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Lights, Camera, Action!: Making Movies and TV from the Inside Out    by Lisa O'Brien & Stephen Maceachern Amazon.com order for
Lights, Camera, Action!
by Lisa O'Brien
Order:  USA  Can
Maple Tree, 1998 (1998)
Hardcover, Softcover
* * *   Reviewed by Ayesha Baumgartner

So you want to be in show business?

Lights, Camera, Action! takes a fun and informative look at the world of making movies. From working on your acting craft, to where the screenplay comes from, the casting of roles, making the best impression at auditions, creating a role, or getting the part, it offers valuable advice, tips, and tools of the trade to those kids eager to enter Showbusiness. The book is written and laid out in a kid-friendly way, from pictures of audition scenes, to detailed directors' notes as asides, and best and worst audition scenarios. Lisa O'Brien, creator, writer and producer for many kids' TV shows, guides the star-to-be on a fun, yet professional journey into the world of acting for film.

Though tips are genuinely designed with the kid in mind, I find that adult actors can benefit as well if they don't already know how to best handle what to do to get the role, and the environment of the showbusiness world. Parents of a child eager to be a part of this world, will gain clarity on what is needed and a better understanding of the film making world. I have already recommended this book to some parents of children I teach in my acting classes, because the kids will enjoy learning from it and so many valuable tips are shared in order to make the process much more enjoyable for the child as well as the parent and those people involved in film making.

Interviews of other kids who have worked in Showbusiness are shared as well as fun anecdotes, and 'popcorn Quiz' questions scatter the pages of this delightful book. Learn about special effects, storyboards, and much more! Enjoy the pictures, read valuable tips, learn 'screen speak,' answer trick questions and have a blast. The process of film-making can be so much fun with this book's guidance. Lights, Camera, Action! is a valuable resource for actors and parents who may have a star on their hands. But most importantly, kids will enjoy the step-by-step process and tips and tools of the trade in these colorful pages.

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