Joe R. Lansdale (b. 1951), the award-winning author of such novels as Cold in July (1989) and The Bottoms (2000), as well as the popular Hap and Leonard series, has been publishing novels since 1981. Lansdale has developed a tremendous cult audience willing to follow him into any genre he chooses to write in, including horror, western, crime, adventure, and fantasy. Within these genres, his stories, novels, and novellas explore friendship, race, and life in East Texas. His distinctive voice is often funny and always unique, as characterized by such works as Bubba Ho-Tep (1994), a novella that centers on Elvis Presley, his friend who believes himself to be John F. Kennedy, and a soul-sucking ancient mummy. This same novella won a Bram Stoker Award, one of the ten Bram Stoker Awards given to Lansdale thus far in his illustrious career. Wielding a talent that extends beyond the page to the screen, Landsdale has also written episodes for Batman: The Animated Series and Superman: The Animated Series. Conversations with Joe R. Lansdale brings together interviews from newspapers, magazines, and podcasts conducted throughout the prolific author's career. The collection includes conversations between Lansdale and other noted peers like Robert McCammon and James Grady; two podcast transcripts that have never before appeared in print; and a brand-new interview, exclusive to the volume. In addition to shedding light on his body of literary work and process as a writer, this collection also shares Lansdale's thoughts on comics, atheism, and martial arts.

Accidental Genius features intimate and laugh-out-loud commentary from The Room cast and crew, including interviews from its star Greg Sestero. What a story indeed! A rollicking recollection of experiences from the legendary "so bad it's good" film. This comprehensively chronicled book offers a fascinating glimpse into the cultural phenomenon that brings together die-hard fans and newcomers alike. Everything you could have possibly wondered about The Room all in one book! Take a look at Tommy Wiseau's infamous 2003 release through the eyes of the people who made it. Get the low-down on bizarre audition calls, film set antics, and accounts from the very first fans who experienced The Room at its earliest screenings. Also including interviews focusing on the aftermath of the movie: Sestero's The Disaster Artist, where are they now, and its lasting legacy. Here you will get a glimpse of how it all began, why it remains popular, and just what audiences still get out of this unusual film that people love to hate.

In 1973, early in their careers, Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro collaborated for the first time. Over the next few decades, they worked together on seven more movies, many of which brought them both acclaim and awards. And while successful director and actor pairings have occurred throughout the history of film, few have fashioned so many works of enduring value as these two artists. In little more than two decades, Scorsese and De Niro produced eight features, including the classics Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and GoodFellas. In The Films of Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro, Andrew J. Rausch examines the creative output of this remarkable pair, from their initial offering, Mean Streets, to their most recent film together, Casino. Rausch looks at their relationship as individual artists who worked together to create cinematic magic, as well as the friendship that was forged nearly 40 years ago. Drawing upon interviews and other sources, Rausch goes behind the scenes of their eight films, providing insight and analysis on all their collaborations, including New York, New York, The King of Comedy, and Cape Fear. A rare glimpse into the moviemaking process of these two legends, The Films of Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro will appeal to both scholars and fans alike.

Film expert and author Andrew J. Rausch presents the 32 most pivotal moments in the history of the medium that changed the way movies were produced. Accompanied with insights from noted film historians and filmmakers, Rausch's essays analyze the significance of each influential event, industry pioneer, and technological breakthrough--from Thomas Edison's Kinescopes to computer-generated imagery:
- Georges Melies' introduction of narrative story in A Trip to the Moon
- D.W. Griffith's first landmark motion picture, The Birth of a Nation
- French Impressionism, German Expressionism, and Sergei Eisenstein's montage techniques
- The establishment of the Academy Awards
- Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs--the first feature-length animated film
- The innovative camerawork and non-linear storyline of Orson Welles's Citizen Kane
- The dark side of America--Film Noir
- French New Wave
- The creation of the ratings system under MPAA President Jack Valenti
- The Blaxploitation Movement
- "Realist" filmmakers from Hollywood's New Wave
- The impact of Home Video
- Jaws, Star Wars, and the birth of the modern blockbuster
- Pixar's Toy Story--the first fully computer animated film
- Includes a timeline and two sidebars per chapter.

In the early 1970s, a new breed of film emerged that would completely change the way black people were presented in movies. With their afros picked to spherical perfection and their guns blazing, big bad soul brothers and super sexy sisters lit up movie theaters across the country. Never before had black men and women appeared on screen in quite this way. In time, these films would be called "blaxploitation." And while it has long been debated exactly which film launched the blaxploitation era, the financial success of Melvin Van Peebles's Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song and Gordon Parks's Shaft helped open the flood gates for the more than 200 films that are now considered blaxploitation. Reflections on Blaxploitation: Actors and Directors Speak is a collection of interviews with many of the men and women who defined the genre. In candid conversations, some of the most important figures of the era describe what it was like to work on these films and what impact they had on American culture. Among those interviewed are such icons as Jim Brown (Slaughter), Antonio Fargas (Foxy Brown), Gloria Hendry (Hell Up in Harlem), Jim Kelly (Black Belt Jones), Ron O'Neal (Superfly), William Marshall (Blacula), and Fred Williamson (Hammer). Also featured here are some of the most influential names behind the scenes, including Larry Cohen (Black Caesar), Oscar Williams (Five on the Black Hand Side), and Melvin Van Peebles. This volume also includes a filmography of every known (or rumored) blaxploitation film, including their availability on VHS and DVD.

"Grindhouse" is a term that refers to theaters that primarily showed exploitation films. There were a handful of these theaters on 42nd Street in New York City. These theaters showed a variety of films that generally featured sex, violence, and bizarre subject matter. These included slasher films, X-rated movies, badly-dubbed Hong Kong chop socky pictures, blaxploitation, and general exploitation films. The period most generally associated with these types of movie houses stretches from the late 1960s to the mid-1980s. Since the demise of these theaters, and with them certain types of film, an enthusiasm and appreciation for them has developed. Hollywood films such as Black Dynamite, Machete, and Hobo with a Shotgun have since payed homage to them. Gods of Grindhouse: Interviews with Exploitation Filmmakers contains conversations with a variety of filmmakers associated with such films. The book contains interviews with key figures such as Roger Corman, Herschell Gordon Lewis, Larry Cohen, David F. Friedman, William Lustig, Ted V. Mikels, and others. It also contains interviews with Bill Rebane and Russ Meyer that have never appeared in print before This is a one-of-a-kind collection of interviews that gets as down and dirty as the films themselves.

Exploitation filmmaker Herschell Gordon Lewis is credited with single-handedly creating the gore genre with the 1963 release Blood Feast. This low-budget shocker would ultimately influence nearly every horror movie which has followed, as well as "high-brow" films as varied The Wild Bunch and Reservoir Dogs. Lewis, dubbed "The Godfather of Gore," crafted more than thirty-five films in his ongoing career (the exact number varies depending on whom you talk to). Lewis would ultimately work in a number of genres, including gothic horror, drama, sexploitation, blaxploitation, and even musicals, and each of his low-budget productions features a singular style and vision that cannot be ignored. No matter what genre Lewis worked in, he remained at the forefront of cinematic trends and movements. In The Godfather of Gore Speaks: Herschell Gordon Lewis Discusses His Films, the filmmaker explains his choices and motivations - from concept to finished product - in much more detail than ever before. Assisted by noted film historian Andrew J. Rausch, Lewis shares often hilarious anecdotes and provides analysis for the thirty-nine films which he either directed or assisted with direction. "Herschell Gordon Lewis is known all over the world as 'The Wizard of Gore.' He's a whiz of a wiz in just about everything else, too, including, but not limited to, brain surgery, moonshine making, international diplomacy, auto body work, nuclear physics, and siding sales. He writes textbooks and does windows, and don't ever challenge him to a game of Scrabble." --David F. Friedman "Herschell Gordon Lewis is the man who put red meat into the American cinematic diet. Ultimately Herschell made Quentin Tarantino possible." --Joe Bob Briggs

Dirty Talk: Conversations with Porn Stars is the result of nearly a decade of interviews with many of adult cinema's hottest stars. These candid conversations include such topics as working conditions in the porn industry, childhood and family life, career goals, industry trends, and the subjects' views on their work and on the adult film industry itself. The stars interviewed for this project include Seymore Butts, Mary Carey, Asia Carrera, Nina Hartley, Jill Kelly, Hyapatia Lee, Evelyn Lin, Mari Possa, Linda Roberts, and Kyle Stone.

Stephen King is one of the finest and most successful novelists in the history of American literature. Here, for the first time, is a one-of-a-kind collection of quotations by King on subjects as varied as writing, Hollywood, God and religion, his work, popular culture, critics, success, money, the supernatural, censorship, and Stanley Kubrick's film adaptation of The Shining. These bon mots were culled from hundreds of print and television interviews, as well as essays and assorted works of nonfiction. Edited by Andrew J. Rausch, The Wit and Wisdom of Stephen King contains an entertaining selection of observations both comic and profound.

"There are questions in this book about my movies even I couldn't answer A nice, well-researched quiz book written with obvious affection for its subject." -Mick Garris, director, The Stand "You know a movie quiz is good when you were the lead in the damn film, and you still struggle with the questions " -Keith Gordon, actor, Christine "There's nothing trivial about Stephen King trivia, and Andy Rausch and R.D. Riley prove this adage potently with their new Stephen King Movie Quiz Book. Yes, brothers Andy and Ron have given us all an excuse to rewatch Stephen King movies. High octane fun, indeed For fans of King in all his incarnations, The Stephen King Movie Quiz Book is a must own addition to their 'Books about King' library. Highly recommended." -Stephen J. Spignesi, author, The Stephen King Quiz Book The Stephen King Movie Quiz Book contains more than 3,000 questions to test your knowledge on the film adaptations of the King of Horror. Serious and fun, baffling and entertaining, these quizzes are guaranteed to put any film buff or King aficionado to the test. With quizzes ranging from easy to extremely difficult, this book has something to entertain everyone.

These screen gems include: - Beau Geste (1939)- The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)- The Dirty Dozen (1967)- Apocalypse Now (1979)- Full Metal Jacket (1987)- Saving Private Ryan (1998)- We Were Soldiers (2002)- Includes a foreword by Keith Gordon, director of A Midnight Clear, The Chocolate War, Mother Night, Waking the Dead, and The Singing Detective.