Film Resources: Great Place to Start: Reference Books

International in scope, this book offers 1,244 substantially annotated entries, organized by topic. Its focus is movies and television shows: how they are produced; the people who make and appear in them; their content, their distribution and exhibition; and their reception by audiences, reviewers, critics, and scholars.

"This specialized filmography first identifies and discusses twenty important social issues that have recurred in films over the years. In addition to the films critiqued here, other related titles are listed under each topic. The 100 films discussed in this volume, presented alphabetically in standard reference format, cover a wide spectrum of film perspectives and genres. Many of the films are American made; others are European; all are English language. Each film entry identifies the prominent social theme or themes and presents full credit information, including the major actors involved. The overview section, which briefly describes why the film was selected, is followed by a concise plot synopsis. Finally the critique gives pertinent background information, commentary, analysis, and evaluation." "This filmography should be valuable both as a reference tool for library film study collections and as a video collection development guide. Educators will find it useful for incorporating film into the language arts and social curriculum, particularly for teaching thematic units and integrated studies."--BOOK JACKET

The most current volume of this annual is located in the Reference Collection on Haggard 2, with volumes back to 1982 located in the stacks (can be checked out).

"Arranged by race/ethnic group, the book covers films relating to the experiences of African Americans, Arab Americans, Asian Americans, European Americans, Latino/a Americans, Native Americans, and includes intercultural films, those depicting the experiences of more than one group. After providing a plot summary of each film, the authors critique it, proposing points of focus and discussion for the viewer. Films that appeal to a variety of different ages, with ratings given when possible, along with a thematic guide, will help identify films for students and educators on specific topics and issues for each minority group."--BOOK JACKET

"The portrayal of clergy, saints, missionaries, monks, and other spiritual leaders dates back to the very beginnings of motion pictures and television. Through their works, filmmakers have influenced how society viewed these religious figures and, by extension, religion itself." "This work details over 900 films and television series made from the 1890s through 2003 in which a religious figure plays a prominent or recurring role, or in which a character poses as a religious figure. For each motion picture, full filmographic data are provided, along with a synopsis focusing on the role of the religious figure. Television series are covered in a separate section. Extensively indexed."

This is an annual country by country survey of film including reviews.

"This encyclopedia covers all aspects of scholarship on early cinema, both traditional and revisionist. It contains articles on the technological and industrial developments, the techniques of film production, the actors and filmmakers of the time, and on the changing modes of representation and narration, as well as the social and cultural contexts within which early films circulated, including topics such as distribution, exhibition, and audience. Beyond the USA and Europe, attention is also given to the wider international picture, including those regions in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and South and Central America where filmmaking may have been relatively undeveloped but movie-going was significant." "More than 950 entries have been commissioned from internationally recognized specialists. Alphabetically organized, the entries range in length from short factual articles to full essays that offer clear and stimulating discussions of the key issues, people, practices, and phenomena of early cinema. A thematic list of entries is a useful guide through the book, and all entries contain detailed cross-references. The longer articles have considered suggestions for further reading, which are complemented by a general bibliography of specialized works on early cinema."--BOOK JACKET

This is an A-to-Z reference guide (illustrated with over 150 hard-to-find photographs) that dispels the myth that men dominated the film industry during its formative years. Denise Lowe, author of Women and American Television: An Encyclopedia, presents a collection that profiles many of the women who were crucial to the development of cinema as an industry - and as an art form. Whether working behind the scenes as producers or publicists, behind the cameras as writers, directors, or editors, or in front of the lens as flappers, vamps, or serial queens, hundreds of women made profound and lasting contributions to the evolution of the motion picture production."