Going Hollywood: How to Get Started,
Keep Going and Not Turn Into a Sleaze

Kristin M. Burke
iUniverse, $22.50

If this season's awards shows have inspired you to take a stab at a career in Hollywood, this book details the process from making the decision to move to Hollywood, landing the first job, to the various stages of successes and setbacks in pursuit of your dream. In addition to first-hand advice from studio execs, the book includes detailed listings of job sources, temporary employment options, apartment-finder services, maps and more.


The Big Show: High Times and Dirty Dealings
Backstage at the Academy Awards

Steve Pond
Faber & Faber, $21.50

Anyone with even a glimmer of interest in the Academy Awards will find this an interesting read. Journalist Steve Pond was given carte blanche access to the planning, production and backstage intrigue of the Oscars. The result is a juicy, behind-the-scenes glimpse of the biggest singular event in Hollywood. The revised paperback edition includes a new afterward covering Chris Rock's stint as host last year.


The Official Posters of the 78th Annual Academy Awards
$25 US each, $40 US a pair

This year the Academy chose a pair of designs to celebrate the 78th Annual Academy Awards. Using vintage photographs of past winners, "Black Tuxedo" features a male star tightly clutching his statuette, while the other, "White Gloves" shows a female gently cradling her prize. Quantities of the Joan Maloney designed posters are limited and are only available until March 19.
To order, visit www.oscars.org/publications or call (800) 554-1814.



Brokeback Mountain
Verve
Great films are often the sum of its parts, in this case a moving story, beautifully acted with a soundtrack to match. Anchored by Gustavo Santaolalla's longing score, Brokeback Mountain features "A Love That Will Never Grow Old," sung by Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson covering Bob Dylan's "He Was a Friend of Mine" and the Santaolalla penned "No One's Going to Love You Like Me," featuring Mary McBride. This soundtrack is more than a fine collection of Country & Western ballads -- it's a fine collection of love songs.

Good Night, and Good Luck
Concord Jazz
This soundtrack features the gorgeous vocal talents of three-time Grammy Award-winner Dianne Reeves. Director George Clooney handpicked each of the songs featured in the film, which Reeves also performs on screen. Good Night, and Good Luck includes an original song, "Who's Minding the Store," along with Reeves' take on such jazz classics as Nat King Cole's "Straighten Up and Fly Right," Duke Ellington's "Solitude," and Frank Sinatra's "One For My Baby."

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Walt Disney Records
Like the film, the music within it has a magical quality to it. Composer Harry Gregson-Williams' score for Narnia balances the children's wonder of Narnia ("A Narnia Lullaby") with the darker themes of the White Witch and her dark army ("The Battle"). Songs by Imogen Heap, Tim Finn, Lisbeth Scott and Alanis Morissette's track "Wunderkind" -- written from the point of view of character Lucy -- accompany the score. There is also a two-disc special edition with a DVD filled with film stills, concept art plus a featurette about the recordings of the score.