Non-Fiction Kaiju Book I'm Writing

[baragon2005]

Hey all,

I'm writing a book about kaiju related films, which will end up being a collector's guide to all the VHS and DVD copies of kaiju films out there. Knowing that about half of the films in the book would be oop, I'll probably expand the ranges, exploring American monster movies, too, but it depends on everything pans out. I'd also like to write reviews for each film, so the layout for each entry would be like:

GODZILLA Colombia Tristar Home Video
1998 Directed by Roland Emmerich. Starring Matthew Broderick, Jean Reno, Maria Pittilo Music by David Arnold. Rating: 1 Star
A mutated iguana goes on a rampage in New York City. Soon after, the creature lays eggs and is named Godzilla by the United States Army. The nest is destroyed and scientist Nick Tatopolous along with girlfriend Audrey Timmonds and French agent Philip Roach set out to destroy the overgrown lizard. Then my comments on the film, etc. (this section would vary in length).
Available on VHS and DVD from Colombia Tristar Home Video.

Basically that's what it would be for each film. The ratings would be out of 4 stars. So, any thoughts?






:baragon:

[godofPH]

Hey all,

I'm writing a book about kaiju related films, which will end up being a collector's guide to all the VHS and DVD copies of kaiju films out there. Knowing that about half of the films in the book would be oop, I'll probably expand the ranges, exploring American monster movies, too, but it depends on everything pans out. I'd also like to write reviews for each film, so the layout for each entry would be like:

GODZILLA Colombia Tristar Home Video
1998 Directed by Roland Emmerich. Starring Matthew Broderick, Jean Reno, Maria Pittilo Music by David Arnold. Rating: 1 Star
A mutated iguana goes on a rampage in New York City. Soon after, the creature lays eggs and is named Godzilla by the United States Army. The nest is destroyed and scientist Nick Tatopolous along with girlfriend Audrey Timmonds and French agent Philip Roach set out to destroy the overgrown lizard. Then my comments on the film, etc. (this section would vary in length).
Available on VHS and DVD from Colombia Tristar Home Video.

Basically that's what it would be for each film. The ratings would be out of 4 stars. So, any thoughts?
That review sounds like something out of TV Guide.

[Angiru-San]

Wouldnt you haft to purchase rights for these monsters, concidering you would be making a profit off of them? I know little about the publication process.

And no offense at all, but if that is all you plan to do for each movie....it would make for a very dull book. People can just go online for a movie list now....so unless your book is going to offer something unique and original, that it would never take off....

[Kaiju_Sensai]

No he shouldn't have to. Only time thats required is if your gonna use them in a story or something like that. There's no need when it comes to reference books as far as I know.

[Mothraleo]

Sounds cool Baragon.

[Hockeyface]

Here are some ideas I would like to contribute you baragon2003:

Maybe to set the book apart you could create a list of human characters from kaiju movies. I would call it the "Eyewitness List." It would include a small biography of each character as well. Some of the characters would be:

Dr. Serizawa (Godzilla, King of the Monsters)
Ann Darrow (King Kong '33)
Carl Denham (King Kong '33)
Steve Martin (Godzilla, King of the Monsters)

I would also include a list called "The Players of Kaiju and Others in the Crew"
This would include actors, directors, composers, special effects artists, writers, etc. An alternate title would be "The Kaiju Players Hall of Fame" And the inductees would include:

Fay Wray (Ann Darrow in King Kong '33)
Willis O'Brien (Special Effects Man who was involved in the making of King Kong and other films of the genre)
Ray Harryhausen (Stop motion effects master who worked on It Came From Beneath the Sea and 20 Million Miles From Earth as well as other movies)
Bert I. Gordon (Director of American Kaiju most notably The Amazing Colossal Man)
Nathan Juran/Hertz (Director of Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, Deadly Mantis, 20 Million Miles from Earth, etc.)
John Agar (Star of a few B Grade Sci-Fi flicks fromm the 50s including American Kaiju Flick known as Tarantula)
Shusuke Kaneko (Director of the Heisei Gamera films and GMK All Out Monsters Attack)
Akira Ifukube (Compser of many a Godzilla movie)
Raymond Burr (Steve martin in Godzilla King of the Monsters and Godzilla 1984)

That's all for now!

[Excelsior]

I think Angilas is right. Using reviews only, your book will be very dry. You need to do something to spice it up, separate it from the other books that are out there on the same subject.

If you want something to judge your project against, I recommend tracking down "Critical History and Filmography of Toho's Godzilla Series" by David Kalat. It's pricey (around $50), but very educational. It covers Toho's kaiju series from the original Godzilla to Destroyah. Kalat gives reviews of each movie, cast rosters, history and trivia for each, as well as films that never got made (Volcano Monsters, Mothra vs Bagan, Godzilla vs The Devil). But even with all that, it's still a pretty dry read, like a college textbook about a subject you happen to like.

[baragon2005]

I don't think that you guys understand. My book is nonfiction, but it's not a factual book. It's for hunting down the movies, so that fans who don't have internet access or just casual fans, or even non-fans can find the movies they don't have, or maybe even check if their copy is legit, or whatever.










:baragon:

[kent]

I think it's a good idea. But don't take offense Baragon2003, but people are right if it's just going to be just a list of all the films available on DVD and VHS and then a review of the films, it is something that is non-original and has been done many times before by guys like Ebert and some other guy whose name I cannot think off the top of my head.
Also, if it's non-fiction, that's saying you're right something like a history book or a crime story. I think the word you are looking for is reference. What you are wanting to make is a reference book. I actually would love to see another Godzilla reference book.
But I would also add something to your book to give it more appeal. Perhaps an updated kaiju lineup with kaiju all the way up to GFW perhaps? Also some history on the films and how they came to be could be interesting. Example: How did the film Mothra Vs. Godzilla come about and did the filmmakers have a message in it that they wanted to emphasize on?
Perhaps talking about the budgets of Godzilla films and telling how and why they varied over the years. Like was Toho just short on cash? Or did they think it was not going to draw in the crowd they wanted to so they downgraded the budget?
Another thing you could do is take a look at the "evolution" of kaiju films. Talk about how the ideas and messages have changed in kaiju films from the 30s, 40s, and 50s, to now. Also new techniques used in making monster films.
Just some thoughts but I support your ambitious project. :thumbs: