Movies Are Magic

From classic film devotee Jennifer Churchill comes a new history of classic movies ... for kids! Featuring a heartfelt introduction by Ben Mankiewicz, Turner Classic Movies (TCM)'s primetime host. In our fast-moving, media-drenched world, classic movies connect us to the past and help us understand history, the world around us, and ourselves. From vaudeville to the invention of sound and color, this fun and informative jaunt through the history of film will turn your kids into classic movie fans in no time!

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.

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.

Describes how movies are made, examining such areas as camera work, production design, location shooting, special effects, and animation.

Like no other medium before it, the popular movie presents the potential of a new power for illuminating the depth of human experience. E-Motion Picture Magic employs that power as a tool to increase consciousness. Cinema therapy offers more perspective on life, prompting the viewer to step back from his or her problems in order to feel less insecure, worried, or discontented. Using films for self-improvement allows a shift in perspective when viewed with conscious awareness. The use of movies for personal growth and healing carries forward a long-standing connection between storytelling and self-reflection that may date back to the beginnings of spoken language. The movie experience used in very specific ways can have significant benefits for those who are willing to apply themselves using E-Motion Picture Magic that can be both beneficial as well as enjoyable.