Television Books

The Complete Fawlty Towers

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Welcome to Fawlty Towers, the best loved bad hotel in the world, and to "the definitive volume of sit-com perfection. Required reading."- Punch.

What did Basil Fawlty fail to avoid mentioning? Why did Sybil keep snagging her cardies? Where was Polly on the night of the great wedding anniversary disaster? And what is the Spanish word for "donkey"?

The answer to all these questions can be found in this, the complete and unexpurgated scripts of Fawlty Towers-the most celebrated "Brit-com" of all time, and the show last fall voted the top UK television series ever by the British Film Institute. The snobbish, manic Basil...his over-coiffeured, domineering wife Sybil...the hopeless but ever-hopeful waiter Manuel...the calm and capable Polly...and of course the steady stream of abused guests-all live again in the pages of The Complete Fawlty Towers. Gahan Wilson in the New York Times has called John Cleese "arguably one of the funniest people now living." And as one British periodical (Literary Review) put it, the book is "superbly well written. If you're on a bus and can't see Basil Fawlty thrashing his car with a large branch, it is some compensation to read it happening." Or as one anonymous fan put it on-line: "Yes, it's all here, all the comedy, the frustration, the dead body, even the rat."

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Making a Good Writer Great: A Creativity Workbook for Screenwriters

$10.47, Free P & P at DeepDiscount.com $10.17, Free P & P at Amazon See All Retailers

In any creative endeavor, a knowledge of craft by itself, no matter how sound or thorough, is simply not sufficient to allow for the creation and growth of truly original work. While craft may provide structural tools, it does not address the most basic and universal element of all artistic work-the creative process. Designed not just to awaken creativity but to teach the writer the process of being a creative thinker within the context of screenwriting, this unique new addition to Linda Seger's highly popular collection of screenwriting books combines current theories of creativity with the practices of screenwriting, focusing on ways in which screenwriters can learn to think and work more creatively. Through discussion, exercises and analysis of scripts, one is eased into understanding and working with such pivotal creative concepts as nonlinear thinking, visual thinking, metaphorical thinking, oppositional thinking and utilizing one's unconscious mind. Making a Good Writer Great does just what its title professes-provides both novice and experienced writers with the means to expand their creative processes and write at a higher artistic level.

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CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Companion

$9.49, Free P & P at DeepDiscount.com $6.99, P & P ($3.25) at BookCloseouts $21.37, Free P & P at Amazon See All Retailers

Follow the evidence...

The city of Las Vegas never sleeps and neither does its crime lab. The Crime Scene Investigators of the Las Vegas Police Department use the latest technology along with solid detective work to solve their cases. With their skilled lab technicians and unbiased medical examiner, they can answer the questions others never even thought to ask. They trust only the evidence to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves -- the victims.

The official CSI: Crime Scene Investigation ? Companion introduces readers to the hit series that not only changed the television landscape on Thursday nights, but also rewrote the book on the procedural drama. Containing dozens of full-color never-before-seen photographs, in-depth looks at every episode of CSI's first three seasons, plot summaries, and special interviews with cast, producers, and series creator Anthony E. Zuiker, the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation ? Companion promises to transport readers into the world of the groundbreaking show. In addition, the book features exclusive "case files" created from material used in the actual production of the show and includes personnel files for all of the lead characters: Gil Grissom, Catherine Willows, Warrick Brown, Nick Stokes, Sara Sidle, Jim Brass, Greg Sanders, and Doctor Al Robbins.

The CSI: Crime Scene Investigation ? Companion shines the spotlight on television's most popular and intriguing program and is the must-have guide for every fan of the show.

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Love Actually

$13.97, Free P & P at DeepDiscount.com $14.96, Free P & P at Amazon $11.64, P & P ($3.99) at Buy.com See All Retailers

Love Actually is the highly awaited new screenplay and directorial debut from phenomenally popular screenwriter Richard Curtis. Weaving together the stories of ten couples, the movie is as real as our own lives, and as funny, wise, and poignant as only Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral) could create.

Set in contemporary London just before Christmas, the cast includes a lovelorn Prime Minister, an aging rock star, a sexually ambitious assistant, a newly widowed stepfather, a beautiful housekeeper, a straying husband, and other characters entangled in the silly, sloppy, sexy, sweet business of finding love. The film's stellar actors include Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Laura Linney, and others.

Introduced by Richard Curtis, the book features the full screenplay plus outtakes, behind-the-scenes snapshots, and more. With marvelous full-color photographs throughout, this smart, funny, romantic book is a valentine for anyone who still believes that despite the madness and uncertainty of modern life, love actually is all around.

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The Writer's Guide to Writing Your Screenplay: How to Write Great Screenplays for Movies and Television

$15.34, Free P & P at Barnes & Noble $12.92, Free P & P at Amazon See All Retailers

With the average payment for a screenplay over $100,000, every writer knows that screenwriting is where the money is. In this guide, successful screenwriter and teacher Cynthia Whitcomb shares her extensive knowledge on writing for the screen. This book will teach you her proven techniques, including how to:

? test an idea for its commercial potential
? plan a compelling script
? write great openings and endings
? create characters that grow and evolve
? revise and hone your script to attract Hollywood agents and producers

Includes lists of the best movies to study?and why!

Cynthia Whitcomb has sold more than 70 feature-length screenplays, 25 of which have been filmed. She has made millions of dollars for her work, and her scripts have won and been nominated for many awards, including the Emmy Award, Cable Ace Award, Edgar Allan Poe Award, Humanitas Award, and Writers Guild of America Awards. Her students have also gone on to write successful box-office hits. She has taught screenwriting for many years, including seven at the acclaimed UCLA Film School.

Whitcomb?s commercial success and teaching experience make this an essential resource for anyone who wants to write winning scripts for Hollywood.

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Crafty TV Writing: Thinking Inside the Box

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Vale's Technique of Screen and Television Writing

$45.85, Free P & P at Barnes & Noble $50.95, Free P & P at Amazon See All Retailers

Vale's Technique of Screen and Television Writing is an updated and expanded edition of a valuable guide to writing for film and television. Mr. Vale takes the aspiring writer through every phase of a film's development, from the original concept to the final shooting script. Teachers of the craft as well as writers and directors have acclaimed it as one of the best books ever written on how to write a screenplay.

This book combines practical advice for the aspiring or established writer with a lucid overview of the unique features of this most contemporary art form, distinguishing film and video from other media and other kinds of storytelling. It teaches the reader to think in terms of the camera and gives practical advice on the realities of filmmaking. At the same time, Vale, who began his own career as a scriptwriter for the great French director Jean Renoir, provides a solid grounding in the history of drama from the Classical Greek theater through the great cinematic works of the twentieth century. Both philosophical and pragmatic, this is a very readable book for students and active professionals who want to improve their writing skills, and for film enthusiasts interested in knowing more about what they see on the screen.

Mr. Vale is that rare combination, a practitioner of great experience who can offer a lucid explanation of his craft.

Eugene Vale was born in Switzerland and began his career in France in the 1930s. He was an award-winning novelist, film and TV scriptwriter and teacher, whose works include the bestselling novel The Thirteenth Apostle and the scripts for Francis of Assisi, The Bridge of San Luis Rey, and The Second Face. He also worked in many other areas of the motion picture industry, including directing, producing, cutting, distribution and finance. His archives are held by Boston University and University of Southern California. Mr. Vale died in 1997, shortly after he completed the updated version of this handbook.


?? The classic textbook from the eminent novelist, playwright, and master screenwriter
?? Updated, revised, and expanded to include examples from recent films
?? A guidebook to scriptwriting for both beginners and professionals, and a joy for the movie-lover

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Jackass

$5.99, P & P ($3.25) at BookCloseouts $15.95, Free P & P at Amazon See All Retailers

Warning:

This book contains explicit material detailing the on- and off-camera exploits of the cast and crew throughout the production of jackass the movie, including firsthand accounts, photographic documentation, poor grammar, interpretive dance, and one crappy diagram for something that's not even shown in its entirety in the movie.

It also features frank and revealing interviews with Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Chris Pontius, Steve-O, Ryan Dunn, Dave England, Ehren McGhehey, Preston Lacy, Jason "Wee Man" Acu?a, and Brandon Dicamillo, pertaining to their absurd world of stunts, pranks, parental abuse, male undergarments, and a bunch of other page-filling nonsense.

MTV strongly advises that neither you nor your dumb little buddies attempt to read any of this material. In fact, they would prefer you used it to point at clouds, rainbows, or any other naturally occurring atmospheric phenomena instead.

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The "I Love Lucy" Scrapbook: The Official Scrapbook of America's Favorite TV Show

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Since the debut of I Love Lucy in 1951, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz have brightened the world by sharing their gift of comedy with millions of fans worldwide. Now you can relive the laughter of the classic TV show in the pages of this one-of-a-kind scrapbook.

Chronicling the many special moments of the years the sitcom was in production, this amazing collection of unusual mementos creates a truly unique interactive history. Each of the 193 episodes is covered, with hundreds of photos, fun facts, and authentic, personal notes. Featuring reproductions of such never-before-seen rarities as Little Ricky?s birth certificate from "Lucy Goes to the Hospital," a candy wrapper from "Job Switching," and Lucy and Ethel?s sightseeing tour bus tickets from "The Tour," you can revisit your favorite moments. Read the label on Lucy?s favorite energy drink, Vitameatavegamin, or laugh at Ricky?s frantic telegram to the Marriage License Bureau in "Hollywood Anniversary."

Historic materials and the detailed narrative of Elisabeth Edwards?longtime author and friend of the families?combine in a unique experience for the true fan.

"I Love Lucy" is a trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Images of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz are licensed by Desilu, too, LLC. Licensing by Unforgettable Licensing.

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The Real Science Behind the X-Files: Microbes, Meteorites, and Mutants

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Could an alien organism really survive a centuries-long trip on a meteor and remain virulent enough to attack a human being? How would a scientist know she was peering at a microbe from another planet? What's the possibility of a genetically mutated monster actually developing?

In a gripping exploration of the facts behind the science fiction that has enthralled millions of X-philes, Anne Simon -- the respected virologist who comes up with the science for many intriguing episodes -- discusses telomeres, cloning, the Hayflick limit, nanotechnology, endosymbionts, lentiviruses, and other strange phenomena that have challenged the intellect and threatened the lives and sanity of America's favorite FBI agents. With Simon's extraordinary gift for explaining complicated, cutting-edge science in a light, accessible style, and her behind-the-scenes commentary on the development of various plot lines, The Real Science Behind the X-Files will appeal to science buffs and X-Files aficionados alike.

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