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Writing for the screen is quirky business. A writer must labor meticulously over his or her prose, yet very little of that prose is ever heard by filmgoers. The few words that do reach the audience, in the form of the characters' dialogue, are, according to Robert McKee, best left to last in the writing process. ("As Alfred Hitchcock once remarked, 'When the screenplay has been written and the dialogue has been added, we're ready to shoot.' ") In Story, McKee puts into book form what he has been teaching screenwriters for years in his seminar on story structure, which is considered by many to be a prerequisite to the film biz. (The long list of film and television projects that McKee's students have written, directed, or produced includes Air Force One, The Deer Hunter, E.R., A Fish Called Wanda, Forrest Gump, NYPD Blue, and Sleepless in Seattle.) Legions of writers flock to Hollywood in search of easy money, calculating the best way to get rich quick. This book is not for them. McKee is passionate about the art of screenwriting. "No one needs yet another recipe book on how to reheat Hollywood leftovers," he writes. "We need a rediscovery of the underlying tenets of our art, the guiding principles that liberate talent." Story is a true path to just such a rediscovery. In it, McKee offers so much sound advice, drawing from sources as wide ranging as Aristotle and Casablanca, Stanislavski and Chinatown, that it is impossible not to come away feeling immeasurably better equipped to write a screenplay and infinitely more inspired to write a brilliant one.--Jane Steinberg
Book Description
Robert McKee's screenwriting workshops have earned him an international reputation for inspiring novices, refining works in progress and putting major screenwriting careers back on track. Quincy Jones, Diane Keaton, Gloria Steinem, Julia Roberts, John Cleese and David Bowie are just a few of his celebrity alumni. Writers, producers, development executives and agents all flock to his lecture series, praising it as a mesmerizing and intense learning experience.
In Story, McKee expands on the concepts he teaches in his $450 seminars (considered a must by industry insiders), providing readers with the most comprehensive, integrated explanation of the craft of writing for the screen. No one better understands how all the elements of a screenplay fit together, and no one is better qualified to explain the "magic" of story construction and the relationship between structure and character than Robert McKee.
Customer Reviews:
Recommended by son, to mom and now you.......2007-09-23
Transforming a lifetime of short stories to screenplays has become my focus. Struggling with story, my son told me he had a teacher in film school suggest this book. It helped him. Now its helping me. Hopefully, you'll be next. Screenplays are perplexing if you've always written in short story or book form. McKee assists in making the necessary thought revisions you must in order to succeed.
A must read book.......2007-08-02
I bought this book three years ago, I keep referring to it whenever I am stuck in a script problem.I like the scene structure part very much, it is very focused, easy and helpful.
This is not a kind of book that you would read in the bus station or in one session.It is a lifetime friend once you decided to be a screenwriter.I am strongly convinced that "Story"is most useful for film and TV writers and not for any other writing genre.
Buy it, read it, re-read it and start writing knowing that it is a long journey.
There is only one way and that is McKee's way because he says so.......2007-07-30
If you can look past the contradictions, McKee's enormous ego, and writing as coherent and clear as that in Dianetics, you will occasionally find a helpful insight in this book.
Write the truth..........2007-06-26
In my experience books tested and proven before being written tend to be the best. A prime example - Angela's Ashes, won the Pulitzer Prize, fine tuned by the author McCourt doing a one man show talking about his wicked cruel childhood, growing up in Limerick, Ireland.
In the same way, Story evolved out of McKee giving lectures, and now, he continues to spread the word.
McKee is definitely an antagonist as opposed to a protagonist, and in person a funny and engaging fellow, and an excellent teacher. As you might expect, he does know how to tell a funny story, and he had a little fun at the expense of some of the sacred cows in the industry. I particularly liked his rant about Roger Ebert, who took his name in vain once but never again.
Anyway, the book shines a bright light on the elements of story. Conflict is to story what sound is to music. Story trumps dialogue in importance. Setups, payoffs, turning points, structure, inciting incident, protagonist vs antagonist, resonating and contrasting subplot, negation of the negation. Emotional value of scenes. Arc of the character. Act structure, rhythm and pacing. Text and subtext, beats, exposition. Character, dimension, step outline. All this and so much more.
Perhaps the most important single thing I learned from McKee is..treatment. The character treatment may be twice as long as the screenplay. This is the key difference between aspiring screenwriters, and successful ones.
I open my book, and look at his personal inscription to me, which I am sure he has written to many others... "Write the truth." I will, Mr McKee, I will.
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THE book for understanding story.......2007-06-24
If one were to read Joseph Campbell's, A Hero With a Thousand Faces, and Story, you would have the foundations (not formula) for understanding why story telling is such a powerful medium for communicating eternal truths. McKee says all people have an insatiable appetite for story. We can't get enough of them.
Book Description
After the 1973 success of American Graffiti, filmmaker George Lucas made the fateful decision to pursue a longtime dream project: a space fantasy movie unlike any ever produced. Lucas envisioned a swashbuckling SF saga inspired by the Flash Gordon serials classic American westerns, the epic cinema of Japanese auteur Akira Kurosawa, and mythological heroes. Its original title: The Star Wars. The rest is history, and how it was made is a story as entertaining and exciting as the movie that has enthralled millions for thirty years–a story that has never been told as it was meant to be. Until now.
Using his unprecedented access to the Lucasfilm Archives and its trove of never-before-published “lost” interviews, photos, production notes, factoids, and anecdotes, Star Wars scholar J. W. Rinzler hurtles readers back in time for a one-of-a-kind behind-the-scenes look at the nearly decade-long quest of George Lucas and his key collaborators to make the “little” movie that became a phenomenon. For the first time, it’s all here:
• the evolution of the now-classic story and characters–including “Annikin Starkiller” and “a huge green-skinned monster with no nose and large gills” named Han Solo
• excerpts from George Lucas’s numerous, ever-morphing script drafts
• the birth of Industrial Light & Magic, the special-effects company that revolutionized Hollywood filmmaking
• the studio-hopping and budget battles that nearly scuttled the entire project
• the director’s early casting saga, which might have led to a film spoken mostly in Japanese–including the intensive auditions that won the cast members their roles and made them legends
• the grueling, nearly catastrophic location shoot in Tunisia and the subsequent breakneck dash at Elstree Studios in London
• the who’s who of young film rebels who pitched in to help–including Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, and Brian DePalma
But perhaps most exciting, and rarest of all, are the interviews conducted before and during production and immediately after the release of Star Wars–in which George Lucas, Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Sir Alec Guinness, Anthony Daniels, composer John Williams, effects masters Dennis Muren, Richard Edlund, and John Dykstra, Phil Tippett, Rick Baker, legendary production designer John Barry, and a host of others share their fascinating tales from the trenches and candid opinions of the film that would ultimately change their lives.
No matter how you view the spectrum of this thirty-year phenomenon, The Making of Star Wars stands as a crucial document–rich in fascination and revelation–of a genuine cinematic and cultural touchstone.
Customer Reviews:
Wait, you mean there's stuff I didn't already know?!.......2007-09-30
The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film (Star Wars)
I was four years old when the original "Star Wars" was released, and like so many kids of that generation, that film and its two sequels defined an enormous part of my childhood. Even though I didn't know it at the time, it introduced me to the "best bits" of classical mythology, while being a visual catalyst for my imagination (and years of subsequent role-play, particularly in Upstate New York, where re-enacting ice planet Hoth after "Empire" came out was all too easy...).
As I grew older (I hesitate to use the phrase "grew up," as I'm not sure it's happened yet), I came to appreciate more than just the adventure and dynamic visuals that "Star Wars" represented; it was my "gateway drug" into wanting to learn more about how movies were made. I remember all of the TV specials of that era that pulled back the curtain on the filmmaking process, particularly with regard to the original "Star Wars" trilogy, and I couldn't get enough information. That hunger became the same kind of obsession that's typically associated with "Star Wars" fans, and I absorbed every scrap of detail I could find, from Ralph McQuarrie's concept art, to model photos, to script pages, and even before the Internet made it only a matter of a few clicks to access such information, there was a wealth of it, when it came to "Star Wars."
Fast forward to 2007; "Star Wars" is 30 years old, a whole separate trilogy has come and gone, and my own children are budding "Star Wars" fans for their own reasons. I figured I knew pretty much all there was to know about this film. I darn well should have, for as much time as I had spent (and continue to spend) over the years actively seeking out new details about it. Then came this book; I didn't know anything.
This is dense, dense reading, covering every minute detail about every aspect of production of the original "Star Wars," from drafting the script, to getting it taken seriously by Hollywood, to assembling the team that would revolutionize filmmaking as we came to know it. This is a wonderful thing. I find myself poring over every word, every image, every caption and footnote, just as I did as a child who was learning about film for the first time. It is an amazing tribute, an insanely detailed reference volume, and most incredible of all, a unique representation of a film that has been covered in so many ways by so many authors, that finding anything new to talk about seemed impossible.
The aspect of this book I personally find most exciting is that all of the interviews that comprise it are taken from the period immediately surrounding the production and release of the original film. There is none of the revisionist hindsight pertaining to the film that has come about as a result of the films that came after; every word spoken by the people involved is "of the moment," and as such, is refreshingly candid about what was going on while the film was in the throes of its conception and execution.
The hardcover volume is worth the extra cost, because of its additional supplemental material, not found in the softcover edition. There are 45 pages of storyboard reproductions, as well as Lucas' first-ever references to the larger world beyond what was shown in the original film, in the form of interview excerpts taken in 1977, which involve Lucas describing character and environmental background information. As author J.W. Rinzler explains in the opening to the section, "Many of these ideas...[have since been] modified to a greater or lesser degree. They are presented here...[as] an idea of how he first began [the process of expanding the "Star Wars" universe]." Given the amount of tweaking that the backstory has undergone in the decades following "Star Wars," the inclusion of Lucas' first impressions of it in this volume are incredibly valuable to anyone who, like me, has wondered if the second trilogy of films was truly borne from his original ideas, or was more a product of his later experiences.
This book is exactly what its title promises: the definitive history behind the original film. And for someone who has spent most of his life feeling like there was nothing new under the suns (not a typo) when it came to the story of how "Star Wars" was made, that's saying something.
Wonderful.......2007-09-22
I think I've been waiting 30 years for this book. It is excellent and packed with really cool behind the scene photos and notes. It is exactly as it should be given the lack of "marketing" tools of movies back in the late 70's. It has a lot of information and will add nicely to any Star Wars collection for years to come.
A wonderful piece to celebrate this film's 30th anniversary!!.......2007-08-24
Before this book came out, the greatest making of book in star wars lore was Once Upon A Galaxy. Now it has a partner!!! This book is amazing; truly a magnificent look at what it took to get this film on the screen. Not only do you get hundreds of never before seen and priceless photos, the sheer amount of text is incredibly impressive. This was very hard work to put together. There isnt much more I can add about this book. So.......go buy it; and Happy 30th Star Wars!!!
Exhaustively complete, excellently thorough.......2007-08-23
This book goes into more detail than anyone but a die-hard fan would want to know, in all honesty; but as it's one of the greatest movies ever filmed, Star Wars has more than its fair share of die-hards. The book is thoroughly researched and excellently presented and covers every aspect of the film's genesis from the very first words scribbled on George Lucas' yellow legal pads to the opening day. This book is, as the title states, the definitive story behind the making of Star Wars. Again, fascinating for the die-hard, but may be a bit detailed for the casual fan.
The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film .......2007-08-13
For all those you loved the first Star Wars experience this book is a must have. The hard copy has many extra pages and it worth the additional price. The pictures and details included makes this a fun, informative and exciting book to read and re-read.
Book Description
Courtney B. Vance met Angela Bassett….
They ran for years as friends in the same small circles. They had some hits, but mostly misses with other partners, and they shared one spectacularly dreadful first date together. And then, Courtney and Angela connected.
Experience the up-close-and-personal, real-life love story of this inspirational African-American celebrity couple. Learn how they navigate the fickle tides of fame, while keeping their relationship fresh and true. See how they've carved a meaningful life together in spite of humble beginnings, family tragedy and the ups and downs of stardom with love, faith and determination.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Book!.......2007-10-02
Bravo Courtney for evolving into the man that you are. It took great strength and courage to defy the many evils of today. I hope many males read this book and imitate you and your union with Angela. Congratulations on a job well done.
Awesome love story .......2007-09-17
This book was well written think it was wonderful for Courtney/Angela to share their lives with readers. Points of interest: the lessons Angela/Courtney gives about being a God fearing wife and husband. This will help anyone who takes the time to read/apply it to your life. Please write another book soon.
WONDERFUL!.......2007-08-23
This book was such a joy to read. As a young single lady in my 40's, it was a joy to learn of the forces that lead Angela and Courtney to each other. If you believe there is someone waiting for you, then this is the book to read. I am so glad they made the decision to share their story with us. Thanks for sharing!
Just Wonderful.......2007-07-28
This Book was just Wonderful.
The first book in a long time that I couldn't put down!!
Read It In One Sitting.......2007-07-17
This book was fun to read. I was able to identify with both characters - especially having grown-up in Detroit. But the couple definitely got a little bit too "holier than thou" at the end with all the Bible thumping.
In all fairness, the couple warned the reader that they were only giving their opinion of what's important in marriage - and that the reader could take it or leave it. If you like J. California Cooper there's a good chance you'll like this book also.
I've seen many celebrity marriages put in the spot-light as the "perfect union". They mostly breakup just like everyone else. I really hope and pray that Angela and Courtney stay together and continue living as a happy, loving husband, wife, and family.
Average customer rating:
- David Cassidy is truly a legend
- A great insight
- Nicely co-written and edited
- Bit of a fantasist in parts
- Revealing and endearing
|
Could It Be Forever?: My Story
David Cassidy
Manufacturer: Headline Book Publishing
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ASIN: 0755315790 |
Book Description
In the early 1970s, when he was just 20 years old, David Cassidy achieved the sort of teen idol fame that is rarely seen. He was mobbed everywhere he went. His clothes were regularly ripped off by adoring fans. He sold records the world over. He was bigger than Elvis. And all thanks to a hit TV show called The Partridge Family. David Cassiday, in his own words, gives a brutally frank account of those mindblowing days of stardom in which being David Cassidy played second fiddle to being Keith Partridge. Including stories of sex, drugs, and rock'n'roll that explode the myth of Cassidy as squeaky clean, it is also the story of how to keep on living life and loving yourself when the fickle fans fall away. David Cassidy is also the author of C'mon, Get Happy: Fear and Loathing on the Partridge Family Bus.
Customer Reviews:
David Cassidy is truly a legend.......2007-09-16
When this book came out I just had to have it! Like all young girls in the early 70's I was crazy about this guy! My sister and I would be glued to the tv to watch the Partridge Family and fight over which one of us would marry David when we grew up. While in my early teens I discovered David Bowie and have followed his career for over 30 years. In August of 2006 I re-discovered David Cassidy. His music makes you feel happy and your troubles seem to disappear. Since August of 2006 I have had the pleasure of meeting him backstage 3 times. What a thrill! I have so much respect for this man and the life that he has led. The second time I met him I told him he is my hero. He couldn't thank me enough and I could tell he meant it. I highly recommend this book. It is very well written and David's honesty shines thru. His story is truly amazing. He even mentions David Bowie in it!! lol When I started reading this book I honestly couldn't put it down and will re-read it again soon. For those of you who have never seen him live I highly recommend you catch one of shows. He is an incredible performer and sounds awesome. I was very pleasantly surprised the first time I saw him in 2006. You will walk away happy and very entertained. Now I just need to get back stage again so he can autograph my book! Read and enjoy! and yes...I still want to marry him! hehehe
A great insight.......2007-08-25
Most of the early part of the hard-cover was a repeat of the first book, so I skipped ahead, starting with coverage of the Rolling Stone issue. From then, until the last pages, it was all new material. He covers the RCA recording sessions, why he chose the songs, & includes interviews with Kim & Dave, Bruce Johnson, & songwriters Bill House & Gerry Beckley. Even Shaun gives his opinions. This was the sort of subject matter I wish had been in the first book.
The new material also covers Katie & her career, the Vegas years, the new recordings, & the "Brothers' Tour" of Florida. It touches briefly on Evelyn's declining health, & Meryl Tanz.
It dismays me that he seems to be using prescription medicine more frequently, with the advent of hurting his legs during the Blood Brothers tour, until his foot surgery after "EFX", but I appreciate his honesty in showing how he is dealing with his mental health problems (I never want to see him ending up like Jack).
Shaun, Patrick, Ryan, & Sue all give their sensitive opinions of their relationship with David through the years and Beau writes his own chapter of what it's like to be David's son.
One of the most interesting passages I could relate to was on page 344, where his friend, Jerry Bilinski, writes of his dedication to his horses, especially Myan King. He says that even though the horse didn't do well in a race in Kentucky, David was able to perform on stage in Connecticut. I was at that concert- it was my first time at Mohegan Sun!
I would recommend this new book to any David Cassidy fan, just for the new additions (but if you're an American who is financially impaired, I would wait until June, when it is released n Canadathe exchange rate is a bit more reasonable).
Nicely co-written and edited .......2007-07-03
This new updated version of a 1994 publication, was co-written and edited by music author Ken Sharp. He also arranged and conducted the interviews with family members and friends. These updates gave this 2007 edition a better feel. Some parts of the orig. 1994 edition, which was co-written at that time by music author Chip Deffae, were also left intact.
Bit of a fantasist in parts.......2007-06-16
Whereas this is a pretty good autobiography as they go, in places, it just does not stick. Cassidy's story about 'being personally invited to have tea with the Queen of England', during his first ever trip to the UK, well frankly, my dear, it would NOT have happened. THAT particular privilege is reserved for visiting presidents, diplomats and dignitaries in groups, and other visiting royalty. For a start, the Queen does NOT issue personal invitations to pop stars or anyone else for that matter, they are issued by the Foreign Office, via Embassies. She does NOT ring people in their hotels and therefore, David Cassidy would never have had the opportunity to 'turn her down' to have dinner with a girlfriend. The Queen never has one-to-one meals with anyone, not even her own children, they are usually invited to full meals such as banquets, so tea with a pop star would never have happened, Mr. Cassidy, not even in your wildest imaginings, and no, it did NOT make the papers and there was no fuss and believe me, I'd have remembered. The nearest he got to Buckingham Palace, was to pose for the press in the Mall, outside it. The Queen DOES meet pop stars, however. Usually when she is forced by the Prime Minister to give them undeserved knighthoods or some such nonesense.
As for his friends 'sneaking onto a Royal Navy destroyer moored near his luxury yacht in the Thames on the second visit made to the UK to 'steal a few trophies in revenge' for the sailors insulting Cassidy, well, how was this little fiasco possible? No one 'sneaks aboard' a Royal Navy ship of any description, not with the amount of sailors on duty at all times and the radar and security aboard and no, that didn't make the papers either, and any items taken belong to the Crown and the Navy. Had this fantasy happened, they would have been caught and arrested and most certainly deported and diplomatic links would have been severed temporarily.
Whatever else David Cassidy has in his mind, let's hope he doesn't decide on a volume 2. If he does, perhaps it will be a more truthful volume, without the fantasy and without the need to draw into question our country's good name. However, it should be required reading for any youngsters feeling the need to become popstars, as it is a good read and provides a good lesson in how not to choose a career. Maybe it will make any youngsters think twice before they embark on a life of sex 'n' drink 'n' rock 'n' roll because it really isn't all it's cracked up to be. I did feel sorry for Cassidy, having been a fan for so many years, I had no idea how idol worship could affect a person. Yes, I still buy the albums, yes, I bought this book, but I was rather disappointed. It's written for an American readership and doesn't obviously credit the original ghost writer (yes, I have the original book too, of which, this is an extended version). I was also disappointed with the picture content, which promised to be a lot more, but didn't deliver.
Revealing and endearing.......2007-06-16
I grew up in Arabia, Germany, and Africa through the 1960s and first few years of the 1970s. TV was non-existent and popular radio featured light jazz or nightclub-style piano music plus a smattering of recycled 1950s BBC radio programs. So I missed almost the entire David Cassidy phenomenon. As a teenager I caught him once only, on a BBC TV program called Top of the Pops. David had just arrived at London's Heathrow Airport and he performed a song on the tarmac before rushing off to some engagement. I remember thinking the song was weak, but the performer was phenomenal. Back in those days in which everyone and their dog seemed to be dressing up and playing "let's pretend" (and yes, I do mean you, among many others, Mr. Bowie...) here was a young man who had the ability to communicate directly and whose singing voice, even after a transatlantic flight, was highly personal and very professional.
My family then went to Spain so I never saw David Cassidy after that; by the time we returned his star had faded and my future lay peripherally in the orbit of people like Jeff Beck. Years later I came across a David Cassidy album and played a few songs. I was impressed by the artistry and one song, "I Am A Clown" had a haunting quality about it that stuck in my mind. But I wasn't really his target market, and besides I was moving into madrigals, Bach cantatas, fourteenth-century polyphony, and eventually 20th century composers like Shostakovitch and Prokofiev.
But... Fast forward to earlier this month. A friend of mine in the UK happened to mention that she'd just read a book written by a teen idol she'd had a crush on back in the early 1970s. His name was David Cassidy. I looked on the 'net and there it was and there he was - now in his fifties but still with that direct, optimistic look that I remembered from the one and only time I'd seen him on television when he sung his song on the tarmac at Heathrow. Gambling a few dollars, I bought the book.
Perhaps the most remarkable thing about David Cassidy is that he seems to be the kind of person most people would really enjoy having in their lives. No doubt he has omitted the less salubrious aspects of this life, and no doubt he has his quirks and imperfections. But all in all he comes across as painfully honest, decent, and - dare I say it - nice. He describes his roller-coaster life without settling scores or whining. And his life really has been an astonishing journey. A young man, with no intellectual foundation and a painful family background, was thrown into the maelstrom of super-stardom and then, at the height of his fame, he left the stage of his own volition and over the coming years descended into a personal hell.
In a way, the David Cassidy of this book is an archetype. Take every rock-n-roller fantasy you've ever imagined and then turbo-charge it and you still wouldn't get close to what he experienced. Amazingly, the David Cassidy who shines through in this book is now a reasonably well-balanced, thoughtful, and basically good person. Not many of us would fare so well in the face of the experiences he went through, and very few of us would escape the insidious corruption of the soul that comes from such fame and its attendant power, all experienced at a very young age. I ended up greatly admiring both the young and naive David Cassidy and also the mature man who wrote this book. Of course part of it is self-justification, self-portrayal. He's eager for us to know that he has real talent. If this were a book by someone else, much of the references to his talent would result in the reader becoming irritated; but in this book I think we end up sympathizing. And listening to some of those old songs confirms the claim: he really is a talented performer. It's this talent than enabled him to exert force of will to recover from the ultimate in "Career Over" post-idol job death.
I finished the book knowing that while I'll never meet David Cassidy, the world is just a little bit of a better place for his presence in it. I imagine he will continue to bring pleasure to his many fans for years to come, and I would also imagine that most people who read this book - even if, like me, they aren't David Cassidy fans - will feel the same way. The book may not be literature and its style of writing may be simplistic, but it's a genuine and genuinely touching account of an astonishing life and a decent human being. It's also an excellent "what to avoid" manual for any aspiring performer.
Book Description
The definitive biography of one of the most revered guitarists of his generation. Duane Allman brought white-hot intensity to his life, onstage, in the studio, and beyond. Skydog reveals the complete story of Duane Allman, from his early struggles and his session days, to the formation of the Allman Brothers Band and his tragic early death at age 24. Skydog also includes a comprehensive discography, a meticulously researched roundup of his studio and stage instruments, and a look at the continuing lives and careers of Allman's friends and bandmates.
Customer Reviews:
Nothing New.......2007-05-27
I'd already read Freeman's "Midnight Riders" and there is nothing new here.
Add a star if your a Guitar Gearhead - the history of Duane's axes is well done.
Greatest guitar player,good book!.......2007-05-13
I enjoyed the history of Duane and the Brothers and how he impacted the music and musicians he came in contact with.It was well written and showed both the genius of Duane and also some of his human flaws which all of us can relate to,all this at a very young age!The only real problem I have with the book(and it is more a question why or why not)is the lack of peers such as Clapton,Winter,Vaughn,King etc, paying homage or at least being asked by the author to give Duane a pat on the back to Skydog, in my opinion the Greatest!!!
Great Book On A Great Artist.......2007-05-12
This book is very enjoyable to read and gives a lot of information about Duane Allman. One thing that satands out as you read this book is that Duane was a visionary musician and the true leader of the Allman Brothers Band. The band has struggled to survive ever since his death on October 29, 1971. If Duane had not died and was still with us today, I believe there would have been more concentration on making great music, and less energy spent on fighting each other in the band and abusing drugs. Though Duane indulged in drugs himself, I'm sure he would have put that into perspective before too long, and he definately would not have allowed his band to be torn apart by in-fighting among the band members. The book shows how he really was the inspiration and glue that held them together. It's no wonder the others had to struggle so much after his demise.
Powerfully Written.......2007-04-12
I was reading this on the bus the other day and found myself getting a little choked up during the part covering Duane's and Berry's deaths. Powerful writing; thanks Randy. Skydog lives.
Where the music comes from.......2007-03-30
Based on some of the other reviews here, I expected to enjoy "Skydog" more than I did.
For those who can't remember where they were when they learned that Duane Allman had died, for those who didn't read the bio that accompanied the release of the first Anthology album, and for others who are new to the stories, Randy Poe's book is both informative and insightful. I was happy to find that I still wanted to listen to "Live at the Filmore," after reading it. (Freeman's book on the ABB a decade ago made it hard to listen to the band's work for a while.)
The sections of Poe's book on Allman's brief tenure in Alabama was the best part of the book.
But the book I want to read about Duane Allman and the Allman Brothers Band has yet to be written. I want to know where the music came from. Not the psychological sources, in the hard times that each band member suffered (which can be said to have been covered at this point), but in the recordings and live musicians they listened to, the experiments they tried.
One door that Poe opened, but didn't go through deeply enough, is the possibility (rather, the strong likelihood), that drugs altered the way that Allman heard what he was playing, and that he may have processed changes in style and technique to amplify tune he was hearing -- and what he wanted to hear.
That said, I would like to know a lot more about all of the sources that Allman brought to the sound and the individual compositions (and I'd like the same for Dickey's tunes, too). I want to know how solos changed over time, and what each musician was "quoting." I don't need to hear once more about the band's late night "sessions" at Rose Hill. I want to know what songs they played for each other at Rose Hill.
The stories about the Allman Brothers Band are interesting, sad, even tragic at times. But they aren't what makes the band worth writing about. What matters is the music.
Book Description
With nearly 1,500 Broadway performances, six Tony Awards, more than three million albums sold, and five Academy Awards, The Sound of Music, based on the lives of Maria, the baron, and their singing children, is as familiar to most of us as our own family history. But much about the real-life woman and her family was left untold.
Here, Baroness Maria Augusta Trapp tells in her own beautiful, simple words the extraordinary story of her romance with the baron, their escape from Nazi-occupied Austria, and their life in America.
Now with photographs from the original edition.
Customer Reviews:
Story of the Trapp Family Singers.......2007-05-08
Excellent writing--My mother has enjoying reading the book. I have enjoying reading it also.
Inspirational family.......2006-11-06
You will enjoy this true story of the "Sound of Music" family. It is both historical and charming. The family's adventures and trials will keep you turning the pages.
wholesome and heartwarming.......2006-08-18
I smile whenever I see this book on my shelf...
Picture a large, creative, talented family seated around a fireplace in the evenings--playing with dolls or whittling--while the mother reads aloud. Later, they sing together...imagine that...a family singing together for fun!
German occupied Austria in 1938...I can only envision what it would have been like. Its intriguing to see it through Maria's eyes. One of my favorite quotes in this book is: "you can't say no three times to Hitler." My second favorite quote is: "The Americans never seemed to ask, "Who are you?" but "How good are you? Let's see."
I've read this book several times, and I always enjoy it!
A Refreshing, Straightforward Story.......2006-07-01
Okay, "War and Peace" it ain't, but what it is is a charming rendering of the Trapp Family history. Told in an almost childlike voice, it was refreshing to learn about this amazing woman and her struggles to keep her family afloat during a turbulent time in the world. After hearing so much about Paris Hilton and Tori Spelling these days it was refreshing to come back to reality and see how insipid today's youth can be. Maria was a strong woman who didn't flinch in the face of adversity. I enjoyed hearing about her faith, as well, being a rather lax Catholic, my interest in my own faith has been inspired by reading her book. I enjoyed her exuberance over the simplest things and it made me appreciate everything I have. I would recommend this book to everyone...young, old, religious, atheists, etc. There is something to learn from Maria von Trapp and this delightful book now goes on my short list of "All Time Favorites". Read this book and share it with someone you love, or better yet, share it with someone you hate.
A pleasure to read and learn of the real Trapp family.......2006-04-29
The book was a joy to read, one filled with hope, love, struggle and triumph through faith and hard work. The true value is in learning how different the Trapp family's life was from the Sound of Music and quite different indeed it was.
I was unaware of just how musically gifted the family really was, how much of a struggle their early years in America were and just how deep their faith in God was throughout their lives.
I would have given it 5 stars but the tale of the romance between the Captain and Maria and their escape from Austria were brief to non-existent . I would have liked to have heard more from Maria on those chapters of their life.
On the plus side, her writing is from the heart, and filled with wonder on her part on the goodness of people wherever she went.
The path of a family who succeeded by faith, hard work and personal responsibility was a real inspiration.
Pick up this book, read their true story, and be inspired.
Book Description
From Quentin Tarantino (Kill Bill) to Eli Roth (Hostel), the young guns of modern Hollywood just can't get enough of that exploitation film high. Between 1970 and 1985, American Exploitation movies went berserk. With censorship relaxed, excess, wide-open, horror - the Exploitation genre par excellence - offered a vibrant alternative to mainstream American cinema. Luridly titled wonders like The Headless Eyes, Scream Bloody Murder and Hitch Hike To Hell played at Texas drive-ins and NYC grindhouses, touting a combination of mind-bruising violence, weird sex and drug-soaked delirium. Massively popular around the world, these movies have remained persona non grata in most serious studies of American film, until now. • Explores the development of America's subterranean horror film industry • Spotlights the wildest films • Revealing the fascinating true stories behind classics and obscurities
Customer Reviews:
NIGHTMARE USA THE BIBLE OF HORROR AND EXPLOITATION.......2007-10-01
I'm gonna keep this short and sweet.Any fan of horror and exploitation,and also obscure material,should have this book! 528 pages of pure beauty I just can't say enough about this awesome book! So shell out the 60 bux or so for this gem! Trust me you will not disappointed!Splatterbeast is a happy beast thanks to nightmare usa!
More Than I Hoped For.......2007-09-29
I read about Nightmare, USA: The Untold Story of the Exploitation Independents by Stephen Thrower online on several discussion forums. I had not heard of the book before, but was intrigued by the subject. Though expensive it is worth every penny. With long interviews of filmmakers, restrospectives of their work, detailed reviews of the movies and extensive use of pictures, many unseen before, this is a great add to anyone's film library. The subjects chosen have rarely been profiled or even discussed before, though many of the films are cult classics.
At over 500 pages and weighing almost five pounds this is an excellent book that will fill many hours with great reading.
Excellent, astounding and fun........2007-09-29
Consistently thoughtful, funny, appreciative of the material but never solemn, Thrower's book gleefully mines the dross pile and finds gold on every page. There is no snootiness here, as in a great many other genre books, no sense of superiority to the material. But there's no blindness to substandard acting, low-ball production values or whacked-out results, either. Don't let the gigantic size of the tome put you off. Any given chapter is a self-contained, independent joy to read on its own, well-researched, insightful and amusing. Full disclosure: Stephen interviewed me at length for the chapter on director Irv Berwick (and quoted me accurately, too.) Highly reccommended to anyone interested in exploitation, horror, or film history in general.
GREAT!.......2007-09-29
I bought this book without having seen it and having only heard reviews of it. WOW! I was NOT disappointed. If you are a fan of drive-in and grindhouse movies you owe it to yourself to pick up this book. As a graphic designer, I am equally impressed with the number of great "never before seen" photos included. I've heard rumors of a volume 2... If there is, I will buy that without hesitation as well. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Believe the hype- truly outstanding........2007-09-01
Good lord, what an amazing piece of work. Worth its (considerable) weight in gold, this is a steal at $80, and a shameful screwing of the publisher at the $50 Amazon is selling it for. One caveat, though: I got my copy from Amazon, and it arrived looking a bit dogeared.
Book Description
"George," he said, "I don't know if you'd be interested, but there's a chap who's come in with a tape of a group he runs. They haven't got a recording contract, and I wonder if you'd like to see him and listen to what he's got?""Certainly," I said, "I'm willing to listen to anything. Ask him to come and see me." "O.K., I will. His name's Brian Epstein...."All You Need Is Ears is the story of George Martin, the man who spotted the Beatles' talent, who recorded and produced them from the start, and who brought their musical ideas to life. In this witty and charming autobiography, he describes exactly what it was like to work in the studio with the Beatles--from the first audition (and his decision to scrap Pete Best on drums) to the wild experimentation of Sgt. Pepper (complete with sound effects, animal noises and full orchestras in evening dress at the direct request of Paul McCartney).This is a singular look at the most important musical group of all time, and how they made the music that changed the world: No other book can provide George Martin's inside look at their creative process, at the play of genius and practical improvisation that gave them their sound; it is an indispensable read for Beatle lovers and anyone interested in the music world.
Customer Reviews:
Posted Bio.......2007-04-04
Just to point out --
The biography posted is for George Martin, the sci-fi writer,
who isn't the same person (as far as I know!) as the Beatles'
producer. FYI.
A good book that should have been great.......2007-03-05
George Martin was the 5th Beatle. He gave them their first break after they had been turned down by all the labels. Without the break he gave them, Martin muses that the Beatles may have just given it up and gone their separate ways. Apparently George Martin was the only one around that was willing to take a chance on these scruffs from Liverpool that would chane the world.
It seems that Paul was the one Beatle that could have made it on his own, but if not as on of The Beatles, then as what? Could he have been a backup for Tony Sheridan, or a bass player for Little Richard? Thankfully, we will never know. Would the other Beatles have likely gotten working class jobs, and/or just self-destructed? As always, the whole was greater than the sum of its parts.
It is hard to imagine a world without the Beatles, but that just underscores the importance of George Martin in giving them their lucky break. George Martin played all positions with the Beatles, except for vocalist. He produced, directed, arranged, and even played piano and harpsichord on many records. He brought that classical influence of strings and horns into the Beatles music, starting with Yesterday. Any die-hard fan will want to read this book, however, beware: it is diluted a bit with stories about other recording artists that have little relation to the reason why I bought the book in the first place, i.e., The Beatles. Nevertheless, it does have a few anecdotes that have not been seen elsewhere, so yes, it is worth buying and reading. You can always skip the parts that you don't care about.
George Martin is very informative on the evolution of multitrack recording technology, so that should be of interest to anybody that wonders how they got all those "layer cakes" out of the primitive equipment of the day.
I enjoyed the book immensely, but I think George Martin could have done better given his intimate knowledge of one of the greatest cultural phenomena of all time. Sometimes he seems a little aloof in the book, as if he hardly cares, but it is probably just old-school English understatement at its best, or maybe a futile attempt to downplay that he is probably their biggest fan, if not one of their oldest.
On a side note, it is too bad that George Martin was never rewarded financially (at least up to 1979 when this book was published) on a level that would have been commensurate with the important role he played in not only discovering, but also developing the greatest band of all time. As always, the Beatles come off as cheap, uncharitable and self-indulgent on this score. As the book explains, Martin was offered some royalties under the table, (as a kickback from an unscrupulous publisher) but he never compromised his ethics. Eventually I'm sure he made a nice living through his long association with the Fab 4, but not what one might expect, according to the book, at least up to 1979. A lot has happened in the financial world of The Beatles since this book was written, including the huge Vegas production of Love, in which Martin played an integral role along with his son, Giles. It's nice to see a music producer that is more driven by quality and innovation than the lowest common demoniators. I wish we had more like him.
My rating says 3 stars, but that was a mistake. I really gave it a 4.
Beatles.......2007-01-18
A must read for anyone involved in the making of music as it pertains to production and recording. It however exhibits George Martins conservative nature and is someone bias from his perspective. A much superior book is Here,There, and Everywhere by Geoff Emerick. It is the same subject matter but much more detailed and objective.
Okay but not all that I wanted.......2007-01-05
I wish there were more technical specifics in the descriptions of various sessions. Sir George gets you into Abbey Road studio #2 and lets you know about his experiences with various artists.
George Martin REVEALED!.......2006-09-03
This is a truly amazing book. I had just finished reading "Here, There and Everywhere" by Geoff Emerick (the Beatles recording engineer) and decided I wanted to know more about George Martin, their producer. It was a great decision because the introspect gained from reading both of these books together tells a big picture that I before could only guess at.
George's personality really comes out in this book and it makes it far easier to understand what went on during the Beatles many many recording sessions. It has been said that the producer is a major contributer to the outcome of any project and this book definately confirms and educates about that process.
It is an easy read and the edition that I purchased has fairly decent sized type and makes it easy on the eyes. It is a paperback and tucks easily into your daybag or briefcase for those times when you can read a few minutes - but if you are like I am - you may devour the whole thing in one seating!
The early life of George Martin is also detailed in this book with it's different perspective of growing up in Britain. I had no idea that George Martin was in pop music groups as he was growing up and that came as a terrific surprise. I might have known, though.
The classical side of George Martin comes out strong also. This came into very significant play as he produced the Beatles.
Great book. Don't hesitate to buy this!
Book Description
In February, 2003, the Sudanese Liberation Army in Darfur (the western region of Sudan) after years of oppression took up arms against the Sudanese government. The government and allied militias answered the rebellion with mass murder, rape and the wholesale destruction of villages and livelihood, resulting in one of the world's largest humanitarian and political crises. Up to 2 million people were displaced; 400,000 people killed.
In October and November, 2004, after watching woefully inadequate media coverage on the crisis in Darfur, a team of three independent filmmakers trekked to Darfurian refugee camps in eastern Chad and crept across the border into Darfur. They met dozens of Darfurians, and spoke with them about their history, hopes and fears, and the tragedy they are living.
Refugees and displaced peoples, civilians and fighters resisting the Sudanese government, teachers, students, parents, children and community leaders provide the heart of Darfur Diaries. Their stories and testimonies, woven together through the personal experience of the filmmakers, and conveyed with political and historical context, provide a much-needed account to help understand Darfur. These are people whose lives, homes, safety and rights deserve to be protected as vigilantly as those of peoples all over the world.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent book.......2007-08-24
This is unlike any other documentary type book. This is what happened around the documentary (the film). Behind the scenes story that is just so touching and wonderful. It's a must read!
"flattened... against the scarce shadow of a mud-brick wall".......2007-05-17
In 2003, the Sudanese government and Janjaweed dramatically escalated their campaign of violence against the people of Darfur, killing thousands, forcing millions from their villages, and turning the once-stable region into a wasteland of starvation and disease. Upon arriving in Darfur, Marlowe writes: "I had been to other scenes of large-scale devastation. In all those places, people seemed to spring up out of the remnants the way weeds stubbornly grow in cracks of a sidewalk... But here, it was different. It was almost entirely depopulated... Even the birds had left. The only sound was the wind and the hard sand crunching beneath our feet" (75-6).
I was prepared for either a detached historical report driven by dates and events, or a gutwrenching depiction of hunger, sickness, and mass graves. On the contrary, Darfur Diaries consists of a series of interviews and conversations with displaced people, refuges, and members of the makeshift Darfurian rebel army, interwoven with the author's impressions of the landscape, the people, their customs, and their challenges. How do they live? How do they survive dispossession, lack of food and water, familial fracture, lack of medicine, and the intense desert heat and cold? How do they cope with the brutalities of rape, injury, mass murder, and widespread material destruction? How do they sustain their sanity? Where do they find hope?
I was impressed with the openness of the questions asked, which allowed the interviewees to speak from the depths of their own experiences, rather than responding to some pre-set agenda on the part of Marlowe and fellow documentarians Adam Shapiro and Aisha Bain. The result is a complex weave of human personality: dignity, humility, anger, humor, gentility, forgiveness, desperation, and hard endurance.
Most amazing to me was the persistent emphasis on education. Education is a priority held as high among the Darfurian people as life itself. Volunteer teachers work with children in refuge camps in clusters under the leafless skeletons of trees, sand blowing in their faces--no books, nothing to write with, or on. Some of these children sit through a day of lessons without food or water.
In fact, Marlowe's striking insights into the impact of the hardships and violence on the Darfurian children demonstrate a piercing depth of empathy. Towards the beginning of her journey, she writes: "Knowing what I did, I wanted to find some way to protect them: from their pasts, which I could scarcely imagine when looking at their quick smiles, and from their futures, which were so precarious" (33). In a Chadian refuge camp on the border of Sudan, she recalls "A small boy, around four years old, settled into the sand next to me... He rested his hand on my arm. He wanted to make sure I knew he was there" (34). Indeed, Marlowe knows they are there. She never fails to notice the tiny silent faces peering on from behind the torsoes of their remaining family members.
Darfur Diaries is an incredible effort to bridge the gap between the dire realities of genocide and America's resistance to fathom the atrocities that are steadily eroding Darfurian society and culture. One thing I did not realize until I read this book was that the government is actually bombing its own people!! The situation is utterly intolerable, especially given the luxuries we Americans take for granted on a daily basis, and yet, life goes on, and this is the story of the lives left behind.
After 4 years of crisis in Darfur, this book is a must-read.......2007-03-26
"Darfur Diaries" not only provides a clear, accurate, and understandable roadmap to the conflict in Darfur, it introduces the reader to an engaging group of Darfurians. As individual characters, they are likeable, idiosyncratic, and even humorous, despite the tragic circumstances in which they are caught.
Because the authors care about the Darfurians they meet as individuals, their portrayal of the broader crisis in Darfur is all the more urgent and compelling.
Darfurians speak for themselves.......2007-03-12
This is a multi-layered, extremely readable and informative book. It is first and foremost a vehicle through which the authors allow Darfurians to speak for themselves regarding their travails, fears, hopes and dreams. It is also a fascinating travelogue of the authors' adventure, their experiences in eastern Chad and Darfur -- They had to overcome enormous logistical obstacles and take great risks to sneak into Darfur and document the havoc wrought by the Government of Sudan and its Janjaweed proxies. The book also includes rich reflections on technical challenges and ethical issues involved in creating a documentary film about events in Darfur.
Darfur Diaries is tender, thoughtful, and thought-provoking. It reflects the authors' courage without being self-glorifying, and it never loses sight of its most important objective, which is to allow Darfurians to speak for themselves. The Darfurians that the reader meets are eloquent and vulnerable, courageous and surprisingly positive in light of the living hell that most have experienced. Jen Marlowe and her collaborators do an outstanding job at putting very human faces on the victims of the ongoing Darfur tragedy and thereby giving them back their dignity. In the course of the narrative, the reader also meets a fascinating supporting cast, including United Nations staff and NGO workers, among others. While it is not a central focus of the book, one gets a sense of some of the challenges in conducting humanitarian work in a conflict zone.
The authors do a very good job of weaving in historical and social context and a bit of political analysis without undermining the book's readability, and the foreword by Francis Deng is helpful in this regard. As a result, this is a rare book through which one can get a rich, up-close idea of what is happening on the ground while also receiving a useful introduction to the big picture, the context in which the story unfolds. The book also has a number of decent, provocative photos as well as a simple but useful map.
In sum, I heartily recommend this well-written, engaging, and accessible book. This said, I have one major criticism and one minor criticism of Darfur Diaries. The major criticism is that the authors do a great job of depicting the rich humanity of the "African" Darfurians who are the primary victims of the current conflict, but "Arab" Darfurians who have historically been almost as exploited, manipulated and neglected by Sudan's central government remain two-dimensional. The authors recognize this failing, and it seems largely a consequence of limited time and lack of access, given that they had entered Sudan illicitly, with support from SLA rebels. Nonetheless, to fully understand the complexity of Darfur, it is important to understand that Arabs and Africans in the zone have tended to get along historically, and a big part of the current tragedy is the wedge that has been driven between them.
My minor criticism is that the book has no index -- there is enough contextual detail that it would have been quite useful.
Brings humanity to faceless statistics.......2007-02-19
Darfur Diaries puts a human face on the statistics we read about each day. The writing is fluid, accessible, sometimes sad and engrossing. The writer eloquently paints a picture of the situation in Darfur and those who are most affected by it. Recommended reading for anyone seeking a better understanding of the effect of genocide on its victims.
Average customer rating:
- Hmmm...why you might not need to buy this book
- A good foundation
- useful
- Simple & straight to the heart
- Excellent Idea, But Left Out The Best One
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What Stories Does my son need?: A Guide to Books and Movies that Build Character in Boys
Michael Gurian
Manufacturer: Tarcher
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Similar Items:
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The Minds of Boys: Saving Our Sons From Falling Behind in School and Life
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The Good Son: Shaping the Moral Development of Our Boys and Young Men
-
The Wonder of Boys
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A Fine Young Man: What Parents, Mentors, and Educators Can Do to Shape Adolescent Boys into Exceptional Men
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The Wonder of Girls : Understanding the Hidden Nature of Our Daughters
Accessories:
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philosophy hope in a jar daily moisturizer
ASIN: 1585420409
Release Date: 2000-06-01 |
Book Description
The author shows parents and teachers how to harness the media's influence to teach boys the lessons they need in today's confusing moral environment. The author gives particular ethical lessons for many great movies and books.
Customer Reviews:
Hmmm...why you might not need to buy this book.......2006-03-25
I love Amazon's Search Inside the Book feature but in this case is it doing the author any favors when it lists most of the books (listed by age group) which he suggests are appropriate? If you can see the books and movies, why buy the book?
ALso, just by glancing over the contents I could see which movies would work for my kids and which they'd seen or didn't like. This was enough to convince me that the book had nothing new to say to me that I hadn't already seen by using this feature.
Sorry. But that's my take.
A good foundation.......2005-11-29
This book has great age-appropriate movie and book suggestions. The topics of discussion have been very useful for us... our 5 year old son now specfically asks us to pause the movie or book so that he can get clarification regarding the concepts or words he does not understand. On the inside cover, I jot down the newer books or movies that strike me as being potentially inspiring for my son in the future. I REALLY wish Mr. Gurian would write a version of this book for girls! I have had to start my own list for my daughter.
useful.......2005-10-11
I find this book useful in choosing movies for my son and in pulling out character building topics to discuss with him. This book acknowledges that boys connect with media and gives specific ideas how parents can USE that power rather than simply be subject to it. I do have to agree with the other reviewers, I'd like to see more; a little more depth and an updated version to include more recent books and movies.
Simple & straight to the heart.......2004-03-10
A wonderful list. Yes, as other reviewers point out, there is 'nothing new here'. But parents today are bombarded with books and videos for kids and don't often have time to sift through them all as thoughtfully as the authors have done here. They've done a wonderful job of reviewing stories we know and love from a boy's perspective. My 6 year old gets way too much pressure to act like a girl, I'm grateful for movie & book reviews that acknowledge not just that it's ok to be a boy, but actually quite wonderful. The discussion questions may not be the ones you want to ask, but they get you thinking along the right lines.
Excellent Idea, But Left Out The Best One.......2002-01-29
This book is an excellent idea. However, the authors left out what I have found to be the best one for our sons AND OUR DAUGHTERS. Add the book, "West Point" by Norman Thomas Remick to your list (in fact, this should be first as it gives the basics). It's a veritable education in character and leadership.
Books:
- Study Guide for American Cinema
- The Art of The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings)
- The Artist as Monster: The Cinema of David Cronenberg
- The Developing Person Through the Life Span (paper)
- The Devil's Candy: The Anatomy of a Hollywood Fiasco
- The Filmmaker's Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for the Digital Age
- The Films of Andrei Tarkovsky: A Visual Fugue
- The Girl Who Walked Home Alone: Bette Davis, A Personal Biography
- The Hollywood Curriculum: Teachers in the Movies (Counterpoints (New York, N.Y.), V. 256.)
- The Honeymoon's Over: True Stories of Love, Marriage, and Divorce
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey
- Our Iceberg Is Melting: Changing and Succeeding Under Any Conditions
- Mad House: Growing Up in the Shadow of Mentally Ill Siblings
- INSIDE WELLINGTON'S PENINSULAR ARMY: 1808 - 1814
- Must We Mean What We Say
- The Chronicles of Narnia CD Box Set
- Pole to Pole With Michael Palin: North to South by Camel, River Raft, and Balloon
- Structural Change of the Production Process and Unemployment in Germany
- How to Walk A Pig: And Other Lessons in Country Living
- The Retirement Revolution: A Strategic Guide to Understanding & Investing Lump-Sum Distributions
The Screenwriter's Bible: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting, and Selling Your Script
Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting
Creating Unforgettable Characters
Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need
Making a Good Script Great
