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An updated edition – with completely new chapters – of the most accessible and compelling history of the cinema yet published, and complements Mark Cousins’ fascinating 15-hour film documentary The Story of Film: An Odyssey.

Filmmaker and author Mark Cousins shows how filmmakers are influenced both by the historical events of their times, and by each other. He demonstrates, for example, how Douglas Sirk’s Hollywood melodramas of the 1950s influenced Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s despairing visions of 1970s Germany; and how George Lucas’ Star Wars epics grew out of Akira Kurosawa’s The Hidden Fortress.

The Story of Film is divided into three main epochs: Silent (1885–1928), Sound (1928–1990) and Digital (1990–Present). Films are discussed within chapters reflecting both the stylistic concerns of the film-makers and the political and social themes of the time. This edition includes new text that encompasses the further-reaching scope of world cinema today, and the huge leaps in technology that have changed cinema screens forever.

Film is an international medium, so as well as covering the great American films and film-makers, The Story of Film explores cinema in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australasia and South America, and shows how cinematic ideas and techniques cross national boundaries. Avoiding jargon and obscure critical theory, the author constantly places himself in the role of the moviegoer watching a film, and asks: ‘How does a scene or a story affect us, and why?’ In so doing he gets to the heart of cinematic technique, explaining how film-makers use lighting, framing, focal length and editing to create their effects. Clearly written, and illustrated with over 400 stills, including numerous sequences explaining how scenes work, The Story of Film is essential reading for both film students and moviegoers alike.

About the Author:

Mark Cousins is an Irish-Scottish filmmaker and author. His films – including The Story of Film, The First Movie, The Eyes of Orson Welles, Atomic, I am Belfast, Stockholm My Love and Women Make Film: A New Road Movie Through Cinema – have won the Prix Italia, a Peabody and the Stanley Kubrick Award. They have premiered at the world’s major film festivals. Their themes are looking, cities, cinema, childhood, and recovery. 

His other books include Imagining Reality: The Faber Book of Documentary, and The Story of Looking. He loves walking across cities such as Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, Beijing, Berlin, London and Mexico City with his camera. 

The Master Magician. A fantastic voyage through Walt Disney’s animation works

One of the most expansive illustrated publications on Disney animation, finally available in a compact edition. The landmark volume includes behind-the-scenes photos, story sketches, and cel setups of famous film scenes. It covers each of the major animated features made during Walt’s lifetime, as well as lesser-known short films and episodic musical films.

One of the most creative minds of the 20th century, Walt Disney created a unique and unrivalled imaginative universe. Like scarcely any other classics of cinema, his astonishing collection of animated cartoons revolutionized storytelling on screen and enchant to this day across geographies and generations.

This expansively illustrated publication on Disney animation gathers hundreds of images as well as essays by Disney experts, taking us to the beating heart of the studio’s “Golden Age of Animation.” We trace Disney’s complete animation journey from the silent film era, through his first full-length feature Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) and Fantasia (1940), right up to his last masterpieces Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (1966) and The Jungle Book (1967).

With extensive research conducted through the historical collections of the Walt Disney Company, as well as private collections, editor Daniel Kothenschulte curates some of the most precious concept paintings and storyboards to reveal just how these animation triumphs came to life. Masterful cel setups provide highly detailed illustrations of famous film scenes while rare pictures taken by Disney photographers bring a privileged insider’s view to the studio’s creative process.

Each of the major animated features that were made during Walt’s lifetime — including Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo, Bambi, Cinderella, Peter Pan, and One Hundred and One Dalmatians — is given its own focus chapter, without forgetting less-familiar gems such as the experimental short films of the Silly Symphonies series and under-appreciated episodic musical films such as Make Mine Music and Melody Time.

Realizing the Disney style was a collective project and, as much as the master himself, The Walt Disney Film Archives acknowledges the outstanding animators and designers who influenced the style of the studio, among them Albert Hurter, Gustaf Tenggren, Kay Nielsen, Mary Blair, Sylvia Holland, Tyrus Wong, Ken Anderson, Eyvind Earle, and Walt Peregoy.

Copyright © 2020 Disney Enterprises, Inc.

The editor and author

Daniel Kothenschulte is an author, curator, and lecturer on film and art history, and a lover of animation since he first saw The Jungle Book at the age of three. As a film journalist, he is responsible for the film section in the German national daily newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau and a regular contributor to WDR Television. He has taught at various universities, including Städelschule in Frankfurt; the University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Dortmund; and the University of Television and Film Munich. He is the author of Hollywood in the ’30s and The Art of Pop Video, as well as books about Robert Redford, Fritz Lang’s Metropolis, and artist Mike Kelley. In addition, he provides accompanying music to silent films on the piano.

About the series:

TASCHEN is 40! Since we started our work as cultural archaeologists in 1980, TASCHEN has become synonymous with accessible publishing, helping bookworms around the world curate their own library of art, anthropology, and aphrodisia at an unbeatable price. Today we celebrate 40 years of incredible books by staying true to our company credo. The 40 series presents new editions of some of the stars of our program — now more compact, friendly in price, and still realized with the same commitment to impeccable production.

The third volume in the New York Times bestselling Wes Anderson Collection series showcases the best artwork from “Bad Dads,” an annual exhibition of art inspired by the films of Wes Anderson.

Curated by Spoke Art Gallery in San Francisco, “Bad Dads” has continued to grow and progress as a dynamic group exhibition since its inaugural show in 2011, and has featured work from more than 400 artists from around the world. Those artworks range from paintings to sculptures to limited-edition screen prints and vary greatly in style, making for a diverse and lively show each year.

Though each piece is distinct in its own right, the artworks’ unifying element is the shared imagery and beloved characters from:

· Bottle Rocket
· Rushmore
· The Royal Tenenbaums
· The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
· The Darjeeling Limited
· Fantastic Mr. Fox
· Moonrise Kingdom
· The Grand Budapest Hotel

The book features an original cover by graphic artist Max Dalton, a foreword by writer and director Wes Anderson himself, and an introduction by TV and movie critic Matt Zoller Seitz, author of the bestselling Wes Anderson Collection books.

A visual treasure trove, Bad Dads grants fans of Wes Anderson another creative avenue to explore his inspired worlds and movies.

Also available from Matt Zoller Seitz: The Oliver Stone Experience, Mad Men Carousel, The Wes Anderson Collection: The Grand Budapest Hotel, and The Wes Anderson Collection.

About the Authors:

Spoke Art is a San Francisco–based gallery, run by Ken Harman, that specializes in new contemporary painting, sculpture, and illustration. They curate a series of rotating monthly exhibits that feature a wide variety of solo and group shows.

Max Dalton is a graphic artist living in Buenos Aires by way of Barcelona, New York, and Paris. He has published a few books and illustrated some others, including The Wes Anderson Collection (Abrams, 2013). Max started painting in 1977, and since 2008, he has been creating posters about music, movies, and pop culture, quickly becoming one of the top names in the industry.

Matt Zoller Seitz, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in criticism, is the TV critic for New York Magazine and Vulture.com, as well as the editor-in-chief of RogerEbert.com. A Brooklyn-based writer and filmmaker, Seitz has written, narrated, edited, or produced more than 100 hours’ worth of video essays about cinema history and style for the Museum of the Moving Image and The L Magazine, among other outlets. His five-part 2009 video essay, “Wes Anderson: The Substance of Style,” was later spun off into a New York Times bestselling hardcover book: The Wes Anderson Collection (Abrams, 2013). He is also the author of Abrams titles such as The Wes Anderson Collection: The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Oliver Stone Experience, and Mad Men Carousel.

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Пролистать книгу The Wes Anderson Collection: Bad Dads: Art Inspired by the Films of Wes Anderson на Google Books

It started on Christmas Day in 1994. Dark water suddenly rose from the land, invading our homes and lives. They say it came from the depths inside the Loop. Whatever it was the Flood changed everything. Nothing would ever be the same again.

Simon Stalenhag takes us to an extraordinary world, a world of fear and discovery, in a story told through his gut-punchingly spare narrative and lush illustrations. 

Stories told in both words and haunting illustrations, Things from the Flood captures a not-too-distant reality that is both haunting and imminent: addressing the many ways developing technology and nature can create havoc and wonder in our world... and the hope we might still find in that future. 

About the Author:

Simon Stålenhag (b. 1984) is the internationally acclaimed author, concept designer and artist behind Tales from the Loop and Things from the Flood. His highly imaginative images and stories depicting illusive sci-fi phenomena in mundane, hyper-realistic Scandinavian and American landscapes have made Stålenhag one of the most sought-after visual storytellers in the world. Tales from the Loop was ranked one of the "10 Best Dystopias" by The Guardian, along with such works as Franz Kafka's The Trial and Andrew Niccol's Gattaca.

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Пролистать книгу Things from the Flood на Google Books.

Tim Burton is one of the most popular and remarkable filmmakers of the last 30 years, being responsible for such films as Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride and Alice in Wonderland. He is famed for the visually arresting style of his films that combine with highly original storylines. A truly international filmmaker, Tim Burton has carved a reputation as one of the world's greatest creative directors. This stunning treasury explores the influences on his development as a filmmaker and assesses how he has captured the fruits of his imagination on screen. Illustrated with many behind-the-scenes photographs and stunning film stills, chapters analyze the success and style of films such as Beetlejuice, Ed Wood and Mars Attacks!, and examine how Burton breathed new life into well-known stories that include Batman, Planet of the Apes and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Finally, the book looks towards the future and his latest film, the live-action version of Disney's Dumbo, as well as the possibility of Beetlejuice 2.

Tim Burton's entire filmography is presented in this handsome package. Tim Burton, The Iconic Filmmaker and His Work, is a must for anyone who enjoys the creativity of films and is a fitting appreciation of one of Hollywood’s most dynamic movie directors. 

About the Author:

Ian Nathan, who lives and works in London, is one of the UK’s best-known film writers. He is the author of nine previous books, including Alien Vault, the best-selling history of Ridley Scott’s masterpiece, Terminator Vault, Tarantino, Tim Burton, The Coen Brothers and Anything You Can Imagine: Peter Jackson and the Making of Middle-earth. He is the former editor and executive editor of Empire, the world’s biggest movie magazine, where he remains a contributing editor. He also regularly contributes to The Times, The Independent, The Mail on Sunday, Cahiers Du Cinema and the Discovering Film documentary series on Sky Arts. 

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Пролистать книгу Tim Burton: The Iconic Filmmaker and his Work на Google Books

Every significant Star Wars character, creature, location, battle, droid and vehicle: one ultimate encyclopedia.

Packed full of information, stunning images, and now fully updated to include The Last Jedi, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: Resistance, plus an exclusive look at The Rise of Skywalker.

All the saga's iconic characters are here, from Darth Vader to Ponda Baba and Leia to Luminara Unduli. Amazing vehicles are explored, such as the Millennium Falcon and Ghost. Extraordinary technology is explained, including all your favourite lightsabers, and key events in the epic Star Wars story are richly unpacked, with behind-the-scenes insights.

Ultimate Star Wars New Edition is the ideal go-to resource for fans who wish to brush up on their Star Wars knowledge, and for a new generation of fans eager to start their journey into a galaxy far, far away....

© & TM 2019 LUCASFILM LTD.

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Пролистать книгу Ultimate Star Wars: The Definitive Guide to the Star Wars Universe: New Edition на Google Books.

The immediacy and accessibility of video makes it an ideal medium for artists who want to work with sound and moving image; no sooner than video cameras were available to the public in the 1970s were artists already beginning to experiment with the possibilities of video. Though it took decades for it to be widely embraced by mainstream art, video is now firmly accepted as an important medium, thanks to the work of artists such as Matthew Barney, Bruce Nauman, Bill Viola, and Gillian Wearing.

Artists featured: Eija-Liisa Ahtila, Chris Cunningham, Matthew Barney, Fischli/Weiss, Gary Hill, Nan Hoover, Christian Marclay, Steve McQueen, Mariko Mori, Bruce Nauman, Tony Oursler, Marcel Odenbach, Nam June Paik, Pipilotti Rist, Sam Taylor-Wood, Bill Viola, Gillian Wearing.

About the Series:
Each book in TASCHEN's Basic Genre Series features:

* a detailed introduction with approximately 35 photographs, plus a timeline of the most important events (political, cultural, scientific, etc.) that took place during the time period
* a selection of the most important works of the epoch; each is presented on a 2-page spread with a full-page image and, on the facing page, a description/interpretation of the work and brief biography of the artist as well as additional information such as a reference work, portrait of the artist, and/or citations

The Mouse Who Changed the World. The ultimate history of a modern hero: Mickey Mouse

Celebrate 90+ years of Mickey Mouse with one of the most expansive illustrated publications on the Disney universe: behind-the-scenes shots, rare animation art, and vintage comics trace Mickey’s cartoons, his comic adventures, the world of Mickey merchandise and memorabilia, as well as the legendary Mickey Mouse Club.

On November 18, 1928, the world’s most famous Mouse made his very first public debut. Today, we celebrate 90+ years of Mickey in one of the most expansive illustrated publications on the Disney universe. Starting with the first sketches of a character who was almost named Mortimer, we trace the career of Walt Disney’s and Ub Iwerks’s most famous creation, one met with an explosion of worldwide popularity preceded only by the earlier successes of Charlie Chaplin.

With unlimited access to Disney’s vast historical collections as well as public and private collections, the authors bring Mickey’s success story to life: concept art, story sketches, background paintings, and animation drawings, as well as historical photographs, trace the origins and evolution of such timeless favorites as Steamboat Willie, The Band Concert, and Brave Little Tailor. They also follow Mickey as he builds on this legendary library of short cartoons by appearing in two historic feature-length films, Fantasia and Fun and Fancy Free.

Extensive archival research sheds new light on little-known chapters of Mickey’s career, the origins of the Mickey Mouse Club, and his use as a patriotic icon during World War II. Along the way, we encounter the work of all major Mickey artists in both film and comics, including such greats as Ub Iwerks, Win Smith, Ferdinand Horvath, Fred Moore, Floyd Gottfredson, Carl Barks, Manuel Gonzales, Paul Murry, Romano Scarpa, Giorgio Cavazzano, Byron Erickson, and César Ferioli.

Mickey Mouse has left an indelible mark on everyday culture as well as high art, becoming a favored subject for Pop artists such as Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, and Roy Lichtenstein. As Walt Disney once said: “I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing—that it was all started by a mouse.” And an end to the success story is nowhere in sight. Today, 90+ years after his creation, Mickey remains as lovable and popular as ever. Let’s pay tribute to the little fellow, his legend, and his legacy with a monument to the one and only Mickey Mouse.

Copyright © 2020 Disney Enterprises, Inc.

The authors:

David Gerstein is an independent animation and comics historian, writer, and editor working extensively with The Walt Disney Company and its licensees. His published work includes Mickey and the Gang: Classic Stories in Verse, Uncle Scrooge and Donald Duck: The Don Rosa Library, the Eisner Award–winning Floyd Gottfredson Library of Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse, and numerous comic book titles. Gerstein has worked with Disney in efforts to locate lost Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and Laugh-O-gram shorts and to preserve the Mickey Mouse newspaper strip. He has also contributed to vintage cartoon home video and streaming programs for Thunderbean Animation, Cartoons On Film, and others.

J. B. Kaufman is an author and film historian who has published and lectured extensively on Disney animation, American silent film history, and related topics. His books include The Fairest One of All: The Making of Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, South of the Border with Disney, and Pinocchio: The Making of the Disney Epic. He is also co-author, with Russell Merritt, of Walt Disney’s Silly Symphonies: A Companion to the Classic Cartoon Series and the award-winning Walt in Wonderland: The Silent Films of Walt Disney. In addition, Kaufman has presented programs at festivals, including the TCM Classic Film Festival and San Francisco Silent Film Festival. He holds forth online at jbkaufman.com.

The editor:

Daniel Kothenschulte is an author, curator, and lecturer on film and art history, and a lover of animation since he first saw The Jungle Book at the age of three. As a film journalist, he is responsible for the film section in the German national daily newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau and a regular contributor to WDR Television. He has taught at various universities, including Städelschule in Frankfurt; the University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Dortmund; and the University of Television and Film Munich. He is the author of Hollywood in the ’30s and The Art of Pop Video, as well as books about Robert Redford, Fritz Lang’s Metropolis, and artist Mike Kelley. In addition, he provides accompanying music to silent films on the piano.

About the series:

TASCHEN is 40! Since we started our work as cultural archaeologists in 1980, TASCHEN has become synonymous with accessible publishing, helping bookworms around the world curate their own library of art, anthropology, and aphrodisia at an unbeatable price. Today we celebrate 40 years of incredible books by staying true to our company credo. The 40 series presents new editions of some of the stars of our program — now more compact, friendly in price, and still realized with the same commitment to impeccable production.

America sees the cowboys of yesteryear as native heroes. Cowboys were seen to represent American character and to stand for freedom in rugged big sky lands. Cowboys were tough, self-reliant, courageous, modest, and only turned to violence when absolutely necessary. With a reputation like that, it is no wonder that since the very first reel was created, the Western has been the single most popular movie genre. In this comprehensive guide, readers will find over 2000 Western movie star’s photos and signatures from the 1920s to the 1970s. Also included are values for all those signed images and every star presented is identified. Among the cowboy heroes and heroines covered are the stars of the 1920s silent Westerns, the “A” and “B” movie stars of the 1930s through the 1960s, singing cowboys, sidekicks, heavies, Indians, women, veteran actors, supporting actors, and, of course, John Wayne. Enjoy this nostalgic ride through American cinema history.

Андрей Тарковский справедливо считается одним из величайших режиссеров в истории мирового кино. Хотя он снял всего восемь фильмов, и жизнь его была трагически оборвана раком в возрасте всего лишь 54 лет, каждый его фильм - художественный шедевр и веха в развитии кинематографа. В этой книге представлены снимки, сделанные Тарковским в России и Италии в период между 1979 и 1984 годами, на фотоаппарате Polaroid подаренным ему Микельанджело Антониони. Среди них романтические пейзажи и тщательно выстроенные портреты близких и друзей режиссера. Эти фотографии - еще одно свидетельство уникального композиционного и визуально-поэтического дара великого художника. Многие из сделанных в России снимков дополняют и расширяют образный ряд фильма "Зеркало" (1974). Поляроиды 80-х служат свидетельством совместных путешествий с Тонино Гуэррой во время подготовки к съемкам "Ностальгии" (1983), самого автобиографичного из его фильмов.

Книга сводит воедино размышления о фотографии трех поколений семьи Тарковских. Во Введении Андрей Тарковский-младший рассказывает о снимках, сделанных отцом, когда сам Андрей был еще ребенком. Текст самого режиссера - впечатления от поездок в дом матери и разглядывания фотографий из его собственного детства, сделанных другом семьи Львом Горнунгом. Пунктиром через всю книгу проходят стихи Арсения Тарковского, среди которых одно посвящено фотографии. Эти личные впечатления дополняет интервью с философом и культурологом Борисом Гройсом, взятое у него Надимом Самманом и Анной Стоунлейк. Поляроидные снимки Тарковского подготовил к печати известный британский фотограф Стивен Гилл, который сопроводил книгу эссе-комментарием.

«Образ – это не идея, выраженная режиссером. Это целый мир, который отражается в капле воды, всего лишь в капле воды!». - Андрей Тарковский

«С первых же страниц книга излучает невероятно тепло, знакомя нас с поразительными по силе и полными ностальгической радости образами.» - Photographer’s Gallery, Лондон.

Медленное течение его фильмов на самом деле лишь свойство восприятия: в этом есть страсть к видению, вглядыванию в природу и в жизнь. К такой же интенсивности взгляда призывают нас и его фотографии. » - Frieze Magazine, Лондон

«Неудивительно, что даже самые незатейливые снимки Тарковского поражают своей тщательной композицией. Они вызывают образы одиноких фигур в пустом пространстве в безвременном деревенском окружении». - Дейв Кэлхун, Time Out, Лондон.

«Что меня поразило в этих образах, так это то, что как они походят на романтическую живопись XIX века – по композиции и по игре света… Как сочетание Чехова и Каспара Дэвида Фридриха. Жизнь с привкусом увядающей русской аристократии.» - Борис Гройс

В этой книге вы найдете биографии более 300 самых известных актеров в истории кинематографа, таких как Кэри Грант, Клинт Иствуд и Леонардо Ди Каприо, Кэтрин Хепберн, Мэрилин Монро и Пенелопа Крус. Это увлекательное иллюстрированное издание содержит основные данные о карьере актера, фильмографии и захватывающие фотографии.

Издание выстроено в алфавитном порядке оригинальных имен актеров. Для каждого приведены основные события в развитии карьеры, включая роли на телевидении и в кино. Основные международные кинопремии указаны напротив лучших фильмов актеров. Для самых ярких звезд кинематографа представлена подборка выразительных фотографий их самых нашумевших ролей в карьере.

Этот невероятно интересный и познавательный путеводитель по звездам кино прошлого и настоящего станет наглядным пособием для всех любителей кинематографа.

Репринт журнала «КИНО-ФОТ»

Подборка шести выпусков журнала «КИНО-ФОТ» + сопроводительный материал о журнале.
Журналы упакованы в оригинальный гофро-футляр.

«Кино-фот» — советский журнал, посвященный кинематографу, выпускавшийся в 1922-1923 годах под редакцией Алексея Гана. Всего вышло 6 номеров журнала. Политика журнала, в соответствии с эстетической программой конструктивизма, была направлена против игрового кино. По мнению авторов основных публикаций, отразить подлинную действительность могло только документальное кино. Эта позиция сближала журнал с группой «киноков», материалы о деятельности которых здесь регулярно публиковались — в том числе программные манифесты и статьи об отдельных выпусках «Киноправды». Среди авторов журнала были Владимир Маяковский, Дзига Вертов, Лев Кулешов и другие.

В этой книге тщательно исследуются основные периоды, жанры и кинопроизведения разных стран, помещая цветущий мир кино в контекст изменяющихся социальных и культурных условий. Построенная в хронологическом порядке, она прослеживает эволюцию кино от кинопроекторов до многоэкранных кинотеатров и современных супертехнологий. Иллюстрированный, углубленный текст охватывает все жанры кино — от первых немых фильмов до эпических блокбастеров, компьютерной графики и новаторских эффектов XXI века.

Посмотреть англоязычное издание книги - Cinema: The Whole Story

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If you love cinema and would like to know more about it, look no further than Cinema: The Whole Story. This is an indispensable book for all those who love watching and reading about films, and who want to understand more about the international world of cinema.

• Places key works in the context of genre and social and cultural developments
• Historical timelines highlight key influences and events
• Inside the world of film-making – the glamour, the triumphs, the disappointments and the realities of stardom
• Written by an international team of film experts, led by Philip Kemp, film historian, lecturer and author

Illustrated, in-depth text covers every genre of cinema, from the first silent films to epic blockbusters, CGI graphics and ground-breaking special effects of the 21st century. Detailed timelines accompany the text and clarify cinematic history.

Everything from camera and lighting to acting styles, animation and the film’s social and cultural impact is explained, enabling you to interpret the full meaning of world-famous movies. Discover what makes a star, what makes a film a success – and why even the most promising of ideas can prove an expensive disaster. 

В этой книге тщательно исследуются основные периоды, жанры и кинопроизведения разных стран, помещая цветущий мир кино в контекст изменяющихся социальных и культурных условий. Построенная в хронологическом порядке, она прослеживает эволюцию кино от кинопроекторов до многоэкранных кинотеатров и современных супертехнологий. Иллюстрированный, углубленный текст охватывает все жанры кино — от первых немых фильмов до эпических блокбастеров, компьютерной графики и новаторских эффектов XXI века.

Посмотреть англоязычное издание книги - Cinema: The Whole Story

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If you love cinema and would like to know more about it, look no further than Cinema: The Whole Story. This is an indispensable book for all those who love watching and reading about films, and who want to understand more about the international world of cinema.

• Places key works in the context of genre and social and cultural developments
• Historical timelines highlight key influences and events
• Inside the world of film-making – the glamour, the triumphs, the disappointments and the realities of stardom
• Written by an international team of film experts, led by Philip Kemp, film historian, lecturer and author

Illustrated, in-depth text covers every genre of cinema, from the first silent films to epic blockbusters, CGI graphics and ground-breaking special effects of the 21st century. Detailed timelines accompany the text and clarify cinematic history.

Everything from camera and lighting to acting styles, animation and the film’s social and cultural impact is explained, enabling you to interpret the full meaning of world-famous movies. Discover what makes a star, what makes a film a success – and why even the most promising of ideas can prove an expensive disaster.