Animation Unleashed

100 Principles Every Animator, Comic Book Writer, Filmmaker, Video Artist, and Game Developer Should Know
By Ellen Besen


Book Review
By Ann Baldwin


Ellen Besen has been working in the field of animation for over 35 years and is a former (15 year) faculty member of Sheridan College’s School of Animation. Highlights of her career include directing award-winning films for the National Film Board of Canada. Her films have been shown in multiple international festivals and at such institutions as MOMA, and her film analysis workshops are featured regularly at the Ottawa International Animation Festival. In her book, Animation Unleashed: 100 Principles Every Animator, Comic Book Writer, Filmmaker, Video Artist, and Game Developer Should Know ~ Illustrated by Bryce Hallet (Micheal Wiese Productions 2008), she takes you on a fun adventure into the wild land of animation, where you’ll expand your vision on and skills in the craft of storytelling and filmmaking.

She will show you some of the hidden worlds, where you can uncover ideas for your scripts. You’ll learn one of the simplest methods for writing a great animated script, which also applies to writing live-action feature films. She shares many techniques for creating suspense, mystery, tension, and emotions in your audience.

You’ll explore every nook and cranny on your journey with Ellen as she covers such topics as caricature, movement, fantasy, reality, props, sound, backgrounds, special effects, and more. She uses hundreds of wonderful illustrations and films such as Toy Story, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, Monsters Inc, Fantasia, Bug’s Life, Lady and The Tramp, and Finding Nemo as examples.

Ellen states that “Action doesn’t communicate unless it can be seen.” She reveals a quick test-method to ensure that your character’s actions will been seen clearly by your audience. You’ll also discover one of the most powerful tools and key elements for communication that will give more meaning to your character’s actions.

Just like children, animated characters are great at not only expressing emotions on their face, but showing you how they feel as well; so much can be learned about creating memorable characters and stories through the art of animation. I highly recommend Animation Unleashed for all animators, filmmakers, and screenwriters, who want to gain the use of valuable techniques and learn a simple language for communicating to their audience with ease.

You can connect with Ellen Besen on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/people/Ellen-Besen/1419880057 and purchase a copy of Animation Unleashed at Micheal Wiese Productions, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble.

The Power of The Dark Side

Creating Great Villains and Dangerous Situations 
by Pamela Jaye Smith

Book Review
By Ann Baldwin


Pamela Jaye Smith has earned a respected reputation as a speaker, consultant, writer, award-winning producer/director, and the founder of MYTHWORKS with over 30 years of experience on features, TV series, commercials, documentaries, corporate and military films. Her credits and clients include Paramount, Disney, Microsoft, Universal, GM, the FBI, and the U.S. Army. In her book, The Power of The Dark Side: Creating Great Villains and Dangerous Situations (Michael Wiese Productions 2008), you’ll gain a deeper understanding of what the dark side is, who gets lured into it and why, what it’s purpose is, and how to deal with it in your stories.

Every great protagonist, heroine, or hero is only as good as the antagonist, villain, or obstacle that gets in their way to accomplishing their goals, which they must confront and overcome. As writers, it’s our job to take our protagonists into the dark (unknown) and shed light on the subject for the audience, so they can learn what to do or not do in the same or a similar situation. As Pamela says, “Storytellers are valuable ~ they can be a mirror or a movie screen for the rest of humanity, who have a curiosity for variety and adventure but often not the inclination, time, or courage to go there themselves"; like the popular 1970’s commercial for Life cereal, where the two brothers are reluctant to try the new cereal saying to each other “I’m not gonna try it – you try it” then they look at their younger brother and say, “I know, let’s get Mikey.”

Whether your protagonist is up against a bad dad, tyrant, or mad scientist or large group like an organized religion, a secret society, or a shadow government, there are many ways to defend against them like laughter, education, and exposure. The dark side exists in comedies, cartoons, children’s stories, romance, drama, action/adventure, documentaries, historical fiction, commercials, and the obvious, horror stories. Pamela uses hundreds of film and character examples including Harry Potter, Conspiracy Theory, and Freedom Writers to Cruella De Vil, Dr. Hannibal Lecter, and Darth Vader.

The dark side of life is like the negative of a photograph, it appears dark and solid on the outside, but once you hold it up to the light, it becomes transparent and allows you to see right through it. For all writers who want to create believable, bad-to-the-bone, or worthy opponents for their heroines or heroes to conquer, The Power of The Dark Side is the best choice and has the largest and most comprehensive reference list of dark forces imaginable.

To learn more about Pamela Jaye Smith you can visit her at http://www.mythworks.net and purchase a copy of The Power of The Dark Side at Michael Wiese Productions, Amazon, The Writers Store, or Barnes & Noble.

Cinematic Storytelling

The 100 Most Powerful Film Conventions Every Filmmaker Must Know
By Jennifer van Sijll

Book Review
By Ann Baldwin


Jennifer van Sijll has an MFA from USC’s Department of Cinema-Television, teaches screenwriting at San Francisco State and UC Berkeley, and worked as a script analyst for Universal Pictures. She consults on film and television projects in Los Angeles and San Francisco. In her book, Cinematic Storytelling: The 100 Most Powerful Film Conventions Every Filmmaker Must Know (Michael Wiese Productions 2005), she opens new doors and windows of opportunity for more creativity in our screenwriting, by revealing the abundant resources available to us through film techniques.

You can add subtle layers of meaning to your scripts through film techniques such as sound effects, props, scene transitions, lighting, camera motion, and editing; Jennifer shows you how to incorporate them into your screenwriting and uses examples and illustrations from over 100 films including Out Of Africa, The Conversation, Klute, ET, Citizen Kane, and The Sixth Sense.

She will teach you how to think and write more visually and gives you the ultimate supply of tools for conquering the “Show, Don’t Tell” rule of screenwriting. You’ll gain a better understanding of how to convey your message to your audience without relying on dialog.

Jennifer’s unique approach connects a bridge between screenwriting and film production, allowing for a more united and successful collaboration of film artists. Cinematic Storytelling is highly recommended for all writers who want to master the art of screenwriting and be more in-demand.

To learn more about Jennifer van Sijll you can visit her at http://www.cinematicstorytelling.com and purchase a copy of Cinematic Storytelling at Michael Wiese Productions, Amazon, The Writers Store, and Barnes & Noble.

And THE BEST SCREENPLAY goes to...

Learning From the Winners: Sideways * Shakespeare In Love * Crash*
by Dr. Linda Seger

Book Review
By Ann Baldwin


Dr. Linda Seger is a pioneer in her field, one of Hollywood’s top script consultants, and highly respected internationally for her expertise in script analysis. She’s written twelve books, nine on screenwriting. She has given seminars around the world and to many companies and professional organizations including ABC, CBS, NBC, Disney, Writers Guild of America, Directors Guild of America, American Film Institute, Sundance Institute and the Motion Picture and Television Academies. She’s been the recipient of numerous awards and her client list is long and very distinguished from Ray Bradbury to TriStar Pictures including many Academy and Emmy Award winners. In her book, And THE BEST SCREENPLAY goes to… Learning From the Winners: Sideways * Shakespeare In Love * Crash (Michael Wiese Productions 2008), she takes you on an in-depth study, sharing valuable insights, into the creative screenwriting process by examining the details of three Academy Award-winning films.

She explores a variety of elements and some rare techniques used in the creation of these honored screenplays such as: dialogue as a metaphor to reveal character, the Interweaving Structure, theme as the driving force, and connecting within yourself, with the audience, and through props.

While Linda analyzes these Oscar prized screenplays, she also refers to a wealth of other movies as examples. Following each analysis are revealing interviews with the writers and directors of the films; they explain the writing, directing, marketing, selling, and production stages they went through from the initial concept of their stories to casting to receiving the Academy Award.

Great screenwriting is achieved in large part through a keen observation and understanding of ourselves, others, life, and the successful films. I highly recommend And THE BEST SCREENPLAY goes to… for screenwriters who have a true passion for the art of film and want to be their best.

To learn more about Dr. Linda Seger you can visit her at http://www.lindaseger.com and purchase a copy of And THE BEST SCREENPLAY goes to…at Michael Wiese Productions, Amazon, The Writers Store, and Barnes & Noble.