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Cengage Advantage Books: Audio Basics Review

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Cengage Advantage Books: Audio Basics ReviewThis book was required for my daughter's major in school. She loves the book & I was happy that it came as quick as promised.Cengage Advantage Books: Audio Basics Overview

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Modernist America: Art, Music, Movies, and the Globalization of American Culture Review

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Modernist America: Art, Music, Movies, and the Globalization of American Culture ReviewThis book is on the Rorotoko list. Professor Pells's interview on "Modernist America" ran as the Rorotoko Cover Feature on May 30, 2011 (and can be read in the Rorotoko archive).Modernist America: Art, Music, Movies, and the Globalization of American Culture Overview

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If It's Purple, Someone's Gonna Die: The Power of Color in Visual Storytelling Review

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If It's Purple, Someone's Gonna Die: The Power of Color in Visual Storytelling ReviewI really wanted what this book promised, what it held out to me in the "search inside" feature - but the deficiencies in style, content, and format are severe enough to warrant a serious warning against purchasing this book, or at the very least, this edition.
The text is written like new-age spiritual guidance lit - there are gaps in logic everywhere, and every argument is based off of a story instead of a fact. Providing some acuity on a color or its psychological effects would be what I would expect from a book that costs as much as a textbook, instead, the reader is put in the mood for the upcoming chapter with descriptions of color that read like horoscopes. Reds are divided up into "Powerful, lusty, and defiant reds," & "Anxious, angry, and romantic reds." Why not start off with cool reds and warm reds? Because you're being sold on the words, not on the colors, and not on some sort of proof.
Which leads me to the fact that there are 28 stills from films in this 243 page book. To reiterate: 243 page book on visual storytelling, 28 examples. Oh, there are some nice pictures of road signs and various other stock photos, and - no joke - some paintings the author's students made. 12 of those inside. They're kind of nice. But they are nothing more than a cheap magician's misdirection - these students come up again and again as proof that people "see" a color a certain way. Yeah, red's "anger" or "passion." I don't need a book, or someone else's experience to tell me this - I bump my head, or rub my eyes, and I see red. I want to be told how red communicates anger and passion to an audience. Simply stating that it does so is not providing me with a fact, it's providing a tautology.
Now let's look past the medium and to the message: as long as we take the emotional cues we're told to, we have a little interesting analysis underscored with flecks of color theory, but this is in fact still a problem - the text ought to be centered around the color theory; instead, the sections read like some films were screened, the author wrote down a couple obvious ideas, then filed them by color - and missed the best films and points entirely. Where is Kieslowski's COLORS trilogy? Three top-shelf films, each based around a color, ignored. Talking about the color orange in "The Godfather?" How about, I don't know, mentioning the ORANGES present when main characters are killed? No sir. How about a chapter for black, and a chapter for white? Not technically colors, sure, but we use them as and/or with colors. A lot.
If you're really considering purchasing this book, try very hard to find it at a library first. Or look up a color on wikipedia. If you're set on spending money, buy a color wheel, or simply look further for color theory.
I'm going to donate my copy to the library.
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Swingin' the Dream: Big Band Jazz and the Rebirth of American Culture Review

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Swingin' the Dream: Big Band Jazz and the Rebirth of American Culture ReviewSwing was the only truly popular jazz style: starting in 1935, in the now legendary Benny Goodman digression, the swing style lasted for about a decade and during that time it was the American pop music style, its bandleaders and musicians enjoying a public recognition and popularity in most cases higher than movie stars, and only comparable to what would happen with rock artists some decades later. This brilliant book traces the history of swing in its political, social, and cultural aspects, analysing what it represented for youths in the America of the Great Depression. In its radical cut with the "sweet music" bands of the early 1930's, swing was adopted by young radicals as the expression of a more democratic and unprejudiced way of life. It embodied a move (although modest by present day standards) towards racial integration and equality that was several decades ahead of the same type of movement in society at large, and most of its more important personalities lend their support to New Deal and progressive politics, left wing causes, and the Popular Front movement. All this, and more, are described and discussed in a masterly way in this book. Besides, it also puts meat into the backbones by discussing at length concret cases, such as Benny Goodman, the Duke, Basie, and Gleen Miller. The change in swing brought about by the War, as well as the wars within Jazz in the second half of the 1940's between traditionalists, swing, and bebop fans, culminating in the abrupt end of the swing era and of the classical big band jazz scene is brilliantly analysed in the last chapters of the book. A truly admirable and engaging work.Swingin' the Dream: Big Band Jazz and the Rebirth of American Culture Overview

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Talk the Talk: A Dialogue Workshop for Scriptwriters Review

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Talk the Talk: A Dialogue Workshop for Scriptwriters ReviewTalk the Talk is a rare find: a writing book of clear, concrete exercises to improve your writing. This is not a host of self-exploratory essay assignments, these are clear, concise exercises to build up your writing skills, particularly focusing on dramatic dialogue, with a secondary emphasis on structure. It's a good companion to more structurally focused books like McKee's Story, which I always found lacking in help on what to do in a particular moment. It's great to know what should happen on page 33, but what about poor, neglected page 19? How do you turn your scene into something dramatically taut, instead of just a stepping stone in your story's journey? Penniston takes the lead of each chapter to focus on a particular tool in the writer's belt, and then has a host of helpful exercises to develop your skills. Even better, if you are teaching dramatic writing (or a self-directed student), she includes detailed syllabuses to build your own coursework. I've read a number of writing books, and this book is unique.
This is an excellent book for the professional educator or writer alike. Strongly recommended.Talk the Talk: A Dialogue Workshop for Scriptwriters Overview

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Writing for Visual Media, Third Edition Review

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Writing for Visual Media, Third Edition ReviewI received a review copy of this book and since my husband is a writer, I was kind of looking forward to it. I was also looking forward to the CD that the other reviewers talked about and was a bit miffed when I found the book didn't come with it. I felt cheated, then I found the business card clued to the inside front cover which directed me to go to the authors website. Once there I was prompted to enter the last full word in the last paragraph on page 17, along with my name and email address and voila, I was registered. Once in, I found that the website contains all the info that was on the CD I didn't get and instead of being slow, as one reviewer said, it's fast.
So using this book the way Mr. Friedmann intends, you know, reading a chapter, then going to the website, is a powerful way, I think, to learn how to write for media. The website is great and the book covers absolutely every thing you'd want to know, whether you want to write scripts or commercials. But the important thing, what makes this book so doggone good, is what it's not. One of the thing is not is boring. The other thing it's not is it's not written like a textbook. This book is kind of fun and it's interesting as all get out. If you've ever thought about writing for Television or the Movies or you just wanna do Jingles, well this is the book for you.Writing for Visual Media, Third Edition Overview

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Saving Stuff: How to Care for and Preserve Your Collectibles, Heirlooms, and Other Prized Possessions Review

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Saving Stuff: How to Care for and Preserve Your Collectibles, Heirlooms, and Other Prized Possessions ReviewThe Smithsonian name (author is senior conservator there) ensures you're getting top quality advice. The instructions are detailed and straight forward, making this a great reference book. The boxed sections give Smithsonian stories of rescuing artifacts and also "Don's Tips" to supplement the text.
Browsing through this book, you'll find ways to take care of everything precious to you from your vintage comic books to Grandma's quilt to your tattered teddy bear.
The book helps you decide which of your items are worth keeping, and how to decide what should be given away or just junked. It gives advice for saving photographs and films and how to save toys. It covers preservation of furniture, fine art, musical instruments, textiles, sports and political memorabilia, and coins and stamps. If it is books, comic books or newspapers you want to save, it gives advice for that as well.
I find this topic fascinating and have created my own web page about saving World War II letters.

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As Thousands Cheer: The Life Of Irving Berlin Review

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As Thousands Cheer: The Life Of Irving Berlin ReviewThis is a terrific show-biz bio that focuses on Berlin's career and tells enough about his personal life to satisfy those of us who remember how complex he was. There are many details of his projects on Broadway and in Hollywood, his publishing company, his early career as a singing waiter, and his tormented retirement. Anyone who likes the kind of anecdotes Moss Hart recounts in "Act One," anyone who is interested in the process of putting on shows and developing movies, will be fascinated by this. The book overflows with the larger-than-life personalities you expect from show business, and there are choice revelations (to me, at least), like his first encounter with George Gershwin, who as a very young man wanted to be Berlin's musical secretary but was rejected for being too talented (i.e., threatening).
The psychology (or psychosis?) of Berlin's genius is presented in a straightforward, non-babbling way. His complexity comes through in his ambivalence towards colleagues, with examples of generosity (an anecdote about the young Burton Lane), avuncularity (Harold Arlen), and rivalry (Richard Rodgers), all contrasted with the almost comical hostility he showed towards some "civilians," especially the scholarly types ("f***ing longhairs") who wanted to dissect him late in his career. His most famous paradox -- the fact that without being able to read music or play an instrument well or even sing decently, he was able to create works of matchless intricacy and depth -- is discussed thoroughly, although it will forever remain mysterious.

There are two dimensions I would like to have seen more fully explored. First, his relations with his original family are almost non-existent after his childhood. While this must be a reflection of reality, I was left curious about what went on between him and his sisters, nephews, and nieces. It's obvious that a major part of his assimilation was to reject all vestiges of his childhood, but it would have been nice to have more detail about encounters with those inconvenient relations. One of the few stories Bergreen includes -- about a sister dying of cancer -- is so painful that maybe he couldn't bring himself to pile on more.
Another aspect that could have been more developed was Berlin's technique. Although no one will ever be able to explain exactly why he's the greatest American songwriter, I would have liked more analysis about how he was able to achieve his unique combination of simplicity and sophistication. There is a total absence of musical examples, which might have two reasons: that publishers of musical bios tell their authors to leave notation out the same way authors of popular science books are prohibited from using equations, or that Berlin's estate forbids the quoting of even the smallest snippets of his songs. Or maybe the author isn't as much of a "longhair" as he seems to be from the precision and insight of his observations.
But even though I would have enjoyed reading more of the above, the book is totally splendid as is. The best compliment I can think of is that it does justice to one of the great artists of the 20th century.As Thousands Cheer: The Life Of Irving Berlin Overview

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Entertainment Industry Economics: A Guide for Financial Analysis Review

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Entertainment Industry Economics: A Guide for Financial Analysis ReviewThis is the most comprehensive book on the business of the media and entertainment industry that I have come across yet. The discussion in Chapter One on the economic principles and trends driving "leisure" time and spending was especially interesting. The book goes on to cover movies, music, television, publishing, and even gambling quite well. This breadth of coverage was especially helpful, as every entertainment product can be thought of as competing for the same leisure dollars (to some extent).
The only area I found information lacking was the impact of the Internet. There is some discussion on how the Internet is changing the landscape, but not as deep and factual as I would have liked. I hope that the next edition covers this aspect more thoroughly.
All in all, a great resource for anyone trying to understand the business of entertainment.Entertainment Industry Economics: A Guide for Financial Analysis Overview

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Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues: A Musical Journey Review

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Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues: A Musical Journey ReviewTHIS IS A VERY COMPREHENSIVE, VERY COMPLETE, VERY WELL ILLUSTRATED, AND VERY WELL PRESENTED BOOK ON THE "BLUES". IN CONTAINS AROUND 275 PAGES.
IT STARTS OUT BY COVERING THE MISSISSIPPI "DELTA" BLUES, THEN PROGRESSES TO THE MISSISSIPPI HILL COUNTRY BLUES, AND THEN PROCEDES ON TO OTHER CLASSES OF BLUES INCLUDING "CHICAGO BLUES". THE BOOK COVERS THE PIONEERING LEGENDS OF THE "BLUES" WHO CREATED THIS GENRE OF AMERICAN MUSIC.
THIS BOOK HAS MANY CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS AND COMMENTARIES FROM BLUES JOURALISTS TO THE ACTUAL BLUES MUSICIANS THEMSELVES!!! IT HAS A "WEALTH" OF THIS CONTRIBUTING INFORMATION, GIVING YOU A VERY AUTHORITATIVE, AND VERY AUTHENTIC ACCOUNT OF THE STORY OF THE "BLUES". THESE COMMENTARIES RANGE FROM THE OLD LEGENDARY PIONEERS OF THE BLUES TO NEW CONTEMPORARY "BLUES' ARTIST LIKE JACK WHITE OF THE WHITE STRIPES. IT HAS COMMENTARY FROM ROBERT PALMER (THE ARKANSAS ONE - SEE MY REVIEW ON "DEEP BLUES" DVD).
IT POINTS OUT THAT AROUND THE GREAT DEPRESSION ERA, THAT BLUES REPLACED JAZZ.
It starts with the Miss. Delta Blues by telling the story of Charlie Patton, (the first King of the Delta Blues). It describes how he "WAS LEGENDARY FOR TEARING UP A JUKE JOINT WITH PERFORMANCES ON GUITAR THAT INCLUDED, PLAYING THE GUITAR BEHIND HIS HEAD, WHILE LAYING ON THE FLOOR, OR BY THROWING THE GUITAR UP IN THE AIR AND CATCHING IT,RESUMING PLAY, WITHOUT NEVER MISSING A BEAT"!!!!
Then it covers others bluesman and blues information, like the "KING BISCUIT FLOWER HOUR" was played at noon on radio station in Helena, Ark. in the 40's to play blues for the laborers working on both sides of the Mississippi Delta.
It covers the story of "SON HOUSE". HE WAS A PREACHER AND A BLUESMAN. HE WAS IN A "JUKE" ONE SATURDAY NIGHT AND GOT INTO A FIGHT AND WAS SHOT, SO SON HOUSE SHOT BACK AND KILLED THE MAN. THEN SON HOUSE WENT TO MISSISSIPPI'S PARCHMAN PRISONG FOR A YEAR, BUT WAS RELEASED WHEN IT WAS PROVED HE ACTED IN SELF DEFENSE.
IT TELLS THE STORY OF HOW ROBERT JOHNSON TRIED TO LEARN TO PLAY GUITAR FROM SON HOUSE. HOWEVER, SON HOUSE GOT FRUSTRATED WITH "LITTLE ROBERT", AND TOLD HIM TO GO LEARN TO PLAY THE HARMONICA, BECAUSE HE WASN'T ANY GOOD ON GUITAR. THEN ROBERT JOHNSON "DIAPPEARED" AND CAME BACK TO A "JUKE" WHERE SON HOUSE WAS PLAYING. THEN ROBERT JOHNSON OUTPLAYED SON HOUSE ON THE GUITAR AND BECAME THE "KING". IT COVERS THE MYSTERY OF ROBERT JOHNSON "SELLING HIS SOUL TO THE DEVEL" AT THE "CROSSROADS".
IT COVERS THE NORTH MISSISSIPPI HILL COUNTRY BLUES, AND THE LEGENDS OF R.L.BURSIDE, AND FRED McDOWELL. IT COVERS JIM DICKINSON AND HIS SON LUTHER AND THE CONTEMPORARY GROUP "THE NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS" (PLEASE SEE MY REVIEW OF THEIR DVD "KEEP ON MARCHIN'".
IT COVERS ELMORE JAMES, AND THE SLIDE GUITAR TECHIQUE, STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN, THE PAUL BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND, JOHN LEE HOOKER, KENNY WAYNE SHEPARD, JONNY LANG, SUSAN TEDESCHI AND MANY. MANY OTHERS.
IT COVERS THE LEGENDARY "LEAD BELLY" FROM LOUISIANA. IT COVERS MUDDY WATERS, BOBBY BLUE BLAND, LOUIS ARMSTRONG, HOWLIN' WOLF, BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON, BONNIE RAITT, BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON AND OTHER VISION IMPAIRED BLUESMAN, BLIND WILLIE McTELL (KNOWN FOR THE STATESBORO BLUES - HE WAS A GREAT INFLUENCE ON THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND AND DICKEY BETTS). IT COVERS LIGHTLING HOPKINS, SKIP JAMES, MEMPHIS MINNIE, PINETOP PERKINS ,AND IT GOES ON AND ON. LIKE I STATED BEFORE IT IS COMPREHENSIVE.
IT GETS TO "CHICAGO BLUES" AND COVERS WILLIE DIXSON WHO MIGRATED THERE FROM VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI. MUDDY WATERS DID SOME OF HIS SONGS. IT COVERS THE STORY OF "HOOCHIE COOCHIE" MAN AND IT'S SEXUAL OVERTONES.
IT COVERS THE ROLLINGS STONES' ADVENTURES INTO THE BLUES.
IT EVEN COVERS MARCIA BALL FROM NEW ORLEANS, ALONG WITH DR.JOHN, PROFESSOR LONGHAIR AND B.B. KING.
IT HAS A STORY ABOUT CHRIS THOMAS KING WHO WAS IN THE MOVIE "O BROTHERM WHERE ART THOU?"
AS I MENTIONED, IT IS VERY COMPREHENSIVE, THERE ARE MANY MORE BLUES ARTISITS IN THE BOOK AND MANY MORE BLUES STORIES. THIS IS A GREAT REFERNCE BOOK ON THE BLUES. IF YOU LIKE THE BLUES, OR AMERICAN MUSIC HISTORY, YOU'LL LIKE THIS BOOK, ITS WELL ILLUSTRATED AND EASY TO READ AND FOLLOW. I HAVE LEARNED ALOT ABOUT THE BLUES FROM THIS BOOK, I ENJOY READING IT AND THEREFORE, I DO HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!! ITS A GREAT BLUES BOOK!!!
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Acting: Make It Your Business - How to Avoid Mistakes and Achieve Success as a Working Actor Review

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Acting: Make It Your Business - How to Avoid Mistakes and Achieve Success as a Working Actor ReviewPaul Russell's book apart from being witty and enjoyable has not only given me the extra kick in the seat that I needed but it really motivated me and has set me on the right track. Of course everything in the "Buisness" is subjective and there is no totally right & wrong way of going about things. But Paul Russell's book actually helps you understand and decide for yourself how not to make common mistakes. Mistakes that at first might seem small to you, but come across as unprofessional to the auditors & agents you are presenting yourself for. His approach on how a resume should look and what information it should contain is dead on! Because of Paul Russell I now own my domain, have perfected the look of my resume and am comfortable with just being me when I present myself before any casting individual. Do yourself a favor and get this book. As a professional actor/singer in the theater buisness for almost 8 years, this one is a keeper.Acting: Make It Your Business - How to Avoid Mistakes and Achieve Success as a Working Actor Overview

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