An excellent, informative tool for any kid interested in becoming the next Scorsese.
Budding filmmakers are given a crash course in the cinematic arts.
This informative text walks young directors through all three phases of production. The title may claim 10 easy lessons, but there's a lot more than that covered here. Blofield shines a light on camera movements, editing techniques, storyboard development, and several other filmmaking steps that might trip up first-time moviemakers. He gets close to going a bit overboard at times (few children will try to stick to a budget, and it’s hard to imagine many kids engaging in the film-vs.-digital debate), but for the most part each portion of the filmmaking process is detailed in concise segments easily understood by young cineastes. The presentation is smartly aided by well-placed illustrations, reducing the risk of information overload. The emphasis here is on narrative shorts, so the odd child interested in formalist exercises may not be totally satisfied. The book isn't afraid to discuss the commercial nature of film either, including a section designed to help first timers get their projects seen by as many eyeballs as possible. A glossary and index at the book's conclusion paired with the spiral binding make this an easy tagalong on set, along with clipboards and shot lists. Companion title How to Play Guitar in 10 Easy Lessons, by Dan Holton, employs a similar format for young musicians.
An excellent, informative tool for any kid interested in becoming the next Scorsese. (Nonfiction. 10-14)Pub Date: July 1, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-63322-012-6
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Walter Foster Jr.
Review Posted Online: April 14, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2015
In no particular order and using no set criteria for his selections, veteran sportscaster Berman pays tribute to an arbitrary gallery of baseball stars—all familiar names and, except for the Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez, retired from play for decades. Repeatedly taking the stance that statistics are just numbers but then reeling off batting averages, home-run totals, wins (for pitchers) and other data as evidence of greatness, he offers career highlights in a folksy narrative surrounded by photos, side comments and baseball-card–style notes in side boxes. Readers had best come to this with some prior knowledge, since he casually drops terms like “slugging percentage,” “dead ball era” and “barnstorming” without explanation and also presents a notably superficial picture of baseball’s history—placing the sport’s “first half-century” almost entirely in the 1900s, for instance, and condescendingly noting that Jackie Robinson’s skill led Branch Rickey to decide that he “was worthy of becoming the first black player to play in the majors.” The awesome feats of Ruth, Mantle, the Gibsons Bob and Josh, Hank Aaron, Ty Cobb and the rest are always worth a recap—but this one’s strictly minor league. (Nonfiction. 10-12)
Pub Date: Sept. 7, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4022-3886-4
Page Count: 138
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2010
BOOK REVIEW
This absorbing history examines the lives and work of eight innovators in the design and manufacture of musical instruments. From Avedis Zildjian, who brought his family’s centuries-old cymbal-making business from Turkey to Boston, to Robert Moog, whose electronic synthesizer rocked the music world, VanHecke’s portraits celebrate the inquisitive scientific tinkering, dedication to craft and business moxie that rendered Steinway pianos, Hammond organs and Fender guitars both household names and performers’ favorites. The writing’s freshest when VanHecke changes it up with bits of cultural trivia, like Beatles lore. (It’s dullest when awash in the minutiae of cousins, marriages and succession.) Examining the effect of the Great Depression, the World Wars and immigration on these family businesses vibrantly contextualizes those issues for kids. Numerous well-captioned photos and period illustrations, sidebars and clearly labeled diagrams of the musical instruments expertly extend the text. Students and teachers of music are the natural audience for this unique treatment. (introduction, endnote, quotation sources, bibliographies, websites, photo credits, index) (Nonfiction. 10-14)
Pub Date: April 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-59078-574-4
Page Count: 136
Publisher: Boyds Mills
Review Posted Online: April 9, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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