Our Favor!te Things: Jen Schuster
It’s that time of the year….RECAPS. We asked many of authors, friends, families, coworkers, and some random people on the street what a few of their favorites have been. And we’re posting them here! Starting off with our very own It Books Editor, Jennifer Schuster!
Favor!te Film: Bridesmaids
Favor!te Album: Adele – 21; Jack’s Mannequin – People and Things
Favor!te Book: Just Kids by Patti Smith; Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? By Mindy Kaling
Favor!te Designer: DVF, Tory Burch
Favor!te TV sho
w: Homeland, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Up All Night, New Girl
Favor!te Twitterer: Mindy Kaling; Sophia Rossi, Khloe Kardashian
Who do you most want to smooch on New Year’s Eve? My husband, this is our first New Year’s Eve as husband and wife!
What do you want the most as a holiday gift? Garmin Forerunner GPS watch for running, so I can track my pace and distance accurately. I could have used one in the NYC marathon this year, so hopefully it will inspire me to run some big races in 2012.
Perfect gifts for everyone on your list…
Your It List presents our top picks for gifts this holiday season for everyone on your list.
Harry Potter Page to Screen by Bob McCabe
Coming in at over 500 amazing pages, Harry Potter: Page to Screen opens the doors to Hogwarts castle and the wizarding world of Harry Potter to reveal the complete behind-the-scenes secrets, techniques, and over-the-top artistry that brought J.K. Rowling’s acclaimed novels to cinematic life.
Buy Harry Potter Page to Screen or watch a video.
How I Got This Way by Regis Philbin
In this entertaining memoir, the irrepressible Reege—consummate talk-show host, man-about-town, loving husband, father, and yes, obsessive sports fan—looks back at his years in show business and is filled with stories of lessons learned—and elbows rubbed—with extraordinary, and often unsuspecting, teachers.
Buy How I Got This Way or read an excerpt.
Marilyn Monroe: Metamorphosis by David Wills
In Marilyn Monroe: Metamorphosis, David Wills has gathered spectacular, museum-quality work from Marilyn’s key photographers to create this dazzling portfolio of images from every period of Marilyn Monroe’s adult life, from her wedding day in 1942 till just weeks before her death two decades later, this stunning collection pays homage to her continually evolving style and extraordinary beauty.
Buy Marilyn Monroe: Metamorphosis or read an excerpt.
100 Unforgettable Dresses by Hal Rubenstein
100 Unforgettable Dresses is filled with the stories, secrets, intrigue, and insights behind the most indelible dresses in our collective memories. This book celebrates the staying power of these gorgeous, sleek, sultry, and outrageous creations as well as the lasting impact they’ve had in fashion, popular culture, and our own lives.
Buy 100 Unforgettable Dresses or read an excerpt.
Dear Cary by Dyan Cannon
With unparalleled honesty, Dyan Cannon shares the heartwarming and heartbreaking story of her magical romance and stormy marriage to screen legend Cary Grant. He was the ultimate star, defining Hollywood glamour as well as cinematic achievement. She was a bright new actress, beautiful and funny. What could possibly go wrong?
Buy Dear Cary or read an excerpt.
The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories by hitRECord and Joseph Gordon-Levitt
To create The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories: Volume 1, Joseph Gordon-Levitt directed thousands of collaborators to tell tiny stories through words and art. Reminiscent of the 6-Word Memoir series, The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories: Volume 1 brings together art and voices from around the world to unite and tell stories that defy size.
Buy The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories, read an excerpt or watch a video.
Manolo Blahnik and The Tale of the Elves and the Shoemaker by Camilla Morton, illustrated by Manolo Blahnik
International bestselling author Camilla Morton reimagines the classic “Elves and the Shoemaker” fairytale, blending elements of famed shoe designer Manolo Blahnik’s life story into the fabric of the immortal “Once Upon a Time” favorite, complete with original illustrations from Blahnik himself.
Buy Manolo Blahnik and The Tale of the Elves and the Shoemaker or read an excerpt.
The History of the World According to Facebook by Wylie Overstreet
Now, for the first time, a full-length history of the world, from its creation up through present day, as if Facebook had existed all along and Abraham Lincoln had written a status update about “taking the missus to the theater” and Ben Franklin had done the same alerting his network that he’d signed the Declaration of Independence. Filled with hundreds of real-life historical figures and thousands of not-at-all-real Facebook statuses, this is the definitive humor book for a new generation of scholars.
Buy The History of the World According to Facebook or read an excerpt.
The Art of The Adventures of Tintin by Weta Workshop
Go behind the scenes and explore the movie-making magic that comes alive on screen in Steven Spielberg’s upcoming film The Adventures of Tintin, shown through text, photos and illustrations from Weta Worskshop, the ground-breaking and Academy Award-winning visual effects team.
Buy The Art of The Adventures of Tintin or read an excerpt.
Menagerie by Sharon Montrose
Celebrated author and photographer Sharon Montrose presents a compendium of wild and domestic animal portraits displayed in unusual and innovative ways-the perfect gift for the legions of fans of cute animals everywhere.
Buy Menagerie or read an excerpt.
The History of American Graffiti by Roger Gastman and Caleb Neelon
Unprecedented in scope, The History of American Graffiti is the definitive story behind the most influential art form of the last one hundred years. With more than one thousand photographs from more than two hundred photographers, The History of American Graffiti captures the look and feel of a genuine American art form with exceptional clarity and detail.
Buy The History of American Graffiti or read an excerpt.
HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS ACQUIRES NEWMARKET PRESS NAME AND CATALOG
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS ACQUIRES NEWMARKET PRESS NAME AND CATALOG
Esther Margolis to Join the It Books Imprint
New York, NY (October 24, 2011) HarperCollins Publishers today announced that it has acquired the rights to the majority of titles published by Newmarket Press. As part of the agreement, Esther Margolis, Founder, President, and Publisher of Newmarket Press, will join the HarperCollins It Books imprint as an Executive Editor, where she will continue to acquire entertainment-related books to be published under the imprint Newmarket Press for It Books. The move is part of HarperCollins’s continuing expansion in the areas of pop-culture and entertainment publishing. The changes are effective immediately.
“For years, Newmarket Press has been the industry’s leading publisher of film-related books. Its list of screenplays, making-of books, tie-ins, and other titles on cinema is second to none. Esther Margolis is a highly respected veteran of both the publishing and the film industries, with unparalleled relationships with countless studios and filmmakers. Her wealth of knowledge and experience in publishing to this audience will be an invaluable asset to the growing It Books list,” said Cal Morgan, Senior Vice President and Publisher, It Books.
“HarperCollins Publishers makes a great home for the Newmarket list,” said Margolis. “The resources of HarperCollins and the It Books team will allow the Newmarket backlist to flourish in all channels and formats while enabling me to add to the list going forward.”
Newmarket Press was founded by Margolis in 1981. During its 29 years, the imprint has published more than 200 books in the areas of film, theater, and performing arts, including official tie-in books for films that have garnered more than 300 Oscar nominations and nearly 100 wins. Newmarket Press is especially noted for its illustrated books on such films as Milk; The Matrix; Gladiator; Moulin Rouge; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; Chicago; Sense and Sensibility; Saving Private Ryan; and Dances with Wolvesand for its acclaimed Newmarket Shooting Script® Series, including screenplays for King’s Speech, The Hurt Locker, Slumdog Millionaire, Milk, Juno, Little Miss Sunshine; Sideways; Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind; American Beauty; and Shawshank Redemption, among others. Other notable Newmarket titles about moviemaking include The Jaws Log, Final Cut, and Making Tootsie.
In addition, the Newmarket Press list has included more than 100 titles in the fields of parenting, psychology, health, biography, history, business, and fiction, including such popular and acclaimed books as the two-million-copy bestselling What’s Happening to My Body? series of puberty education books by Lynda Madaras; Daphne Oz’s national bestseller The Dorm Room Diet; Suze Orman’s national bestseller You’ve Earned It, Don’t Lose It; Dr. Georgia Witkin’s The Female Stress Syndrome; Gene Hackman & Daniel Lenihan’s first novel, Wake of the Perdido Star; Stuart Avery Gold’s international bestseller Ping: A Frog in Search of a New Pond; Shalom, Friend: The Life and Legacy of Yitzhak Rabin, winner of the National Jewish Book Award in nonfiction; The Words of Gandhi and The Words of Martin Luther King, Jr.; and six works by William Wharton. All non-film-and-entertainment-related Newmarket Press titles acquired by HarperCollins will be published as trade paperbacks under the William Morrow Trade Paperbacks imprint.
Esther Margolis received the 2008 Poor Richard Award from The New York Center for Independent Publishing, given to a publisher who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of independent publishing. A member of the Women’s Forum, the Women’s Media Group, and Writers Guild of America, Margolis serves on the Trade Executive Committee of the Association of American Publishers, and the American Advisory Committee of the Jerusalem International Book Fair. She originated Bantam Books’ publicity operation in the 1960’s, later becoming Bantam’s first division head for marketing, publicity and communications worldwide, and worked closely with such authors as Jacqueline Susann, Maya Angelou, Louis L’Amour, Gail Sheehy, and E.L. Doctorow.
About It Books
Launched in September 2009, It Books is dedicated to publishing exceptional books in entertainment, music, fashion, design, art, celebrity, pop culture and sports. It Books has published numerous New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times bestsellers including the # 1 New York Times bestsellers Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern and Red by Sammy Hagar as well as Getting the Pretty Back by MollyRingwald, Booky Wook 2 by Russell Brand, The Red Hot Chili Peppers by The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Everyone Loves You When You’re Dead by Neil Strauss, All My Life by Susan Lucci and The EveryGirl’s Guide to Life by Maria Menounos. Upcoming publications include Dear Cary by Dyan Cannon and Beauty, Disrupted by Carré Otis. It Books is an imprint HarperCollins Publishers, one of the largest English-language publishers in the world and a subsidiary of News Corporation (NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV). It Books can be found online at www.YourItList.com, www.Facebook.com/YourItList, www.Twitter.com/YourItList and www.Twitter.com/ItBooks.
About HarperCollins Publishers
HarperCollins, one of the largest English-language publishers in the world, is a subsidiary of News Corporation (NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV). Headquartered in New York, HarperCollins has publishing groups around the world including the HarperCollins General Books Group, HarperCollins Children’s Books Group, Zondervan, HarperCollins UK, HarperCollins Canada, HarperCollins Australia/New Zealand and HarperCollins India. HarperCollins is a broad-based publisher with strengths in literary and commercial fiction, business books, children’s books, cookbooks, mystery, romance, reference, religious and spiritual books. With nearly 200 years of history HarperCollins has published some of the world’s foremost authors and has won numerous awards including the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award, the Newbery Medal and the Caldecott. Consistently at the forefront of innovation and technological advancement HarperCollins is the first publisher to digitize its content and create a global digital warehouse to protect the rights of its authors, meet consumer demand and generate additional business opportunities. You can visit HarperCollins Publishers on the Internet at http://www.harpercollins.com.
Casting !t: Just Kids
It was announced yesterday via MediaBistro that rock goddess and National Book Award winning author Patti Smith with be helping adapt her amazing memoir Just Kids (my Favor!te book of 2010) for the screen alongside screenwriter and Tony Award winning playwright John Logan.
If you haven’t heard (I can’t see how you haven’t), Just Kids is Smith’s memoir of arriving in New York in 1967 and the then 20 year old’s chance encounter with Robert Mapplethorpe, another 20 year old aspiring artist. It’s her story of their love, their friendship, their art and a New York few would recognize today.
So the question goes out… who would you cast as Smith and Mapplethorpe?
Kristen Stewart (age: 21) and Robert Pattison (age: 25)
Surely these two will be at the top of studio exec’s wish list. Stewart, proved that she could rock in her transformation into Joan Jett in the film biopic The Runaways and the resemblance between the two [rumored] real-life couple to the originals is uncanny. But the fit and the two megastars’ ties to the mega-Twilight-franchise may not hit audiences (or Ms. Smith) the right way.
Frances Bean Cobain (age: 19) and Ezra Miller (age: 18)
The Princess of Grunge as the Godmother of Punk? Can Miss Cobain act? Who knows? But if she can – and would want to step up into the Hollywood world, the photos by Hedi Slimane that recently were released prove she has the look – and the balls – to play Smith. I’d cast the currently almost famous Ezra Miller as Mapplethorpe against Cobain’s Smith. He has the East Village circa 1967 thing down already – and if his performance in the upcoming We Need to Talk About Kevin is as amazing as is being predicted, this could be the massive follow-up he will be looking for.
Emma Watson (age: 21) and Nicholas Hout (age: 21)
Former Harry Potter student Emma Watson seems poised for an image-crashing turn in to catapult her out of Hogwarts. I’d pair her with fellow Brit Nicholas Hout, who came to fame years ago in About a Boy and crashed his own child-star image in the amazing British take on Gossip Girl (but dirtier and better) Skins. His follow-up to that, playing the lovelorn college boy pining for a night with professor Colin Firth in Tom Ford’s A Single Man.
Jennifer Damiano (age: 20) and Eddie Redmayne (age: 29)
Perhaps the modern day Smith and Mapplethorpe might be found forty blocks north of The Village and on Broadway. Jennifer Damiano got amazing attention for her originating role in Spring Awakening. Followed by her Tony-nominated role in Next to Normal. Currently she’s starring in Spider Man. So she should be looking for a new job soon. The Mapplethorpe to Damiano’s Smith? Eddie Redmayne, the Tony award-winning star of Red and the upcoming film My Week with Marilyn.
So who do you think should be cast as Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe in Just Kids?
It Books Acquires Brad Goreski’s Debut Title
Part style guide, part memoir, and full of inspiration!
NEW YORK, NY (August 4, 2011) – It Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, announced today that it has acquired Born to Be Brad: Life and Style Lessons from the Front Lines of Fashion, by TV and fashion personality Brad Goreski. The publication of the book will coincide with Goreski’s premiere season on BRAVO’s “It’s a Brad, Brad World,” produced by Shed Media and Television 360, in 2012.
Lisa Sharkey, Senior Vice President and Director of Creative Development at HarperCollins, acquired North American rights for It Books from Farley Chase of the Waxman Literary Agency. Amy Bendell will edit the book. Collaborating with Goreski is writer Mickey Rapkin, former editor at GQ and author of Pitch Perfect (2008), now in development from Universal Pictures.
Fans know Brad Goreski as a top celebrity stylist, fashion trendsetter, and the fun-loving former assistant to Rachel Zoe, but few know the story of how he got there. The book will recount Goreski’s childhood in Port Perry, Ontario, where he escaped the taunts of bullies by reading fashion magazines, performing in the local children’s theater group and playing stylist to Barbie. Moving to Toronto and landing an internship, and later a job at Vogue, helped him break into the competitive fashion world and eventually capture the hearts of millions as the quirky and endearing assistant on BRAVO’s The Rachel Zoe Project. Along with the moving story of his road to success, he will offer a glimpse into his world now, filled with insider access to behind-the-scenes photo shoots and the countless red carpets and awards shows. And of course, the book will also feature his fashion advice and style tips and tricks, complete with color photos.
“I couldn’t be more excited to be working with the creative team at It Books and to tell my story to my fans. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is be true to yourself. I hope that Born to be Brad will inspire others to pursue their dreams, because to make dreams come true we have to listen to our hearts and not be afraid to fail,” said Brad Goreski.
“There’s no one out there like Brad, and this book will be as unique and creative as the style trendsetter Brad has become. Fans everywhere will be empowered by his moving life story, and entertained by his wit,” said Lisa Sharkey.
About It Books: Launched in September 2009, It Books is dedicated to publishing exceptional books in entertainment, music, fashion, design, art, celebrity, pop culture and sports. It Books has published numerous New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times bestsellers including the # 1 New York Times bestsellers Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern and Red by Sammy Hagar as well as Getting the Pretty Back by MollyRingwald, Booky Wook 2 by Russell Brand, The Red Hot Chili Peppers by The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Everyone Loves You When You’re Dead by Neil Strauss, All My Life by Susan Lucci and The EveryGirl’s Guide to Life by Maria Menounos. Upcoming publications include Dear Cary by Dyan Cannon and Beauty, Disrupted by Carré Otis. It Books is an imprint HarperCollins Publishers, one of the largest English-language publishers in the world and a subsidiary of News Corporation (NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV). It Books can be found online at www.YourItList.com, www.Facebook.com/YourItList, www.Twitter.com/YourItList and www.Twitter.com/ItBooks.
Once More, With Feeling
It’s a question we’ve all asked ourselves at one point or another: if I were trapped on a desert island that magically had electricity and a television, but could only bring one TV series to watch, what would it be? I decided to take it a step further: what if I could only bring a single episode of a TV show?
In addition to being awesome, it would need to possess certain qualities:
- Satisfying to watch repeatedly
- Enough of a relationship to the rest of the show that hours of entertainment could be had by discussing (with yourself or your volleyball) the larger significance of the episode
- Not a cliffhanger. How evil would that be?
For me, the answer is, hands down, the Buffy musical episode, “Once More, With Feeling.”
For those of you who have seen it, I know that you know what I’m talking about. This is clearly the right choice.
For everyone else: First off, I can tell that you’re thinking, “A musical episode of a show about high school students who fight demons? How could that be good?”* Well, I’m not the only one who thinks so. It was nominated for an Emmy, and received rave reviews, like “‘Once More, with Feeling’ is rhapsodic, original, deeply affecting, and ultimately, transcendental. Quite simply, television at its best.” (The Toronto Star) Also, if you’re a fan of Glee, just think: wouldn’t Glee be even better with a few vampires and Joss Whedon’s writing?**
The basic premise is that a demon (a dancing demon…no, something isn’t right there) shows up in Sunnydale, and suddenly everyone is singing and dancing about anything and everything: dry cleaning, parking tickets, the difficulty of feeling connected to life when you’ve been brought back from the dead by your well-intentioned friends, secret plans for leaving town, bunny conspiracy theories. You know, the usual. It doesn’t sound too demonic until you realize that A) some people are dancing until they burst into flames and B) nobody has any control over what they’re singing, so they end up spilling their innermost secrets.
In terms of desert island appeal:
- Think of the weeks of entertainment that could be gained by learning all of the songs (if, um, one didn’t already know them) and the corresponding dance moves.
- The execution is brilliant; hours could be spent marveling over how well the songs move the action forward. The songs are a realistic (within the Buffyverse) way of having secrets come into the open all at once–how cool a premise is that?
- Because of that, there are many major plot points happening within this episode, so there’s tons of stuff to analyze. (To be fair, this would only be helpful if you had seen, at a minimum, the first part of the season.)
There are a number of jokes that are easy to miss the first time or five around, so it only gets better the more you watch.- Spike. (Swoon.)
- Perhaps most importantly, if you are stuck on an island watching a single episode of anything over and over again, you need an episode that will motivate you to get your butt in gear, build a raft and/or signal fire, and figure out how to get off the island already.*** Buffy’s struggle to reconnect with her own life should resonate with you and motivate you in your time of need.
So–if you had to pick only one hour of TV to bring to your island, what would it be?
*Technically, because this episode is in the 6th season, only Dawn is still a high school student. The others graduated in epic Sunnydale style at the end of Season 3. Speaking of which–Alyssa Rosenberg has an excellent post about graduation & after here.
**Yes.
***It seems like Lost or Survivor might also have episodes that would be good for this particular purpose. But do they have singing and dancing? No. No, they do not.
The 90′s are BACK!
The 90′s are back but in the best possible way!
As a child born in the late 80′s and raised in the 90′s I feel it is my duty, nay, my honor to share with you the joy that Nickelodeon gave to me in my childhood years (dramatic much?). This week Teen Nick launched “90′s Are All That” promoting the late night 90′s shows that are now back at Nickelodeon. These shows include: All That, Kenan & Kel, Clarissa Explains It All, and Doug (a personal favorite).
It is rumored that the executives over at Nick are open to suggestions for other 90′s favorites to be added to the late night list. Personally, I wouldn’t mind Rugrats, CatDog, Hey Arnold!, The Secret World of Alex Mack, or my favorite, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, to be added to the line-up.
Did I stay up late last night giggling like the child I was over the epic shorts from All That?
You bet your bottom dollar I did!
If you are like myself, and many other kids of the 90′s, then what are some of your favorite shows from way back when?
Year of the Geek Girl
Chinese astrologers may claim that 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit, but I’m going to have to respectfully disagree. The omens are clear for the Year of the Geek Girl:
- In early 2011, kickass website TheMarySue.com launched, with the goals of “highlighting women in the geek world, and providing a prominent place for the voices of geek women.”
- GeekGirlCon, a nonprofit organization and convention celebrating the female geek, will have its first event October 8-9.
- Leslie Simon’s new book, Geek Girls Unite: How Fangirls, Bookworms, Indie Chicks, and Other Misfits Are Taking Over the World, goes on sale October 18. (Full disclosure: I’m the editor.)
One of my favorite things about getting to work on Leslie’s book has been finding out about the countless incredible women who are shaking things up across a variety of industries, like comics, video games, literature, music, film, comedy, home decorating, and more. And Leslie is going to be blogging about the most inpiring with a new Geek Girl of the Week feature on her site! Check out her initial posts on Bonnie Burton and Bjork here. (And, no, it’s not limited to geekettes whose names start with “B.”)
Finally, super important note: I only mentioned three of them here, but there are dozens or possibly even hundreds of other great sites, twitter feeds, Facebook groups, and Google+ circles (OK, maybe not that) aimed at extraordinary women. Please let us know your site or your favorite site in the comments, and we’ll make sure to keep everyone posted on book launch events and giveaways!
In Permanent Ink
Enthusiasts around the world have shown their admiration in many different ways for the things they love most. However nothing seems as intense as permanently inking your body with symbols or designs honoring your favorite sport, movie, celebrity, hobby, etc. Some call it crazy, some call it awesome, and some call it just-plain-idiotic. Whatever label you put on it, it is what it is; “fan”atical tattoos.
The history of tattoos goes back thousands of years. Though how this artistic trend came about is hazy, the evolution of the tattoo is sometimes extreme. So to honor the crazy, the awesome, and the just-plain-idiotic (you can decide for yourself) enjoy this collection of “fan”actical tattoos.
You Don’t Know Jack
You can never go wrong with snark and trivia games. That’s why I was so glad to see the modern classic You Don’t Know Jack available again for the 21st century! “The irreverent trivia party game,” YDKJ originally came out in 1995 for the PC and was a hit because of its sarcastic host and cleverly-worded questions. (If you choose to skip the directions, host Cookie Masterson defensively quips, “I’m sorry, was I talking too much?”) They’ve kept both the host and the witty writing, and updated the questions for today’s Gaga-riffic world.
These questions cover stuff you learned in school at some point, as well as things you pick up from modern pop culture, making it hipper than Jeopardy and less obscure than Trivial Pursuit. For instance:
(Marky Mark’s got a what?)
(Answer: #sharp)
In addition to the standard multiple choice question format, there’s “Dis or Dat”, where you distinguish a Tweet from Taylor Swift from one by the Dalai Lama (“Others have the right to happiness, just like yourself”; “Japan is amazing”), or the title of a film by the Three Stooges from one by porn star Jenna Jameson (“Rockin’ in the Rockies”; “4 for Texas”). Is the Crypts of Lieberkuhn a body part–or a Harry Potter location?
(Answer: body part.)
The game’s available for the major home gaming consoles, as well as in a scaled-down iOS version. Try the free lite version for your iPhone and try not to burst out laughing in public.
And if you’re feeling generous, YDKJ would appreciate your rating it in the App Store:
Happy National Kissing Day
Kiss: to express a thought, feeling, love, passion, etc., by a contact of the lips.
Today is National Kissing Day (or International Kissing Day) so grab someone and lay a big smackeroo on them. It is said to be originally started in the United Kingdom however it was quickly adopted by the rest of the world because, hey, who doesn’t love a good smooch on the lips? Let us appreciate the intimacy we get from a good kiss and not take one for granted by participating in this treasured day for years to come.
Take this as a reminder, or perhaps a warning to some of you, that kissing will be occurring and it may happen to you.
In the mean time enjoy this collection of famous kisses from the past.
“A kiss can be a comma, a question mark or an exclamation point.
That’s basic spelling that every woman ought to know.”
Mistinguett (Jeanne Bourgeois), Theatre Arts, December 1955
“A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous.”
Ingrid Bergman
hitRECord + It Books + Tiny Stories
It Books and hitRECord Partner to Publish The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories Series
The first book in a three-book partnership to hit stores in December 2011
NEW YORK, NY (July 5, 2011) – It Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, announced today that it has acquired publishing rights to the Tiny Book of Tiny Stories series with Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s open collaborative production company hitRECord. The new book titled The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories: Volume I is scheduled to be published in December.
The ‘tiny’ book will feature a number of (very) short stories and illustrations developed through hitRECord. With the help of his entire creative collective, Gordon-Levitt will cull, edit and curate the massive number of contributions into a finely-tuned collection.
“It’s very exciting for me and hitRECord – now more than 45,000 artists strong – to be working with It Books and HarperCollins to bring ‘Tiny Stories’ to the mainstream – a dream come true, really,” says Gordon-Levitt.
“We think what hitRECord is doing is new and groundbreaking. We’re thrilled by the prospect of working with them to capture this mass collaborative art in book form,” says Mauro DiPreta, Vice President and Associate Publisher for It Books. He acquired the project from Creative Artists Agency.
Throughout the month of July, Gordon-Levitt is inviting the worldwide creative community to join in on the Tiny Stories collaboration. Artists can participate by submitting their writing and illustrations, and they’re also encouraged to edit and remix others’ contributions. The ‘Tiny Stories’ collaboration is already a hive of activity and can be found at the hitRECord website at: http://hitrecord.org/records/407384.
Click HERE to see a video of Joseph Gordon-Levitt announcing the Tiny Stories partnership (starts at approximately 9 mins).
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About It Books: Launched in September 2009, It Books is dedicated to publishing exceptional books in entertainment, music, fashion, design, art, celebrity, pop culture and sports. It Books has published numerous New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times bestsellers including the # 1 New York Times bestsellers Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern and Red by Sammy Hagar as well as Getting the Pretty Back by MollyRingwald, Booky Wook 2 by Russell Brand, The Red Hot Chili Peppers by The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Everyone Loves You When You’re Dead by Neil Strauss, All My Life by Susan Lucciand The EveryGirl’s Guide to Life by Maria Menounos. Upcoming publications include Dear Cary by Dyan Cannon and Beauty, Disrupted by Carré Otis.
It Books is an imprint HarperCollins Publishers, one of the largest English-language publishers in the world and a subsidiary of News Corporation (NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV). It Books can be found online at www.YourItList.com, www.Facebook.com/YourItList, www.Twitter.com/YourItList and www.Twitter.com/ItBooks.
About hitRECord: Founded and directed by Golden Globe-nominated actor and artist Joseph Gordon-Levitt, hitRECord is an open collaborative production company where members can contribute their work in various forms including music, videos, text and drawings. Members are then encouraged to add, edit, remix and collaborate with each other. HitRECord currently has over 45,000 active members worldwide. Over 1,000 creative contributions are added daily and over 100 new artists join hitRECord each day. As with all of hitRECord’s money-making productions, profits for ‘The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories’ will be split 50-50 between hitRECord and the book’s contributing artists.
• hitRECord website: www.hitrecord.org
Tiny Stories collaboration page: http://hitrecord.org/records/407384
• hitRECord Twitter: www.twitter.com/hitrecord
Joseph Gordon-Levitt Twitter: www.twitter.com/hitRECordJoe
More Potter?
Since 1997, when thousands became enchanted on a search for a Sorcerer’s Stone, to 2010, when millions followed the beginning of an adventure throughout the wizard world to find hidden horcruxes, Harry Potter has been a billion dollar hit for author J.K. Rowling. The adventure finally concludes, with the second half of The Deathly Hallows, on June 15th… or so we thought.
A few weeks ago, Rowling posted a video on Youtube, a website called pottermore.com, as well as a twitter account for the new mysterious site. They all had owls standing on a sign that read ‘coming soon…’ and fans waited for her to release the mystery project that she has been working on.
I grew up with Harry Potter and to me, this was the end of an era. Between reading the books in a day when they were first released, to being so excited to be “old enough” in my mom’s eyes to go to the midnight release of the 4th book, and secretly wishing for my own letter from Hogwarts, I grew up with Harry, Herminone, and Ron, much like many people my age did. This final movie was known to be the end of it for all of us… until “Pottermore” appeared and left questions of what Rowling was planning.
Today, ‘soon’ arrived and J.K. Rowling revealed the project through a video on Youtube. Pottermore.com, opening to fans in October, is a virtual world of Harry Potter. Those interested can create their own character, get a wand, and be placed in a House at Hogwarts, something people have longed to be able to do for 14 years now. Rowling has written new material not included in the books for the site about characters and locations well known to fans of the Potter series. In addition, she will be releasing the seven books in the e-book format, only on her website, for the first time.
While I have been a fan of the series for most of my life, I’m not going to be running to sign up to play in a virtual Harry Potter world. However, I am glad that she is releasing this site as a way for more children to become as involved in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter as I have! 
Cultural Musings: Reality TV
Our guest blogger this week is our intern Oliver Morrison. Here is what he has to say:
Why do we love reality television? It’s entertaining. But is it more than that? I believe that reality television appeals to us because it makes us feel better about ourselves. What’s more amusing than watching people deal with day-to-day problems in worse ways than we do? For example, I sleep well at night knowing that I resolve disputes with my friends by sitting down and talking. Meanwhile, our lovable character, Snookie, from the the Jersey Shore, gets into fist-fights when her roommate leaves their dishes out. When there is some element of speech used to solve conflicts in a reality television show, it is barely heard because of the constant beeping sounds used to block out loud profanity and vulgar remarks. There is also an element of Schadenfreude behind the entertainment of reality television. No one can deny that there is some pleasure to be gained from seeing cat-fights, sleazy romantic drama, and generally tense and heated situations. I see reality television as a similar form of entertainment as the public executions in ancient Rome. The Romans sat and watched lions devouring victims in a stadium, as we sit and watch reality television’s train-wrecked characters screaming and fighting. Entertainment like this will never leave our society because no matter how guilty it might make us feel, it is a part of human nature.
It Books Signs New Book by Justin Halpern
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Alberto G. Rojas, Senior Director of Publicity
212-207-7891; alberto.rojas@harpercollins.com
Heidi Metcalfe, Associate Director of Publicity
212-207-7486; heidi.metcalfe@harpercollins.com
It Books Signs New Book by Justin Halpern, the # 1 New York Times Bestselling author of Sh*t My Dad Says
NEW YORK, NY (June 15, 2011) – It Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, announced today a deal to publish the next book by New York Times bestselling author Justin Halpern. Halpern is the author and comedy writer behind the runaway bestseller Sh*t My Dad Says, which sold 1,000,000 copies within its first year of publication, appeared on the New York Times bestseller list for 40 weeks (including 11 weeks at number one), and has been sold to 20 countries worldwide.
The book, currently referred to as Unt*tled, was acquired by Mauro DiPreta, Vice President and Associate Publisher of It Books from Byrd Leavell of the Waxman Literary Agency. Unt*tled has a tentative publication date of Spring 2012.
Unt*tled will be a series of essays recounting the twists and turns Halpern’s romantic life has taken. Among the stories he has to share: how he learned about sex by walking in on his parents at age nine, getting caught burying stolen pornography in his back yard by his father a few years later, and surviving as the last of his college friends to lose his virginity. Finally (spoiler alert), having taken stock of his love life, Justin jumps on a plane to San Francisco to propose to his girlfriend.
“Growing up, every time I saw a men’s magazine cover that had a headline about ‘73 Ways To Please Your Girlfriend,’ all I could think was, ‘I’m good with one; just tell me one way to please her. Also, I don’t have a girlfriend. Is there an article about that?’” Halpern says. “Throughout my life, most of my brushes with sex and relationships ended with embarrassment. Now, that could be because I’m awkward and began balding at an incredibly early age, but I’d like to think lots of other people felt the same way, and this book is for all of them.”
“If Sh*t My Dad Says established Justin as a new comedic voice,” says DiPreta, “Unt*tled cements it. The man can write as insightfully and humorously about romantic relationships as he can about fathers and sons. We are thrilled to continue to publish Justin with It Books.”
About Justin Halpern: In the summer of 2009, Justin Halpern created a Twitter account as a way to archive his father’s no-holds-barred, expletive-ridden words of wisdom. Within a month, www.Twitter.com/shitmydadsays became an Internet sensation. More than 2.5 million people currently follow Halpern’s musings on Twitter and Facebook alone. Justin’s first book, Sh*t My Dad Says (HarperCollins / It Books), a collection of essays about growing up with his unapologetically honest father, is a #1 New York Times bestseller. Justin currently splits his time between Los Angeles, where he is a writer on the CBS show “How To Be A Gentleman,” and his parents’ home in San Diego. He can be found online at www.Twitter.com/Justin_Halpern and www.JustinHalpern.tumblr.com.
About It Books: Launched in September 2009, It Books is dedicated to publishing exceptional books in entertainment, music, fashion, design, art, celebrity, pop culture and sports. It Books has published numerous New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times bestsellers including the # 1 bestsellers Red by Sammy Hagar and Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern, as well as Getting the Pretty Back by Molly Ringwald, Booky Wook 2 by Russell Brand, The Red Hot Chili Peppers by The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Everyone Loves You When You’re Dead by Neil Strauss, All My Life by Susan Lucci, and The EveryGirl’s Guide to Life by Maria Menounos. Upcoming publications include Dear Cary by Dyan Cannon and Beauty, Disrupted by Carré Otis. HarperCollins, one of the largest English-language publishers in the world, is a subsidiary of News Corporation (NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV). It Books can be found online at www.YourItList.com, www.Facebook.com/YourItList, www.Twitter.com/YourItList and www.Twitter.com/ItBooks.
Tony Tony Tony has done it again!
It might have been the 2 bottles of wine or approximately 8lbs of cheese that I consumed, but last night’s Tony Awards left me with a warm and fuzzy feeling all over. That feeling is still there this morning, so maybe it was actually the Tonys. It’s one of those I’m-so-proud-to-live-in-a-city-that-has-this-much-art-to-offer-even-though-I-can’t-afford-to-see-any-of-it feelings. The way I feel when I stand at Lincoln Center and am awestruck that in 100 feet in three directions is some of the world’s best opera, ballet and symphony. 100 feet in the the 4th direction is a homeless man peeing on a carriage horse. Yay New York!
But enough about homeless piss … the Tonys! I am very proud to say that I won my Tony Awards ballot, getting 22/26 of the awards correct. A complete list of the winners is on the American Theatre Wing’s website. Since you are no doubt curious, I’m going to tell you some of my favorite moments of the show.
My favorite performance was from The Book of Mormon, which won 9 awards, including Best Musical. This show is achingly funny and this number was amaze-balls (it’s a technical term).
And how darling was Daniel Radcliffe in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying? Very. I have yet to see this production, but had heard from some he couldn’t sing it. False. Also, there are bespoken men dancing, which I’m really okay with. The folks at my Tony party stopped in their tracks when Ellen Harvey started singing (about 2:15 in the video). Love her and I’m very concerned about her ankles.
Another favorite moment was the “host-off” between Neil Patrick Harris and Hugh Jackman. It’s not in the video, but it started with Jackman calling NPH, “Neil Patrick Harrison.” Judging by NPH’s response, I don’t think this was planned. Anyway, their song was a delightful 4-minute double entendre.
The opening number was a hysterical homage to the current state of Broadway proclaiming that the theatre is, “not just for gays any more.” Neil Patrick Harris proves he’s king and the song includes some cameos from Stephen Colbert and Brooke Shields (who later recovered from her enormous blunder) among others. Note: limit yourself to one glass of wine before a performance, or maybe just don’t have six.
The one weak spot in the evening was the Spiderman performance. What a snoozer. They could have cured a disease for what this musical has cost its producers. Instead, it looks as if they’ve created one.
All in all, the Tony Awards broadcast did exactly what it’s supposed to do. It made me want to sell my body so that I can afford to see more theatre. Inquire below.
Movies We Love: Men in Black
Men in Black is among my all-time favorite New York movies. Yeah, it’s a sci-fi comedy about a secret order of g-men/interstellar immigration officials in charge of safeguarding the Earth—but it’s also a bit of a love letter to the five boroughs, as evidenced by its wide-ranging, non Manhattan-centric set pieces and attention to detail: Shea Stadium! The Unisphere! Crown air fresheners! (Remember those?) I often wondered how much of the movie’s winky humor about the Big Apple really played in Topeka.
Very little has been revealed about the plot of the upcoming Men in Black III (though true to its B-movie roots, it will be released in glorious 3D), however we do know that there’s a time travel element that involves Agent J (Will Smith) having to go back in time to the 1960s to visit a young Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones as interpreted by Josh Brolin).
Filming has already been done in Morris Park in the Bronx and on Coney Island, and several blocks of Court Street in Downtown Brooklyn were clearly the staging area for one of the time travel portions, as is evidenced by this row of awesome vintage cars, which I totally wanted to hijack.
Let's hope they can take the Game Stop out in post.
My kingdom for 1960s cab fares.
A car after !t Books author Brian Johnson's heart, I'm sure.
Sadly we have to wait a full year to see how Agent J and Agent K will save the Earth this time, so for now I leave you with a little vintage Will Smith (sampling Patrice Rushen’s 1982 R&B classic “Forget Me Nots”). You know, to help you to remember . . . Send In the Men in Black
80s Cartoons are Truly Outrageous
It’s a well documented fact that I am a child of the 80s and watched every animated show created in that decade. I loved most of them (sorry, Alvin and the Chipmunks).
Now, new-ish television network The Hub has been rolling out some of the 80s classics recently, including the holy grail of 80s cartoons, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. I could talk about He-Man for a day, but that’s not why I’m here. What I want to share with you, dear reader, is the return of Jem! For those not aware, Jem was a show about a woman named Jerrica Benton who ran a record label, but also had an alter-ego, Jem, who was the front woman to the band Jem and the Holograms. Jerrica was able to transform into Jem by using holographic projectors in her earrings which were connected to a huge computer (named Synergy) that ran the show. Jem is basically every over-the-top and garish theme from the 80s rolled into a 22 minute cartoon. If you never saw the show it’s totally worth a shot. If you saw it in the 80s, you MUST re watch it as an adult. It wasn’t until I saw it as an adult that I realized why I liked it as a kid; it’s essentially a cartoon all about high tech computers, women in business, and drag queens. Just like my life today.
Also, The Hub, which clearly has it’s fingers on the pulse of what’s hot today, got Randall from the hilarious Honey Badger Don’t Care video to dub a trailer for the relaunch. The head of programming and marketing team of The Hub clearly deserve our thanks.
Check out the new trailer below:
Paris Hilton vs. Elle Woods
In one corner, Paris Hilton…worth something like $45 million dollars, she has more than a dozen lines of branded merchandise, a bestselling book, a hit single, an impressively hot mug shot, and new reality show—The World According to Paris—launching tonight. (I can’t lie: I’ll be watching. Oxygen, 10 pm EST.) She’s also appeared in many a movie and TV show, including my new favorite, Veronica Mars.
In the other corner, Legally Blonde star Elle Woods: Delta Nu sorority president, Harvard Law grad, animal rights activist, and the leading lady of two hit movies and an Emmy-award nominated Broadway show. She feels comfortable using legal jargon in everyday life, and also has her own Barbie Doll.
Both Paris and Elle are two relentlessly goal-oriented blondes, defying social expectations and hair color stereotypes to succeed on their own terms, with perfect hair the entire way. Sure, they may come across as flaky at times, but who am I to judge? I recently hit myself in the face with a door I was trying to open. We all have our blonde moments! And if you’re so smart, then you shouldn’t have any trouble guessing which blonde said what…
Paris or Elle?
1)
“People think I’m stupid. But I’m smarter than most people.”
2) “I have always respected redheads as members of a hair color minority.”
3) “This is just like C-SPAN, except I’m not bored.”
4) ”Oh, and I’ll see you at the White House. I might paint it pink.”
5) “The only rule is don’t be boring and dress cute wherever you go.”
Bonus essay question! OK, there’s one big difference between these two: Elle Woods is imaginary and Paris Hilton is real. Or is she? Paris acknowledges that she plays up a certain image for the media as a business branding strategy—and let’s be honest, do you have an album, movie and TV credits, multiple reality shows, and a perfume? That’s what I thought. Elle, on the other hand, while technically a movie character, is authentically herself in every scene, even managing to win legal battles based on her extensive knowledge of the rules of hair care (simple and finite, people!). So who’s really real: Elle or Paris?
Answer the bonus question in the comments, and best answer gets a copy of 101 Reasons to Shop, something both of these women know a little something about!
(Quiz answers: Paris: 1, 4, 5. Elle: 2, 3. If you are surprised by #4, you have forgotten Paris’s faux-Presidential campaign ad, in response to John McCain.)
Latest posters for Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Pt II
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part II, the eighth and final movie of the series, promises to be something EPIC. Check out some of the new posters below–I’m especially pleased to see some previously unsung heroes getting their solo poster due. Like Neville! In the books, he’s such a great character: it’s a shame that the movies had to gloss over his story, but here’s to hoping that he gets his props in this last movie. Check out the trailer here, and thanks to MuggleNet.com for the images.
July 15 can’t come quickly enough.
Harry Potter, man of the summer.
Time to step up, Neville Longbottom.
Severus Snape. <3
Draco Malfoy: wicked or just scared?
Everyone, calm down.
Adele!
Hi! I’ve not contributed to YourItList since approximately 1964, but I’m back! Get excited.
- Celine Dion – she is amazing after all.
- Justin Timberlake – now that he’s an “actor” I don’t guess this is likely to happen.
- Dolly Parton – it’s coming on June 28th! Before the apocalypse(s)!
- En Vogue – but I’m probably Never Gonna Get It.
- Charlene – without her, I’d have never been to me.
And since it seems that I’m writing about music, I have to tell you … not that you asked … that I’m getting quite tired of this “Lady Gaga is trying to be Madonna” thing. It’s getting old and I have other things to think about … like the Tony Awards or what I’m supposed to watch until 30 Rock and Modern Family come back. Anyway, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about it; probably too much time. If you like Lady Gaga, listen to Lady Gaga. If you like Madonna, listen to Madonna. If you like them both, well, then you have good taste and you should carry on.
Gaga vs. Madonna
Remembering Elizabeth Taylor
As of today, with the passing of Elizabeth Taylor, we are left without one of Hollywood’s greatest actresses. We can look back to some of her most memorable movies, like Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and A Place in the Sun, to really know why she was so legendary. And did we mention what a knockout she was? Check out these 100 jaw-dropping photos of Taylor on Buzzfeed.
Here is a scene from Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf–some of the best acting ever in just 1 minute 41 seconds. Dont you think so?
Sammy Hagar Rocks the House with his New Book Red
Last night (March 15), Sammy Hagar’s die hard fans came out in droves in New York City to hear the rock legend speak about his new book Red. Interviewed by author and journalist Neil Strauss, whose book Everyone Loves You When You’re Dead also came out yesterday, Hagar touched on his relationship with his Van Halen bandmates, the possibility of an upcoming reunion, his relationship with his parents, and much much more! For those who couldnt attend the book launch, check out this short video clip:
And here are some photos from the event:
(Sammy posing for cameras)
(Neil Strauss interviewing Sammy)
(Sammy signing copies for fans)
_______________
Rock out with your own copies of Sammy Hagar’s Red and Neil Strauss’ Everyone Loves You When You’re Dead, available everywhere.
It Books and HarperCollinsCanada Acquire Book by Superstar Blogger Kelly Oxford
It Books and HarperCollinsCanada, imprints of HarperCollins Publishers, have just jointly acquired a book by blogger and Twitter superstar Kelly Oxford. The book is scheduled to be published in the summer of 2012.
Oxford is a wife and mother of three who lives in Calgary. A blogger since the 1990s, she has a wide and growing following on Twitter, and her vocal fans include Roger Ebert, Jessica Alba, Jimmy Kimmel, Tony Hawk, Diablo Cody, Kevin Nealon, Susan Orlean, Ann Curry, Adam McKay, Mindy Kaling, Steve Nash, and Jonathan Ames. In March 2010, she performed alongside Ben Stiller, Ashton Kutcher, Will Ferrell, and other celebrities in A Night of 140 Tweets, a fundraising event for Haitian earthquake relief in LA, which brought together the biggest names on Twitter. Her Tumblr has received more than 2 million hits in the last nine months alone.
Last month, Oxford sold a sitcom based on her life, to be called The Mother of All Something, to CBS Studios with Jessica Alba and Jhoni Marchinko (Will & Grace) both attached to produce.
Oxford’s book will tell her story through a series of side-splitting essays touching on episodes throughout her life, from her childhood (when she wrote her first play in grade school, a classmate screamed, “DO YOU THINK YOU’RE THE QUEEN OF THE WORLD OR SOMETHING?”), to her days as an aspiring model (“I was 5’6″ and 80 pounds. Up to this point my middle school fame had mostly come from my Steve Urkel and Kids in the Hall “Chicken Lady” impressions”).
Much of the book will be devoted to her life today as a wife and mom, familiar to her fans through the blog posts and tweets that have made her famous (“Had my son’s hearing tested because he’s always yelling. Turns out he’s just an asshole”; “When my daughter was three I told her where meat comes from: ‘I love piggies so much more now that I know they taste like bacon’”).
Legendary film critic Roger Ebert has said of Oxford, “She’s bitingly funny, but everybody knows that. Didn’t the man write in the play, ‘We laugh, that we may not cry?’ That may provide insight into why she’s funny.”
“I couldn’t be happier that my book is coming out before the Mayan Calendar ends,” said Oxford. “I hope it’s the last thing everyone reads.”
