5 comments about The Sound of Music: The Making of America's Favorite Movie.

1. This four and 1/2 star book is a 1993 retrospective of the making of the 1965 film. It is written by a contemporary assistant to director Robert Wise, who had access to an incredible amount of detailed information. The book is both for fans of the movie and for film students who want a detailed accounting of how a movie is made.
   
   If there is any weakness to the book it's that Wise is constantly praised throughout--which is natural, since his assistant is writing the book. But there is no objective perspective when it comes to how the film was directed and the types of choices made.
   
   Most of it is also oddly is written as if it was published in 1965! The biographies of the cast members stop with the movie's release and there are not a lot of details on what happened to people in the 30 years since, other than to note a few people involved who were married and later divorced. It would have helped to have been written with more perspective from the present day instead of keeping it narrowly focused on 1964 and 1965.
   
   The book starts off slowly with a history of the movie studio and how it was almost broke when the movie was made. This is not the best approach to starting the book--it would have been better to jump right in to getting the film going. But once it gets to the making of the film the book is fascinating.
   
   The book details exactly where scenes were filmed, what rehearsal went into those scenes and some behind-the-scenes details. It does not get into much "dirt," other than to dis Christopher Plummer for his threats to quit and his thinking that he was above the material. And to kind of slam Maria Von Trap as a publicity hog, even though she had every reason to want a small say in her life story that had been twisted to almost complete fiction!
   
   The best part of the book is the pictures--many that have never been scene before. The author got some candid snapshots taken by those in the cast. And some hand-written production notes from the script's writer and the director. Most interesting is the day-by-day shooting schedule.
   
   Lots of great detail that could have maybe had a bit more objectivity, but all in all a wonderful book.



2. If you loved the movie version of "The Sound of Music," this book details the background information on the movie set. It provides information on how the characters were picked, interesting information about the actors/actresses, filming the scenes - not always easy whether location, weather and more. The real Maria Von Trapp visited the set too and asked to be in the film. Interesting and enjoyable reading!



3. great gift came in so fast and the person I gave it to loves it she loves the von trap family anyway. excellant shape



4. I bought this book prior to my recent trip to Salzburg, Austria. I found it very informative, and well written and certainly helped me in my quest to locate the various filming locations from the movie in Salzburg. There are some great behind the scenes photos, and excellent details about the actual production of the movie.
   Any fan of The Sound of Music would thoroughly enjoy this book.



5. It's taken me a long time to track down this beautifully put together homage to one of my very favourite movies of all time. And what a total joy this book proves to be for anyone like myself who remains entranced by this magical film an amazing 40 years after its initial release. This superbly put together book by Julia Antopol Hirsch is most definately a labour of love and is filled with really everything you would want to know about this most special of movie musicals. Boasting a touching forward by none other than now deceased director Robert Wise the book takes us on a informative journey through the history of "The Sound of Music", from its formation as a hugely successful Broadway show right up to the planning, production, and release of the motion picture, then up to recent times where it examines the film's enduring popularity with audiences both young and old years after it's first release. The volumne has some wonderfully candid photos of the production during rehearsals at Twentieth Century Fox studios in Hollywood, to behind the scenes moments when cast and crew are relaxing between takes and even soaking up the local sights of beautiful Salzburg, Austria on those rare days when they had days off filming. The book also includes beautiful colour and black and white photos, a rare shooting schedule, cast and crew profiles, interviews with stars including Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, and a highly interesting look at the original premiere of "The Sound of Music" in 1965. In it's 226 pages it even also finds time to give an outline complete with photos of the real Von trapp family members with a special focus of course on the immortal real life Maria Von Trapp.
   
   This book has quickly become a treasured part of my personal library and for any lover of "The Sound of Music", it is a indispensible companion for everything you would want to know about the whole history of this immortal musical. The book makes a perfect companion to the brand new 40th Anniversary DVD edition of "The Sound of Music" released late last year which is a treasure trove of all things "Music", and it has certainly informed even a "The Sound of Music" buff like myself of many things I did not know about the film prior to reading it. I highly recommend Julia Antopol Hirsch's warm, informative and at times even amusing tribute to Hollywood's most loved musical. Reading through its pages the book has succeeded in actually increasing my affection for star Julie Andrews and the film in general, no small task considering my lifelong love of this special film. Enjoy!

2 comments about Edward Gorey's Dracula: A Toy Theatre: Die Cut, Scored and Perforated Foldups and Foldouts.

1. I bought this as a gift for my husband who is a huge Gorey fan. He loved all the detail. Everything is great looking and well thought out. If you watch the silent film, Nosferatu, you'll note similarities between Gorey's design and the set.



2. A must for any Edward Gorey fan. Easy to assemble well presented and nicely printed this toy theatre is a great representation of Gorey's design for the 1977 revival of "Dracula".

No comments about How to Direct a Musical.

5 comments about The Acid House.

1. Though I had never read an Irvine Welsh book from beginning to end I love the movie of The Acid House and I'm forever quoting it. Being from Scotland and knowing some of the rascals portrayed so convincingly on screen I found it hilarious. I came across the book about 8 years ago and read some of the short stories, but I had never read it all until now.
   
   The Granton Star Cause, A Soft Touch and The Acid House were all dramatized for the movie but there are a few others that have enough merit to be made into live-action dramas. Eurotrash, for example, is a darkly repugnant story with a macabre twist ending. Snuff, the darkest of all stories, would have been amusing. And Snowman Building Parts For Rico The Squirrel seems like something straight out of David Lynch's dreams.
   
   There are a couple of duds though. A Blockage In The System goes nowhere fast and Wayne Foster is just plain confusing. The novella at the end however, A Smart C**t, is a truly grotty affair told from the point of view of the least likable man in history. It's a depressing experience filled with far too many characters with stupid names that have no personality outside of stereotypes, if that. I was thankful when it was over.
   
   Judging by the opinions of others this novella is similar to Trainspotting only not as vile. Well, I can assure you I will be staying well clear of THAT one. When I was in high school Trainspotting was the book of choice for all the idiots who didn't read but wanted something that they could relate to for their English exam. Most of those guys turned into alcoholics and junkies themselves.
   
   Sad fact that.



2. Although the European drug scene is not necessarily my usual choice of reading material, Welsh's nouveau writing style draws the reader in through its uniqueness alone. Welsh is experimental, not only through his inventive use of the Scottish dialect, but also through the syntax of his work.
   
   Acid House is a conglomeration of short stories, an unfortuntely small collection of poems, as well as a creativly written novela. Many of the story plots may seem redundant; however, with a closer read one can find deeper words than a simply tale of excess and depression. My personal favorite story deals with a down and out pub rat and his strangely enlightening discussion with a disillusioned God.
   
   Indeed, Welsh has been quite prolific in the last ten years, having a number of books converted to screen, including Acid House. It is nice to see an author taking a gamble and creating something new.



3. I just wanted to say to the woman who bought this for her son...what were you thinking? the book is called the acid house...that should have been your first clue..

   anyway...i found it delightful, yeah delightfunl, in a twisted sort of way. I enjoy Welsh's writting, though yes, it is a bit hard for us Americans to understand...i love the psychological twists




4. I bought this book as a Christmas gift for my 13 year old son, who is an avid reader. I guess I didn't pay enough attention to the info available, because this book is NOT appropriate for a young teen. Thankfully, I decided to 'peruse' the book prior to allowing my son to read it. It was so graphic in language and content that I didn't even want to read it. I managed to skim through two stories before I decided it was just too explicit for me.



5. For just the end story, "A Smart C***", The Acid House is worthwhile. Welsh is often super morbid and seriously wickedly wacky in these short stories, most of which play out a lot more like bad dreams than pristine vignettes. The closing aforementioned novella, however, is diferent. It's a surprisingly moving character study of a guy who seems to completely lack character. The guy is so totally caught up with analyzing everything surrounding him that he forgets to live. This seems to be subject matter close to Welsh's heart, and he gives it a surprisingly sympathetic treatment. The other stories range all over the place, but have enough energy to make up for a lack of direction. Gotta love Irv. You just gotta.

5 comments about How To Be Your Own Booking Agent And Save Thousands Of Dollars.

1. Every few years I re-read this book as my music career grows and I find new ways to use the expertise she has gathered here. The book is a pleasure to read, with clear writing, fine organization and listings of valuable resources and contacts. Highly recommended!



2. My friend recommended this book to me a few years ago - it hasn't been far from my office desk ever since. This book is not only filled with clear, good advice and hundreds of helpful quotes and stories from all kinds of people in the business, it's also well-organized and enjoyable to read. The author breaks things down to their essentials, dealing with the big questions about being your own boss, along with the thousands of little details. I haven't seen a book that beats this one for its subject. If you want the real information about how it's really done, get this book.



3. I really liked how indepth this book is. If you can stand to read it all (it is long), you will have a good understanding on how to approach club owners and others in the music business. I like this book and use it with the Guerrilla Marketing book by Bob Baker and $100,000 in Music by David Hooper to really make my gigs great. Club owners love my group because I come in professional and then go out and bring people in to the show. These three books will help you big time.



4. I originally won a consultation package with Geri Goldstein and only had one phone conference with her. During our meeting, I also ordered a copy of this book. Since I have received this book (two years ago) I have not had to call her due to the extremely vast amount of knowledge already contained in her book!! Every time I have another question that I would think of asking her, I open this book and find the answer and much more. This is the most intricately detailed book on self promotion that I have ever acquired. I still have not covered all the ground this book contains?! I highly recommend this book to aspiring artists, agent and managers.



5. This book has everything you need to know about booking yourself. Are you ready to work and make things happen? Get this and "How I Make $100,000/year in the Music Business" by David Hooper and you will have all you need to make a really good living on your own.

3 comments about Irreverent Acting.

1. This is the greatest book written by the greatest acting teacher of all time. The content is amazing and overwhelming to digest all at once. Irreverent acting is the actors Bible in my opinion.
   
   Eric is a genius.



2. I'll admit that at first glance Eric Morris's System can seem scary and misaligned. But I believe it to be a very misunderstood system.
   
   I too was skeptical in the beginning, but after studying this technique (with Eric, but mostly with Anthony Vincent Bova in NYC, Eric's protégé), and after seeing the difference from "acting" and what this Work creates, there's no way I'd ever go back to the "acting" form.
   
   Eric Morris teaches the actor how to react honestly and in the moment, including everything that's going on inside and out-the other actor, the props, the imagined objects that one might be working for-that impels you to "do" whatever the character is required to "do", but out of a real reaction, not just because you're doing it.
   
   I've studied Adler, Strasberg, Meisner, and with Robert Lewis. I've hashed through the process of verbs, actions, objectives, obstacles, and onward; and they're all good and dandy for figuring out what's going on in a script, what the characters are doing and why; but other than that, these techniques never helped me figure out HOW to make it real to ME... How to get to a place where I'm actually functioning from a real, organic, truthful state ... How to get to the point where I am "doing" all the script tells me to do, fulfilling the "actions," out of an honest REACTION to what's going on.... Not just "playing" as if I am; how, in essence, creating the realities of the character....
   
   No matter where you go, all the great teachers (and actors) say the same thing, "Acting is reacting." Even the most used and cherished word in the actor's language, LISTENING, is about focusing outside of yourself and REACTING to what is there. This Work trains the actor to create the stimuli that will fulfill the demands of the piece, specifically, wholly, and with Truth.
   
   For the most part, plays and movies are imagined circumstances, and we as actors, have to create stimuli to react from, so we're not just faking, or indicating our performance. I'd rather watch two people have a relationship on film or on stage, than two actors reciting words, no matter how well they "act" it. If they don't believe it, I won't. This System trains you to create those stimuli and REACT to them honestly, fully and truthfully.
   
   A crucial part of Eric's System is based on Instrumental Work, which is the process of identifying blocks and fears and tensions to expression and, one-by-one, through the use of hundreds of exercises, eliminating them. It's really about self-awareness-learning about yourself and how you function, so you can "get out of your way" and function truthfully on stage or film and get to where you need to get to in a scene. I think this is the aim of every method, but I feel that this System is the only one to address the issues of the actor on a personal level. If I'm tense and depressed (in real life; me the actor), I'm not going to be able to REACT truthfully in a scene where the character has just won the lottery and is jumping with joy. If I push for the emotion, I'll be faking and will "act" that I'm joyful. If this is enough for you, then Eric's work is definitely not your thing. But if you're looking for creating reality and REACTING with truth, nothing surpasses this Work.
   
   I know that Meryl Streep, Brando, Ed Norton, Johnny Depp, Jack Nicholson, Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro, and a handful of other amazing actors don't fake it, don't just indicate the realities of the character and the circumstances. They create them. Be it imagined stimuli they are creating, or through the available stimulus around them, they open themselves up and REACT truthfully to everything -the other actors, the set, the space, the props, the object or person via Sense Memory, etc. I KNOW they do this for a fact! They've talked about it for years.
   
   Eric helps you get to the place that they do-where you can function truthfully, where your instrument is accessible and available, where you are open and are willing to go where the character needs to go, emotionally, psychologically, and physically.
   
   My advice is read Eric's books. If they pique any interest in you, if they strike a cord, study with Eric or Anthony, or at least contact them for further information about the system. I think you'll be quite surprised and utterly amazed at the tools this Work can provide you as an actor.



3. Once, in Eric Morris' Acting class, I mistakenly referred to this book as Irrelevant Acting. Nothing could be farther from the truth. This is one of the best books on acting ever!

   The exercises and work in this book have enhanced my acting tremendously, given me a way of working that is unmatched by any other acting book I've ever come accross (and I've read a ton of em) and has made me a powerful teacher and director in my own right.

   It explains Eric's Technique of Freeing the Instrument (Explained in great detail in his No Acting Please which should be read prior to this book.) It explains a new way of looking at material and personally connecting it to the actor through choices and choice approaches. It truly helps make the actor an artist in that he creates and is truly using himself.

   If you utilize this work and combine it with some common sense of your own (if you don't combine it with some common sense--some of it can get you into trouble) your acting will take on a new dimension; you will be more open as an actor artist and human being.

   You will learn how to free and tap into your emotions. How to make personal choices for your material. How to make Choice approaches or tools to connect you to the work and more! Read this book. Do the exercises. I can't recommend it enough.

   Do read No Acting Please first and follow it with this amazing masterpiece.

2 comments about Being Rita Hayworth: Labor, Identity, and Hollywood Stardom.

1. Having been an avid reader of Golden Years Movie stars biographies & autobiographies for a long time, I was a bit disappointed with this one.
   Particularly as recent reads include, Ava Gardner, Joan Crawford, Elizabeth Taylor & Lauren Bacall ....
   If you are studying film and theatre studies, this is actually a great book for you, but it was a bit more technical than I wanted ...
   I persevered for awhile, but have put it aside to read Lana Turners biography instead.



2. Being Rita Hayworth: Labor, Identity And Hollywood Stardom by Adrienne L. McLean (Assistant Professor of Film Studies, University of Texas-Dallas) strives to answer the question "Who was Rita Hayworth?" Exploring the creation of this popular movie star's persona, beloved in movies such as "The Lady from Shanghai" (1948) and "Affair in Trinidad" (1952), Being Rita Hayworth takes an especial interest in her appeal to other women of the day who were struggling to navigate the demands of family and work outside the home. Careful research of Hayworth's life frames the chapters, which meticulously pick apart fabricated image and propaganda from what can be verified as truth. An excellent read for anyone with an especial interest in not only Hayworth's career, but the ripple effect her star persona had on the hearts and minds of a female generation.

5 comments about Still Me.

1. Christopher and Dana Reeves are sadly missed by many! Their stories are inspirational and supportive to a community that needed much more awareness. Chris Reeves did this! Writing his tell all story took courage and strength which he had much of.
   
   These two people will be forever known for what they left in this world along with their children. This book is a must read for anyone, even if you feel at your bottom. It will help show you the way.
   
   Bless them in heaven!
   
   Merna
   
   Pocket of Pearls: A 30-day pocket workbook to start hearing a softer voice inside of you!



2. This honestly written books gave me goosebumps. The first two chapters are the most riveting.



3. I thought the book was very well written. It was very easy to read. It showed a lot about the courageous Reeve family and what they had to live through on a daily basis and what contributions they made to persons with disabilities.



4. I absolutely loved this book! I have loved Christopher Reeve since I was a small child. This book made me feel like he was writing to me personally, sharing the intimate details of his life. It made me feel close to my life-long hero and is probably the best book I have ever read. The way he described his love for his wife helped me open up my heart and let myself fall in love again. I recommend this book to anyone who's admired Mr. Reeve or is in need of inspiration.



5. In this book, Christopher Reeve recounts the events his life both before and after his accident that left him paralyzed. He takes through the events that led up to him entering into the horse race, his preparations on the day of the race, and the accident itself. He describes his long recuperation in the hospital, where he had to struggle to learn to breathe and most importantly, to look at life differently. He also looks back on his life, tracing the main incidents in his acting career, from teenage amateur roles through starring on the big screen.
   
   Reeve reveals much about his inner feelings during the period of adjustment following his injuries. He tells us how became aware that he would have to start relying on the help of others just to accomplish the bare necessities of life, such as breathing, and how it was the love of friends and family that pulled him through. He touches on varied topics, from near-death experiences to health insurance reform to the relationship between father and son. I gained a lot of respect for Reeve after reading this book-anyone can play a role in the movies, but it takes a real superhero to accomplish all that he did after such a devastating accident.

3 comments about Rocky Horror: From Concept to Cult.

1. "Rocky Horror: From Cult to Concept", a collection of pattering interviews with nearly everyone ever remotely involved with Richard O'Brien's cult phenom, is for completeist's only. Die Hard Rocky fan's (already well versed in the history of the musical sensation) will no doubt appreciate the chats with some of the more obscure player's (Peter Hinwood, who played the titular character in the 1975 film version proves a particularly pleasant character) but those looking for in depth insight into Rocky's early beginnings in London are advised to look elsewhere. Very little time is spent discussing the shows humble birth at the Royal Court's Theatre Upstairs.



2. This book was very interesting and should definitely be read by hardcore Rocky Horror fans. That said, it is somewhat disappointing to read for two reasons, one being something the authors could help- the other being something they could not.
   
   Almost everyone involved in creating the Rocky Horror Show and its picture show variant seems jaded or pissed off. Money is often the first thing on people's minds, and the reader comes away knowing that the production screwed many people involved, but could come away having learned so much more. Everyone is quick to point out what a huge part they played in creating this legend- the ego is unbelievable. That, however, the authors could not help. They simply took their information and gave it.
   
   My major problem with the book, however, comes from the authors themselves. While it is true that Rocky Horror is a phenomenon, and certainly influential, I found it awfully hard to swallow some of the ideas that they put forth. It is their belief that Rocky Horror *created* punk, which is ridiculous. No doubt it was part of the culture, but no one thing created it. Also, Rocky Horror is listed as the precursor to Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman's "Bat Out Of Hell"- bull. And by the time they're raving about how "Death Becomes Her" is just a rip-off of the RHPS, you're ready to put down your book and read something else.
   
   This is a very decent book. Lots of great information has passed hands through it, and I do recommend it. However, Rocky Horror has never meant influence or changing the world. It has meant the glorification of fun, rock and roll, and sex. It is a fun show spoofing old horror flicks. To go so far about its importance is to deny it's real power: the ability to have a good time.



3. This is a good book so far. I must admit that I'm not finished yet having only got it 2 days ago but I'm already to page 120-something. It's very interesting; great interviews w/ people I've heard about on Rocky sites and didn't know much about, so this book really helped me. It's amusing. My only complaint would be that everybody kind of seems to dump on Richard O'Brien in this book and I had always liked Riffy so that kind of bothered me, but all in all it's a good book.

No comments about The Cinema of Krzysztof Kieslowski : Variations on Destiny and Chance (Directors' Cuts).