The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Cinematic Storytelling
Jennifer Van Sijll
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
www.mwp.com
9781932907056, $30.95, PB, 257pp

https://www.amazon.com/Cinematic-Storytelling-Powerful-Conventions-Filmmake= r/dp/193290705X

Synopsis: What the film industry's most successful writers and directors ha=
ve in common is that each of them have mastered the cinematic storytelling = conventions specific to the medium. With the publication of "Cinematic Stor= ytelling: The 100 Most Powerful Film Conventions Every Filmmaker Must Know"=
, professional screenwriter Jennifer Van Sijll covers (as relates to cinema= tic storytelling) the role and responsibilities of the screenwriter and the=
director. She then goes on to cover such cinematic storytelling facets as = space/screen direction, frame composition, writing within the frame, editin=
g, and timing.

Critique: Expertly organized, presented, and illustrated with instructive a=
nd illustrative black/white illustrations throughout, "Cinematic Storytelli= ng: The 100 Most Powerful Film Conventions Every Filmmaker Must Know" is a = comprehensive course of instruction and unreservedly recommended addition t=
o personal, professional, community, film school, and academic library Cine= matic Studies collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It sho= uld be noted for film school students, aspiring screenwriters, and novice d= irectors that "Cinematic Storytelling" is also available in a digital book = format (Kindle, $19.99).

Editorial Note: Jennifer Van Sijll (https://ces.sdsu.edu/jennifer-van-sijll=
) is a scriptwriter, instructor, consultant, and speaker based out of Los A= ngeles. She is a master teacher having taught at UC Berkeley and San Franci= sco State University as well as internationally. She is also an accomplishe=
d scriptwriter who most recently scripted the independent film, Ballerina: =
A One Woman Show which won multiple international awards as well as the Hol= lywood Independent Film Festival Awards, and the Gold Award at the Internat= ional Independent Film Awards.

Jennifer has scripted nearly 100 documentaries for clients like China Centr=
al Television, the Computer History Museum and independent producers. She h=
as written for shows like China Insight, the 4th most popular show in mainl= and China with viewership of nearly 1 billion. She has an MFA from USC's Sc= hool of Cinematic Arts. A prolific speaker having delivered presentations o=
n Cinematic Storytelling to Pixar, Nestle, Google, China Central TV (CCTV) =
as well as at the Los Angeles Screenwriters Expo, her seminars have been fe= atured on TV, radio and two documentaries.

Lena Horne: The M-G-M Years
Stephen Bourne
BearManor Media
www.bearmanormedia.com
9798887712376, $32.00, HC, 120pp

https://www.amazon.com/Lena-Horne-M-G-M-Years-Hollywoods/dp/B0CBSKYD18

Synopsis: "With the publication of "Lena Horne: The M-G-M Years", cinema hi= storian Stephen Burne begins in 1942 when Lena Horne became the first black=
actress and movie star to sign a long-term contract with M-G-M, one of Hol= lywood's top studios. M-G-M then transformed Lena into a movie goddess afte=
r initial uncertainties of how to employ her talents on screen at a time wh=
en African Americans were greatly discriminated against with whole chains o=
f movie theaters in the South refusing to run any films with black actors i=
n a too prominent a role.

Critique: Succinct, fascinating, detailed, and featuring a section of b/w h= istoric photos, "Lena Horne: The M-G-M Years" is a 'must' for the legions o=
f Lena Horne fans, for Hollywood cinema historians, and anyone with an inte= rest in the evolution of black actors in the 20th Century movie business. W= hile a very strongly recommended pick for community and academic library Th= eatre/Cinema/History and African American Biography collections, it should =
be noted for personal reading lists that "Lena Horne: The M-G-M Years" is a= lso readily available from BearManor Media in a digital book format (Kindle=
, $32.00).

Editorial Note: Stephen Bourne (https://stephenbourne.co.uk/books) is a wri= ter, film and social historian specializing in black heritage and gay cultu= re. He graduated from the London College of Printing with a bachelor's degr=
ee in film and television in 1988, and in 2006 received a Master of Philoso= phy degree at De Montfort University for his dissertation on the subject of=
the representation of gay men in British television drama. In 2017 he was = awarded an Honorary Fellowship by London South Bank University for his cont= ribution to diversity.

Doctor Who Trivia Quiz and Random Facts: 2005-2017
M. A. Cassata
BearManor Media
www.bearmanormedia.com
9798887712178, $28.00, HC, 76pp

https://www.amazon.com/Doctor-Trivia-Quiz-Random-Facts/dp/B0C9SBNVM1

Synopsis: As a Doctor Who fans, do you know which Doctor ate fish Fingers a=
nd custard? What the final works of the tenth Doctor said before his regene= ration? How many years the Doctor vowed to guard Missy in The Vault?

With the publication of "Doctor Who Trivia Quiz and Random Facts: 2005-2017=
" and its focus on the Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Doctors in one of the m= ost enduring science fiction television series in history, Doctor Who exper=
t M. A. Cassata poses 300 questions and answers -- plus many random fun Doc= tor Who show facts from 2005-2017. Many of these fun facts are as fascinati=
ng as they are informative.

Critique: Ideal for Doctor Who themed trivia contests, a 'must' for the leg= ions of Doctor Who fans, and focuses specifically on the Tenth, Eleventh, a=
nd Twelfth Doctors, their companions and their adventures, it should be not=
ed that "Doctor Who Trivia Quiz and Random Facts: 2005-2017" is also readil=
y available in a paperback edition (9798887712161, $18.99) and in a digital=
book format (Kindle, $7.00).

Editorial Note: M.A. Cassata (https://www.macassata.com) is the author of T= imeless TV Quiz & Random Facts:'60s to'80s, Pop 'n' Rock Trivia Quiz: '60s = to'80s, The Superheroes Movies Trivia Quiz Book and other entertainment/cel= ebrity-themed tribute books including, The Elton John Scrapbook, Starman: A=
Tribute to Bowie, The Cher Scrapbook and The Essential Jim Carrey.

Hamilton and Me: An Actor's Journal
Giles Terera
Theatre Communications Group
520 Eighth Avenue, 24th floor, New York, NY 10018-4156 http://www.tcg.org/publications
9781636701073, $17.95, PB, 224pp

https://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Me-Journal-Giles-Terera/dp/1636701078

Synopsis: With the publication of "Hamilton and Me: An Actor's Journal", Gi= les Terera provides the reader with a unique, behind-the-scenes account of = preparing for, rehearsing and performing in one of the most important theat= rical phenomena of our time.

When Lin-Manuel Miranda's groundbreaking musical Hamilton opened in London'=
s West End in December 2017, it was as huge a hit as it had been in its ori= ginal production off and on Broadway. Lauded by critics and audiences alike=
, the show would go on to win a record-equaling seven Olivier Awards -- inc= luding Best Actor in a Musical for Giles Terera, and his portrayal of Aaron=
Burr.

For Terera, though, his journey as Burr had begun more than a year earlier,=
with his first audition in New York, and continuing through extensive rese= arch and preparation, intense rehearsals, previews, and finally opening nig=
ht itself. Throughout this time he kept a journal, recording his experience=
s of the production and the process of creating his award-winning performan= ce. This book, "Hamilton and Me", is that journal.

"Hamilton and Me" is also deeply personal, as Terera reflects on experience=
s from his life that he drew on to shape his acclaimed portrayal.

Critique: Illustrated with photographs and featuring an exclusive foreword =
by Lin-Manuel Miranda, "Hamilton and Me: An Actor's Journal" is essential r= eading for the still growing legions of fans of the musical play Hamilton a=
s it offers fresh, first-hand, personal insights into the music and charact= ers comprising Hamilton. Especially and unreservedly recommended for person= al, professional, community and academic library American Theatre collectio= ns, "Hamilton and Me: An Actor's Journal" is also available in digital book=
format (Kindle, $13.49) for aspiring and current performers, theatre stude= nts, and Hamilton enthusiasts.

Editorial Note: Appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)=
in the 2020 New Year Honors for services to theatre, Giles Terera (https:/= /en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giles_Terera) is an award-winning actor, musician, a=
nd writer. He trained at Mountview Theatre School and has worked consistent=
ly at venues such as the National Theatre, The Royal Shakespeare Company an=
d Shakespeare's Globe. He is best known for originating the role of Aaron B= urr in the London production of the award-winning musical Hamilton, for whi=
ch he won the 2018 Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical.

Surviving Squid Game
Suk-Young Kim
Applause Books
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
www.globepequot.com
9781493072729, $28.95, PB, 216pp

https://www.amazon.com/Surviving-Squid-Game-K-Drama-Streaming/dp/1493072722

Synopsis: South Korea has fully stepped onto the global stage in stunning s= trides. From the Oscar-winning film Parasite to the pop juggernaut known as=
BTS, South Korean popular culture has taken the world by storm. This new S= outh Korean wave has influenced global tastes in drama, music, fashion, and=
can even be seen in the beauty industry's obsession with South Korean skin= care products -- South Korea is everywhere.

At the top of this list of greatest hits is Squid Game, a genre-bending Net= flix series that has ignited social media platforms and inspired armies of = devoted fans around the world.

The seeds for a deep collaborative relationship between Netflix and K-drama=
had been sown long before the phenomenal success of Squid Game, but what p= articular social conditions allowed for this show to speak viscerally to gl= obal audiences today as the most-watched drama in ninety countries?

With the publication of "Surviving Squid Game: A Guide to K-Drama, Netflix,=
and Global Streaming Wars", Professor Suk-Young Kim (a scholar of South Ko= rean pop culture) throws back the curtain to reveal the multiple factors ac= counting for the global dominance of K-culture. It investigates the origins=
, manifestations, and future prospects for this cultural trailblazer, makin=
g it essential reading for both content creators and fans of South Korean c= ulture across all media.

Critique: Nicely illustrated, impressively informative, exceptionally well = written, organized and presented, "Surviving Squid Game: A Guide to K-Drama=
, Netflix, and Global Streaming Wars" is essential reading for the legions =
of Squid Game fans. While available for personal reading lists in a digital=
book format (Kindle, $20.99), "Surviving Squid Game" is an especially and = unreservedly recommended addition to community and academic library Televis= ion Game Show History collections and supplemental South Korean Popular Cul= ture curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note: Suk-Young Kim is Professor of Theater and Performance Studi=
es at UCLA. A specialist of Korean popular culture, her comments are regula= rly featured on CNN, NPR, Billboard and other major media outlets. Her book=
s include DMZ Crossing: Performing Emotional Citizenship Along the Korean B= order and K-Pop Live: Fans, Idols, and Multimedia Performance. (https://www= ..tft.ucla.edu/blog/2016/07/25/suk-young-kim)

The Wasp Woman
Lona Bailey
Independently Published
9798398985986, $12.99, PB, 119pp

https://www.amazon.com/Wasp-Woman-Career-Murder-Hollywoods/dp/B0C9SLF2QV

Synopsis: Susan Cabot was a popular B-list movie actress in the 1940s-1950s=
whose grisly slaying perhaps gained her more notoriety than her on-screen = and on-stage accomplishments.

With the publication of "The Wasp Woman: The Life, Career, and Murder of Ho= llywood's Susan Cabot", film historian Lona Bailey reveals that Susan had a=
significant acting career ultimately cheapened by the media circus surroun= ding her death.

The role for which Susan was most recognized was "Wasp Woman, Janice Starli= n," the president of a cosmetics corporation who experiments with a youth s= erum made from the extract of wasps that proves to have deadly side effects=
, not unlike the experimental injections that contributed to her own real-l= ife slaughter in 1986 at the hands of her son, Tim.

Susan was essentially tried and convicted of her own murder due to the over= bearing mother narrative purported by Tim's defense attorney team and the m= edia. This well researched biography broadens the narrative of Susan Cabot =
in detailing her legacy from a fresh perspective beyond the coils of her la=
st years and brutal murder.

Critique: Informative, fascinating, succinct, detailed, exceptionally well = written, organized and presented, "The Wasp Woman: The Life, Career, and Mu= rder of Hollywood's Susan Cabot" is an informative biography that will be o=
f particular and special interest to dedicated fans of the 1940 & 1950s B-m= ovies. While highly recommended for personal, professional, community, coll= ege, and university library 20th Century Cinematic History/Biography collec= tions and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be noted that "T=
he Wasp Woman: The Life, Career, and Murder of Hollywood's Susan Cabot" is = also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) for the personal re= ading lists of students, academia, film historians, and non-specialist gene= ral readers with an interest in the subject.

Editorial Note: Dr. Lona Bailey (https://www.lonabaileywrites.com) is a Gol= den Age of Hollywood researcher and writer of "Uncredited: The Life and Car= eer of Actress Virginia Gregg," "Voice of Villainy: The Betty Lou Gerson St= ory," "Mrs. Radio: The Cathy Lewis Story," and "The Wasp Woman: The Life, C= areer, and Brutal Murder of Hollywood's Susan Cabot." As a PhD and former t= herapist, Lona is passionate about telling the untold stories of women who = perhaps weren't finished using their own voices during their earthly journe= ys. Lona's biographic works offer a balanced perspective on the multidimens= ional elements involved in feministic legacy-maintenance with particular in= terest in the preservation efforts of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Lona was=
a finalist in the International Book Awards for 2023.

Phil's 3rd Favorite 500
Phil Berardelli
Mountain Lake Press
http://www.mountainlakepress.com
9781959307198, $24.95, HC, 472pp

https://www.amazon.com/Phils-3rd-Favorite-500-Moviegoing/dp/1959307193

Synopsis: In 2012, Phil Berardelli published his first compilation of 500 f= avorite movies, divided into 50 categories and borne of a lifelong love of = the medium, and a desire to share some of his most enjoyable experiences wi=
th other cinephiles. Subsequently, he followed up in 2018 with a print edit= ion of that compilation.

Then, two years later, Phil completed his second 500 favorites, likewise en= compassing 50 categories.

Now, with the publication of "Phil's 3rd Favorite 500: Still More Loves of =
a Moviegoing Lifetime", he adds yet another 500 titles, presented in yet an= other 50 categories.

With this feature film trilogy, Phil offers a vast array of attractions to = engage a wide variety of interests, ranging from the most avid film student=
s, to the most casual viewers, and from acknowledged classics to little-kno=
wn treasures.

All films featured in this third movie compendium represent some of the fin= est work of film makers in America and overseas alike, with some titles goi=
ng back nearly a hundred years! Witty and eminently browsable, Phil's three=
compilations will no doubt in the coming years be regarded as classic refe= rences for movie lovers everywhere.

Critique: Descriptively informative, "Phil's 3rd Favorite 500: Still More L= oves of a Moviegoing Lifetime" is thoroughly 'film fan friendly' in organiz= ation and presentation -- making it an essential and welcome addition to pe= rsonal, professional, community, film school, college, and university libra=
ry Cinematic History reference collections and supplemental curriculum stud= ies lists. It should be noted for film students, academia, and dedicated mo= vie buffs that "Phil's 3rd Favorite 500: Still More Loves of a Moviegoing L= ifetime" is also available in a paperback edition (9781959307181, $19.95) a=
nd in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).

Editorial Note: Phil Berardelli has been in love with movies ever since his=
first encounter as a little boy thrilled him and then scared the daylights=
out of him. In the intervening years, including a six-year stint as a TV m= ovie critic, Phil has seen at least 5,000 films.

The Way of Washi Tales
Ibe Kyoko & Elise Thoron
The Legacy Press
http://www.thelegacypress.com
9781940965208, $45.00, PB, 232pp

http://www.thelegacypress.com/washi-tales.html

Synopsis: With the publication of "The Way of Washi Tales", co-authors Ibe = Kyoko and Elise Thoron chronicle the beautiful and moving story of Recyclin=
g: Washi Tales, a theatrical performance first conceived in 2009 by America=
n theater maker, Elise Thoron, and Japanese paper artist, Ibe Kyoko.

Inspired by washi (Japanese handmade paper), the co-authors set out on an o= ngoing exploration of its dynamic presence and harmonious spirit in theater=
.. Working with a company of Japanese traditional performers and an American=
storyteller, Recycling: Washi Tales brings to the stage four folk tales ce= ntering around washi from different periods of Japanese history. Three Japa= nese musical traditions are also represented: Noh drum, biwa, and shomyo (B= uddhist sutra singing). Performances of Recycling: Washi Tales have delight=
ed audiences across the U.S.A. and Japan, captivated by Ibe's dazzling pape=
r art and costumes, the on-stage papermaking, and the artistry of each of t=
he company performers.

The Way of Washi Tales tells the story of a collaboration across cultures, = including how washi and the rich history of the craft informed the performa= nces of the theater artists, while their ongoing work together as a company=
resulted in deep personal bonds and experiences. Through backstage scenes = and over two hundred photographs, "The Way of Washi Tales" explores the fas= cinating process of long-term cultural exchange, including the complex chal= lenges of bilingual performance and the rewards of building a "washi family= .."

In personal essays, the co-authors reflect on how profoundly a simple natur=
al material (washi) has shaped Japanese culture and influenced the trajecto=
ry of their lives.

Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of two A= ppendices (A reproduces the script for Recycling: Washi Tales and Claire Cu= ccio's translation of Najio Gawa by Mizukami Tsutomu, a source for one of t=
he Washi Tales), a glossary, and bibliography, "The Way of Washi Tales" is = especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, communi= ty, college, and university library Japanese Art, Japanese Theater, and Jap= anese Popular Culture collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists=
..

Editorial Note #1: Ibe Kyoko (https://noyesmuseum.org/kyoko-ibe) completed =
a master's degree at the Kyoto Institute of technology in 1967, and continu=
ed working with paper and has been invited to more than 20 countries for ex= hibitions, workshops lectures, teaching, judge, panelist and stage art inst= allation. Her work pushes the limits of paper, transforming a craft into an=
art form. Her radical new approach to paper combines a respect for traditi=
on with technological experimentation. She exhibit in many museums, includi=
ng Los Angeles County museum in 2011, Stockton University Gallery in 2017 a=
nd her works are the collection of Chicago Art Institute and many others. S=
he is the author and editor of "Guide book of Contemporary Paperwork," and = co-author of "Encyclopedia Paper culture and Science," Paper, Makers Tears,=
volume one.

Editorial Note #2: Elise Thoron (https://elisethoron.com) is a playwright, = director, and translator who brings stories not widely heard to life on sta= ge. Her plays have been produced in the United States, Europe, Japan, Cuba.

Cliffhanger!
Christopher Irving
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Dr, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27614
www.twomorrows.com
9781605491196, $39.95

https://www.amazon.com/Cliffhanger-Cinematic-Superheroes-Serials-1941-1952/= dp/1605491195

Cliffhanger! Cinematic Superheroes of the Serials: 1941-1952 is a survey of=
early film superheroes and comic creators that should be in any media hist= ory collection.

It focuses on early characters, stuntmen and directors, comic book creators=
, and actors who contributed to the notion of a superhero universe, juxtapo= sing events in the two media histories to build a better understanding of t=
he roots and origins of superhero serial productions.

Packed with color photos and in-depth analysis of famous superhero origins = ("Batman was a pulp response to Superman's science fiction roots, created b=
y an ambitious young cartoonist and his uncredited writing partner."), Clif= fhanger! is quite simply a 'must' for any film or comic history collection = seeking a definitive analyses and solid history, flavored with the vintage = images of past superhero incarnations.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promo= ting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no fund=
s from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these=
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The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "Califo= rnia Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwat= ch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available=
for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview=
(dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugal= muse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publish= er, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number=
, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review

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