Film Business

Warner Bros. Studio is best known as a media conglomerate with a broad range of intellectual property, spanning movies, TV shows, and streaming content. Despite popular interest in the origins of this empire, the core of the Warner Bros. saga cannot be found in its commercial successes. It is the story of four brothers—Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack—whose vision for Hollywood helped shape the world of entertainment.

More than 85 years after his untimely death at just age 37, Irving Thalberg remains a legendary Hollywood figure. Called the “Boy Wonder of Hollywood,” Thalberg quickly climbed the ranks at MGM studios to become one of the most powerful and high-profile producers of the time, elevating filmmaking to an art form. In this definitive biography, Bob Thomas brings Thalberg's legend to life, recounting how the producer's remarkable talent for developing stars and scripts led to the creation of beloved movies such as Ben-Hur, Romeo and Juliet, and Camille.

Not everyone can be Bradd Pitt or Denzel Washington. Most aspiring actors end up as waiters, or pursuing other odd jobs while they wait for their big break. What if there was a path to making a living while waiting for your opportunity? What if there were philosophies and actions one could take that could potentially make their journey into Hollywood easier to grasp? This book will give you examples of what I have done over the last twenty-five years making a living in the entertainment business.

In How Star Wars Conquered the Universe, veteran journalist Chris Taylor traces the series from the difficult birth of the original film through its sequels, the franchise’s death and rebirth, the prequels, and the preparations for a new trilogy. Taylor provides portraits of the friends, writers, artists, producers, and marketers who labored behind the scenes to turn Lucas’s idea into a legend.

The definitive biography of movie executive and philanthropist Sherry Lansing traces her groundbreaking journey to become the first female head of a major motion picture studio, shares behind-the-scenes tales from movie sets and Hollywood boardrooms, and explains what inspired her to walk away from it all to start the Sherry Lansing Foundation.

Barry Avrich - a self-made, Montreal-born film producer-director, flamboyant advertising executive, and legendary biographer and connector of moguls and stars. For over three decades, he has relentlessly produced films on some of the most notorious show-business titans and also found the time to market and promote feature films, concerts, and the biggest shows on Broadway.

Much more than a showbiz memoir, Hot Pants in Hollywood tells of a baby boomer's life on steroids. Susan Silver was one of the first female TV comedy writers with credits like the Mary Tyler Moore Show, Maude, Bob Newhart, among others. From Milwaukee, Susan went on to fame and fortune in Hollywood, had a successful career as one of the first women in TV sitcoms, and reinvented herself in different prominent arenas in New York. Though her story is unique, her life is relatable to all women looking for advice in work or love.

This audiobook provides comprehensive practical techniques and strategies to move you gracefully through the rough terrain of producing an independent film that resonates and reaches your intended audience.

Women have been instrumental in the success of American cinema since its very beginning. One of the first people to ever pick up a motion picture camera was a woman, as was the first screenwriter to win two Academy Awards, the inventor of the boom microphone, and the first person to be credited with the title film editor. Throughout the entire history of Hollywood women have been revolutionizing, innovating, and shaping how we make movies. Yet their stories are rarely shared. This is what film reporter Alicia Malone wants to change. Backwards and in Heels tells the history of women in film in a different way.

Whether it is a director insisting on a final cut, a star demanding a bigger motor home, a producer holding the line on a budget, or a grip with a gripe, it seems that the world of moviemaking is nothing but Sturm und Drang. Shoot Out presents a raucous look at how movies get made and the players involved, from writers, producers, directors, and stars to agents and marketers. For film buffs, aspiring filmmakers, students, and anyone else intrigued by the inner workings of Hollywood, this is the quintessential take on the how, who, what, and why of the film business.

Harry Cohn was the cofounder and president of Columbia Pictures, which he ran from the 1930s through the 1950s. Cohn—who abhorred personal publicity—left no writings, made no speeches, and rarely submitted to interviews. Despite this, acclaimed biographer Bob Thomas brilliantly illuminates the life of the powerful but elusive studio head in King Cohn: The Life and Times of Hollywood Mogul Harry Cohn. Thomas details the studio head's rise from a New York City song-plugger to a Poverty Row impresario, highlighting his reign as one of the most powerful men in Hollywood.

If the Hollywood implosion does come to fruition then where do aspiring filmmakers go to make a living? This unique survival guide is designed to help über-independent filmmakers navigate the terrain of direct digital distribution. It will show them how to really sell a product online.

Hoy, más que nunca, es difícil para los cineastas independientes ganar dinero con sus películas. Desde los distribuidores depredadores que los estafan hasta los agregadores de películas que se aprovechan de ellos, las probabilidades están en contra de los cineastas independientes. El antiguo modelo de distribución para ganar dinero no funciona y tiene que haber un cambio. El futuro del cine independiente es el cineasta empresarial o Filmtrepreneur.

Today's most acclaimed film directors reveal intimate behind-the-scenes details of their most influential work and their unique approaches to their art. In the companion to the Silver Plaque-winning Starz/Encore documentary series, this book offers interviews with 13 top filmmakers. Contains each director's filmography, complete listings of major awards, and cast credits for all films discussed.

When did documentaries get glamorous? Documentary Superstars looks at the history of documentaries and traces their transition from hands-off to in your face. Exclusive interviews with Michael Moore, Morgan Spurlock, Errol Morris, George Clooney, Sacha Baron Cohen, Morgan Freeman, Al Gore, and more of the biggest names in the field show the impact of the documentary style on mainstream movies and on our society.

Every normal human lifespan contains passages that deserve attention, intention, and ritual. This book shows us how we can do that with minimal disruption to our normal lives and without the need for teachers, ministers, or gurus. This isn't a religious book. All beliefs and non-beliefs are welcome. Listeners will leave with practical suggestions for living a more meaningful life each and every moment. Chapters end with a list on "what you need to do now".

Recommended by agents and acting coaches, Acting in Chicago, 4th Edition demystifies the question of how to build a rewarding, sustainable, and profitable acting career. Everything you need to make a full-time living as a Midwest-based actor is at your fingertips in this updated edition.

Turn Your Songs Into Income Unlock the world of sync licensing—and turn your songs into income. Whether you’re an emerging artist, independent producer, or seasoned songwriter, Sync Made Simple is your essential guide to navigating the powerful (and profitable) world of music licensing for film, television, advertising, video games, and more. Written in clear, encouraging language with real-world examples, this step-by-step handbook demystifies the entire sync licensing process and equips you with the tools, systems, and strategy to confidently pitch your music and start earning real ...

Indulge in the sweet submission of hypnosis with these 18 tales of lust, passion, and surrender. An actress joins a new studio...and takes on the role of hypno-slut. A burglar stumbles into a coven of lesbian witches and discovers the joy of entrancement. A high-powered executive transitions to an exciting new company...and undergoes extensive brainwashing at the hands of its insatiable CEO! Let go. Fall deep. It's time to succumb to hypnotic domination.

How to Score in Hollywood reveals the secrets to a movie’s success and profitability. Entertainment research expert Kevin Goetz, founder and CEO of Screen Engine, draws on almost four decades of experience to show how strategic decisions—from development to release—help minimize risks and maximize returns. Armed with audience insights and data-driven strategies, Goetz demonstrates how every film should make money when made and marketed for the right price.