By Bernard Mendiburu
Focal Press
Boston
2009

“Eventually 3D will make its way into mainstream cinema the way color and sound did” observes visual effects artist and digital cinema engineer Bernard Mendiburu in his comprehensive and essential primer on this latest and most significant technological breakthrough in filmmaking. “By reducing the effort involved in the suspension of disbelief, we significantly increase the immersion experience”, reflects the author in the first of ten chapters that energize readers about the full potential of this medium.

Jeremy Juuso’s Getting the Money is a step-by-step instruction booklet to writing a film business plan.  The book reads largely like an instruction manual, but in a sense that is exactly what it is.  Juuso puts things into perspective while at the same time encouraging the reader.  It is a competitive world out there and the odds are not necessarily with you.  But your odds are so much better with a sound understanding of the market and a solid business plan to put in front of investors.

Review of AFTER EFFECTS ILLUSIONIST by Chad Perkins (Focal Press, 2009)

After Effects Illusionist has the feel of a friendly, helpful guide through the potentially confusing myriad of effects included in the software package.  Chad Perkins' approach is professional and complete, but it is also very personal; he manages to walk a fine line between general discussion and detailed, step-by-step instruction.  It is written with the experienced After Effects user in mind.  However, an intimate understanding of the software is not required as there is still a wealth of knowledge for the neophyte. The intent of the text is not simple to cover the numerous effects included in the software. It is written from point of view of someone intimately familiar with the product who wishes to point out short cuts as well as pitfalls of its use.

The Hollywood Standard, 2nd Edition - The Complete and Authoritative Guide to Script Format and Style
By Christopher Riley
Michael Wiese Productions
Studio City, California
2009

If you are a screenwriter, from neophyte to expert, who has ever had a question about how to format a screenplay or television script then this is the book you need by your laptop!   The author, Christopher Riley, is a professional screenwriter who worked from 1983 to1998 in the standard setting Warner Bros. script processing department where he learned from veteran script proofreaders with decades of Hollywood experience.  He eventually was promoted to manage the studio’s script operation supplying scripts to countless projects in development and in production.  He was the man at the studio to go to for any and all script formatting issues.