Download or read book Hollywood Sight Unseeing written by Rudy Makoul and published by Trafford Publishing. This book was released on 2004 with total page 218 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Hollywood, Sight Unseeing begins with the following paragraph... I was in the batter's box. I was eight years old. The pitcher, ten, wound up, threw. Where was the baseball? I saw it leave his hand, then disappear until it was perhaps twenty feet from where it was headed... directly at my head. Being blessed with fast reflexes, I flattened out, dropped like a stone. I hit the ground with that ball missing my noggin by the wispiest whisker. At the time, it seemed nothing at all to me. I had escaped serious injury - just part of the game, I thought. But that "inconsequential" incident, with unrelenting insistence, uncompromising ferocity, would dictate the direction of the rest of my life Missing that baseball was diagnosed as macular degeneration, a retinal fault very rare in children. No known treatment, vision would continue to decline. By age 17, my vision was 20/200... legal blindness status. I saw at 20 feet what normally sighted people saw easily at 200 feet. Beginning with my first love, the entertainment industry, for 25 years, I earned my living, despite its near total visual nature, in the theater, radio, motion picture and television industries. For ten years of that time, I worked as a Dialogue Coach at Paramount, Twentieth Century Fox and Columbia Studios, working with top Directors, Producers and such stars as Elizabeth Taylor, Vivien Leigh, Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Burt Lancaster, Charlton Heston, Loretta Young, Jane Wyman, Janet Leigh, Charles Laughton, Claude Rains, Shirley MacLaine, Jayne Mansfield, and 16 pictures with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. When decreasing vision made Dialogue Coaching impractical, I switched to writing for motion pictures and television. Later, I transitioned to the construction industry as a General Building contractor. Now, with my vison of 20/600, I have returned to writing. After all, I'm only 83. Rudy Makoul

Download or read book The Seamstress of Hollywood Boulevard written by Erin McGraw and published by HMH. This book was released on 2009-08-04 with total page 387 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Kansas seamstress reinvents herself in Los Angeles, but the past comes back to haunt her, in this “superb, surprising” historical novel (The Seattle Times). At age seventeen, Nell Plat is an unhappily married woman, quick with her needle and wit, but ill-suited to wifely duties like cooking, mothering, and tending to her boorish husband. Unable to shake her dreams of glamour and excitement, she abandons her family and quiet life in Kansas for the hustle, bustle, and glittering lights of Los Angeles. Among the wannabes and celebrities of the silver screen, Nell reinvents herself as Madame Annelle, seamstress to the stars. But just as she begins stitching her way to success, her past shows up on her doorstep, threatening to unravel her carefully crafted ruse. “Meticulously researched” (The A.V. Club) and “vibrant with historical accuracy” (SFGate)—based on the true story of the author’s grandmother—The Seamstress of Hollywood Boulevard is a fascinating look at old Hollywood glamour, gender roles, and the ever-evolving American dream.

Download or read book Blind Ambitions written by Lolita Files and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2003-06 with total page 388 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Desi, Sharon, and Bettina are struggling to make names for themselves amid the glitz, glamour, and deception of the entertainment industry. They are swept away by its intrigue and intensity but cannot ignore the desperate calls from the ghosts of their pasts."--Jacket.

Download or read book Classical Hollywood Cinema Sexuality and the Politics of the Face written by Paul Morrison and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2020-11-30 with total page 277 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Classical Hollywood Cinema, Sexuality, and the Politics of the Face examines the representation of iconic female faces in the golden age of Hollywood – Greta Garbo, Gloria Swanson, Elizabeth Taylor – and the gay male fetishization of those faces. Classical Hollywood cinema is given to an aesthetic and ideological struggle between rival scopic economies: an erotics of “to-be-looked-at-ness” is countered by a hermeneutics of “to-be-seen-through-ness.” The latter emerges triumphant, but the legendary female faces of Hollywood resist, in their different ways, a coercive and normalizing knowledge, which is the source of the gay male investment in them. A disciplinary society privileges a hermeneutics of gaze; the iconomic female faces of classical Hollywood cinema demand an erotics. Classical Holly Cinema, Sexuality, and the Politics of the Face explores the tension between the two through detailed readings of Ninotchka, Sunset Boulevard, and Suddenly, Last Summer in the context of early and mid-century cinema and culture. It includes, for instance, an analysis of D. W. Griffith and blackface, the Stonewall riots and the coming-into-voice of the modern gay subject, several major films by Hitchcock, Citizen Kane, and the emergence of rival standards of beauty, both female and male, in figures such as Katharine Hepburn, Ingrid Bergman, Humphrey Bogart, Rock Hudson, and James Dean. This is an important study for students of queer theory, film theory and history, and gender and sexuality studies.

Download or read book Hollywood Hearts Boxed Set Volume 2 written by Jean C. Joachim and published by Jean Joachim. This book was released on 2021-07-23 with total page 521 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Book 4 – Movie Lovers Grace Brewster makes the biggest mistake of her life with sexy, bad boy movie producer, Gunther Quill. Humiliated by Quill and Jake Matthews, her sister’s Broadway co-star, Grace vows to even the score with both men. Will her plan work or blow up in her face, losing her the man she loves? Book 5 – Love’s Last Chance Seeking true love, respected choreographer, Dorrie, reconnects with each of three men. Will she find what she’s looking for or end up back with the one man who broke her heart? Book 6 – Lovers & Liars Gunther Quill, arrogant, brilliant producer, hates liars worse than anything. Erica Wheeler needs a job or face eviction. Will a little white lie used to get a plum job working for Gunther destroy her chance for happiness?

Download or read book Encyclopedia of American Associations written by and published by . This book was released on 1973 with total page 1806 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Encyclopedia of Associations National organizations of the U S written by Gale Research Company and published by . This book was released on 1973 with total page 1552 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The Jade Crucible written by Janice M. T. Miller and published by . This book was released on 1995 with total page 328 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The next morning, Alex finds the body of a young Ch9inese boy floating near the edge of the waterfront. Who killed him and for what? Why would someone warn her ahead of time that she would find trouble near the water? What does it mean for an independen female private investigator when she is unexpectedly involved in an illegal immigrant's murder?

Download or read book We ll Never Tell written by Wendy Heard and published by Christy Ottaviano Books. This book was released on 2023-05-16 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Those who love One of Us Is Lying, will devour this page-turner." (Buzzfeed) Delve into a murderous, twisty whodunit doused in juicy Hollywood lore. No one at Hollywood High knows who’s behind We'll Never Tell—a viral YouTube channel where the anonymous creators trespass behind the scenes of LA's most intriguing locales. The team includes CASEY, quiet researcher and trivia champ; JACOB, voice narrator and video editor, who is secretly dating EDDIE, aspiring filmmaker; and ZOE, coder and breaking-and-entering extraordinaire. Now senior year is winding down and with their lives heading in different directions, the YouTubers vow to go out with a bang. Their last episode will be filmed at the infamous Valentini “murder house,” which has been left abandoned, bloodstained, and untouched since a shocking murder/suicide in 1972. When the teens break in, they capture epic footage. But someone trips an alarm, and it’s a mad dash to get out before the police arrive—at which point they realize only three of them escaped instead of four. Jacob is still inside, slain and bleeding out. Is his attack connected to the historic murder, or is one of their crew responsible? A week of suspicions and cover-ups unfolds as Casey and her remaining friends try to stay alive long enough to solve murder mysteries past and present. If they do, their friendship may not survive. If they don't, the house will claim more victims.

Download or read book Kingston Noir written by Colin Channer and published by Akashic Books. This book was released on 2012-05-29 with total page 279 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Subverts the simplistic sunshine/reggae/spliff-smoking image of Jamaica at almost every turn . . . with a rich interplay of geographies and themes.” —Los Angeles Times From Trench Town to Half Way Tree to Norbrook to Portmore and beyond, the stories of Kingston Noir shine light into the darkest corners of this fabled city. Joining award-winning Jamaican authors such as Marlon James, Leone Ross, and Thomas Glave are two “special guest” writers with no Jamaican lineage: Nigerian-born Chris Abani and British writer Ian Thomson. The menacing tone that runs through some of these stories is counterbalanced by the clever humor in others, such as Kei Miller’s “White Gyal with a Camera,” who softens even the hardest of August Town’s gangsters; and Mr. Brown, the private investigator in Kwame Dawes’s story, who explains why his girth works to his advantage: “In Jamaica a woman like a big man. She can see he is prosperous, and that he can be in charge.” Together—with more contributions from Patricia Powell, Colin Channer, Marcia Douglas, and Christopher John Farley—the outstanding tales in Kingston Noir comprise the best volume of short fiction ever to arise from the literary wellspring that is Jamaica. “Thoroughly well-written stories . . . fans of noir will enjoy this batch of sordid tales set in the sweltering heat of the tropics.” —Publishers Weekly “An eclectic and gritty mélange of tales that sears the imagination . . . Kingston Noir proves its worth as a quintessential piece of West Indian literature—rich, artistic, timeless, and above all, draped in unmistakable realism.” —The Gleaner (Jamaica)

Download or read book From Darkness to Sight written by Ming X. Wang and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From Darkness to Sightchronicles the remarkable life journey of Dr. Ming Wang, a world-renowned laser eye surgeon and philanthropist. As a teenager, Ming fought valiantly to escape one of history''s darkest eras - China''s Cultural Revolution - during which millions of innocent youth were deported to remote areas to face a life sentence of poverty and hard labor. Through his own tenacity and his parents'' tireless efforts to provide a chance of freedom for their son, Ming eventually made his way to America with $50 in his pocket and an American dream in his heart, where against all odds he would earn a PhD in laser physics and graduate magna cum laude with the highest honors from Harvard Medical School and MIT. He embraced his Christian faith and tackled one of the most important questions of our time - Are faith and science friends or foes? - which led to his invention of a breakthrough biotechnology to restore sight. To date, Dr. Wang has performed over 55,000 eye procedures and has treated patients from nearly every state in the U.S. and from over 55 countries worldwide. He is considered the "doctor''s doctor," as he has operated on over 4,000 physicians. Dr. Wang has published 8 textbooks including a paper in the world-renowned journal Nature, holds several U.S. patents and performed the world''s first laser artificial cornea implantation. He is the recipient of the Honor Award from American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Lifetime Achievement Award from American Chinese Physician Association. Dr. Wang is currently the only surgeon in the state who performs 3D LASIK (18+), 3D Forever Young Lens Surgery (45+), 3D Laser KAMRA (45+), and 3D Laser Cataract Surgery (60+). Dr. Wang established a non-profit foundation which provides sight restoration surgeries for indigent patients who otherwise would never have the opportunity to receive them free-of-charge. This is a story of one man''s inspirational journey, of turning fear, poverty, persecution and prejudice into healing and love for others. It demonstrates how focus, determination, humility, and profound faith can inspire a life that, in turn, impacts that of countless others. "Dr. Wang is not only a dear friend and the very best eye surgeon, he is also one of the greatest people I have ever known." - Dolly Parton "To try to put my feelings about Dr. Wang, his accomplishments, his courage, his iron will and his faith into a couple of sentences would be tantamount to packing a Mack truck into a burlap bag. This remarkable man overcame all but impossible odds to become the best in his field and this world is a better place for having Dr. Ming Wang pass through it." - Charlie Daniels. "I have known Dr. Wang for nearly two decades - he is a respected eye surgeon and friend. What Ming has done with his life since arriving here in the United States as a penniless student over 30 years ago exemplifies the true essence of the American dream, and the freedom that we enjoy in this great country. I highly recommend his autobiography, From Darkness to Sight." - Senator William H. Frist, MD, former U.S. Senate Majority Leader "If I didn''t know Ming, it would be hard to believe the story of his life. But I do know him, and his life truly is a remarkable story of faith, persistence, and excellence." - Bill Haslam, Governor of the state of Tennessee "Ming Wang is well-known for the eye surgeries he''s performed to give countless people better sight. And it''s hard to forget that he''s also a ballroom dancer once you''ve seen one of his ads on TV. But what many people don''t know is that Dr. Wang also gives very generously of his time and talents so that blind children in other countries can regain their sight. What better gift can you give someone? Nashville is lucky to be able to count Dr. Wang as one of our own." - Karl Dean, Mayor, Nashville "My deeply respected friend, Dr. Ming Wang, has topped the heights of human achievement. Through his personal and professional triumphs he has captured the essence of what it means to be free and to be a loving humanitarian. The story of his unique life, as only he can tell it, will be a blessing and an inspiration to all who come to know it." - Former governor of Tennessee Dr. Winfield Dunn "From Darkness to Sight is an inspiring story that shows how hard work, optimism and faith not only can lead to personal success, but also make our country stronger. Dr. Ming Wang''s journey from dark days in Communist China to his career in the United States as a physician and philanthropist is a testament to the possibilities of the American Dream." - Senator Lamar Alexander

Download or read book Cinema Emergence and the Films of Satyajit Ray written by Keya Ganguly and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2010-06-08 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Although revered as one of the world’s great filmmakers, the Indian director Satyajit Ray is described either in narrowly nationalistic terms or as an artist whose critique of modernity is largely derived from European ideas. Rarely is he seen as an influential modernist in his own right whose contributions to world cinema remain unsurpassed. In this benchmark study, Keya Ganguly situates Ray’s work within the internationalist spirit of the twentieth century, arguing that his film experiments revive the category of political or "committed" art. She suggests that in their depictions of Indian life, Ray’s films intimate the sense of a radical future and document the capacity of the image to conceptualize a different world glimpsed in the remnants of a disappearing past.

Download or read book Being Hal Ashby written by Nick Dawson and published by University Press of Kentucky. This book was released on 2009-04-17 with total page 441 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Hal Ashby (1929–1988) was always an outsider, and as a director he brought an outsider's perspective to Hollywood cinema. After moving to California from a Mormon household in Utah, he created eccentric films that reflected the uncertain social climate of the 1970s. Whether it is his enduring cult classic Harold and Maude (1971) or the iconic Being There (1979), Ashby's artistry is unmistakable. His skill for blending intense drama with off-kilter comedy attracted A-list actors and elicited powerful performances from Jack Nicholson in The Last Detail (1973), Warren Beatty and Julie Christie in Shampoo (1975), and Jon Voight and Jane Fonda in Coming Home (1979). Yet the man behind these films is still something of a mystery. In Being Hal Ashby: Life of a Hollywood Rebel, author Nick Dawson for the first time tells the story of a man whose thoughtful and challenging body of work continues to influence modern filmmakers and whose life was as dramatic and unconventional as his films. Ashby began his career as an editor, and it did not take long for his talents to be recognized. He won an Academy Award in 1967 for editing In the Heat of the Night and leveraged his success as an editor to pursue his true passion: directing. Crafting seminal films that steered clear of mainstream conventions yet attracted both popular and critical praise, Ashby became one of the quintessential directors of the 1970s New Hollywood movement. No matter how much success Ashby achieved, he was never able to escape the ghosts of his troubled childhood. The divorce of his parents, his father's suicide, and his own marriage and divorce—all before the age of nineteen—led to a lifelong struggle with drugs for which he became infamous in Hollywood. And yet, contrary to mythology, it was not Ashby's drug abuse that destroyed his career but a fundamental mismatch between the director and the stifling climate of 1980s studio filmmaking. Although his name may not be recognized by many of today's filmgoers, Hal Ashby is certainly familiar to filmmakers. Despite his untimely death in 1988, his legacy of innovation and individuality continues to influence a generation of independent directors, including Wes Anderson, Sean Penn, and the Coen brothers, who place substance and style above the pursuit of box-office success. In this groundbreaking and exhaustively researched biography, Nick Dawson draws on firsthand interviews and personal papers from Ashby's estate to offer an intimate look at the tumultuous life of an artist unwilling to conform or compromise.

Download or read book Life in Violet written by Katherine F. Robertson and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2009-08-17 with total page 349 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Life in Violet is the story of Violet McKay, a psychotherapist who does not understand the full emotional impact of events of her early childhood and the way they have shaped her life, especially relationships with men. She was orphaned young and went to live with her uncle, a doctor, who treated her like a sexual object. Her uncle’s live-in nurse and housekeeper, Violet’s surrogate mother, abandons Violet when she, too, becomes the object of the doctor’s attentions. It is the 1980s when there are no words to validate either of their experiences. Violet lives alone in a house overlooking the ocean, relying only upon herself. Her relationships are mostly with colleagues and clients. Whenever distressed, Violet either soaks in her bathtub or writes in her journal, seeking “connections and meanings, looking for new light into the mystery of life. Her life. Her clients’ lives.” At a professional conference, Violet meets an Episcopal priest who lives near her own home. He soon becomes her confidante and support, introducing her to puzzling notions about God. Relationships with an actor and a widower reveal Violet’s confused sense about what makes for a healthy relationship with a man. It takes a chance encounter with a predatory psychiatrist, leading to an obsession, to break open her past and reveal her own deep need for healing.

Download or read book The Seesaw Log written by William Gibson and published by Hal Leonard Corporation. This book was released on 1984 with total page 292 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The text of the play is accompanied by the playwright's day-to-day account of his experiences during its stage production

Download or read book Blind Sight written by Meg Howrey and published by Vintage. This book was released on 2012-09-04 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Seventeen-year-old Luke Prescott has been brought up in a bohemian matriarchy, surrounded by his divorced New Age mother, his religious grandmother, and two precocious half-sisters. He is writing his college applications when his father—a famous television star— invites him to Los Angeles for the summer. Luke accepts and is plunged into a world of location shooting, celebrity interviews, glamorous parties, and premieres. But as he begins to know the difference between his father’s public persona and his private one, Luke finds himself questioning the new history he has created for himself.

Download or read book Canadian Film Weekly Voice of the Canadian Motion Picture Industry written by and published by . This book was released on 1948 with total page 300 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: