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CHARLIE BAT and BRANDY-LYNN

Weetzie's parents are as different (or as alike) as New York and L.A., which is why they spend most of their time with a continent between them. Here are a few of their favorite things.

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CHARLIE BAT'S PICKS

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Ray Harryhausen: An Animated Life
by Ray Harryhausen and Tony Dalton


Billboard Books · 2004 · 304 pages
The story of the special effects pioneer behind movies like "Jason and the Argonauts," "Mighty Joe Young," and "Clash of the Titans." Before "The Lord of the Rings" films, before "A Nightmare Before Christmas," there was Harryhausen. If you've ever wondered "How did they do that?", you need to read this book.

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The Screenwriter's Bible: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting, and Selling Your Script
by David Trottier


Silman-James Press · 1998 · 314 pages

The most comprehensive guide to writing for the movies, this is really six books: a primer on terms and techniques; a workbook with formats for screenplays and TV; a guide to writing "on spec"; a resource for addresses, contacts, sample query letters, and checklists; and hundreds of examples & sample scenes. Everything from the fundamentals of writing to the ins and outs of marketing is covered here.

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Naked Lunch
by William S. Burroughs


Grove Press · Reissued 1992 · 232 pages
A classic tale of drug addiction and madness, adopted as a bible by many in the punk rock scene, this has been described both as a mixed-up jumble of pages and a genuine response to the climate of progress, American capitalism, and social conformity of the 1950s and 1960s. Either way, it's weird and wonderful and at times terrifying.

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Hip: the History
by John Leland


Ecco · 2004 · 384 pages

Leland, who has written for Spin, Details, and The New York Times, tries to suss out the nature of cool by exploring its relationship with American attitudes about race.

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BRANDY-LYNN'S PICKS
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Women in Film Noir
by Ann E. Kaplan


British Film Institute · 1999 · 256 pages
This book explores the role that women played in post-World War II films such as Double Indemnity, Blue Gardenia, and The Haunting.

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Sunset Boulevard
Directed by Billy Wilder


Paramount · 2004 · 110 minutes · DVD

Norma Desmond was a silent film star but her career quickly faded once "talkie" pictures became popular. But she's got an idea that she's sure will put her back in Hollywood's spotlight.

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Drive-In Dream Girls: A Galaxy of B-Movie Starlets of the Sixties
by Tom Lisanti


McFarland & Company · 2003 · 360 pages
In the 1960's there were tons of B-movies being made, many of which featured pretty young starlets. Fifty of these starlets are featured in this entertaining book.

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