Books published by publisher Focus Press

Francis Glebas, a top Disney storyboard artist, teaches artists a structural approach to clearly and dramatically presenting visual stories. They will learn classic visual storytelling techniques such as conveying meaning with images and directing the viewer's eye. Glebas also teaches how to spot potential problems before they cost time and money, and he offers creative solutions on how to solve them. * Uses the classic story of '1001 Arabian Nights' to show how to storyboard stories that will engage an audience's attention and emotions.* With 1001 drawings in graphic novel format plus teaching concepts and commentary.* All of the storyboarding examples have a real project context rather to engage a very visual audience on their own terms and teaches through demonstration.

The award-winning third edition of 'The Underwater Photographer' dragged the topic kicking and screaming in to the digital age and with the fully updated fourth edition highly respected photographer and tutor Martin Edge takes you deeper in to the world of Underwater Photography.Practical examples take you step-by-step through the basic techniques from photographing shipwrecks, divers, marine life and abstract images to taking photographs at night. Brand new chapters cover not only highly specialist Underwater Photography techniques such as low visibility/greenwater photography, but also the digital workflow needed to handle your images using the latest software such as Lightroom. Packed with breathtaking images and an easy to read style honed from over twenty years of diving photography courses, this book is sure to both educate and inspire underwater photographers of all skill levels.* Beautifully illustrated throughout with inspirational full colour underwater images - and the lowdown on how they were taken * Covers the highly respected philosophy of the 'Think & Consider' system * Full of practical tips on how to get the most from your equipment

Among the most useful tools in the production of any TV show or film is the storyboard, which is the visual blueprint of a project before it is shot. The director's vision is illustrated in the manner of a comic strip and handed on to the crew for purposes of budgeting, design, and communication.Storyboards: Motion in Art 3/e is an in depth look at the production and business of storyboards. Using exercises, real-life examples of working in the entertainment industry, interviews with people in the industry, and sample storyboard drawing, this book will teach you how to :* Develop and Improve your boards* Work with directors* Develop your resume and your portfolio* Market your talent* Create and improve a storyboard using computersPacked full of practical industry information and examples, this book will help the reader improve their skills to either land their first assignment or advance their career. New to this edition:* NOW IN FULL COLOR!* Feature samples from top storyboard artists * 20 NEW CHAPTERS reflecting latest industry knowledge!* More information on the artistic side of storyboarding* Storyboards from TV shows and films including The Simpsons, The West Wing, Captain Scarlet, seaQuest DSV,The Matrix, and much more* New interviews with top storyboard artists* Brand new art throughout

Being a successful editor is about more than just knowing how to operate a certain piece of software, or when to make a certain transition. On the contrary, there are many unwritten laws and a sense of propriety that are never discussed or taught in film schools or in other books. Based on their own experiences, first as upcoming assistant editors, then as successful Hollywood editors, the authors guide you through the ins and outs of establishing yourself as a respected film and video editor. Insight is included on an array of technical issues such as script breakdown, prepping for sound effects, organizing camera and sound reports, comparison timings, assemply footages and more. In addition, they also provide first-hand insight into industry protocol, providing tips on interviewing, etiquette, career planning and more, information you simply won't find in any other book. The book concludes with a chapter featuring Q+A sessions with various established Hollywood editors about what they expect from their assistant editors.* Cutting insight and tested tips from 2 established Hollywood editors (combined credits include Cesar Milan: Dog Whisperer, The Simple Life, The Shield, Dawson's Creek) will have you on the path to being a successful assistant editor in no time * Includes discussions with some of the top editors in the industry, sharing their views on what they expect from their assistants in the editing suite * Offers technical info such as the intricacies of digitizing and breaking down a script, as well as practical knowledge on topics like interview preparation and industry ettiquette

Deliver professional-level 3D content in no time with this comprehensive guide to 3D animation with Maya. With over 12 years of training experience, plus several award winning students under his belt, author Adam Watkins is the ideal mentor to get you up to speed with 3D in Maya. Using a structured and pragmatic approach Getting Started in 3D with Maya begins with basic theory of fundamental techniques, then builds on this knowledge using practical examples and projects to put your new skills to the test. Prepared so that you can learn in an organic fashion, each chapter builds on the knowledge gained in the previous chapter, showing you all the essentials of 3D in Maya, from modeling and UV layout, to texture creation, rigging animating and rendering. As you go from project to project you'll develop a strong arsenal of skills that combined will form a complete end to end process to creating complete projects in Maya. The accompanying website provides all the tools you need to develop your skills. Project files to accompany the practical examples used throughout the text, so you can work along with the examples. Additional textures and models will give you all the resources you need to start making your own projects in no time at all. --Provides all you need to get started, including a valuable roadmap to the "big picture" of 3D production. Rather than a lengthy description of dialog boxes or option lists, you gain a full understanding of how Maya "thinks" so that you can become effective real-world artists. --Watkins has over twelve years of 3D education experience, having trained hundreds of 3D artists. With multiple award winning students, he knows how people learn 3D, what works and what doesn't, proper pacing, and offers engaging, manageable, yet ambitious tasks. --Create a project from start to finish using all the major components of the 3D process - modeling, UV layout, texture creation, rigging, animation, and rendering - with Maya. --Bonus content for professors! Includes suggested curriculum for 3D based training for semester and year-long sessions, suggested layouts and pacing. How do these chapters fit into a teaching strategy? How long should a class spend on each chapter? All these questions are answered in the included Curriculum Appendices and online resources.

Are you one of the 100 million people in the USA that own either a dog or a cat? If you flip through your digital camera - what do you see pictures of the most? Your kids...and your pets! If you have ever wondered how to take pictures of an all black animal or how to get your pup to sit still during a family holiday picture, this book is for you. With love only a pet owner can have and humor that only animals can bring to us, this author shows how to take pictures that celebrate the furry creatures in our lives. Packed with techniques including lighting and postproduction and even info on getting those pictures up online, you'll be taking pictures of your pets that you'll be proud of.*fun and quirky ways of giving technical advice, such as Chapter 1: Train your camera (but don't make it roll over!) and Chapter 8: Holidazed and confused*loaded with adorable and inspirational photographs of pets taken by the author and contributors*starts with the basics and brings you all the way through postproduction and display

The Fifth Edition of The Camera Assistant's Manual has been completely updated to reflect the technology of today, providing crucial guidance to student filmmakers as they prepare to enter the professional world and work as camera assistants.David Elkins has the technical know-how to provide students with easy to follow advice about how to act on set, what a camera assistant is expected to do, and all the tips and tricks that will make a first or second camera assistant ready to advance to the next level. Readers will learn how the skill sets of a 1st or 2nd AC (Camera Assistant) in film and digital (HD) intertwine, how they differ, and all they need to know to do both jobs well. The advancements in HD and digital video are only adding to an already demanding job, and this fifth edition of The Camera Assistant's Manual provides Camera Assistant novices and experienced ACs alike with valuable knowledge that they need to work in both formats. This nuts and bolts guide covers the basics of cinematography, how to maintain a camera, how to transport a camera, how to troubleshoot common problems that arise on set, and even advice about interviewing for the job. The new edition has also been updated to include new forms, checklists, tables, and illustrations that will be essential to the success of any camera assistant. Using problem solving skills, readers will hone proficiency both on the set and off, and they will find a vital tool for their toolkits in this book. * Completely updated for the latest film and video technologies, including the multi-skill set needed to work in both film and HD* The author's companion website provides online tutorials, clips, and techniques that camera assistants can easily use while on location (www.cameraassistantmanual.com)* Aspiring camera assistants will never be left in the dust again by using this complete guide

As female athletes in 1975, Robin and her teammates stood up and asked to be treated the same as the male athletes in their high school. Title IX was law, but it took more than a law to bring about equitable treatment. This is a gymnastics memoir by Robin Pederson Ruegg, a current USA Brevet nationally rated women's gymnastics judge. Read about her story as a gymnast at the dawn of her judging career.

For believers, there’s no doubt that God created all living creatures on the sixth day of the Creation week. Armed with the knowledge that mankind and dinosaurs co-existed, then Alex and his friend Riley certainly would have been on the ark along with all the other animals. In this second book in our Early Reader series, Alex Takes a Boat Ride, children will learn just what happened when God became disappointed with mankind and flooded the Earth. Written by Brad Harrub and his sons Will and Reese, the Adventures of Alex series will take children on adventures of well-known Bible accounts.

Blender has become one of the most popular 3D animation tools on the market because it is robust and absolutely free. Blender Production is the definitive resource for anyone who wants to create short animations from scratch. With this book, and Blender, you have the ideal platform to make it happen. Blender expert and author Roland Hess walks you through the entire process of creating a short animation including: writing, storyboarding, blocking, character creation, animation, rendering, and production. The associated web site includes the full Blender software kit and a complete short animation work broken down into handy modules that animators can study, learn from, and reuse in their own animated films. The sample project files amount to 100+ MB of cool content, including models, textures, materials, scenes and animation work.* Learn the ropes from Roland Hess, one of Blender's early developers and a community guru * Create a single short animation project from start to finish, with Roland Hess' help, as he provides an in-depth look into how all of the Blender tools and how they work together. *Learn how to fully manage your art assets with Blender's Library and Linking System. * Gain practical, concise advice on story construction specifically for short animations. * All of the production files for the project used in the book are made available on the associated webiste, so you can follow along, and get started on an actual project. You get what amounts to 100+ MB of cool content, including models, textures, materials, scenes and animation work.

To complete an album, a producer needs to know what goes into capturing great music and teasing out inspirational performances from artists. As a producer, you are guiding not only the music, but also the business and the technical aspects of an album. What Is Music Production? is a "guide to this guidance." Formed from a blend of solid information extracted from detailed interviews, the book focuses on the process of music production, providing insight into how the producer guides this process and molds the final product. Whether you are a student or just starting your professional career, What is Music Production? explains what you need to know-from working with artists, songs, pre-production, mixing, and mastering to the finance and budgeting-to glean a professional result. Combining the "how to" with online assets and interviews, this book arms you with vital insight into the business of being a music producer.* Unravels some of the mystery behind producing records from the producer's perspective * Learn about the changing role of the producer in the music industry, looking towards the future * Based on the practice of key producers and music production professionals