Provides information on how to make and distribute independent productions, and gives examples of different styles, budgets, and financial arrangements used

Showcasing 50 films from 1939, during which the world braced for war, this stunning book brings to life the most glamorous era in movie history by discussing such works of cinematic art as Gunga Din, Goodbye, Mr. Chips and Gone With the Wind. Original.

Hundreds of Hollywood-on-Hollywood movies can be found throughout the history of American cinema, from the days of silents to the present. They include films from genres as far ranging as musical, film noir, melodrama, comedy, and action-adventure. Such movies seduce us with the promise of revealing the reality behind the camera. But, as part of the very industry they supposedly critique, they cannot take us behind the scenes in any true sense. Through close analysis of fifteen critically acclaimed films, Christopher Ames reveals how the idea of Hollywood is constructed and constructs itself. Films discussed: What Price Hollywood? (1952), A Star Is Born (1937), Stand-In (1937), Boy Meets Girl (1938), Sullivan's Travels (1941), In a Lonely Place (1950), Sunset Boulevard (1950), The Star (1950), Singin' in the Rain (1952), The Bad and the Beautiful (1952), Pennies from Heaven (1981), The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), The Player (1992), Last Action Hero (1993).

This indispensable guide rates and reviews hundreds of old and new film treasures with an entertaining synopsis, concise critique, one- to five-star rating, credits, subject category, running time, date, and more for each title. Photos.

The Off-Hollywood Film Guide cuts through the clutter of the thousands of films currently available on video and DVD by specifically catering to independent- and foreign-film enthusiasts. In addition to a list of essential must-see films, this guide includes hundreds of entries, each with brief commentary and a list of pertinent details, such as release date, cast, director, awards garnered, special DVD features, and double-feature suggestions. The listings are also cross-referenced by genre, director, actors, and country of origin.

They are shot on high-definition digital cameras—with computer-generated effects added in postproduction—and transmitted to theaters, websites, and video-on-demand networks worldwide. They are viewed on laptop, iPod, and cell phone screens. They are movies in the 21st century—the product of digital technologies that have revolutionized media production, content distribution, and the experience of moviegoing itself. 21st-Century Hollywood introduces readers to these global transformations and describes the decisive roles that Hollywood is playing in determining the digital future for world cinema. It offers clear, concise explanations of a major paradigm shift that continues to reshape our relationship to the moving image. Filled with numerous detailed examples, the book will both educate and entertain film students and movie fans alike.