Film, TV and Theatre

Jaw-dropping tales of legendary excess and bad behaviour from the British stars of the 1950s and 60s, from the author of the bestselling Hellraisers and Hollywood Hellraisers. Expanding on the winning formula that made Hellraisers such a success, this book explores the rise and camaraderie of that entire generation of hard-living, boozing actors who ripped apart the staid British theatre and film industry in a trail-blazing ten year period from the mid-50s to the mid-60s. It features actors like Richard Harris, Sean Connery, Alan ... read more

After training as a teacher, Pete Postlethwaite started his acting career at the Liverpool Everyman Theatre where his colleagues included Bill Nighy, Jonathan Pryce, Antony Sher and Julie Walters. After routine early appearances in small parts for television programmes such as The Professionals, Postlethwaite's first success came with the acclaimed British film Distant Voices, Still Lives in 1988. He then received an Academy Award nomination for his role in The Name of the Father in 1993. His performance as the mysterious l... read more

Actor Bill Tarmey first appeared as Jack Duckworth in Coronation Street in November 1979, when his formidable on-screen wife Vera dragged him to Brian and Gail Tilsley's wedding, only to have him sneak off for a pint at the first opportunity. After playing what is arguably the nation's best-loved soap character for 31 years, Bill leaves the series in December 2010. To coincide with this momentous event in soap history, Bill now tells the full story of what it has been like to play this loveable rogue for almost half his life. He re... read more

For more than forty years, generations of movie lovers have relied upon Leonard Maltin to help them decide what to watch. Comprehensive, trustworthy, and the most established guide on the market, "Leonard Maltin's 2012 Movie Guide" includes: more than 10,000 DVD and 14,000 video listings; an updated index of leading performers and an index of leading directors; old and new theatrical and video releases rated **** to BOMB; reviews of little-known sleepers, foreign films, rarities, and camp classics; all-new personal recommendations ... read more

16 Films Featuring Manic Pixie Dream Girls, 10 Great Songs Nearly Ruined by Saxophone, and 104 More Obsessively Specific Pop Culture Lists "24 Great Films Too Painful to Watch Twice" "14 Cover Songs That Are Better Than the Originals" "14 Tragic Movie Masturbation Scenes":If any of these titles intrigue you, you're ready for Inventory. Since its introduction in 2006, the weekly feature known as Inventory - quirky, detailed lists compiled with knowledge and a large amount of humour - has become one of the most popular elements of th... read more

Images of Dignity is the first major study of the films of Barry Barclay, one of the most important film makers in New Zealand cinema history, and a major indigenous film maker world-wide. It analyses all Barclay's film and television work, including the groundbreaking Tangata Whenua television series and the feature films The Neglected Miracle, Ngati, Te Rua, The Feathers of Peace and The Kaipara Affair, establishing him as a figure who has made a radical contribution to New Zealand's understanding of both Maori community and the ... read more

This lavishly illustrated film companion takes the reader on a journey into the magical world of Pandora, to get closer to the landscapes, creatures and characters of James Cameron's blockbuster epic, Avatar.
Marking James Cameron's first film since 1997's Titanic, Avatar is a major milestone in movie history. Using state of the art technology, Cameron and producer John Landau have created an entire world - Pandora - and realized it in a way never before possible. For the first time ever, 3-D effects conjure up a world every... read more

Only a year after being published, Pot Culture is already in its seventh printing with net sales of 48,100, making it one of the best-selling titles for Abrams Image. Halperin and Bloom's great follow-up book, Reefer Movie Madness will be the most extensive guide ever to feature movies with specific stoner appeal, as well as hundreds more that contain pot scenes and drug themes or are simply fun to watch stoned. In addition to entries on more than 420 films, there will be contributions from well-known actors, movie directors, music... read more

In 1998, Raimond Gaita's Romulus, My Father was first published - the story of his father, who came to Australia from Europe with his young wife Christine and their four-year-old son after the end of the Second World War. In the isolated landscape of country Victoria, Christine succumbed to mental illness, and a series of tragedies befell the family. Described as 'a profound meditation on love and death, madness and truth, judgment and compassion', Romulus, My Father became an instant classic. Now, thirteen years later, and four y... read more

Whilst there is a growing body of academic work on New Zealand film and television, this book adresses relatively little exists on industries, institutions and policy.

We've just released the 2008 election edition of Richard Meros' On the Conditions and Possibilities of Helen Clark Taking Me as Her Young Lover which happily coincides with the adaptation to a play of the text. The season at BATS theatre in Wellington sold out with an extra night added, and the play is now touring nationally, part of which is it's inclusion in the NZ International Comedy Festival. The play received glowing reviews ("A triumph worthy of note in the next honours list!" John Smythe, Theatreview ) publicity in a broad ... read more

Based on the hit TV series Outrageous Fortune, this outrageous family album introduce all the characters and their tips for a fulfilling life in the West, including recipes, love stories, defining moments and disasters. Complete with behind-the-scenes photos, actors' interviews, quiz, drinking game and episode summaries.

The best jokes, gags and scenes from a true British comedy classic.Del: You were gun running during the Spanish Civil War? Grandad: Well!that was the best time to do it!'A man like you needs something to reflect your image - I've got a lovely Skoda in the forecourt.' - Boycie (trying to sell a used car to Del)In the history of British comedy classics, there is no better example than the hugely popular and critically-acclaimed 'Only Fools and Horses'. Set in Peckham, inner London, it chronicles the adventures and exploits of ambitio... read more

If you've ever wondered how The Plamglotis gets from A to B, or what Munty Flumple really, really likes, then Flanimals will prove the perfect user-friendly guide. Brilliantly illustrated by Rob Steen, and full colour throughout, Flanimals is a must-have.Meet the Plamglotis who, born without feet, swallows its hands to walk on looking for food. Unfortunately, when it finds food it can't eat because its mouth is already full.The Underblenge has a snerbulent splench sucker that captures prey by sticking to their face and suffocatin... read more

Look what you get in this cromulent compendium! Comprehensive episode synopses for 20 seasons of Simpsons, including 128 new gut-busting episodes never before covered! Stuff you may have missed! More screen shots than ever before! Over four hundred character profiles! Every chalkboard phrase Bart has ever written! Nifty new art throughout! Quotes and quips from all your favorite characters! Two or more jam-packed pages devoted to every episode! As well as: Every couch gag, A complete filmography of "Itchy & Scratchy" Every "D'o... read more

William Roache has been part of "Coronation Street" since the very first episode, in December 1960, when he first appeared playing the character of Ken Barlow. In "50 Years on the Street: My Life with Ken Barlow", Roache reflects on half a century of treasured memories accumulated during his time working on the long-running soap. He revisits the programme's most memorable moments and ponders the secret of its success while exploring the history of the show from its very early days of live broadcasts to the demands of the Street's s... read more

The Rough Guide to Cult Movies offers a blend of essential trivia and informed opinion as it takes you on a tour of the most compellingly weird - and weirdly compelling - films in the world. Whether you're a paid-up member of The Big Lebowski fan club or just looking for a night in with an interesting DVD, The Rough Guide to Cult Movies is the ultimate guide to the world's most memorable films. The Rough Guide to Cult Movies selects cinema's most compelling triumphs: films that are brilliant, intriguing or just plain bizarre; from ... read more

This is the first single volume to investigate the history of film in New Zealand. It looks at the very beginning of the NZ film industry, in the early years of the twentieth century, rather than concentrating on the renaissance in the 1970s. It covers all of the major directors, who have had international success, including Geoff Murphy, Roger Donaldson, Lee Tamahori, Jane Campion, Vincent Ward and Peter Jackson. It provides a fascinating insight into a national cinema which is now globally successful.

Since New Zealand Cinema burst on to the global stage in the late 1970s, it has maintained a high-profile presence, capturing the imagination and enthusiasm of both national and international audiences, through such films as "Vigil", "Whale Rider" and "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Contemporary New Zealand Cinema provides an astute and definitive analysis of this fascinating industry. Focusing on industrial and commercial concerns, questions of aesthetics and form, and the cultural debates surrounding nation and identity, the boo... read more

This book is a celebration of how far the New Zealand film industry has come in the last 30 years of making home-grown movies. This has been a time when film has leapt ahead as an industry and gained recognition from the home audience - and from international audiences too. It is illustrated throughout with posters from around the world for the films we love.