Movie Magic

Actor Andy Serkis relates how he and the team of animators brought Tolkien's character Gollum to life. Film-making history was made when, in The Two Towers, an actor's performance and digital animation were seamlessly integrated to create the world's first totally lifelike animated character.

"Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore transports fans once again to the Wizarding World. Professor Albus Dumbledore knows the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald is moving to seize control of the wizarding world. Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts Magizoologist Newt Scamander to lead an intrepid team of wizards, witches and one brave Muggle baker on a dangerous mission, where they encounter old and new beasts and clash with Grindelwald's growing legion of followers. But with the stakes so high, how long can Dumbledore remain on the sidelines? Packed with captivating facts and incredible images from the making of the film, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore: Movie Magic features behind-the-scenes profiles of the characters, magical locations, beasts, and artifacts seen on-screen. This interactive volume also comes filled with bonus inserts--from posters reproducing props from the film to bookmarks and stickers that will delight fans of all ages."--Amazon.

We have tried to present an overview of one-hundred-year-old movie history (all over the world), which has both positive and negative aspects for the creator and the viewer. This is especially true of the three leading commercial centersBollywood (Bombay Hindi movies), Hollywood (USA), and Japan. Images moved in 1892 and started talking in 1923 in The Jazz Singer (Hollywood). It has remarkable achievements both on epic and offbeat levels. They cast a hypnotic spell and emotional bonding of the viewers with the star performers and singers. The identification with the character and their predicament is the magnetism, which is unparalleled compared to other arts like literature, painting, music, etc. Movies combine all the three major art forms besides the charisma of the stars. But it has its flip side also, like the dark space between stars littered with broken hearts and lives and the questionable impact of the crass, commercial movie with an eye on profit at any cost. However, we can make it more powerful and positive. The book is an exciting romp through the stellar world of movies and their creators.

Movies belong in the curriculum—and not just the day before a holiday. This book by award-winning educator Amber Chandler shows why films are so important for teaching social emotional learning and critical thinking. She provides complete guides to ten current, age-appropriate movies; each guide features a pre-viewing activity, a stop-and-chat guide for you so you know when to pause for discussion, a student notes sheet, and discussion questions with varying formats. The book also offers handy tools such as blank templates and permissions forms for communication with parents.Every movie addresses some aspects of CASEL’s SEL Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Responsible Decision-Making, Relationship Skills, and Social Awareness. Amber Chandler does all the prep work for you, so you can lean into the movie experience and share this opportunity with your students, putting movie magic to work!

John Richardson is an Oscar-winning special effects supervisor and designer, who has been involved in over 100 movies, including nine James Bond adventures, all eight Harry Potter films, Aliens, Superman, A Bridge Too Far, Straw Dogs, The Omen, Cliffhanger, Far and Away, Willow . . . and many, many more. In creating the magic that flows through these films – by creating huge explosions, beheading people, producing futuristic gadgets, making a man fly or breathing life into creatures that amaze and haunt us – Richardson has come to hold a unique place in cinema history. The son of pioneering FX technician Cliff Richardson, he learned his trade at the feet of a master of the craft. With over five decades of adventures under his belt, and a vast photographic collection of unseen pictures, Richardson now lifts the lid on his exciting and fascinating career of making movie magic.

Lights...camera...magic! Sabrina Parker has spent her professional life creating unbelievable stunts and magical effects for movies and stage magicians. Now she needs some special magic to help her bring her movie to life. Her search leads her to the very unlikely stage of Walt Bryson, host of a long-running children's television show in Beaufort, North Carolina. Walt isn't terribly happy about taking Hollywood's call. He's never sought the same notoriety as his colleagues Ian Logan and Andre Hawke. But there's something about the beautiful, levelheaded Ms. Parker, and when he reads her screenplay, he knows he wants to work with her. For the first time in years, he's willing to put tragedy behind him and make real magic. Can Walt and Sabrina use love as their guide or will their past mistakes haunt their future?

A magical new series where best friends become Secret Princesses! Best friends Charlotte and Mia can't bear it when Charlotte's family moves far away. But when they become trainee Secret Princesses they begin an amazing adventure together - and they can see each other whenever they like! Once in a blue moon, a tiara shaped constellation forms high in the sky above Wishing Star Palace. The four girls that make a wish on these special stars get their wishes granted by the Secret Princesses ... but Princess Poison is determined that this year the wishes won't come true ... Have you read all four books in series four: The Moonstone Collection?