The Phantom Of The Movies Videoscope

The "Phantom of the Movies", aka Joe Kane, has been avidly watching "B" movies since the 1960s and chronicling their mainstreaming over the past decade. His new book contains 3,000 reviews of thrillers and action flicks, horror, camp and comedy classics, sexploitation, sci-fi, and westerns, and incorporates exclusive celebrity interviews with genre heavyweights Gary Oldham, Jackie Chan, and Pamela Grier, and directors John Waters and Wes Craven. 100 illustrations.

This is a firsthand account of a small band of Amazonian warriors and their battle to preserve their way of life from the scourge of civilization. Joe Kane, author of Running the Amazon, returns to the river to search for the Huaorani, a nation of 1300 nomadic warriors so remote that their language is unrelated to any other on Earth. For millenia all comers have been turned away from their land, a territory in the middle of the Ecuadorian Amazon the size of Massachusetts, USA.

The voyage began in the lunar terrain of the Peruvian Andes, where coca leaf is the only remedy against altitude sickness. It continued down rapids so fierce they could swallow a raft in a split second. It ended six months and 4,200 miles later, where the Amazon runs gently into the Atlantic. Joe Kane's personal account of the first expedition to travel the entirety of the world's longest river is a riveting adventure in the tradition of Joseph Conrad, filled with death-defying encounters: with narco-traffickers and Sendero Luminoso guerrillas and nature at its most unforgiving. Not least of all, Running the Amazon shows a polyglot group of urbanized travelers confronting their wilder selves -- their fear and egotism, selflessness and courage.

Character Kings 2 continues to examine the careers of the busiest men in Hollywood, featuring 15 all-new interviews with the industry's most recognizable actors. Filled with behind-the-scenes anecdotes about the making of movies and TV shows, tips on how to prepare for auditions, the techniques that bring a character to life and the secrets to earning a living in a highly competitive industry, Character Kings 2 offers more instructive lessons about the art and business of acting. "For those of us who live and breathe the movies, Character Kings 2 is a must-read that weaves a fascinating overview of what it takes to be a successful working actor in Hollywood." -- David Del Valle, Films In Review "Scott Voisin draws terrific insights from an impressive assortment of our finest character actors, managing to deepen a movie lover's appreciation of these phenomenal talents. The book is a revelation for all fans of great acting." -- Jamey DuVall, host of Movie Geeks United! "Character actors are a prized species in Hollywood, and Scott Voisin's book selects the cream of today's crop. The actors regale us with some marvelous stories of blood, sweat and fate." -- Tim Lucas, editor of Video Watchdog "Scott Voisin's Character Kings book series is full of lessons for the filmmaking artist and fan; from its rare perspective on the profession to the survival of the actors who are as important to a movie as its stars." -- John Huff, CultMachine.com "These interviews should be inspiring to everyone who takes their creative life seriously." -- Movies Made Me (Joseph Maddrey)

While you may think the old adage about oil and water being unable to mix applies perfectly to the cinema of terror and the craft of great acting, many a grease-painted scare and fluid performance have been combined in the strange alchemy that is the horror film. From the silent mastery of Lon Chaney's The Phantom of the Opera to the cultured cannibalism of Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs, the genre has seen an impressive number of noteworthy portrayals, far removed from the stereotypical leering monster and terrified maiden. Part One of this work highlights the stars of this screen style--those whose numerous roles and outstanding performances made their names synonymous with horror cinema. Part Two covers actors who, although not normally associated with the genre, still contributed to its history. Part Three covers the great actresses in horror films and highlights their acting achievement. An appendix lists all the Academy Award nominations and winners in the horror genre.

Steve Cuden's Beating Hollywood examines, piece by piece, how writers, directors, and producers create stories for extraordinary movies by breaking down forty classic films into narrative beats, plot points, and movements to uncover how magic was made. More than a simple look at what others have done, this book also serves as a comprehensive guide to how you, too, can craft a memorable story for the screen. From Cuden's 150 invaluable tips, you'll learn how to: Master storytelling fundamentals Create unforgettable characters, dialogue, and scenes Build solid story structure Develop plot Break your story into what Cuden calls eight essential chapters Cultivate a unique voice Think like a businessperson who can sell your writing, not merely a creative artist This is a must-read for anyone who writes screenplays-new writers and seasoned pros alike-as well as an invaluable resource for film teachers and movie buffs. "...so comprehensive, so well organized, so accessible and useful for writers at any stage of their career, I want to quote the whole damn thing... This is one gigantically valuable asset to the screenwriting community." -Hal Ackerman, Screenwriting Co-Area Head, UCLA School of Theater, Film, Television and Digital Media "If you're a lover of cinema, read it and be the smartest guy in the room at your next film society gathering." -David Wise, Developed/Executive Story Editor/Writer, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; Story Editor/Writer The Mighty Ducks "Cuden's text is a masterpiece of insight delivered with the ease and wit of a conversation with good friend, who just happens to be a life-long craftsman at the top of his game." -Rick Hawkins, Emmy-winning Writer, The Carol Burnett Show, Mama's Family, Major Dad, Sister, Sister "Steve has demonstrated by his own writing and through this book that he understands the complexities of screenwriting, and his analysis of what makes certain films unforgettable is enlightening. This book is, above all, useful." -Howard Suber, Professor at UCLA's film school for 50 years, Author, The Power of Film and Letters to Young Screenwriters "Talk about the tools of the trade! After absorbing this amazing book, you may never watch a movie the same way again-and you will certainly be inspired to write one of your own." -Phil Proctor, Firesign Theatre "If you want to learn screenwriting, you could spend $120,000 dollars on graduate school or just buy Steve Cuden's book."

A DETAILED STUDY OF THE CLASSICS OF CONTINENTAL HORROR CINEMA! From the Expressionist reveries of the Weimar Republic to the transgressive nightmares smuggled past the Franco regime, via surrealist Gallic fever-dreams and psychedelic shockers from Cinecittà, Jonathan Rigby brings his incisive scrutiny to bear on more than 100 key films, starting in the aftermath of World War I and winding up with the video revolution of the early 1980s.

Bill Warren's Keep Watching the Skies! was originally published in two volumes, in 1982 and 1986. It was then greatly expanded in what we called the 21st Century Edition, with new entries on several films and revisions and expansions of the commentary on every film. In addition to a detailed plot synopsis, full cast and credit listings, and an overview of the critical reception of each film, Warren delivers richly informative assessments of the films and a wealth of insights and anecdotes about their making. The book contains 273 photographs (many rare, 35 in color), has seven useful appendices, and concludes with an enormous index. This book is also available in hardcover format (ISBN 978-0-7864-4230-0).

From 1928 through 1982, when Columbia Pictures Corporation was a traded stock company, the studio released some of the most famous and popular films dealing with horror, science fiction and fantasy. This volume covers more than 200 Columbia feature films within these genres, among them Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, Earth vs. the Flying Saucers and The Revenge of Frankenstein. Also discussed in depth are the vehicles of such horror icons as Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, and John Carradine. Additionally highlighted are several of Columbia's lesser known genre efforts, including the Boston Blackie and Crime Doctor series, such individual features as By Whose Hand?, Cry of the Werewolf, Devil Goddess, Terror of the Tongs and The Creeping Flesh, and dozens of the studio's short subjects, serials and made-for-television movies.