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Opposable Thumbs

How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever

by Matt Singer ...

**Once upon a time, if you wanted to know if a movie was worth seeing, you didn’t check out Rotten Tomatoes or IMDB.You asked whether Siskel & Ebert had given it “two thumbs up.”**On a cold Saturday afternoon in 1975, two men (who had known each other for eight years before they’d ever exchanged a word) met for lunch in a Chicago pub. Gene Siskel was the film critic for the Chicago Tribune. Roger ... Read more

$1.99 USD

**Once upon a time, if you wanted to know if a movie was worth seeing, you didn’t check out Rotten Tomatoes or IMDB.You asked whether Siskel & Ebert had given it “two thumbs up.”**On a cold Saturday afternoon in 1975, two men (who had known each other for eight years before they’d ever exchanged a word) met for lunch in a Chicago pub. Gene Siskel was the film critic for the Chicago Tribune. Roger
... Read more
Reality TV for Snobs

Everything You Need to Know About the Shows You're Too Intellectual to Watch

by Ali Barthwell ...

Series series The Outsider's Guides
Turn skeptics into fans and fans into scholars with this smart, entertaining guide to 20 influential reality shows, from The Real World to The Traitors.Much like reality itself, reality TV has one main problem: There’s just too much of it. Whether you’re a devoted fan who wants to share your passion, a specialist who doesn’t have time to watch every show, or a skeptic who still wants to understand ... Read more

$8.99 USD

Turn skeptics into fans and fans into scholars with this smart, entertaining guide to 20 influential reality shows, from The Real World to The Traitors.Much like reality itself, reality TV has one main problem: There’s just too much of it. Whether you’re a devoted fan who wants to share your passion, a specialist who doesn’t have time to watch every show, or a skeptic who still wants to understand
... Read more
Star Wars Bestiary, Vol. 1

Creatures of the Galaxy

by S.T. Bende ...

Explore the creatures of Star Wars in the first of two books, this one featuring beautiful illustrations of the wondrous non-sentient species from a galaxy far, far away.From Naboo to Hoth, Tatooine to Kashyyyk, and beyond, Star Wars is packed with otherworldly species and monstrous creatures. Dive into the lives, habitats, and behaviors of the non-sentient inhabitants from across the galaxy ... Read more

Was $16.99 USD Now $4.99 USD

Explore the creatures of Star Wars in the first of two books, this one featuring beautiful illustrations of the wondrous non-sentient species from a galaxy far, far away.From Naboo to Hoth, Tatooine to Kashyyyk, and beyond, Star Wars is packed with otherworldly species and monstrous creatures. Dive into the lives, habitats, and behaviors of the non-sentient inhabitants from across the galaxy
... Read more
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

by Mark Twain ...

Mark Twain’s tale of a boy’s picaresque journey down the Mississippi on a raft conveyed the voice and experience of the American frontier as no other work has done before. When Huck escapes from his drunken father and the ‘sivilizing’ Widow Douglas with the runaway slave Jim, he embarks on a series of adventures that draw him to feuding families and the trickery of the unscrupulous ‘Duke’ and ... Read more

$0.99 USD or Free with Kobo Plus

Mark Twain’s tale of a boy’s picaresque journey down the Mississippi on a raft conveyed the voice and experience of the American frontier as no other work has done before. When Huck escapes from his drunken father and the ‘sivilizing’ Widow Douglas with the runaway slave Jim, he embarks on a series of adventures that draw him to feuding families and the trickery of the unscrupulous ‘Duke’ and
... Read more
The Anatomy of Story

22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller

by John Truby ...

John Truby is one of the most respected and sought-after story consultants in the film industry, and his students have gone on to pen some of Hollywood's most successful films, including Sleepless in Seattle, Scream, and Shrek. The Anatomy of Story is his long-awaited first book, and it shares all of his secrets for writing a compelling script. Based on the lessons in his award-winning class, ... Read more

$12.99 USD

John Truby is one of the most respected and sought-after story consultants in the film industry, and his students have gone on to pen some of Hollywood's most successful films, including Sleepless in Seattle, Scream, and Shrek. The Anatomy of Story is his long-awaited first book, and it shares all of his secrets for writing a compelling script. Based on the lessons in his award-winning class,
... Read more
We Were Dreamers

An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story

by Simu Liu ...

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERThe star of Marvel’s first Asian superhero film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, tells his own origin story of being a Chinese immigrant in a candid celebrity memoir about his battles with cultural stereotypes, his own identity, becoming a TV star, and landing the role of a lifetime.In this honest, inspiring and relatable immigrant story, newly-minted ... Read more

Was $10.49 USD Now $8.49 USD

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERThe star of Marvel’s first Asian superhero film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, tells his own origin story of being a Chinese immigrant in a candid celebrity memoir about his battles with cultural stereotypes, his own identity, becoming a TV star, and landing the role of a lifetime.In this honest, inspiring and relatable immigrant story, newly-minted
... Read more
Vagabond

A Memoir

by Tim Curry ...

**INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERA USA TODAY BESTSELLERThis memoir is a celebration of Tim Curry's life’s work, and a testament to his profound impact on the entertainment industry as we know it today.**There are few stars in Hollywood today that can boast the kind of resume Tony award-nominated actor Tim Curry has built over the past five decades. From his breakout role as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in ... Read more

$16.99 USD

**INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERA USA TODAY BESTSELLERThis memoir is a celebration of Tim Curry's life’s work, and a testament to his profound impact on the entertainment industry as we know it today.**There are few stars in Hollywood today that can boast the kind of resume Tony award-nominated actor Tim Curry has built over the past five decades. From his breakout role as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in
... Read more
Burn It Down

Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood

by Maureen Ryan ...

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • LOS ANGELES TIMES BESTSELLERAn NPR Best Book of the YearIn this spectacular, newsmaking exposé that has the entertainment industry abuzz and on its heels, Vanity Fair's Maureen Ryan blows the lid off patterns of harassment and bias in Hollywood, the grassroots reforms under way, and the labor and activist revolutions that recent scandals have ignited.It... ... Read more

$7.99 USD

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • LOS ANGELES TIMES BESTSELLERAn NPR Best Book of the YearIn this spectacular, newsmaking exposé that has the entertainment industry abuzz and on its heels, Vanity Fair's Maureen Ryan blows the lid off patterns of harassment and bias in Hollywood, the grassroots reforms under way, and the labor and activist revolutions that recent scandals have ignited.It...
... Read more
Paul Newman

A Life

by Shawn Levy ...

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “[This] absorbing, affectionate portrait manages to bring [Newman] back to us. . . . Paul Newman leaves readers with a surprisingly cheering message. If the rest of us can’t aspire to having Newman’s life, we can at least take inspiration from the way he lived his.”—The Washington Post“A graceful tribute to a one-of-a-kind man.”—The Seattle Times“Newman’... ... Read more

Was $9.99 USD Now $1.99 USD

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “[This] absorbing, affectionate portrait manages to bring [Newman] back to us. . . . Paul Newman leaves readers with a surprisingly cheering message. If the rest of us can’t aspire to having Newman’s life, we can at least take inspiration from the way he lived his.”—The Washington Post“A graceful tribute to a one-of-a-kind man.”—The Seattle Times“Newman’...
... Read more
The Disaster Artist

My Life Inside The Room, the Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made

by Greg Sestero, Tom Bissell ...

Series series A Gift for Film Buffs
**New York Times bestseller—**now a major motion picture directed by and starring James Franco!From the actor who somehow lived through it all, a “sharply detailed…funny book about a cinematic comedy of errors” (The New York Times): the making of the cult film phenomenon The Room.In 2003, an independent film called The Room—starring and written, produced, and directed by a mysteriously wealthy ... Read more

$23.99 USD

**New York Times bestseller—**now a major motion picture directed by and starring James Franco!From the actor who somehow lived through it all, a “sharply detailed…funny book about a cinematic comedy of errors” (The New York Times): the making of the cult film phenomenon The Room.In 2003, an independent film called The Room—starring and written, produced, and directed by a mysteriously wealthy
... Read more
If Chins Could Kill

Confessions of a B Movie Actor

by Bruce Campbell ...

If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor Here we are together in the digital universe. Somehow, you've clicked yourself to this page. If you came here of your own free will and desire, you and I are going to get along just fine.Life is full of choices. Right now, yours is whether or not to download the autobiography of a mid-grade, kind of hammy actor.Am I supposed to know this guy? you ... Read more

$15.19 USD

If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor Here we are together in the digital universe. Somehow, you've clicked yourself to this page. If you came here of your own free will and desire, you and I are going to get along just fine.Life is full of choices. Right now, yours is whether or not to download the autobiography of a mid-grade, kind of hammy actor.Am I supposed to know this guy? you
... Read more
Directing Actors

by Judith Weston ...

Demonstrates what constitutes a good performance, what actors want from a director, what directors do wrong and more. ... Read more

$19.99 USD

Demonstrates what constitutes a good performance, what actors want from a director, what directors do wrong and more.
... Read more
Meta Story

What Marvel & the Messiah Can Teach Us About Great Storytelling

by Sean Gaffney ...

This fun-to-read, insightful book will enlighten audiences hoping to expand their view of Story, as well as instruct those learning the art of scriptwriting. Designed for anyone of faith who likes movies, TV shows, or theatre, this book explores the hardwired universal patterns in Story and the effect those elements have on our souls.Perfect for:Christian writers who want to combine their faith ... Read more

$23.99 USD

This fun-to-read, insightful book will enlighten audiences hoping to expand their view of Story, as well as instruct those learning the art of scriptwriting. Designed for anyone of faith who likes movies, TV shows, or theatre, this book explores the hardwired universal patterns in Story and the effect those elements have on our souls.Perfect for:Christian writers who want to combine their faith
... Read more
Producing and Directing the Short Film and Video

by Peter W. Rea, David K. Irving ...

Producing and Directing the Short Film and Video, Sixth Edition is the definitive book on producing and directing short films for the serious film student or beginner filmmaker. Its unique two-fold approach looks at filmmaking from the perspectives of both the producer and director and clearly explains how their separate roles must work together to create a successful short film or video. Through ... Read more

$57.99 USD

Producing and Directing the Short Film and Video, Sixth Edition is the definitive book on producing and directing short films for the serious film student or beginner filmmaker. Its unique two-fold approach looks at filmmaking from the perspectives of both the producer and director and clearly explains how their separate roles must work together to create a successful short film or video. Through
... Read more
Film Directing: Shot by Shot: Visualizing from Concept to Screen

Visualizing from Concept to Screen

by Steven Katz ...

A complete catalogue of motion picture techniques for filmmakers. It concentrates on the 'storytelling' school of filmmaking, utilizing the work of the great stylists who established the versatile vocabulary of technique that has dominated the movies since 1915. This graphic approach includes comparisons of style by interpreting a 'model script', created for the book, in storyboard form. ... Read more

$20.99 USD

A complete catalogue of motion picture techniques for filmmakers. It concentrates on the 'storytelling' school of filmmaking, utilizing the work of the great stylists who established the versatile vocabulary of technique that has dominated the movies since 1915. This graphic approach includes comparisons of style by interpreting a 'model script', created for the book, in storyboard form.
... Read more
Which Lie Did I Tell?

More Adventures in the Screen Trade

by William Goldman ...

From the Oscar-winning screenwriter of All the President's Men, The Princess Bride, and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, here is essential reading for both the aspiring screenwriter and anyone who loves going to the movies.If you want to know why a no-name like Kathy Bates was cast in Misery, it's in here. Or why Linda Hunt's brilliant work in Maverick didn't make the final cut, William Goldman ... Read more

Was $11.99 USD Now $5.99 USD

From the Oscar-winning screenwriter of All the President's Men, The Princess Bride, and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, here is essential reading for both the aspiring screenwriter and anyone who loves going to the movies.If you want to know why a no-name like Kathy Bates was cast in Misery, it's in here. Or why Linda Hunt's brilliant work in Maverick didn't make the final cut, William Goldman
... Read more
"You'll Never Be A Star!" My Fantastic, Challenging Journey to Disney, Star Trek and Beyond

by Ike Eisenmann ...

"You'll never be a star!"That's what young Ike Eisenmann's father would tell him, even as he trotted him from one audition to another. Despite those confusing and cruel messages, Ike undauntedly pursued his dream of being a Disney actor—a dream he made come true, starting with Escape to Witch Mountain! In this intimate and inspiring memoir, Ike shares his triumphs and struggles, and his behind-the ... Read more

$9.95 USD or Free with Kobo Plus

"You'll never be a star!"That's what young Ike Eisenmann's father would tell him, even as he trotted him from one audition to another. Despite those confusing and cruel messages, Ike undauntedly pursued his dream of being a Disney actor—a dream he made come true, starting with Escape to Witch Mountain! In this intimate and inspiring memoir, Ike shares his triumphs and struggles, and his behind-the
... Read more
The Ride of a Lifetime

Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company

by Robert Iger ...

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A memoir of leadership and success: The CEO of Disney shares the ideas and values he embraced while reinventing one of the world’s most beloved companies and inspiring the people who bring the magic to life.AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEARRobert Iger became CEO of The Walt Disney Company in 2005, during a difficult time. Competition was more intense than ever and ... Read more

Was $12.99 USD Now $10.99 USD

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A memoir of leadership and success: The CEO of Disney shares the ideas and values he embraced while reinventing one of the world’s most beloved companies and inspiring the people who bring the magic to life.AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEARRobert Iger became CEO of The Walt Disney Company in 2005, during a difficult time. Competition was more intense than ever and
... Read more
A View from the Bottom

Asian American Masculinity and Sexual Representation

by Tân Hoàng Nguyen ...

Series series Perverse modernities
A View from the Bottom offers a major critical reassessment of male effeminacy and its racialization in visual culture. Examining portrayals of Asian and Asian American men in Hollywood cinema, European art film, gay pornography, and experimental documentary, Nguyen Tan Hoang explores the cultural meanings that accrue to sexual positions. He shows how cultural fantasies around the position of the ... Read more

$20.99 USD

A View from the Bottom offers a major critical reassessment of male effeminacy and its racialization in visual culture. Examining portrayals of Asian and Asian American men in Hollywood cinema, European art film, gay pornography, and experimental documentary, Nguyen Tan Hoang explores the cultural meanings that accrue to sexual positions. He shows how cultural fantasies around the position of the
... Read more
The Devil Finds Work

An Essay

by James Baldwin ...

Series series Vintage International
From "the best essayist in this country” (The New York Times Book Review) comes an incisive book-length essay about racism in American movies that challenges the underlying assumptions in many of the films that have shaped our consciousness.Baldwin’s personal reflections on movies gathered here in a book-length essay are also an appraisal of American racial politics. Offering a look at racism in ... Read more

Was $11.99 USD Now $9.99 USD

From "the best essayist in this country” (The New York Times Book Review) comes an incisive book-length essay about racism in American movies that challenges the underlying assumptions in many of the films that have shaped our consciousness.Baldwin’s personal reflections on movies gathered here in a book-length essay are also an appraisal of American racial politics. Offering a look at racism in
... Read more
How to Write Dazzling Dialogue

The Fastest Way to Improve Any Manuscript

by James Scott Bell ...

Series Book 5 - Bell's Knockout Fiction Series
There is one sure-fire way of improving your novel fast ...You may know the fundamentals of how to write fiction. You may be more than competent in plot, structure and characters. But if your dialogue is dull it will drag the whole story down.On the other hand, if your dialogue is crisp and full of tension it immediately grabs the reader. And if that reader is an agent or editor, sharp dialogue ... Read more

$4.99 USD

There is one sure-fire way of improving your novel fast ...You may know the fundamentals of how to write fiction. You may be more than competent in plot, structure and characters. But if your dialogue is dull it will drag the whole story down.On the other hand, if your dialogue is crisp and full of tension it immediately grabs the reader. And if that reader is an agent or editor, sharp dialogue
... Read more
DisneyWar

by James B. Stewart ...

The dramatic inside story of the downfall of Michael Eisner—Disney Chairman and CEO—and the scandals that drove America’s best-known entertainment company to civil war.“When You Wish Upon a Star,” “Whistle While You Work,” “The Happiest Place on Earth”—these are lyrics indelibly linked to Disney, one of the most admired and best-known companies in the world. So when Roy Disney, chairman of Walt ... Read more

$13.99 USD

The dramatic inside story of the downfall of Michael Eisner—Disney Chairman and CEO—and the scandals that drove America’s best-known entertainment company to civil war.“When You Wish Upon a Star,” “Whistle While You Work,” “The Happiest Place on Earth”—these are lyrics indelibly linked to Disney, one of the most admired and best-known companies in the world. So when Roy Disney, chairman of Walt
... Read more
Forbidden Hollywood: The Pre-Code Era (1930-1934)

When Sin Ruled the Movies

by Mark A. Vieira, Turner Classic Movies ...

Series series Turner Classic Movies
Filled with rare images and untold stories from filmmakers, exhibitors, and moviegoers, Forbidden Hollywood is the ultimate guide to a gloriously entertaining era when a lax code of censorship let sin rule the movies.Forbidden Hollywood is a history of "pre-Code" like none other: you will eavesdrop on production conferences, read nervous telegrams from executives to censors, and hear Americans ... Read more

Was $15.99 USD Now $1.99 USD

Filled with rare images and untold stories from filmmakers, exhibitors, and moviegoers, Forbidden Hollywood is the ultimate guide to a gloriously entertaining era when a lax code of censorship let sin rule the movies.Forbidden Hollywood is a history of "pre-Code" like none other: you will eavesdrop on production conferences, read nervous telegrams from executives to censors, and hear Americans
... Read more
The Science of Storytelling

Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better

by Will Storr ...

Based on the wildly popular creative writing class, this compelling, groundbreaking guide to creative writing is a must-have resource.Enlightening and empowering, The Science of Storytelling has become an invaluable tool for writers of all stripes, whether novelist, screenwriter, playwright, children’s writer, or writer of creative or traditional nonfiction.Award-winning writer and acclaimed ... Read more

$11.99 USD or Free with Kobo Plus

Based on the wildly popular creative writing class, this compelling, groundbreaking guide to creative writing is a must-have resource.Enlightening and empowering, The Science of Storytelling has become an invaluable tool for writers of all stripes, whether novelist, screenwriter, playwright, children’s writer, or writer of creative or traditional nonfiction.Award-winning writer and acclaimed
... Read more

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