information and is explained as if you have no idea about the process and job of a radio producer, which I didn't. This is a great explanation for anyone working in radio in any aspect.

I'm not really that familiar with radio production, but am more interested in the creative process in general, and I found this to be a worthwhile and engaging read. The writers are entertaining and personable, and make everything that they talk about exciting and interesting to read. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

If you listen to the radio and ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes, this book is for you. The authors provide an often humorous description of the day to day activities that are done to bring the listener must-hear radio. Even the technical chapters were written in a way that somebody like me who has no connection to radio (other than listening) could understand and find interesting. Whether you are in the broadcasting field or just interested in radio, this book is well worth purchasing. The book was enjoyable to read and it gives the reader a new appreciation for what happens behind the scenes to bring the listener a good radio show.

I worked with John Swanson at WTMX for almost 2 years, though not along side of him. I read this book and learned an large amount of what a producer does. It helped me out in a college radio show I do. Since it's a small station we don't have producers, so it's up for the DJ to do everything. This book made it easy to understand what I need to do for a successful show.

I have nothing to do with radio and I stumbled across this book to get a peek into the world of radio production. If you want to get into radio in any capacity, this book paints a great picture of how good shows are put together day in and day out.

If you don't want to get into radio or if you do but you just can't seem to escape those golden handcuffs at Fargenflam Inc., then this book is still a good read. As Rick and John bring you deeper and deeper into their radio producing world, they share many stories that add humor and depth to the subject matter.

It's a good read. I liked it but I am sticking to the much simpler world of TV.

Randall Cross
MTV Networks

This book is a useful resource for parents who want to encourage their children to understand, enjoy, and perhaps even excel in music. Cutietta gives parents guidance on how to create a musical home and instill a lifelong love of music in children. Topics include when to begin music lessons, finding a teacher, choosing an instrument, getting kids to practice, music at all levels of education, competitions, and musical careers. This is particularly useful for parents who may not be familiar with how music education typically transpires in the public schools -- the importance of getting started early to be a full participant in school band or orchestra programs. Cutietta also provides lists of resources, and -- to my delight -- a list of songs that Americans of all ages should know how to sing, compiled by a national music educator's group.

Cutietta recognizes that not every child can or should pursue a music-related career, so the focus is not on turning your child into a professional musician, but rather raising your child to enjoy music, as a participant and audience member.

As a professional musician I was prepared to totally hate this book. I was pleasantly surprised at the good solid advice this book offers. I am not a fan of the Suzuki method. I've walked out of many children's music programs embarassed at how poor the quality of the performance was. Then I had my own child, and even though I am a professional musician I had no idea how to raise my own musical child. My parents didn't have any answers, they happened to make me a musician all by accident. Whatever your goals and motivations for exposing your child to music this is a good book to get you started in the right direction.

RAISING MUSICAL KIDS received a starred Library Journal review in the December 2001 issue. The review concluded: "Cutietta's [book] will be one that parents refer to again and again. An authoritative addition for parenting collections in all public libraries."

A "starred" review means it is a recommended purchase by libraries.

I have three children, ages 2-8, and I was given this book by my mom. As you can imagine, I have little time to read, but this book was so easy to read that I finished it in a few weeks of my spare time. Even the way the author explains the research behind the book is fascinating.

I have started doing many of the things suggested in the book and not only are they fun, but I can see my children starting to respond to music in a more sensitive and deep way.

This is an amazing book. Worlds better than most of the books for parents I have read.

I'm not a parent, but I am a viola and violin teacher. Cutietta's advice in this book is based on a solid foundation of research and experience. If the parents of all of my students would ponder and take to heart the things clearly and accurately written here, they (and their children) would get much more bang for their buck out of the lessons I teach. I could teach more efficiently. Students would progress faster. Some large roadblocks I spend a great deal of time removing from my student's and parent's minds during their lessons would be removed (or at least whittled down to manageable size) before I encountered them, thus making music lessons more productive, joyful, and fulfilling, for everyone involved.

No previous knowledge of music, child psychology, or educational technique is required -- this book is well-written, straight-shooting counsel for parents, with insights that an older student interested in getting music lessons would also find helpful. This book is definitely going to get a permanent place on my short list of books recommended for my students (or their parents).

Buy this book right now. Even if you aren't interested in film. If you've ever walked by a poster advertising a film, buy this book. Why are you still reading this review? Why aren't you ordering this book? In fact, don't order it online here, run to your local Borders and pick it up right now. Hurry, it'll close soon! Well, okay, buy it online, but you'd better use overnight shipping! I'm warning you!!! Buy it.

Now!!!!!

"Saying that Jerry Ziesmer probably has delivered the greatest assistant director book ever written doesn't do it justice. His tales from the Kleig was in "Ready When You Are, Mr. Coppola, Mr. Spielberg, Mr. Crowe" are not only an insider-insider's look into what actually happens in the making of movies--from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" to "Apocalypse Now" to "Jerry Maguire"--but also a compendium of perceptive glimpses at the personalities and decision making by great filmmakers and actors across four decades. This book relates the biz and its lore with color, intimacy, candor and horse sense..."

An amazing inside story of filming with Frances Coppola, Steven Spielberg, and Cameron Crowe told by their assistant director. The author relates the tales of filming "Apocalypse Now", "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", "Jerry Maguire", "Scarface" and so many others. A truly enjoyable book for the film professional or for those who just enjoy films.

Jerry Ziesmer tells the kind of inside stories you usually only hear (if you're lucky) over beers after shooting's wrapped for the day. Without ever whitewashing or pulling punches, he offers a thoughtful, compassionate perspective on the trials and tribulations that led to some of the greatest films of our day. This is simply one of the best books ever written on the nuts and bolts, the passions and personalities of filmmaking, period. Thanks Jerry.

Disclaimer--I know Jerry from working with him on the Director's Guild Council, and I have utmost respect for him as a professional filmmaker. But I never knew his talents extended to such cogent, fun-to-read, full-of-insight writing until reading this wonderful book. It combines the best of both worlds--the "inside baseball" stuff that pro's with years of experience will still find new and fresh and helpful to their work AND the "Hollywood" anecdotage that any fan of great movies and moviemakers will read with a chuckle and a tear and a lot of smiles. If you really want to go "Behind the scenes"--save the trip to Universal's tour and get this book instead. You'll learn a lot, and have a great, great time!

Although Stephen's writing style may make it difficult for the scholar to take him seriously (he sounds more like an Info-Age
geek than a academic), he presents some extrordinary ideas that shouldn't be ignored or overlooked. For example, his list of the new elements and principles of design spawned by Info-Age art
forms is revolutionary. A must read for the Info-Age artist,
art critic, social-critic, or art educator!

I read Stephen's last summer and I'm now rereading parts of it in preparation for using video in my classroom next Fall. There's no doubt what Stephen says is true. The role of the image can often be even more powerful than the word. For example, Henry Hampton's documentary, Eyes on the Prize, conveys much more emotionally and intellectually than any book on the Civil Rights Movement. Even the most prolific readers out there are moved by powerful motion pictures and documentaries. So far me Stephen's work is only a start in terms of examining what we can be done with visual communication, especially the video.

I teach a graduate design class, and this book is a great way to let students think about their role in the fast changing world of visual communications. Stephens has a great way of putting things in perspective, and notes that each fundamental change in communication has met with resistance, i.e. we still think of TV as the Boob Tube. When I read it a few years ago, it seemed so new--it's fun to see how his theories are quickly melding into our culture seamlessly. It's been an optional read for my students--now it's time to make it mandatory!

His take that nobody has really fully taken advantage of "the language" of video because it is still in its infancy was very interesting and supported pretty well in the book. However, I felt there has to be more to developing video than the fast cuts of Pellington who he so often refers to. Also, I felt he undervalued the contribution new media will have, choosing to encapsulate aspects of interactivity and other digital technologies under the umbrella term of "video." It seems if video is going to fulfill a new function in terms of its ability to change how we get information and even think, it will do so within the framework of digital media, in which video, still images and words can each co-exist seamlessly and utilize their particular strengths.

His ideas are intriguing and challenging and his clear writing style makes the book a very good read. Even with what I felt were the weaknesses mentioned above, his challenge to video to rise above what it is now is needed and will hopefully encourage even more people to experiment with what video can do.

With TV viewing increasing, it is no wonder more people depend on television than books or newspapers. Mr. Stephens states that the image has not conquered the word yet, it may not happen at all, but he fears it will. Eloquently written and researched, with an excellent chapter 'thinking "above the stream"' that includes director Mark Pellington (Arlington Road). This book is especially useful for journalism students.