For sixteen weeks I have learned so many things from not only my instructor, Mr. Bradburn, but also from my classmate in my storytelling class. I have watched those who were so afraid to stand up in front of people and read a story from a book, find ease in standing in front of people on a stage and tell a story. As for me, I received out of the class exactly what I was searching for. Confidence. I learned that "improv" is not a scary word, and that it is alright to let my hair down and enjoy the stories I am telling. As a writer, this was something I feel was necessary to learn to help me grow, improving my telling of stories on paper. Watching and listening to my classmates confirmed what I have been saying for years. Everyone has a story to tell, and it was a pleasure being in the class hearing their stories. For Mr. Bradburn, I will never forget the classes I had with him. He is truly one of the greats.

An unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at the rise and fall of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour -- the provocative, politically charged program that shocked the censors, outraged the White House, and forever changed the face of television. Decades before The Daily Show, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour proved there was a place on television for no-holds-barred political comedy with a decidedly antiauthoritarian point of view. In this first-ever all-access history of the show, veteran entertainment journalist David Bianculli tells the fascinating story of its three-year network run -- and the cultural impact that's still being felt today. Before it was suddenly removed from the CBS lineup (reportedly under pressure from the Nixon administration), The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour was a ratings powerhouse. It helped launch the careers of comedy legends such as Steve Martin and Rob Reiner, featured groundbreaking musical acts like the Beatles and the Who, and served as a cultural touchstone for the antiwar movement of the late 1960s. Drawing on extensive original interviews with Tom and Dick Smothers and dozens of other key players -- as well as more than a decade's worth of original research -- Dangerously Funny brings readers behind the scenes for all the battles over censorship, mind-blowing musical performances, and unforgettable sketches that defined the show and its era. David Bianculli delves deep into this never-told story, to find out what really happened and to reveal why this show remains so significant to this day.

This is a comprehensive guide to writing the first draft of a feature length screenplay. While it focuses on the college semester (16 Weeks), it is also completely appropriate for anyone attempting to write a screenplay within a timeline. The text breaks down different approaches to designing a screenplay by providing pragmatic guidelines enhancing your ability to use creativity rather than focusing on rules. It highlights the skills necessary to execute compelling visual language to achieve good story, plot, dialog, dynamic characters, and help you put it all together. Think of this as a companion tool as you write. The language is simplified and yet academic, theoretically sound and yet pragmatic. It also offers additional insight into the history of screenwriting, the re-write process, and the specific skill sets needed for adaptation. This book is easy to understand and provides accounts for context from the author as a professional screenwriter, as well as anecdotes from other professionals (David Mickey Evans – The Sand Lot, and Vince McKewin – Fly Away Home, and Jeb Stuart – Die Hard, The Fugitive, Dana Coen – JAG, NCIS, and Anthony Tambakis — Warrior, Suicide Squad 2).

Shows how common early childhood practices that promote intellectual development have scientific research supporting them.

For centuries the sub-national languages of China have been a fundamental feature in daily life and popular culture, while a standardized form of Mandarin has been adopted as the language of the state (including education). Suppressed during powerful movements to establish a modern, national culture, these local languages or dialects have nevertheless survived, and their resurgence in the media and literature has caused tensions to surface. Concerns for education, law, and commerce have all promoted a standard national language, yet, at the same time, as local societies have undergone massive transformations, the need to re-imagine communities has repeatedly challenged the adequacy of a single language to represent them. Moreover, local languages have been presented in dramatically different and conflicted roles--as symbols of the failure to assimilate to a cultural mainstream (which in turn may be parodied as contingent and inadequate) or asserting the identity of a community as a site of its own cultural production and not merely as a venue for transmitting a national culture. Acknowledging local language as authentic may also reveal cultural hegemonies within regions and contested versions of communities. This ground-breaking study surveys in detail the sweep of local languages in television, radio, film, and print culture of late twentieth-century mainland China, especially Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing and Chengdu, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Focusing on these regions, the analysis contrasts and compares these distinct communities to each other and to the ways in which they mediate culture as a national institution. It draws on a wide range of critical, cultural, and media studies and explores how varied genres

Start small for big results with this inspiring guide to lifelong wellness—from popular health blogger and author of Operation Beautiful. In Healthy Tipping Point, Caitlin Boyle shares the down-to-earth philosophy and authoritative advice that has made her websites so popular. Believing that reaching a tipping point means much more than tipping the scales, Boyle helps readers find their personal ideal balance in food, fitness, love, and life, in a breakthrough program organized around three shifts: • Get Real: Challenge negative-thought patterns to create space for success • Eat Clean: Ditch conventional “diet” advice and follow a simple eating plan tailored to keep energy high, while helping the environment—including forty-five delicious vegetarian recipes for foodies on the go • Embrace Strength: Commit to a high-powered fitness program designed to help one learn to love exercise and build a strong, lean body—with targeted guidance for novice runners, bikers, swimmers, and others Featuring twenty inspiring success stories and photos of people who have transformed their lives, the book proves that a healthy body is absolutely attainable. Healthy living and a healthy self-image go hand in hand. For anyone who struggles to get fit, Healthy Tipping Point provides the drive to thrive.