“Quick, cutting wit . . . a keen ear.”—The New York Times Book Review Hollywood’s newest wunderkind is Peter Alan Nelsen, the brilliant, erratic director known as the King of Adventure. His films make billions, but his manners make enemies. What the boy king wants, he gets, and what Nelsen wants is for Elvis to comb the country for the wife and infant child the film-school flunkout dumped en route to becoming the third-biggest filmmaker in America. It’s the kind of case Cole can handle in his sleep—until it turns out to be a nightmare. For when Cole finds Nelsen’s ex-wife in a small Connecticut town, she’s nothing like he expects. She has some unwanted—and very nasty—mob connections, which means Elvis could be opening an East Coast branch of his P.I. office...at the bottom of the Hudson River. “Elvis [Cole] is the greatest . . . [ he is] perhaps the best detective to come along since Travis McGee.”—San Diego Tribune “[Crais is] far better at the private-eye-novel racket than most writers.”—Newsweek

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “Stranger Things meets the South. Chilling, hilarious, and suspenseful—I loved it!”—Felicia Day From the authors of Rhett & Link's Book of Mythicality and creators of Good Mythical Morning . . . It’s 1992 in Bleak Creek, North Carolina—a sleepy little place with all the trappings of an ordinary Southern town: two Baptist churches, friendly smiles coupled with silent judgments, and an unquenchable appetite for pork products. Beneath the town’s cheerful façade, however, Bleak Creek teens live in constant fear of being sent to the Whitewood School, a local reformatory with a history of putting unruly youths back on the straight and narrow—a record so impeccable that almost everyone is willing to ignore the suspicious deaths that have occurred there over the past decade. At first, high school freshmen Rex McClendon and Leif Nelson believe what they’ve been told: that the students’ strange demises were all just tragic accidents, the unfortunate consequence of succumbing to vices like Marlboro Lights and Nirvana. But when the shoot for their low-budget horror masterpiece, PolterDog, goes horribly awry—and their best friend, Alicia Boykins, is sent to Whitewood as punishment—Rex and Leif are forced to question everything they know about their unassuming hometown and its cherished school for delinquents. Eager to rescue their friend, Rex and Leif pair up with recent NYU film school graduate Janine Blitstein to begin piecing together the unsettling truth of the school and its mysterious founder, Wayne Whitewood. What they find will leave them battling an evil beyond their wildest imaginations—one that will shake Bleak Creek to its core.Praise for The Lost Causes of Bleak Creek “The Lost Causes of Bleak Creek is like your best friend from high school—kind of weird and a little twisted, but no matter how much trouble they caused, they always made you laugh. You don’t have to be a GMM fan to realize . . . The Lost Causes of Bleak Creek, Will It Awesome Book? F@*# yeah!”—Kurt Sutter, creator of Sons of Anarchy “Most people don’t read books, let alone write them. That puts Rhett and Link in the top 1% of smart people in the world. Read this book.”—Rachel Bloom, co-creator of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend“It’s scary, it’s fun, and it’s one hell of a carnival ride.”—Kirkus Reviews

This outrageous and hilarious memoir follows a film and television director’s life, from his idiosyncratic upbringing to his unexpected career as the director behind such huge film franchises as The Addams Family and Men in Black.Barry Sonnenfeld's philosophy is, "Regret the Past. Fear the Present. Dread the Future." Told in his unmistakable voice, Barry Sonnenfeld, Call Your Mother is a laugh-out-loud memoir about coming of age. Constantly threatened with suicide by his over-protective mother, disillusioned by the father he worshiped, and abused by a demonic relative, Sonnenfeld somehow went on to become one of Hollywood's most successful producers and directors.Written with poignant insight and real-life irony, the book follows Sonnenfeld from childhood as a French horn player through graduate film school at NYU, where he developed his talent for cinematography. His first job after graduating was shooting nine feature length pornos in nine days. From that humble entrée, he went on to form a friendship with the Coen Brothers, launching his career shooting their first three films.Though Sonnenfeld had no ambition to direct, Scott Rudin convinced him to be the director of The Addams Family. It was a successful career move. He went on to direct many more films and television shows. Will Smith once joked that he wanted to take Sonnenfeld to Philadelphia public schools and say, "If this guy could end up as a successful film director on big budget films, anyone can." This book is a fascinating and hilarious roadmap for anyone who thinks they can't succeed in life because of a rough beginning.PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio. Read more

Halloween comes once a year. HELLoween lasts forever!On October 31st, 2001, five teens set out to make a horror film for a school project at a Halloween haunt in the small town of Crooks Corner.When all hell breaks loose, a powerful entity emerges, able to control inanimate objects and use them to kill. The carnage is swift and deadly, a vicious attack that quickly overwhelms the town and its citizens.Fighting for their lives, the teens - along with their teachers and the local sheriff - must use all of their skills and wit to survive the night and possibly even save the world....Or die trying.Dean Koontz's Phantoms meets Stephen King's Desperation in this epic new horror novel from the twisted mind behind Woom and the Ghostland Trilogy. Read more

Named One of The Hollywood Reporter’s “100 Greatest Film Books of All Time”Famed independent screenwriter and director Robert Rodriguez (Sin City, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Spy Kids, Machete) discloses all the unique strategies and original techniques he used to make his remarkable debut film El Mariachi on a shoestring budget.This is both one man's remarkable story and an essential guide for anyone who has a celluloid story to tell and the dreams and determination to see it through. Part production diary, part how-to manual, Rodriguez unveils how he was able to make his influential first film on only a $7,000 budget. Also included is the appendix, The Ten Minute Film Course,” a tell-all on how to save thousands of dollars on film school and teach yourself the ropes of film production, directing, and screenwriting.A perfect gift for the aspiring filmmaker. Read more

Multi-Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Shane Stanley writes a book anyone and everyone should hear if they want an entertainment industry insider's professional guidance on how to create a movie. This book is an especially invaluable tool for those who have or plan to, attend a college or university film school. It's your complete guide to (independent) filmmaking. An in-depth, no-holds-barred look at making movies from ‘concept to delivery’ in today’s ever-evolving climate while breaking down the dos and don’ts of (independent) filmmaking. Learn invaluable industry secrets from top to bottom and discover the truth about independent film distribution as the lid is torn off the many myths surrounding sales agents and today’s release platforms that are certain to open listeners' eyes - and ruffle a few feathers! Read more

This paperback journal features beautiful, rarely seen concept art from Spirited Away, Studio Ghibli's award-winning film about a young girl's journey through a supernatural realm. With full-color artwork on the front and back covers, spot illustrations throughout, and four full spreads of concept art, it's perfect for capturing all your notes and bright ideas. GREAT FOR STUDIO GHIBLI FANS: This journal, part of a continuing official partnership with Japanese animation giant Studio Ghibli, captures the nostalgia and magic of the classic Ghibli film Spirited Away. It's a great gift or self-purchase for animation fans, collectors, artists, and anyone who loves cute Japanese art, stationery, and pop culture. OWN A PIECE OF THIS CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED FILM: Spirited Away is the highest-grossing film in Japan's history. It won the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature, and has appeared on many critics' lists of the best films of all time. RARELY SEEN CONCEPT ART: The journal contains full-color spot illustrations throughout, as well as four full spreads of rare concept art from the film. DISTINCTIVE SCHOOL OR OFFICE SUPPLY: Bring some flair to your school or office supplies with this gorgeous journal. INCLUDES: Flexi-bound paperback journal, 5 x 7 inches, 192 lined pages, full-color illustrations throughout, ribbon page marker © 2001 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, NDDTM Read more

An illustrated, accessible introduction to filmmaking from an award-winning Hollywood producer, screenwriter, film school professor, and script consultant to major movie studiosAnyone with a cellphone can shoot video, but creating a memorable feature-length film requires knowledge and mastery of a wide range of skills, including screenwriting, storytelling, directing, visual composition, and production logistics. This book points the aspiring filmmaker down this complex learning path with such critical lessons as:• how to structure a story and pitch it to a studio• ways to reveal a story’s unseen aspects, such as backstory and character psychology• the difference between plot, story, and theme• why some films drag in Act 2, and what to do about it• how to visually compose a frame to best tell a story• how to manage finances, schedules, and the practical demands of productionWritten by an award-winning producer, screenwriter, film school professor, and script consultant to major movie studios, 101 Things I Learned® in Film School is an indispensable resource for students, screenwriters, filmmakers, animators, and anyone else interested in the moviemaking profession. Read more

Named One of The Hollywood Reporter’s “100 Greatest Film Books of All Time”Famed independent screenwriter and director Robert Rodriguez (Sin City, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Spy Kids, Machete) discloses all the unique strategies and original techniques he used to make his remarkable debut film El Mariachi on a shoestring budget. This is both one man's remarkable story and an essential guide for anyone who has a celluloid story to tell and the dreams and determination to see it through. Part production diary, part how-to manual, Rodriguez unveils how he was able to make his influential first film on only a $7,000 budget. Also included is the appendix, "The Ten Minute Film Course,” a tell-all on how to save thousands of dollars on film school and teach yourself the ropes of film production, directing, and screenwriting. A perfect gift for the aspiring filmmaker. Read more

A deep dive into the emergence and success of independent filmmaking in AmericaA Los Angeles Times Bestseller The most important development in American culture of the last two decades is the emergence of independent cinema as a viable alternative to Hollywood. Indeed, while Hollywood's studios devote much of their time and energy to churning out big-budget, star-studded event movies, a renegade independent cinema that challenges mainstream fare continues to flourish with strong critical support and loyal audiences. Cinema of Outsiders is the first and only comprehensive chronicle of contemporary independent movies from the late 1970s up to the present. From the hip, audacious early works of maverick David Lynch, Jim Jarmusch, and Spike Lee, to the contemporary Oscar-winning success of indie dynamos, such as the Coen brothers (Fargo), Quentin Tarentino (Pulp Fiction), and Billy Bob Thornton (Sling Blade), Levy describes in a lucid and accessible manner the innovation and diversity of American indies in theme, sensibility, and style. Documenting the socio-economic, political and artistic forces that led to the rise of American independent film, Cinema of Outsiders depicts the pivotal role of indie guru Robert Redford and his Sundance Film Festival in creating a showcase for indies, the function of film schools in supplying talent, and the continuous tension between indies and Hollywood as two distinct industries with their own structure, finance, talent and audience. Levy describes the major cycles in the indie film movement: regional cinema, the New York school of film, African-American, Asian American, gay and lesbian, and movies made by women. Based on exhaustive research of over 1,000 movies made between 1977 and 1999, Levy evaluates some 200 quintessential indies, including Choose Me, Stranger Than Paradise, Blood Simple, Blue Velvet, Desperately Seeking Susan, Slacker, Poison, Reservoir Dogs, Gas Food Lodging, Menace II Society, Clerks, In the Company of Men, Chasing Amy, The Apostle, The Opposite of Sex, and Happiness. Cinema of Outsiders reveals the artistic and political impact of bold and provocative independent movies in displaying the cinema of "outsiders"-the cinema of the "other America." Read more

“Delightful . . . an engrossing oral history . . . As an enthusiastic ode to colorful, seat-of-your-pants filmmaking, this one’s hard to beat.” —Booklist (starred review)“Fantastic—a treasure.” —Stephen KingCrab Monsters, Teenage Cavemen, and Candy Stripe Nurses is an outrageously rollicking account of the life and career of Roger Corman—one of the most prolific and successful independent producers, directors, and writers of all time, and self-proclaimed king of the B movie. As told by Corman himself and graduates of “The Corman Film School,” including Peter Bogdanovich, James Cameron, Francis Ford Coppola, Robert De Niro, and Martin Scorsese, this comprehensive oral history takes readers behind the scenes of more than six decades of American cinema, as now-legendary directors and actors candidly unspool recollections of working with Corman, continually one-upping one another with tales of the years before their big breaks.Crab Monsters is supplemented with dozens of full-color reproductions of classic Corman movie posters; behind-the-scenes photographs and ephemera (many taken from Corman’s personal archive); and critical essays on Corman’s most daring films—including The Intruder, Little Shop of Horrors, and The Big Doll House—that make the case for Corman as an artist like no other.“This new coffee table book, brimming with outrageous stills from many of Corman’s hundreds of films, looks at the wild career of the starmaker who was largely responsible for so much of the Hollywood we know today.” —New York Post“Vividly illustrated.” —People“It includes in-depth aesthetic appreciations of ten of Corman’s movies, which, taken together, make a compelling case for Corman as an artist.” —Hollywood.com“Outrageously entertaining.” —Parade“Endlessly fascinating.” —PopMatters Read more

Immerse yourself into the world of cinema and discover action-packed chases, epic journeys, and tear-jerking moments.Get the popcorn popping and keep the movies coming! From box office hits and cult classics to romcoms and thrillers, this is your go-to guide to movies, directors, genres, styles, and just about anything else cinema. This ultimate movie guide profiles more than 100 of the most significant films ever made and brings cinema to life in true blockbuster fashion. Discover the behind-the-scenes stories about timeless classics like Citizen Kane and The Godfather, and take a front-row seat at lavish blockbusters like Star Wars or Titanic.This edge-of-your-seat reference book includes:   • Lists of top 10 film recommendations      • What-to-watch boxes that explore specific plotlines, scenes, and images    • Trivia sections to test your knowledge on oscar-winning movies, biggest flops, and banned films    • Explanations of complex methods of film-making in familiar, non-technical jargon    • High-resolution photography and stills allow for a deeper understanding of the nature of filmmaking Each page of this film book takes you on a journey through the ever-changing landscape of cinema - from Hollywood to Bollywood and everything in between. It includes every film-making school from across the globe, behind-the-scenes shots, profiles of 100 influential directors, and lists dozens of the greatest movies ever made!Lights. Camera. Action!Whether you enjoy art films or sci-fi, going to the cinema, or watching movies on Netflix, The Film Book covers it all. It’s perfect for inspiring your next movie night!This updated version covers the best films and directors of the last 10 years, along with new discoveries in the history of cinema since the last edition was published in 2011, making it the ultimate gift for any film buff or critic. Read more

A masterclass on the art of directing from the Pulitzer Prize-winning (and Oscar and Tony-nominated) writer of Glengarry Glen Ross, Speed the Plow, The Verdict, and Wag the DogCalling on his unique perspective as playwright, screenwriter, and director of his own critically acclaimed movies like House of Games, State and Main, and Things Change, David Mamet illuminates how a film comes to be. He looks at every aspect of directing—from script to cutting room—to show the many tasks directors undertake in reaching their prime objective: presenting a story that will be understood by the audience and has the power to be both surprising and inevitable at the same time. Based on a series of classes Mamet taught at Columbia University's film school, On Directing Film will be indispensible not only to students but to anyone interested in an overview of the craft of filmmaking."Passion, clarity, commitment, intelligence—just what one would expect from Mamet." —Sidney Lumet, Academy Award-nominated director of 12 Angry Men, Dog Day Afternoon, Network, and The Verdict Read more

From visionary director Jon M. Chu comes a powerful, inspiring memoir of belonging, creativity, and learning to see who you really are.“A must-read for aspiring artists and dreamers of all kinds.”—Ava DuVernayLong before he directed Wicked, In The Heights, or the groundbreaking film Crazy Rich Asians, Jon M. Chu was a movie-obsessed first-generation Chinese American, helping at his parents’ Chinese restaurant in Silicon Valley and forever facing the cultural identity crisis endemic to children of immigrants. Growing up on the cutting edge of twenty-first-century technology gave Chu the tools he needed to make his mark at USC film school, and to be discovered by Steven Spielberg, but he soon found himself struggling to understand who he was. In this book, for the first time, Chu turns the lens on his own life and work, telling the universal story of questioning what it means when your dreams collide with your circumstances, and showing how it’s possible to succeed even when the world changes beyond all recognition. With striking candor and unrivaled insights, Chu offers a firsthand account of the collision of Silicon Valley and Hollywood—what it’s been like to watch his old world shatter and reshape his new one. Ultimately, Viewfinder is about reckoning with your own story, becoming your most creative self, and finding a path all your own. Read more

In 1969, a low-budget biker movie, Easy Rider, shocked Hollywood with its stunning success. An unabashed celebration of sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll (onscreen and off), Easy Rider heralded a heady decade in which a rebellious wave of talented young filmmakers invigorated the movie industry. In Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, Peter Biskind takes us on the wild ride that was Hollywood in the '70s, an era that produced such modern classics as The Godfather, Chinatown, Shampoo, Nashville, Taxi Driver, and Jaws.Easy Riders, Raging Bulls vividly chronicles the exuberance and excess of the times: the startling success of Easy Rider and the equally alarming circumstances under which it was made, with drugs, booze, and violent rivalry between costars Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda dominating the set; how a small production company named BBS became the guiding spirit of the youth rebellion in Hollywood and how, along the way, some of its executives helped smuggle Huey Newton out of the country; how director Hal Ashby was busted for drugs and thrown in jail in Toronto; why Martin Scorsese attended the Academy Awards with an FBI escort when Taxi Driver was nominated; how George Lucas, gripped by anxiety, compulsively cut off his own hair while writing Star Wars, how a modest house on Nicholas Beach occupied by actresses Margot Kidder and Jennifer Salt became the unofficial headquarters for the New Hollywood; how Billy Friedkin tried to humiliate Paramount boss Barry Diller; and how screenwriter/director Paul Schrader played Russian roulette in his hot tub. It was a time when an "anything goes" experimentation prevailed both on the screen and off.After the success of Easy Rider, young film-school graduates suddenly found themselves in demand, and directors such as Francis Coppola, Peter Bogdanovich, George Lucas, and Martin Scorsese became powerful figures. Even the new generation of film stars -- Nicholson, De Niro, Hoffman, Pacino, and Dunaway -- seemed a breed apart from the traditional Hollywood actors. Ironically, the renaissance would come to an end with Jaws and Star Wars, hugely successful films that would create a blockbuster mentality and crush innovation.Based on hundreds of interviews with the directors themselves, producers, stars, agents, writers, studio executives, spouses, and ex-spouses, this is the full, candid story of Hollywood's last golden age. Never before have so many celebrities talked so frankly about one another and about the drugs, sex, and money that made so many of them crash and burn.By turns hilarious and shocking, Easy Riders, Raging Bulls is the ultimate behind-the-scenes account of Hollywood at work and play. Read more

Ryan wants to give up football and apply to his dream university, but to afford it he may have to insert himself into some strange and possibly dangerous situations.Ryan Hale, aka Replay, is the most successful running back in his high school's history. With university scouts making him offers he can't refuse, his future seems set. The problem is, Ryan would much rather go to film school. But his dad doesn't want to hear it. His teammates sure don't. He can't afford the application fees anyway. But then a solution appears when Markus, a strange exchange student with outrageous stories about mobsters and hackers, offers to pay Ryan to be his bodyguard. Things get complicated when Ryan realizes the stories may be closer to the truth than anyone imagined.This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for teen readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible. Read more

"I don't think of myself as difficult. We're expected to do stuff that's awesome. That means we're going to have to push each other.” — David FincherThis illustrated book presents the filmography of the famous American director, from the beginning of his career to the present day.In an extremely informative, yet entertaining form, the writing details to the reader the different stages of the career of the director, who grew up in the neighborhood of George Lucas, initially made commercials and music videos, never wore the benches of film school and who has many works that can now be considered as a cult film.The director, who can shot a scene up to 100 times if necessary.To whose visual perfectionism, unique camera movements and atmospheric lighting we can thank such great films as ’Se7en’, ’Fight Club’, ’The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’, ’The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ or even ’Gone Girl’.David Fincher's opinion of his creative work is perhaps best reflected in these lines:"My idea of professionalism is probably a lot of people's idea of obsessive". Read more

“I found myself underlining and highlighting things to remember for my own career. It’s also entertaining—a great combination. Tim’s words encourage you to keep dreaming.”--Reba McEntire “Tim was a cast, crew, and audience favorite on The West Wing. He’s been at the center of some of America’s most iconic film and television. Damn Glad to Meet You is a fascinating, hilarious, and often very moving inside look at his extraordinary career.”--Aaron Sorkin A “damn good” fun and revealing memoir from the acclaimed Hollywood actor, Tim Matheson   For the past seven decades, Tim Matheson has been an on-screen favorite in Hollywood. In his debut memoir, Tim takes fans behind-the-scenes of his illustrious career, and reveals what it was like to learn from and work alongside the greats, including Lucille Ball, Dick Van Dyke, Steven Spielberg, and Aaron Sorkin. Tim also talks about how he transitioned from acting to directing, the role in The West Wing that nabbed him two Emmy nominations–and so much more. Filled to the brim with both riveting stories of the ever-changing entertainment industry and illuminating insight via “film school boot camp” sidebars, readers everywhere are going to be “damn glad” they read this fascinating memoir.   Read more

For filmmakers everywhere, one of the biggest obstacles to success is understanding how films and TV shows are selected, financed, and produced. But behind every investor’s decision, there is a thought process that goes way beyond whether or not they like a script...If you’re just beginning your filmmaking journey and don't know how content gets funded, or even if you’re an experienced filmmaker who isn’t sure how investors and financiers decide which projects to greenlight, this book is the perfect place to start!We will introduce you to the basic concepts of how projects get selected and financed in simple and easy-to-understand terms that anyone can grasp.By the end of this book, you will:Know what industry professionals look for in a project, and the structures they use every day to get content financed and producedLearn some of the ways that you can incorporate this knowledge into your own projects to give yourself the best possible shot at success!Feel much more confident about talking to financiers and raising moneyUnderstand what investors are looking for and how to appeal to themFilmmaking is an art form… but it’s an expensive art form. At some point, every filmmaker – whether a screenwriter, director, producer, or executive – will need to go out and raise some funding for their project.However, many talented filmmakers never make it because they find the financing process scary, intimidating, and complicated, something that they couldn’t possibly understand or do for themselves.THIS IS NOT TRUE!Film and TV financing is NOT that complicated! It’s something that every filmmaker can learn. And what’s more, it’s something that everyone in the industry should learn – you will become a better filmmaker for it.Stop shooting in the dark! Instead of creating a project and then spending years wondering why you can’t get it funded, why not learn how financing works and then use that knowledge to construct your project in the right way from the start?This book covers:The fundamentals of how films and TV shows get financed and producedThe four key elements that make up the vast majority of production financing, and how you can use them on YOUR next projectHow films and TV shows make money, keeping you and your investors happyHow you can find investors and financiers, and appeal to them so that your next project grabs their attentionAnd much more...This is the stuff they don’t teach you in film school! Film and TV financing isn’t that complicated or scary… Let this book guide you through the process.Please Note: This book incorporates certain parts of the first three books in this series covering Tax Incentives, Sales & Distribution, and Equity Financing. For this reason, if you have already read those titles, you may find parts of this introductory book repeated.However, in this book, we also examine how these concepts can work together, and what filmmakers should be looking for when first embarking on their production journey. This should be extremely useful for all readers, even if you are already familiar with these processes.ABOUT THE SERIES"HOW THE HELL... Do I Get My Film Financed?" is a series of easy-to-read books aimed at writers, directors, producers, executives, and investors. We introduce the key concepts of entertainment financing, helping you to understand how to get your next film or TV show financed and produced!Check out all our titles on our series page:An Introduction To Film And TV FinancingBook One: Tax IncentivesBook Two: Sales & DistributionBook Three: Equity FinancingBook Four: Business PlanBox Set: Books 1-3 Read more

"A gorgeously rendered adventure that captures the ache and joy of adolescence in a mad world."--Tillie Walden, award-winning author of On a SunbeamTy and Burger have known each other since before they could walk. But this shared history is nothing compared to their plans for the future: step one, make a killer documentary about humanity’s recent brush with extinction; step two, apply to film school together; step three, achieve legendary status as the next great filmmaking duo. But Ty has a secret that will ultimately shake the foundations of their friendship and force them both to wonder if growing up means letting go of the people they once were.With heads full of bioluminescence and hearts full of fury, “squizzies” have one thing on their tiny rodent brains: global annihilation. Their reign of terror may be a thing of the past, but Ty and Burger are determined to chronicle the perseverance of the human race in the wake of the “squirrel-pocalypse.” With friends Miles and Fib, they embark on an overnight excursion through rowdy nightclubs, once-familiar neighborhoods, perilous castles, and off-grid RVs, all the while, recording quiet lives of love and loss in a strange new world.Set over the course of a single day, Luminous Beings explores the many facets of friendship and love, the heavy burden of a well-kept secret, the boundless tenacity of the human spirit, and, yes, the furriest of all zombified mammals. But don’t worry, it’s not the end of the world. Just the end of the squirrel Read more

"...the best and most realistic depiction of the modern world of pornography written in book form to date.." said Adult Video News publisher Paul Fishbein in 1999. UCLA Film School graduate David Jennings entered the porn business to research and write about it. When he began working for a large Mafia-connected pornography distributor in 1977, he planned 6 months in the porn industry, not 12 years. But after pioneering the first adult features shot DIRECTLY on videotape, his own company, Superior Video, Inc., weathered threats from his former bosses and helped lead a revolution in the 1980s that widened porn's audience from "raincoats" in sleazy theaters to couples in their bedrooms. Based on Jennings's true-life adventures as a writer, director, producer, manufacturer and researcher, SKINFLICKS explores an era of mobsters replaced by yuppie porn kings, cops raiding homes to seize videotapes, porn queens becoming corporations and AIDS panics closing movie sets. Going behind the scenes on over 100 porn shoots, Jennings answers the frequently-asked question, "What are these porn stars really like?" He contrasts the hippie-spawned female stars of the celluloid age, for whom porn acting was a sideline, with the starlets getting rich in the fast-fame world of video. Theirs is a marathon of ruthless competition, of sex coaches and "porno stage mothers," of multiple breast enlargements and sales of "unwashed" panties. Non-stop schedules produce burnouts, breakdowns and suicides. Jennings recounts dealing with tantrums, drug zombies and truculent boyfriends. He also describes his favorites, such as Adult Video News Hall of Fame inductees Nina Hartley and Shanna McCullough. Ironically, one of the most poised and mature-appearing actresses Jennings directed turned out to be that industry disaster, the secretly underage Traci Lords (he shot 3 Lords videos). A chapter on porn studs reveals the methods these men use to remain "reliable" during the multi-scene days of video shoots. In 1986, alarmed by adult tapes in shopping malls, the U.S. government launched a massive "War on Porn." Chapters covering this onslaught introduce thundering politicians, crusading vigilantes, porn-addicted preachers and an odd alliance of radical feminists and the Religious Right. These passages detail landmark court cases, obscenity laws, sociological studies, staggering prison sentences and bizarre clashes between prosecutors and First Amendment attorneys. Though some content in SKINFLICKS is necessarily graphic, this is a book about pornography, not a pornographic book. 432 pages with 31 photographs. Read more

From an award-winning filmmaker who writes, produces, and stars in her own projects—an actionable, motivational guide to everything you need to know (and how you should think) about making your first feature film.As an aspiring actress, SELINA RINGEL waited for years for her train to arrive. She did everything “by the book”—went to film school, attended endless casting calls, and searched for an agent. Then, instead of waiting to be chosen, she chose herself. She realized she had to become the train—creating momentum by inspiring others to join her own projects. Regardless of where you are in your career, Selina will teach you how to bring your projects to life and will give you the most important tools that filmmakers need to succeed:• The relentless mindset needed in creative industries• How to get funding—and how to get things done without it• How to build and steer the right team into the station• How to find joy and fulfillment in the processMore than a traditional filmmaking manual, Be the Train is a powerful blend of real-life examples, practical advice, and a call to action for creatives to take control of their art. Stop waiting for permission—get your projects on track. All aboard!Advance Praise for Be the Train“If you’re feeling stuck and tired of waiting for everything to fall into place, Selina Ringel’s Be the Train is exactly what you need. Her compelling story will show you how to build unstoppable momentum and turn your dreams into reality. As an award-winning filmmaker who dared to do things her way, Selina offers practical tips and insights to help you take control of your future. Whether you’re making your first film, launching a new career, or getting ready to take charge of your life, Be the Train will ignite the fire within you to make it happen.”—Mel Robbins, New York Times bestselling author and host of The Mel Robbins Podcast “This book should be required reading at every film school. The cold email outreach chapter alone is worth the price of the book. But the real value is in the mindset she outlines. Inspiring. Motivational. Revolutionary. I’m on board the Selina train.”—John Fithian, former CEO, National Association of Theatre Owners, and cofounder, The Fithian Group “Selina is an undeniable force of nature. The advice she gives is invaluable for anyone who struggles with self-doubt or needs some practical guidance in this crazy industry. I wish I had read this book when I was starting out as a young filmmaker in Hollywood!”—Amy Wang, writer of Crazy Rich Asians 2“Even in my fourth decade as a professional filmmaker, I learned important essentials from Selina Ringel’s Be the Train. The specificity of her advice, earned from her own hard work, speaks volumes about subjects like making genuine contacts, finding an agent and/or manager, production, distribution, rejection, resilience, failing better, and so much more. If you’re looking for guidance, either as a rookie or as a refresher course for an old hand, this bookis a must-read."—Michael Miner, cowriter, Robocop; director, The Book of Stars; and lecturer, University of California, Santa Barbara Read more

Compelling American Conversations: Questions and Quotations for Intermediate American English Language Learners from Chimayo Press helps American immigrants and international students develop their fluency skills and academic vocabulary through conversation exercises.

Each chapter includes two sets of conversation questions, vocabulary review, short writing exercises, paraphrasing exercises with proverbs, a discussion activity around pithy quotations, and an online “Search and Share” activity. Focusing on both daily experiences and American culture through proverbs, quotations, and speaking exercises, the materials help intermediate English language learners explore their lives, learn common American sayings and expressions, and develop vital discussion skills. The fluency-focused ESL textbook emphasizes encourages students to expand their working vocabulary in English - both inside and outside the English classroom.

The 15 topical chapters include: Opening Moves; Going Beyond Hello; Making and Breaking Habits; Studying English; Being Yourself; Choosing and Keeping Friends; Playing and Watching Sports; Talking About American Television; Celebrating American Holidays; Being Stylish; Handling Stress; Practicing Job Interviews; Valuing Money and Finding Bargains; Exploring American Cities and Seeing Our World With Photographs. The “Resources and Notes” appendix includes the academic word list, supplemental worksheets, bibliographical references, author biographies and indices to proverbs and quotations.

Designed primarily for community college ESL and adult education students, this flexible ESL textbook can be used by high school English language learners (ELL) and intensive English programs. Compelling American Conversations, is the third title in the Compelling Conversations series, most known for the original fluency-focused advanced ESL textbook, Compelling Conversations: Questions and Quotations on Timeless Topics (2006). Compelling Conversations - Japan: Questions and Quotations for High Intermediate Japanese English Language Learners (2015) and Compelling Conversations - Vietnam: Speaking Exercises for Vietnamese Learners of English (2016) have extended the series.

The critically praised book has been used in community colleges, adult education centers, university ESL programs, and academic high school to prepare international students and American immigrants develop speaking skills and cultural awareness. This unusual ESL textbook understands that students gain conversational English proficiency from engaging in authentic English conversations. Students learn by doing and create their own compelling American conversations!

All That An ESL Teacher or Student Needs
"How can so much learning be in just one book? Compelling American Conversations is all that an ESL teacher or student to use in their course. With clear, easy to follow directions, students learn necessary details about American English and culture, practice critical thinking, and expand vocabulary as they converse in real, natural adult English. Included in the "Search and Share" component are marvelous lessons on using the Internet too. An extra bonus is that any of the conversations, quotes, etc can be used as writing prompts. The book is fun and stimulating and, fortunately, very accessible for the intermediate learner."
Planaria Price
Author, Life in the USA and Realistically Speaking

"Finally, a book that is designed for our needs. As the director of a film school, one of our biggest obstacles for the international students is to bridge the gap between spoken English and our students' background in ESL... We implemented a crash course for all incoming students using Compelling American Conversations. We have already seen an improvement in students ability to communicate more effectively with Americans on the set. More importantly, students more confident now."
Chisako Yokoyama
International School of Motion Pictures Read more

Dying to make a feature? Learn from the pros!"We never put out an actual textbook for the Corman School of Filmmaking, but if we did, it would be Fast, Cheap and Under Control." Roger Corman, Producer★★★★★It’s like taking a Master Class in moviemaking…all in one book!Jonathan Demme: The value of cameosJohn Sayles: Writing to your resourcesPeter Bogdanovich: Long, continuous takesJohn Cassavetes: Re-ShootsSteven Soderbergh: RehearsalsGeorge Romero: CastingKevin Smith: Skipping film schoolJon Favreau: Creating an emotional connectionRichard Linklater: Poverty breeds creativityDavid Lynch: Kill your darlingsRon Howard: Pre-production planningJohn Carpenter: Going low-techRobert Rodriguez: Sound thinkingAnd more!Learn the tricks and pitfalls of low-budget filmmaking from 33 successful independent films and the filmmakers who created them. Includes never before published interviews with low-budget mavericks such as Steven Soderbergh, Roger Corman, Jon Favreau, Henry Jaglom, and many more.Learn the lessons from such classics as Clerks, Night of the Living Dead, Swingers, Open Water, El Mariachi, Slacker, sex, lies and videotape, The Blair Witch Project, Eraserhead, Monty Python & The Holy Grail, Dark Star, Return of the Secaucus Seven, The Little Shop of Horrors, Caged Heat and Targets.Are you dying to make a movie? This is the one book that can help you make it a reality.Grab it now!★★★★★Praise for the Fast, Cheap and Under Control:"This terrific little book explains how to make every penny count on the often-arduous journey from script to screen." John Carpenter, Director, Halloween, Starman, Escape from New York"A helpful and funny guide for beginners and professionals alike." Jonathan Demme, Director, Silence of the Lambs "This book is as good as film school, and a lot less expensive. It's required reading in Tromaville." Lloyd Kaufman, President, Troma Entertainment, Creator, Toxic Avenger"I wish I’d read this book before I made Re-Animator."Stuart Gordon, director, Re-Animator"This simple and sensible book injects reality into the process and helps any filmmaker prevent their film from becoming a money pit. Lessons like those in this book are cheap at ten times the price."John Badham, director, Saturday Night Fever, Dracula, Blue Thunder"For everyone who wants to make art without breaking the bank, John Gaspard’s book is worth every penny."Derek Pell, Editor, DingBat Magazine"A richly-detailed, highly readable and inspiring book jam-packed with information that will keep low-budget filmmakers from making costly mistakes. Filled with a ton-full (not a spoonful) of fascinating, insightful interviews, with a you-can-do-it approach."Dr. Linda Seger, consultant on over 2,000 screenplays, best-selling author of Making a Good Script Great and 7 other books Read more

Are you looking for real-life instruction on how to work in Sound for movies and television? How can you be experienced enough to be hired if you haven’t got ANY experience in the first place?“Behind the Sound Cart” explains in plain English just how film & tv sets operate.How to research a project before your interviewHow to prep a show and who to includeHow to prep differently for different locations and why that mattersHow can the Sound dept. save the production money and stay creative at the same time?There are other books about film & television but none of them walk you step-by-step as you learn about actors, celebrities and influencers; how to communicate with other depts. and how to understand the timing of what happens when, when everyone’s working and no one’s talking! Patrushkha shares real-life stories from the set so you can understand the outcome of decisions and maybe avoid mistakes that can sabotage your career before it’s even started.Patrushkha Mierzwa, one of the first female boom operators in Hollywood, has worked on over 80 movies and television projects for major directors including Robert Rodriquez, Quentin Tarantino, James Gray, and Robert Altman. She has been a judge for the Emmys, an IATSE Sound Local 695 director, and given workshops globally over her long career in the industry. Her Sound Oscar-nominated movies include “Ad Astra” and “Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood" and her last projects are "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" and Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon."This book condenses 40 years of experience into a practical guide for you to be able to walk on to a film set with the confidence of a sound ninja.—Stuart Wilson, Sound Oscar winner, 1917Patrushkha takes you from the first work call to the final wrap, explaining the order of the work and the details that her decades of experience provides, so you can avoid mistakes that can sabotage your career before it’s even started. This book describes the job of the UST (Utility Sound Technician), a career almost invisible, yet extremely interesting, exciting—and paying up to six figures a year. It details how to act, how to relate to the crew, how to deal with and solve problems that are not just about sound itself—things you don’t learn at film school. * Discover tricks for microphone placement.* Understand how the UST interacts with the director, actors and producers.* Learn why you can know a lot about film yet still not sustain a career.* Get tips for balancing work and family life. Pick up pointers for managing life in a freelance world.*More than anything I've ever read, this has grabbed me. Amazing to say the least from the material covered to the presentation. Anyone who is anyone in the world of sound (but not limited to just sound people) should be required to read this. Any UST that's serious about their craft had better read this with the same gusto that a priest reaches for the bible during a sermon. A masterpiece!— Allen Lee Williams III, SOUND SPEEDSYour writing has this lovely, personal, honest style to it that I justhaven’t seen in other industry-based literature. It is refreshing. And there is a SERIOUS amount of knowledge packed in there, it’s impressive. You are a powerhouse of knowledge, insight, and entertaining stories.—Monica Bannon, Recent film school graduate, Screenskills Programparticipant, United KingdomPatrushkha has written the book I wish I could have read when I started out.This is my go-to reference and should be in every film school on the globe.—Simon Clark, Head of Location Sound Recording, National Film & Television School, England Read more

Bestselling author Lyla Lee delivers a deliciously fun YA K-drama remix of Pride and Prejudice—if Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett were a college-run reality TV dating show.It is a truth universally acknowledged that when there is a hot person, there is also someone with a crush on them.Mia Yoon has a plan for everything. Get a full ride to her dream film school in Los Angeles, behind her mom’s back, and escape her middle-of-nowhere hometown—check. Produce her own dating show starring other people and their crushes—check. But everything goes off the rails when she has to enlist the help of her own secret crush, Noah Cho, a boy she’d rather hate.Despite being a campus celebrity voted “most eligible student bachelor,” Noah can’t remember the last time he was in a relationship. And he’s perfectly content with that, thank you very much, especially since just the word feelings makes him uncomfortable. But he can’t stop staring at Mia, who keeps glaring at him in class. And when she asks him to be on her dating show—as one of the contestants—he can’t say no.As Noah goes on more and more romantic dates on The Cuffing Game and Mia watches from behind the camera, something feels off. With the showrunner and contestant slowly falling for one another, can the show still go on? Read more

Appearing on Stunt Driver, ‘Cory Eubanks You Tube Podcast, ‘ Stunt Stories, ‘Frankie, young Asian America NYU Tisch Film School Grad, Documentary Filmmaker fan of legendary Academy Award Winning Doc Filmmaker Barbara Kopple, shares with Cory’s Pod Cast audience, her filmmakers journey from coveted assistant to Hollywood’s top 2nd Unit Action Director of the top Hollywood Action Unit franchise, Malakas. Frankie , a stow away assistant to Action Director Spiro, following the behind the scenes Heart-stopping Hollywood Action Unit, in a serendipity discovers a twist of fate tale of a legendary Latino woman stunt driver and a PTSD suffering young Marine turned LA street racer who raises from the hospital, to recovery, to Eubanks ‘ Crash Clinic ‘ stunt training to becoming a Malaka Stunt Driver, winning the coveted Taurus Award.. Together they share a life-changing journey, mentored by The Malakas, the colorful fast and serious top Hollywood Action Unit, follows on film, their life changing journey that life, like Hollywood stunt driving, is not about dying… but about living. The journey begins…. Cody, Handsome, young driver-for-hire Hollywood LA Gear Head street racer, suffers a near-fatal injury in a West Imperial Highway night race crash as a result of a PTSD flashback.. At the exact moment, 100 miles north in the Victorville Salt Flat, Latino Hollywood stunt driver legend Jenny Rios, in the middle of a multi stunt car cannon flip, suddenly goes into early labor behind the wheel, steps on the stunt, saving the lives of the 2nd Unit stunt crew. At UCLA Medical Center, fate brings Jenny and Cody together to share the road to a life-changing journey to the coveted Hollywood Stunt Taurus Award, neither ever imagined, and Frankie, Winner of the Sundance Film Festival Best Documentary Award, and an Oscar Nomination for her Doc Film ‘ The Show.’ Read more

Is it your dream to make feature films?Get advice on how to do that by some of the best in the business! It’s like going to film school without ever leaving home.Valuable Lessons on Making a Successful Feature Film. Includes great tips and ideas from: Steven Soderbergh (“sex, lies & videotape”)Roger Corman (“Little Shop of Horrors”)Jon Favreau (“Swingers”)Rebecca Miller (“Personal Velocity”)Kenneth Lonergan (“You Can Count on Me”)Henry Jaglom (“Venice/Venice”)Miranda July (“Me and You and Everyone We Know”)Bob Odenkirk (“Melvin Goes to Dinner”)Dan O'Bannon (“Dark Star”)Whit Stillman (“Metropolitan”)Jonathan Lynn (“My Cousin Vinny”)Carol Littleton (“The Big Chill”)Dan Futterman (“Capote”)Joan Micklin Silver (“Hester Street”)Griffin Dunne (“Lisa Picard is Famous”)Stuart Gordon (“Re-Animator”)Kasi Lemmons (“Eve’s Bayou”)George Romero (“Martin”)Tom Noonan (“What Happened Was…”)Daniel Myrick (“The Blair Witch Project”)And many more!Topics covered include getting started, scripting, pre-production, production, post-production and distribution. An ideal handbook for all filmmakers, providing great insights that will help you whether or making your first film or your tenth.★★★★★ Read more