Designing and Developing Multimedia: A Practical Guide for the Producer, Director, and Writer

Book Description

The new media industry needs the producer who manages, the director with creative vision, and the writer who documents the development process. This comprehensive book is a practical, skills-oriented book for the producer, director, and writer of multimedia. It provides readers with a sound grounding in the concepts of interactive design, and then takes them through the step-by-step process of developing the multimedia product. Written with a professional orientation, this book teaches readers how to create multimedia faster, better, and less expensively. It also can act as a procedure manual for the reader's company. Topics include: Interactive, non-linear, multimedia design; the development process; games and educational products. For any multimedia professional, in particular CD-ROM developers and publishers.

Customer Reviews:

So-so book.......2003-05-20

Out of all the books I read for my digital media degree, this one was by far the best- and that isn't saying much. This author as well as other are making it all entirely too complicated. Straightforward writing is all that is needed and this book missed it by about 1/2 a mile.

Hollywood Dealmaking : Negotiating Talent Agreements

Average customer rating:

Make your agent read this...but you should read
AWESOME RESOURCE FOR ANY BUSINESS AFFAIRS EXEC!
FABULOUS RESOURCE.
good Read
Super Helpful Book on Entertainment Industry

Hollywood Dealmaking : Negotiating Talent Agreements
Dina Appleton , and Daniel Yankelevits
Manufacturer: Allworth Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Industry | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Dealmaking in the Film and Television Industry From Negotiations Through Final Contracts: 2nd Edition Expanded and Updated
Contracts for the Film & Television Industry
How to Agent Your Agent
The Hollywood Rules
An Agent Tells All

ASIN: 1581152280

Book Description

Two entertainment attorneys and Hollywood insiders explain all the ins and outs of negotiating in the movie industry, including back ends, gross and adjusted gross profits, deferments, box office bonuses, copyrights, and much more.

This easy-to-follow reference-written clearly, without confusing legal jargon-is packed with expert insights on distribution, licensing, and merchandising. The book's invaluable resource section includes definitions of lingo for acquisition agreements and employment deals, twelve ready-to-use sample contracts, and a directory of entertainment attorneys in both New York and Los Angeles. With the negotiating tips in this guide, agents, writers, directors, actors, financiers, and filmmakers will save thousands of dollars in attorney fees.

Customer Reviews:

Make your agent read this...but you should read.......2004-01-31

This is a great resource for dealmaking, but most actors and writers that I know aren't negotiating their own deals. The trick is to get your agent to work harder at creating opportunities, so that they actually have deals to make. Yes, your agent should read this book ... but for myself, as an actor/writer the book HOW TO AGENT YOUR AGENT...is my bible. It helps me kick my agents in the butt ( without them knowing)and I get results...they're working harder and I'm getting work. Also I liked that book with all the casting directors pictures...just in case you see them in Starbucks and want to say hello.

AWESOME RESOURCE FOR ANY BUSINESS AFFAIRS EXEC!.......2003-10-27

Best book I ever bought dealing with the industry, bar none! I can't believe it's under $20!

FABULOUS RESOURCE........2003-01-24

THIS IS THE MOST USEFUL BOOK I HAVE SEEN ON THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. BEST DEAL-MAKING BOOK ON THE MARKET. 5 STARS!

good Read.......2003-01-15

Good but I liked the lingo section in the book Twelve Step Plan To Becoming an actor in LA but it was definetly helpfulGood Read

Josh Simon CAlifornia

Super Helpful Book on Entertainment Industry.......2002-08-15

I work at a Production company and a lot of contracts we hand to outside lawyers, but this is a good tool for me because it goes into details and discusses each point in a contract. This is something I'd love to have had many years ago, when I just got started in the business, and now that I have it, I am learning a lot of new things. There isn't any other book out there- quite like this.

Chairman of the Board: A Practical Guide

Average customer rating:

Chairman of the Board: A Practical Guide
Brian Lechem
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Decision-Making & Problem Solving | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Running Board Meetings: How to Get the Most from Them
Improving Corporate Boards: The Boardroom Insider Guidebook (paper with CD-ROM)
Corporate Governance and Chairmanship: A Personal View
The Perfect Board
CarverGuide, The Chairperson's Role as Servant-Leader to the Board (J-B Carver Board Governance Series)

ASIN: 0471228893

Book Description

Practical, real-world advice for the most challenging of positions
The role of the chairman of the board is an art form that varies with the size, type, and corporate climate of the organization. Chairman of the Board provides practical guidance on this critical role, offering advice on matters such as how to work with the CEO, ethical considerations, corporate social responsibility, and performance evaluation of boards and board members. Seasoned executive Brian Lechem discusses regulatory requirements and legal exposures relating to board responsibilities and how to minimize risks to company resources. Real-life examples illustrate how challenges have been met by companies with both positive and negative results. Information on board regulations for not-for-profit and government agencies and Canadian and U.K. companies lends the book broad appeal.

Thinking Like a Director: A Practical Handbook

Average customer rating:

My favorite book on directing
A great guide rather than a prescription
"This book reads like stereo instructions."
A useful textbook for students and teachers
Bloom covers the areas missed by the directing books of old

Thinking Like a Director: A Practical Handbook
Michael Bloom
Manufacturer: Faber & Faber
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Sense of Direction: Some Observations on the Art of Directing
The Director's Eye: A Comprehensive Textbook for Directors and Actors
Notes on Directing
On Directing
Play Director's Survival Kit: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Producing Theater in Any School or Community Setting (J-B Ed:Survival Guides)

ASIN: 0571199941

Book Description

Bloom draws on nearly twenty years of directing and teaching experience to convey the full experience of directing for the stage, as well as the mindset that all successful directors possess. More than a mere set of guidelines, Thinking Like a Director details a technique that covers every facet of theatrical production, from first reading through final rehearsals. The key to directorial thinking, Bloom asserts, is a dual perspective--an ability to focus on both the internal lives of the play’s characters and the external elements of the play’s structure. In this illuminating, engaging, and accessible handbook, the art of dramatic interpretation and the craft of working with actors are integrated into a single, unified method.

Customer Reviews:

My favorite book on directing.......2007-07-05

I've read about a dozen books on directing, and this is my favorite because it gets to the essence of what a director must do to bring out the most from a script and the actors. Sure, other books are breezier, but if you're serious about creating a great play, reading this book should be Job One, especially if you're not dealing with top-of-the-line professional actors. Yes, Bill Ball's book gives you a great sense of the kind of persona that works well as a director but his largely "less-is-more" advice works far better with the top actors he directed at American Conservatory Theatre than the solid but not magnificent actors that serious community theatre directors like myself work with.

A great guide rather than a prescription.......2007-05-14

This book does a great job communicating to a first-time director what it is like to direct a show. It demonstrates common thought processes of the author using clear examples as well as giving details that one needs to know without being overly prescriptive. Unlike some other books on the subject, it does not dictate what one must do to be a director, but rather accepts that there are many different approaches that might work well for different directors, and does an excellent job outlining the potential advantages and pitfalls of each.

It truly does teach you to think like a director.

"This book reads like stereo instructions.".......2005-11-05

I picked up this book when it was first published. Since there are so few books on the subject, any new book is a welcome addition. That is, until you actually read it. I've had college textbooks that were more fun to read.

Apparently, this title sells very well. Perhaps it's the curtain on the cover or the whimsical thought bubbles that lead people to believe the secrets of directing are within this book.

If you want a book on directing that is uninspiring, lifeless, and an all-around chore to read, this is your book.

If you're still looking for the straight-forward approach to directing you thought would be within this book, "A Sense of Direction" by William Ball will ultimately be more helpful.

A useful textbook for students and teachers.......2002-12-04

I was required to read this book for a directing class on the Masters level. I read the back, there was a nice quote from Donald Margulies: "It is smart and lucidly written and should prove to be an invaluable guidebook for students and emerging directors." I thought that it would be a good idea to read the book with that in mind, as a potential textbook.

As a student of the graduate level, even one who has never directed, this was pretty easy reading. There is something to be said for going back to the basics. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the theoretical that we forget the fundamentals, and it's good to go back and review and recall things we had forgotten. With that in mind, the book did open my thoughts to different ways of thinking about a scene or a play. As primarily an actor and playwright, I found that the book illuminated examples of how my own work can be improved by thinking about things in a new way. I have to feel that the book would have the same effect for a director. Yes, it covers basic things that have already been covered in various classes, but it offers a different side to thinking. If I were to start on a directing career, I would take away two very important lessons from the book. First, I would concentrate on creating an "approach" to a play, rather than a "concept." "Approach" offers a path that can potentially change and accommodate the needs of the production, whereas "concept" locks the ideas in a narrow vision and forces the play to accommodate the concept. Secondly, I would attempt to see the production from two different viewpoints: the internal view and the external view. Bloom believes that maintaining this balance is the key to successful directing.

As a teacher I would recommend this to an undergraduate. I find that the book takes complex concepts and manages to define them in clear, concise terms, something that I have come to appreciate this semester. Bloom takes the time to specify his terms and define them in non-confusing ways. A lot of the time the lessons serve as reminders. "Don't forget to do this..." These terms reinforce ideas that may have been taught to them and may enable students to have a basic understanding in which to facilitate a classroom discussion to further illuminate the point

Once again, I liked Bloom's substitution of the work "approach" for "concept." Essentially the idea is the same but the phrase "concept" gives a feeling on some esoteric idea that every aspect of the production must accommodate. "Approach" suggests a method of dealing with the production, but doesn't force conformity. It denotes a direction and has a connotation of flexibility. Also as I mentioned before Bloom suggests a duel-perspective approach: external and internal. What Bloom gives the reader is a basic process of creating a production while at the same time allowing a flexible approach to the production itself, for no two plays require the same approach. Bloom gives suggestions to deal with different situations or problems that may crop up, but not a rigid methodology. He also suggests ways to prevent problems from arising by dealing with them in pre-production before they explode into a crisis.

Bloom covers the areas missed by the directing books of old.......2002-08-06

Having seen so many copies of this book being tossed around on campus, I was surprised to see that no one had stopped to review this book, yet. And in keeping with the practical, no nonsense approach of the book, I will keep it brief.

This book is quickly catching on, and is becoming a textbook for many graduate classes in directing.

Most directing textbooks I have read don't deal with certain areas of directing that I find to be most important. Bloom also adresses this in the book, that many books and graduate training programs do not deal with some of the most practical aspects of directing. Old texts have since become museum pieces, restricting the job of director to staging, pace and rhythm issues. One has the idea of a director reading his newspaper in the back row letting the actors magically discover their performance without any help.

Bloom quickly destroys this myth, and presents the director as a crucial link in the process. His internal/external approach, which is a little difficult to sum up in a short review, is an efficient and effective way of approaching a set text, ensuring truthful, committed work from the actors, without sacrificing the requirements of pacing, staging, and clear storytelling. Bloom suggests many practical means for finding one's way into the work, and developing an effective storytelling technique, through common terminology that most actors and directors can respond to. As a graduate student in acting, I certainly wish more directors had a chance to pick up and peruse this book.

Included are also sections on working with designers, structuring your rehearsal space and time, developing rehearsal strategies, approaches for technical rehearsals, etc. It covers everything, even after the show is up and running and you are moving on to the next project.

A simple, no nonsense guide. It covers area missed by the others. Applause to Michael Bloom for such a great book.

Average customer rating:

Book Review

Review of Condominiun Concepts by Peter Dunbar

The Condominium Concepts

An invaluable tool

The Condominium Concept: A practical guide for officers etc.

The Condominium Concept: A Practical Guide For Officers, Owners And Directors Of Florida Condominiums (Condominium Concept: A Practical Guide for Officers, Owners, &)
Peter M. Dunbar
Manufacturer: Pineapple Press (FL)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Administrative Law | Law | Subjects | Books
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Similar Items:

The Law Of Florida Homeowners Associations: Single Family Subdivisions, Townhouse & Cluster Developments, Master Community Associations (Law of Florida Homeowners Associations)

The Homeowners Association Manual (Homeowners Association Manual)(5th Edition)

Be Reasonable! How Community Associations Can Enforce Rules Without Antagonizing Residents, Going to Court, or Starting World War III

Community Association Leadership: A Guide for Volunteers

Guilt by Association: A Survival Guide for Homeowners, Board Members and Property Managers

ASIN: 1561643262

Book Description

The practical guide for operating a successful Florida condominium association, completely updated, and now cross-referenced not only to the Florida statutes but also Florida case law. Written in clear, concise language, an indispensable working tool for officers, directors, homeowners, managers, realtors, and attorneys. Includes procedures for membership meetings, the board of administration, officers and committees, the budget and financial reports, assessments (levy and collection), amending documents and modifying the property, rights and responsibilities of the unit owner, enforcing documents and resolving disputes. Includes 67 sample forms and documents.

Customer Reviews:

Book Review.......2007-08-23

This is a wonderful book. It breakes down the Condominum Act in terms that officers of associations and the owners of individual units can understand. Five stars is even to low to rate how wonderful this book is!

Review of Condominiun Concepts by Peter Dunbar.......2007-05-13

This book is a must read for those living in Florida communties under the Florida Statue 718 ("The Condominium Act")including homeowners, directors and sales staff. It is very informative, easy to read, and utilizing the index and content pages, you are able to locate a desired subject quickly.

The Condominium Concepts.......2007-01-10

Being new at the Florida condominium association concept, I need guidance and references for performing my duties on the board. "The Condominium Concept" is an excellent tool. By using the index one can find specific topic within the book. The book has given the confidence I need to make good decision.

An invaluable tool.......2006-08-24

The Condominium Concept is a great tool for any community manager; the information and references provided have made my life easier and more effective.

Great publication.

The Condominium Concept: A practical guide for officers etc........2006-02-24

After retiring from the legal field and moving to Florida, I had the opportunity to served as President of a Condominium Assn. In my opinion, this is one of the best publications available on condo matters. It is easy for the layman to read and understand, easy to use, find information and is constantly revised to keep abreast of changes. It contains many fine form examples or formats. It has been very helpful in resolving disputes, and maybe even saving legal costs. The author is one of the leaders in his field and has done an excellent in providing essential, practical and very useful information in this book. This is my second purchase of a revision of this book.

Nonprofit Board Answer Book: Practical Guidelines for Board Members and Chief Executives

Average customer rating:

Must have for all staff and board members of nonprofits
A Must-Have for Senior Staffs and Volunteer Leaders
Required reading for both new and experienced board members.
A "must read" for anyone serious about non-profit governance

Nonprofit Board Answer Book: Practical Guidelines for Board Members and Chief Executives
Robert C. Andringa , and Theodore Wilhelm Engstrom
Manufacturer: Board Source
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Leadership | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Ultimate Board Member's Book: A 1-Hour Guide to Understanding and Fulfilling Your Role and Responsibilites
Boards That Make a Difference: A New Design for Leadership in Nonprofit and Public Organizations (J-B Carver Board Governance Series)
Reinventing Your Board (J-B Carver Board Governance Series)
Boards That Make a Difference (J-B Carver Board Governance Series)
The Budget-Building Book for Nonprofits: A Step-by-Step Guide for Managers and Boards (Jossey-Bass Nonprofit & Public Management Series)

ASIN: 1586860291

Customer Reviews:

Must have for all staff and board members of nonprofits.......2002-05-19

The book is organized with very straightforward chapters with suggested action steps. The combination of discussion and practical application makes the book the one reference book needed for anyone working with nonprofits.
Excellence in governance can be achived by following this book. Excellence in government results in the most efficient use of staff and financial resources in fullfillment of the mission of a nonprofit.

A Must-Have for Senior Staffs and Volunteer Leaders.......2001-03-25

This is a must-have book for nonprofit senior staffs as well as for volunteer board members who aspire to leadership and stewardship of the organizations they serve. It definitely lives up to the promise of the assertion on the book jacket that the authors, "...who collectively have more than 70 years of experience as chief executives, board members, and facilitators in the training of more than 20,000 board members in 20 countries..."

The book is comprised of 37 short chapters (typically 3-6 pages each) in five sections, designed to address all aspects of board service and board/staff issues. Each chapter provides facts, opinions, tools, and a few "suggested action steps" to help a board address the issue or situation presented in the chapter.

In general, the authors reference John Carver as a good resource for the theory and practice of nonprofit governance, but they don't make Carver the precise and proscriptive recipe that some adherents do. They admit the possibility that other techniques and structures can work well for certain organizations, while "sticking to their guns" in presenting their experiences and insights as having inherent value for most nonprofits.

I was especially impressed by the distinction made between the role of the board and the role of board members. Many policy governance disputes stem from a misunderstanding that, somehow, all board members should have the same responsibilities and be treated interchangeably.

I would have liked to see a clearer treatment of the issue of board diversity; interestingly, the authors seem to agree, admitting that it's a very difficult subject to address. Many board "diversity" programs focus on narrowly-defined "diversity" and run the danger of leading to "tokenism," according to the authors.

The charts and checklists that supplement the text are simple and effective. They're easy for readers to re-create and use in their own organizations.

The book even admits of the possibility that nonprofits can (and sometimes should) dissolve and disband, and provides strategies for helping board, staff, and community understand, accept, and even support the natural cycle of life as it applies to organizations. It's an important message and not a negative one.

Although originally published in December, 1997, it has already had three printings as of August, 1999. With 15 million volunteer board members in the U.S. alone, the publishers could run through many more printings.

Required reading for both new and experienced board members........1998-07-16

Absolutely, without exception, this should be required reading for both new and experienced board members and senior management. Andringa and Engstrom, clearly, are not theoretical "ivory tower" authors. They've been in the trenches with the rest of us--and offer sound, practical counsel. It's a helpful book to give to new board members as part of their board orientation. Certainly every board chair needs one. Well worth the price. Board meetings will get done earlier if you take just 10% of the authors' advice!

A "must read" for anyone serious about non-profit governance.......1998-07-13

Drawing on two lifetimes of experience, Andringa and Engstrom have addressed a broad array of crucial issues. I enjoyed the fact that it was long enough to deal throughly with dozens of key issues and yet moved quickly from topic to topic. I had several, "I wish I'd thought of that" moments when Andringa and Engstrom crystallized a thought I'd been rolling around in the foggy recesses of my mind.

CEO's of Non-Profits should take special note of the practical suggestions in chapters 5, 14, 19, 21 & 26. Board members who are serious about making a contribution will benefit greatly from chapters 1, 4, 5, 7, 16, 22, 28 & 34.

The book reads quickly and can be completed in one sitting but serves best as a reference with short practical responses to frequently asked questions.

Book Description

A successful chair of the board performs a wide range of activities and responsibilities. Drawing on the experiences of chairmen in both commercial and noncommercial sectors, this book covers everything from meetings to managing relationships, office politics and board performance. It is full of real-life case studies, making it a comprehensive, practical guide with sections on the proper role of the board, strategic issue, monitoring the enterprise, shareholders and stakeholders, board composition, managing the board's business, managing board relationships and assessing and improving effectiveness. This new edition is required reading for anyone chairing a board who wants to examine the responsibilities of the position and to improve his or her performance. Endorsed by the Institute of Directors.

Customer Reviews:

Insightful!.......2005-10-21

John Harper offers a worthwhile, if dry, look at a topic that is too rarely addressed in business literature, namely, how to create, structure and operate a board of directors. One of the book's most useful features is first-person sidebars from well-known directors and business leaders, who offer practical advice on key topics. The appendices are also informative, focusing on corporate governance issues and the legal best practices every board member should know. Written with the interests of board chairmen foremost in mind, this book provides a thoughtful look at the major issues likely to confront any board. Although you may have to search hard to find anything novel in its approach, perhaps that's appropriate, given the inherently cautious and conservative nature of most boards. We recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve corporate governance, particularly those who serve on boards of directors.

The Health & Safety Handbook: A Practical Guide to Health and Safety Law, Management Policies and Procedures

Average customer rating:

The Health & Safety Handbook: A Practical Guide to Health and Safety Law, Management Policies and Procedures
Jeremy W. Stranks
Manufacturer: Kogan Page
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Law | Subjects | Books

Non-US Legal Systems | Perspectives on Law | Law | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0749443928

Average customer rating:

Audit Committees: A Practical Guide
National Association of Corporate Directors
Manufacturer: National Association of Corporate Directors
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0943176077
Release Date: 2004-10-01

Product Description

Board-level audit committees face a formidable array of new challenges. New laws and regulations have led to evolving roles, responsibilities, and accountability for committee members in their oversight of financial reporting and risk management. Navigating this new environment requires an understanding of what has changed--and why. But success also requires an understanding of, and focus on, what has not changed--namely, the basic elements of an effective audit committee.

This Report, published in collaboration with KPMG's Audit Committee Institute, is designed to help audit committees leverage time-tested principles to meet their new obligations and challenges. The Report provides a framework for boards of directors to help ensure that the audit committee does not become unduly focused on compliance at the expense of quality; and that it receives, on a risk-prioritized basis, the right information, from the right party, at the right time, in the right context.

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