Book Review: Alice In Wonderland - The Visual Guide

Released January 26th, 2010

Page count: 72 pages

Size: 9.25” x 6.25”

Disney’s Alice In Wonderland - The Visual Guide

Written By Jo Casey & Laura Gilbert

Published By Dorling Kindersley

http://www.dk.com/

_____________________________________________

Alice In Wonderland Visual Guide Book Review By Erin V.

As they do so often for family oriented movies, Dorling Kindersley has released another wonderful visual guide - this one for Disney’s new Alice in Wonderland.

As a visual guide, each page is filled with pristine pictures and information on the various characters, locations, and world of the film. This is a great accompaniment to this film in particular, as the strange world needs a bit of explanation at times. Of particular note, this book contains a glossary at the back for some of the commonly used words in Outlandish that are used in the film, such as ‘gallymoggers --> crazy’, or ‘klotchyn --> pay attention’. I did use many of these words in my review of the film [link], so if you have this book you may even come to understand that better.

If you love the new Alice In Wonderland film, you will definitely want to get this tie-in book. It is a great fun read.

_____________________________________________

To find out more about the Alice In Wonderland, or other books, visit DK's website here.

Filmmaking for Teens - Book Review

Released February 2010

Page count: 200 pages

Size: 9” x 6”

Filmmaking for Teens, 2nd edition

(Text) By Troy Lanier & Clay Nichols

Published By Michael Wiese Productions

Filmmaking for Teens

- This review is in a series running this week and next, leading up to the Oscar nominations on Feb. 2nd. The series includes a profile of 8 books relating to past and present films, as well as the filmmaking process. Check out these titles to get a better understanding of what goes into the art of film.

_____________________________________________

Filmmaking for Teens 2nd Edition Book Review By Erin V.

First off, what is a big reason why a lot of films don’t get made? Essentially, commitment to see that passing idea from concept to completion. So, this book makes it easy. Don’t get grandiose for your first try, do a 5 minute short. That’s what is focused on here. Seeing a 5 minute short film through to completion. Doing this will actually give you invaluable information about how to approach a more ambitious project, and how to organize yourself to be able to stick with it. Also, once you’ve completed one short, you have the confidence that you can actually pull more off...

Filmmaking for Teens, 2nd Ed. covers everything you would want to know from writing down your ideas in script format, to filming, editing, working with sound, etc. You will also learn where each person in the film crew’s duties lie, and what kinds of equipment you can use that’s in your budget, but still is good quality. Plus, the book’s not all that long, and easy to flip open in the middle and find out what you need for just a certain part of production.

In essence, this makes for an easy read with loads of information organized in a nice, concise way. It is a book that will help you get your film made, and will give you the edge you need to get a jump-start into the world of filmmaking. A perfect book for those just starting out.

_____________________________________________

To find out more about Filmmaking for Teens, or other books, visit Michael Wiese Productions’ website here.

From Word to Image - Book Review

Released January 2010

Page count: 248 pages

Size: 10” x 7”

From Word to Image, 2nd edition

(Text) By Marcie Begleiter

Published By Michael Wiese Productions

From Word to Image

- This review is in a series running this week and next, leading up to the Oscar nominations on Feb. 2nd. The series includes a profile of 8 books relating to past and present films, as well as the filmmaking process. Check out these titles to get a better understanding of what goes into the art of film.

_____________________________________________

From Word to Image 2nd Edition Book Review By Erin V.

From Word to Image is a fun book to read. The technical information is nicely balanced with stories from various film sets that the author worked on, as well as interviews with people on the production teams. Not only does this book give a look into the intricacies of the art world, but into the film business world as well.

Although 248 pages long, the text is a nice comfortable size, slightly larger than in some books, which means there’s no need to be intimidated by the page length. The book is shorter than it seems, as the more spaced formatting makes it very easy to read. Considering that this is a book on storyboarding, there are also many pictorial examples, including ch. 7, which is the chapter on colour, in colour.

An invaluable book for students of any art medium. The examples of the uses of colour, perspective, motion, and how to tell a story with pictures, is shown so simply here with the many visual examples. This book reads like an easy to follow class on storyboarding. A great intro to anyone wanting to get into the art field, or for a writer to understand more about thinking in visual images.

_____________________________________________

To find out more about From Word to Image, or other books, visit Michael Wiese Productions’ website here.

Shaking the Money Tree - Book Review

Released January 2010

Page count: 192 pages

Size: 6” x 9”

Shaking the Money Tree, 3rd edition

(Text) By Morrie Warshawski

Published By Michael Wiese Productions

Shaking the Money Tree Link

- This review is in a series running this week and next, leading up to the Oscar nominations on Feb. 2nd. The series includes a profile of 8 books relating to past and present films, as well as the filmmaking process. Check out these titles to get a better understanding of what goes into the art of film.

_____________________________________________

Shaking the Money Tree 3rd Edition Book Review By Erin V.

One of the elements of filmmaking that is often not explained very well to starting filmmakers, is the art of getting money to actually make their films.

First published in 1994, and a 2nd edition published in 2003, this newest edition of Shaking the Money Tree, now includes new sidebars with advice from respected individuals in the field. The appendix in this edition also includes two sample grant applications, one for The Most Dangerous Man in America, and the other for Behind the Velvet Curtain. These examples are a great way to see how to put together a successful pitch.

At 192 pages (including the appendix which starts at page 115), this book doesn’t take all that long to read. The real thing is to get started on it - and to read it in order. It’s kind of hard to just flip open and read, as the information builds nicely on itself as it goes along.

Reading through the book, I can definitely recommend it. There is a lot of useful information and tips here that will help many more young filmmakers find success in the financial side of getting their films made. From creating written, and spoken pitches, to filling out grant applications, this is important stuff to know.

_____________________________________________

To find out more about Shaking the Money Tree, or other books, visit Michael Wiese Productions’ website here.

The Art of The Princess and the Frog - Book Review

Released December 2009

Page count: 160 pages

Size: 9” x 12”

The Art of The Princess and the Frog

(Text) By Jeff Kurtti

Preface By John Lasseter

Foreword By Directors John Musker and Ron Clements

Published By Raincoast Books

www.raincoast.com

- This review is in a series running this week and next, leading up to the Oscar nominations on Feb. 2nd. The series includes a profile of 8 books relating to past and present films, as well as the filmmaking process. Check out these titles to get a better understanding of what goes into the art of film.

_____________________________________________

The Art of The Princess and the Frog Book Review By John C.

The Art of The Princess and the Frog is a gorgeous visual companion to Disney’s beautiful 2D animated film. It includes concept art for the characters, showing how they created the right look for each one, and talks about how they captured the look of New Orleans during the jazz era.

One of my favourite parts of the book has to be the section on the Bayou. Where they talk about how they got the perfect look for probably my favourite character - the jazz-playing alligator, Louis.

The “Art of” books are always nice to look through, but are especially worth it for animated films, when they are able to supply an abundance of concept art. The Art of The Princess and the Frog is a beautiful book that’s worth adding to your collection.

_____________________________________________

The Art of The Princess and the Frog Book Review By Erin V.

Disney’s return to the classic 2D style of animation this past December was a success in my mind. The Princess and the Frog was a gorgeous film, with a great soundtrack and fun storyline. The film is nominated at the Annie (animation) Awards, which take place next Saturday, in multiple categories. Also, come Tuesday, the film will probably garner at least a nomination in the Best Animated category at the Oscars.

But what makes this film so special to watch? The answer is the love and care put into the beautiful animation. The art and visual style designed for the film is captured wonderfully here in this collection of pieces from the production stages.

The simple and fluid way that the frogs move, is rooted in their design. The simplicity makes them easier to animate, since they have to be drawn by several people again and again, and allows them to move more smoothly. An interesting study in this for other creatures, is the character Louis. An alligator doesn’t lend itself to a fluid line drawing all that easily, but Eric Goldberg, who worked on his design, masterfully made it work.

Certainly, this book will be enjoyed by fans of classic Disney, as well as artists - especially those wishing to get started in 2D animation. It is filled with great concept pieces from the design of the characters, to the stunning background environments created to envision the feeling of being in the Bayou. This is definitely a book to add to your collection.

_____________________________________________

To find out more about The Art of The Princess and the Frog, or other books, visit Raincoast’s website here.

The Art of Avatar: James Cameron’s Epic Adventure - Book Review

Released November 2009

Page count: 108 pages

Size: 12” x 10”

The Art of Avatar: James Cameron’s Epic Adventure

(Text) By Lisa Fitzpatrick

Preface By Peter Jackson

Foreword By Jon Landau

Epilogue By James Cameron

Published By Abrams Books

www.abramsbooks.com

- This review is in a series running this week and next, leading up to the Oscar nominations on Feb. 2nd. The series includes a profile of 8 books relating to past and present films, as well as the filmmaking process. Check out these titles to get a better understanding of what goes into the art of film.

_____________________________________________

The Art of Avatar Book Review By John C.

The Art of Avatar is a beautiful visual companion to the film that everyone’s talking about. With full-page concept photos, and descriptions of each of the creatures, this make for a very interesting read, no matter what level of obsession you have for the film.

It’s very interesting to see how the look of all the creatures, including the Na’Vi, has changed to finally become what we see on-screen. It also gives us a very nice insight into the groundbreaking special effects.

_____________________________________________

The Art of Avatar Book Review By Erin V.

James Cameron’s Avatar is breaking box office records, and looks to be on it’s way to several Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, this Tuesday morning. Whether or not it deserves to win the grand prize has been debated by many, but the one thing that most can agree on, is that the film is visually stunning and would deserve a design award.

The world of Pandora created for the film is certainly a visual achievement, one that is accentuated in The Art of Avatar. What I really found amazing about the film, was not so much the animation process, nor the 3D, both of which were astounding, but rather, the design process. A fantasy film like this, if not designed properly, will fail. Had the designs for the moon Pandora not been done with such precisional trial and error, I don’t think the film would have succeeded like it did. You see, the story of Avatar in itself is fairly classic in it’s nature - it is for the visuals that we are captivated largely into this world.

The use of colour and translucency here is what really makes it so visually appealing. That, and the creatures and plants in the world are both new and familiar at the same time - another fine balance a film like this must find. As this book shows us the design process from early concept sketches to almost finished computer renderings, we can really come to appreciate what the graphic artists have done for this film. This is definitely a book that anyone into Avatar, or the art and graphic design world, will enjoy immensely.

_____________________________________________

To find out more about The Art of Avatar, or other books, visit Abrams Books’ website here.

Film Editing - Book Review

Released October 2009

Page count: 195 pages

Size: 11” x 7”

Film Editing

(Text) By Gael Chandler

Published By Michael Wiese Productions

http://shop.mwp.com/products/film-editing

- This review is in a series running this week and next, leading up to the Oscar nominations on Feb. 2nd. The series includes a profile of 8 books relating to past and present films, as well as the filmmaking process. Check out these titles to get a better understanding of what goes into the art of film.

_____________________________________________

Film Editing Book Review By Erin V.

Reading this book right before watching a movie might make you slightly more heightened to the editing, but when editing is done really well in a good movie, the film should hook you in regardless. Although some books close to 200 pages on one subject can be hard to read from cover to cover, this one is fascinating and the way that the information is presented (visually), gives you a perfect glimpse into the world of film editing.

Reading this book has certainly given me loads of new information and a real sense of appreciation for what editors do. This awards season, I will certainly be watching where the awards are going to in the editing sector, and have a better understanding of why.

I love the way that so many things that we take for granted in filmmaking are so intricately planned. Like it says in the book at one point, editing with it’s rhythms, is like music. It has to have the right balance of rhythm, pace, and sequence. And when done right, we can enjoy it without even realizing all of the parts are put together so perfectly to make the whole. And that’s wherein lies the secret beauty of film editing.

_____________________________________________

To find out more about Film Editing, or other books, visit Michael Wiese Productions’ website here.

Star Trek: The Art of the Film - Book Review

Released November 2009

Page count: 160 pages

Size: 9” x 12”

Star Trek: The Art of the Film

(Text) By Mark Cotta Vaz

Foreword By J.J. Abrams

Published By Titan Books

www.titanbooks.com

- This review is in a series running this week and next, leading up to the Oscar nominations on Feb. 2nd. The series includes a profile of 8 books relating to past and present films, as well as the filmmaking process. Check out these titles to get a better understanding of what goes into the art of film.

_____________________________________________

Star Trek: The Art of the Film Book Review By John C.

J.J. Abrams Star Trek reboot was an incredibly enjoyable science fiction film. Star Trek: The Art of The Film is the perfect photo resource behind the making of the movie for both Trekker’s and casual fans.

If you liked the film, then immerse yourself in the beautiful visuals of this excellent companion book, which includes insights into the visual effects that went into such sequences as the space jump.

_____________________________________________

Star Trek: The Art of the Film Book Review By Erin V.

One of my favourite art books of the year, Star Trek: The Art of the Film covers everything from the visual effects, to the costume design, to the set design. The opening section, after the foreword by director J.J. Abrams, has statements from the main new actors in the Star Fleet crew, as well as from Leonard Nemoy. Then the book heads into the very visual centric world of Star Trek. Using mostly pictures, coupled with minimal, but information-rich text, we start to learn the story of making this film really work.

I understand more of the film reading through this book, and caught things that I didn’t when I saw the film. I hope to see a couple of nominations at the Oscars for Star Trek’s art and design processes, especially after seeing it all laid out here.

For anyone into Star Trek, or the process of filmmaking in general, this book is a must-read. It is beautifully put together, right down to the brilliant idea of putting, behind the dust jacket on the front cover, the film’s poster photo of Zachary Quinto, and on the back, one of Leonard Nimoy. It works with the essence of the film, and for that reason, it is one of the coolest book design ideas I’ve ever seen.

Star Trek: The Art of the Film is available in most book stores, as well as from online retailers. It is well worth the price - which is actually quite reasonable in most places.

_____________________________________________

To find out more about Star Trek: The Art of the Film, or other books, visit Titan Books’ website here.

James Bond Encyclopedia - Book Review

Released October 6th, 2009

Page count: 336 pages

Size: 10” x 12”

James Bond Enclyclopedia - Revised Edition

(Text) By John Cork and Collin Stutz

Foreword By Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli

Published By Dorling Kindersley

http://www.dk.com/

- This review is in a series running this week and next, leading up to the Oscar nominations on Feb. 2nd. The series includes a profile of 8 books relating to past and present films, as well as the filmmaking process. Check out these titles to get a better understanding of what goes into the art of film.

_____________________________________________

James Bond Encyclopedia Book Review By John C.

Appearing in 21 films, and being portrayed by 6 different actors, James Bond is a cinematic icon.

The James Bond Encyclopedia is the number one print source for any James Bond fan. With info on all the characters and films, this is a must-have source for movie lovers as well. Though it is a bit pricey, this would make a great gift.

_____________________________________________

James Bond Encyclopedia Book Review By Erin V.

James Bond is one of those series that has fascinated the film world for ages. The iconic character has been played by 6 actors over 46 years, with each one bringing his own vision of Bond to the screen.

Beautifully compiled by Dorling Kindersley Publishing, this book is an easy to read, visual encyclopedia. This new edition, which is 16 pages longer, has been updated to include pages on Quantum of Solace’s characters, sets, and place in the Bond universe.

For anyone interested in the history of the films, the villains, and Bond himself, this is the book for you. It’s available in most major book stores, as well as online.

_____________________________________________

To find out more about the James Bond Encyclopedia, or other books, visit DK's website here.

Pixarpedia Book Review

Released August 31st, 2009

Page count: 352 pages

Size: 10 x 12

Pixarpedia: A Complete Guide to the World of Pixar... And Beyond!

(Text) By Barbara Bazaldua, Steve Bynghall, Jo Casey, Glenn Dakin, Lucy Dowling, Laura Gilbert, Julia March, Catherine Sauders, and Victoria Taylor

Foreword By Andrew Stanton

Research Associate Adam Abraham

Published By Dorling Kindersley

Copyright Disney © 2009

http://www.dk.com/

_____________________________________________

Pixarpedia Book Review By John C.

Pixarpedia is a beautiful new hardcover, full-colour book from Dorling Kindersley featuring facts about Pixar ranging from the animators to the characters in their films. Some we know, some I didn’t know, but they’ve never all been so well organized all in the same place before.

Written by 9 different authors, the book covers 12 Pixar features (the 10 that have been released + brief info on the upcoming Toys Story 3 and Cars 2), and 12 of Pixar’s shorts. Pixarpedia is the essential book for any Pixar fan. And if you love the studio as much as I do, than you really need to take a look at this book.

_____________________________________________

Pixarpedia Book Review By Erin V.

Pixarpedia is like the ultimate ‘essential guide’ that includes all of the films to date, and more random Pixar facts than you could have imagined existed.

Every year, with the release of the newest Pixar film comes an exquisite ‘essential guide’ published by Dorling Kindersley. Like classic DK books about every possible subject out there, they feature clean looking, easy to read pages organized as a sort visual reference with facts and information. Never before though has there been such an extensive book about Pixar’s characters and films.

It’s not a compilation edition where each essential guide is just put into one book though. Instead, this is a totally new and separate book focusing on giving us even more facts - particularly about the more minor characters that weren’t previously profiled. A nice ‘coffee table’ book, since it can just be flipped open and read at random, and still immensely enjoyed. Plus, it looks great out, rather then just hidden on a shelf somewhere.

Pixar fans, (and there are a lot of them out there), are going to absolutely love this book. It’s a highly crafted piece of work which included years of research. I would definitely recommend it to everyone.

_____________________________________________

To find out more about Pixarpedia, or other books, visit DK's website here. You can read our other Pixar related articles here.

Cinematography For Directors Book Review

Cinematography For Directors

Published By Michael Wiese Productions

Released August 1st, 2009

Page count: 277 pages

Cinematography For Directors

By Jacqueline B. Frost

http://shop.mwp.com/products/cinematography-for-directors

_____________________________________________

Cinematography For Directors Book Review By Erin V.

This book has a nice balance between handy tips, examples (with pictures) from commonly known films, as well as technical information on camera types. And that’s what really works about this book. The information is presented in a retainable way, for both those versed and not yet versed in the language of cinematography.

In order to read this book though, you would have to have at least some interest in how films are made. If so, this is a good starting book with loads of information. I personally find the subject matter fascinating, and the book layout fresh and easily readable.

This is a valuable book for both professional cinematographers and directors, as well as for beginners/those looking to see if they want to get into the cinematography field.

_____________________________________________

To find out more about Cinematography For Directors, and other books, visit Michael Wiese Production's website here.

The Art of Star Wars: The Clone Wars Book Review

Released July 1st, 2009

Page count: 272 pages

Size: 11 x 9

The Art of Star Wars: The Clone Wars Films

(Text) By Frank Parisi and Gary Scheppke

Introduction By Dave Filoni

Foreword By George Lucas

Published By Chronicle Books, July 2009

Distributed by Raincoast Books in Canada

http://www.chroniclebooks.com/

http://www.raincoast.com/

_____________________________________________

The Art of Star Wars: The Clone Wars Book Review By John C.

Released in theatres a year ago this past month (August 15th), Star Wars: The Clone Wars is a film that I enjoyed. The animation was not as smooth as it could have been, but this companion book to the film makes you appreciate the character and set design, even if the final animation wasn’t as great as it could have been.

The Art of Star Wars: The Clone Wars is written by Frank Parisi and Gary Sheppke with a forward by George Lucas and an introduction by Clone Wars director Dave Filoni. This is a must have for fans of the Clone Wars movie, TV series, or just fans of Star Wars in general.

_____________________________________________

The Art of Star Wars: The Clone Wars Book Review By Erin V.

The comic book style visuals of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, lends itself particularly well to a book like this one. While the movie got mixed reviews from critics, the television series has been fairly well received, (complete first season coming on DVD November 2nd of this year), and there is a fan base that would definitely want this book in their collection.

With a foreword by George Lucas and an introduction by Dave Filoni, this 272 page book is filled with hundreds of pictures of concept art from various stages of development - (including a few pieces from the original Star Wars films) - as well as loads of information just waiting to be memorized by fans. Because like all of these art books, it is the fans who will want to delve further into the world of the films they love.

All in all, from an art perspective, this book is worth having, and from a Star Wars fan perspective, this is an essential book for their collection.

_____________________________________________

To find out more about The Art of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, see here, (USA Amazon page). You can read our selective reviews of the film here, and an interview with the musical score composer here, and a review of the film's score here.

The Art of Up Book Review

Released May 15th, 2009

Page count: 160 pages

Size: 11 x 9

The Art of Up Short Films

(Text) By Tim Hauser

Foreword By Pete Docter

Research Associate Adam Abraham

Published By Chronicle Books, May 2009

Distributed by Raincoast Books in Canada

http://www.chroniclebooks.com/

http://www.raincoast.com/

_____________________________________________

The Art of Up Review By John C.

With every Pixar film, there is an "art-of" book to accompany it. This year's Up was no exception. The Art of Up, the newest publication from Raincoast Books, is perfect in every way right down to the "My Adventure Book" hidden under the dust jacket. With glorious pieces of art, from artists like Ronnie Del Carmen and Bob Peterson, and from such people as director Pete Docter and even his daughter, Elie Docter. Pete Docter also writes the foreword to the book.

The book helps us further appreciate the art behind the masterpiece that is Pixar's Up. I recommend adding this book to any collection of stuff relating to the studio.

_____________________________________________

The Art of Up Book Review By Erin V.

The Art of Up is a beautiful collection of skillfully crafted artwork from Pixar’s newest masterpiece, Up, compiled together by animation writer Tim Hauser.

With these ‘Art of’ books, too much text, or an unorganized fashion, can cause them to be overwhelming, and unreadable. What I found I loved about The Art of Up is the ‘Simplexity’ with which this particular book is organized. Simplexity is a word coined by production artists on Up. As explained by production designer Ricky Nierva in chapter one, (appropriately called ‘Seeking Simplexity’), this new word means “the art of simplifying (an image) down to its essence, where the complexity that you layer on top of it - in texture, design, or detail - is masked by how simple the form is.” Simply put, ‘Simplexity’ is selective detail.

And the selection here is exquisite. In this collection, there is a fair amount of art from more well known Pixar names, such as Ricky Nierva, Lou Romano, and Ronnie Del Carmen, to names of artists that will possibly be more well known in the future, such as Elie Docter, (daughter of director Pete Docter). Elie voices Ellie in the film, as well as provided the artwork for her ‘My adventure book’ used as a central set piece to the story.

The challenges in Up were great, seeking such simplexity as to create a character only 3 heads high (as Carl is), yet still make him believable. The success of this is amazing, and this is due to the artists in the developing process. It is an honour to see these developing fazes.

The time put into making a film of this caliber is completely deserving of a book devoted to it. Tim Hauser’s work here does it justice. On page 18, we learn that in this movie, so simplex, Carl is based on a square, Ellie a circle, Russell a balloon shape, Dug an upside down balloon shape, and Kevin a triangle with lines. You see, the secret to simplexity is in simple forms representing the character. And with these simple, basic forms, come the characters of one of the most emotional films of the year. Congratulations to all of the filmmakers involved, I am sure that the Annie awards this year will have many of the names found in this book, on the nomination and winners list. The Art of Up is one book that you will definitely want to own.

_____________________________________________

To find out more about The Art of Up, visit Raincoast's website here. You can read our reviews of the film here.

The Art of Monsters vs. Aliens Book Review

The Art of Monsters vs. Aliens

Text By Linda Sunshine

Foreword By Stephen Colbert

Published By Newmarket Press, March 2009

Page count: 192 pages

Size: 11 x 10

Includes: Text and 400 illustrations

http://www.newmarketpress.com/title.asp?id=895

_____________________________________________

The Art of Monsters vs Aliens Review By John C.

The Art of Monsters vs Aliens is a beautiful reference book that coincides with the new film from Dreamwork's Animation. It is filled with concept and character art, that gives you a sense of how the different characters came to be. Some of it is really funny, especially a lot of Timothy Lamb’s two page spreads, (particularly the one on pages 46-47), Lamb was also the one that does a lot (if not all) of the cool retro-style character posters.

Having not yet seen the film at the time of writing this, I now cannot wait to finally get to see it. If the book is any indication, (which it is), than this film will be spectacular in 3-D, but still great to look at in 2-D.

While the film is entertainment, this book reminds us that it is also art. A fact that will sadly be forgotten by a lot of people when they go see it this weekend.

_____________________________________________

The Art of Monsters vs. Aliens Book Review By Erin V.

As an artist myself, I find these kinds of artwork books fascinating. Well written and easy to read, The Art of Monsters vs. Aliens is a great look into the making of this movie, as well as the art process for films like this in general.

In this book, we can really see what a challenge Monsters vs. Aliens would have been to create, because the characters are so huge. Along with making sure that the proportions are consistent between the characters, they have to keep them beside something that we recognize the approximate height of, such as a building or regular sized human being. Otherwise, we would have no way of telling just how big they actually are. Reading through the book, you will come to realize just how hard it is to make a movie like this - especially in 3-D. While it may look easy on screen, it is cool to get a little bit of perspective into just how much work is actually involved.

This book is filled with 400 amazing illustrations ranging from concept art to storyboards, and is divided into an introduction + five parts for ease of reference. (Character Design, Locations, Special F/X, The Making of Monsters vs. Aliens, and Out of the Picture.) The foreword which opens the book is written by Stephen Colbert, who voices the President of the United States in the movie. Very informative, this is a great tie-in to the movie. It must have been a hard task to assemble all of the interviews and text together, and decide what went in the book and what didn’t. While I have not read the whole book cover to cover as of yet, I can tell you right now that it is definitely worth adding to your collection.

_____________________________________________

You can read our interview with author Linda Sunshine here, and find out more about The Art of Monsters vs. Aliens on Newmarket Press's website here.

Quick note: Our reviews of the film will be coming soon...

Interview with The Art of Monsters vs. Aliens Author Linda Sunshine

When did you find out that you were going to be working on this project? (Monster vs. Aliens) In the summer of 2008.

How much time are you given to put the book together? About 6 months.

Did you have access to all of the concept art for the film? How did you decide what pieces to include in the book? The staff at Dreamworks assembled the first rough cut of concept art, which I think was about 3,000 pieces. Our job was to cut that down to about 400.

Were you given a list of people to speak to, (e.g. directors, animators, storyboard artists, etc.)? Did you have to - or get to - choose who to speak to? Yes, the producer and production designer on the movie put together a list of about a dozen key people for me to interview. After I interviewed those folks, and knew what I wanted to cover, I asked to speak to about 10 others in specialty fields.

What was it like to talk to so many people involved, and how do you put it all together into the book? I begin with extensive interviews with the people who have the most creative control over the movie so that I can establish the main attributes, challenges, and areas of interest that might be included in the book. My job is to focus on the particulars that make this movie different from others that have come before. Once I know what really distinguished the movie, I can put together a rough outline of the main topics the book will cover.

These interviews are the most fun part of the book writing process for me. I love talking with creative people who are passionate about their work; to learn how they became interested in their particular field and how they solved the challenges presented to them. Personally, I am fascinated by people who are passionate and committed to their work, no matter what they may do.

When you first started working on The Art of Monsters vs. Aliens, had you seen any footage from the film, (e.g. animated story reels)? There was about 10 minutes of completed (meaning 3-D) film of 2 major scenes in the movie and I was able to view these on a big screen (with polarized glasses) very early in my research.

Have you seen the finished film yet? Yes. I attended a screening last week in Burbank on a Saturday morning. The theater was packed, about half adults and half kids. The movie played brilliantly. The kids were quiet and attentive, except when they were gasping with surprise because of the 3-D effects or howling with laughter. It could not have had a better reception as far as I could see.

From the beginning when you started going through all of the artwork, did one character really stand out for you? Would this now be your favorite character, and if so, why? There are 5 main monsters and one amazing alien (with thousands of alien clones.) All of them were interesting and engaging but since Susan AKA Ginormica is the central character in the movie (and the only “human” monster), she was definitely my favorite.

How is it to see something that you first met through concept art, up on the big screen? [If you’ve seen the finished film], does meet your expectations? The finished film more than met my expectations. It transcends being a “kids” movie with tons of references to more mature concepts like satirizing monster movies from the 50s, references to movies such as Dr. Strangelove and political asides about a somewhat nutty and incompetent president who can’t tell the difference between the button for a cup of latte and the button for an atomic device.

How do you feel The Art of Monsters vs. Aliens compares to other film related books you have worked on? Every new animated film seems to override anything that came before it. The technology changes so rapidly that each new advancement seems to push the entertainment and enjoyment factor just that much further. Monsters vs. Aliens contains special effects elements that have never been seen before.

I noticed that you’ve written a lot of books on Alice in Wonderland, and The Wizard of OZ. Do you have a favorite children’s book / film? As a child of the 60s I have to ask: Can anything compare to The Wizard of OZ? I saw it in the movie theater when I was 6 years old and I’ve never been so thrilled by anything before or since. That moment when the film transfers from black and white to color was a high point of my childhood. Though the technology advances, it is always those “first time” experiences of our childhood that stay with us forever.

Are there any upcoming projects that you can tell us about? Not yet. Ask me again this summer!

_____________________________________________

One Movie, Five Views thanks Linda Sunshine for taking the time to answer our questions, and Harry Burton at Newmarket Press for setting everything up.

To read more about The Art of Monsters vs. Aliens visit the page on Newmarket Press's website here.

The Art of PIXAR Short Films Book Review

Released February 25th, 2009

Page count: 160 pages

The Art of PIXAR Short Films

By Amid Amidi

Foreword By John Lasseter

Research Associate Adam Abraham

Published By Chronicle Books

Distributed by Raincoast Books in Canada

Designed By Public

http://www.chroniclebooks.com/

http://www.raincoast.com/

http://www.cartoonbrew.com/

_____________________________________________

The Art of PIXAR Short Films Book Review By John C.

Every year when a new Pixar film comes, along with it is a new short film. Last year with WALL•E, we saw Presto, the hilarious little film about a magician and his rabbit. This year with Up, we will see Partly Cloudy, which is about a cloud named Gus, who is in charge of making tough babies like alligators and porcupines, and his stork, Peck, who wants to move on to delivering more cuddly babies, like humans and kittens. The short films have been about many different things, an old man playing chess in Geri’s Game, or in their very first short film, Luxo Jr., a lovable baby lamp. But no matter what they are about, they are always brilliant in their own way.

The Art of Pixar Short Films is a beautiful new coffee-table book by Amid Amidi, cofounder and co-writer of Cartoon Brew. The book is filled with beautiful artwork from Pixar’s first 13 short films. People will likely recognize some of the art, like from the very popular Boundin’ and For The Birds, and some of it is rarely seen, like a picture of the original Knick Knack, before the mermaid underwent breast reduction. The book goes hand-in-hand with the Pixar Short Films Collection DVD, which was released by Disney in 2007.

The book should be an essential part of every Pixar fans collection. Anyone who doesn’t know about the company, and it’s humble beginnings as a software firm, will find the book very interesting. Pixar’s films, feature and short, are an important part of animation history, and this book brings to light the history of the shorts we all know and love. Check out the book, and watch the DVD. You will seriously have a good time.

_____________________________________________

The Art of PIXAR Short Films Book Review By Erin V.

Before reading through The Art of Pixar Short Films, I re-watched all of the Pixar shorts themselves. This book contains all of the short films found on The Pixar Short Films DVD, from The Adventures of André and Wally B., to Lifted. The book does all of the films justice, and gives a great background to how each one came about. Containing amazing production art from over 20 years of short films, This is a great book to add to your collection.

The Art of Pixar Short Films covers the first 13 Pixar short films. Divided into three sections, this book is very nicely organized, and easy to read. After the foreword and introduction, it starts with the ‘Early Shorts’. [The Adventures of André and Wally B., Luxo Jr., Red’s Dream, Tin Toy, and Knick Knack.] All of them being written by John Lasseter, and the last four being directed by him as well. The next section is appropriately named ‘The Next Generation of Shorts’. [Geri’s Game, For The Birds, Boundin’, One Man Band, and Lifted.] All of these shorts are written and directed by other members of the production team, which is a good way for them to try their hand at directing. In fact, Gary Rydstrom who directed Lifted, is now at the helm of his first feature length project, Newt, slated for release in a few years.

The last section of the book is called ‘Feature Film-Based Shorts’. [Mike’s New Car, Jack-Jack Attack, and Mater and the Ghostlight.] These are all directed by the same directors as their respective movies. Mater and the Ghostlight marked John Lasseter’s first time back at directing a short film since Knick Knack in 1989.

The beautiful production design photos fill the book even past the acknowledgments at the back. When you first open up the book you are greeted with storyboard art on the inside of the cover from all of the shorts included in the book. Also of note, is the cover art of Luxo Jr. on the front. This nice piece is featured inside on page 55, and is a pastel piece done by John Lasseter in 1986. This book that is a must-add to your collection, right down to the indented Luxo Jr. hidden underneath the dust-jacket.