Career Diary of a Web Designer: Gardner's Guide Series. 7.5 X 5.5 size. 178 pp, $14.95US. ISBN# 1-58965-022-0. Author: CR Bell

Career Diary of a Web Designer is a 30-day glimpse of the daily life of a professional Web Designer working in the non-profit sector. Bell begins by detailing his background and the steps he took to get to where he is today including what college courses he took and the lessons he learned from freelancing. Next, he includes an outline of his current responsibilities and takes you into the office and through his daily routine. In Career Diary of a Web Designer you’ll find out what it takes to be successful in the web-design field and get a peek at some of the challenges that you will face on a day-to-day basis, including software issues, client requests, and staying up-to-date with technology. Bell also includes suggestions on how to stay creative within the confines of client requests as well as how to hone your skills to stay competitive in an ever-changing field. This book should be a first step for anyone considering web design as a career.

About the Author
C.R. Bell is a full-time Web Designer for a scientific and educational trade association. His responsibilities include the association web site and Intranet as well as planning and creating new web tools for use by the association’s staff and 15,000 members. He also does freelance work and has received multiple accolades for his work. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Integrative Studies and Multimedia Design from George Mason University.

Career Diary of a Composer: Gardner's Guide Series. 7.5 X 5.5 size. 157 pp, $14.95US. ISBN# 1-58965-024-7. Author: Patrick Smith

Career Diary of a Composer chronicles thirty days in the professional life of Patrick Smith, a composer and producer of music for film, television, and other media. Smith first gives the reader some general background on how his younger life led him in this direction and then outlines the responsibilities and duties a job in the music field requires. He gives the reader an inside look at the processes, pains, schedules, and rewards of a profession in music for media. Career Diary of a Composer is a must-read for anyone considering a career in media music.

About the Author
Patrick Smith is a composer and producer of music for films, television, and other media, and has been working in the Washington, DC metro area for over 20 years. He has created music for local institutions such as the Smithsonian, National Gallery of Art, the Kennedy Center, the National Zoo, the Hirshhorn Gallery, and other museums, written for dramatic television such as "America's Most Wanted" and documentaries for Discovery Channel, NASA, and many others. He has recently launched a new production company called "Electronic Philharmonic," where he continues the same work. He works and resides in Fairfax, VA.

Reviews:

This book is a must read for anyone considering a career in the commercial music industry…an insider's view of the real thing. Pat's prose is only outdone by his musical prowess, which I've been in awe of for 25 years!

-- James Harmon, President, Harmon-Edison (Production Consultants)

Bright, witty and informative. Patrick Smith's anecdotal approach to music and life's foibles is terrific reading!

-- Mitchel J. Greenspan, President of American Music Company, Inc.

Career Diary of a TV Production Manager: Gardner's Guide Series. 7.5 X 5.5 size. 178 pp, $14.95US. ISBN# 1-58965-015-8. Author: Craig Thornton

Career Diary of a TV Production Manager is a 30-day in depth glimpse into the hub of a thriving television station in Watertown, NY. You will be thrown into the world of a master control room for WWNY TV 7, a highly rated flagship CBS affiliate and WNYF 28, a fledging, but growing FOX affiliate. You will gain insight and knowledge into one of the most important, but rarely seen departments in television broadcasting. Detail oriented, and illuminating both the incredible stress and excitement of the position, Craig Thornton's book is a valuable source for anyone considering a career in TV production.

About the Author
Craig Thornton has worked extensively in Film, Television and Theatre. He has held positions as director, production manager, line producer and has worked behind the scenes in entertainment law. As a playwright/free lance writer he has had several articles published and plays produced in both New York and Los Angeles. He is a graduate of NYU and AFI and a MacDowell Fellowship winner.

Career Diary of an Animation Studio Owner: Gardner's Guide Series. 7.5 X 5.5 size. 178 pp, $14.95US. ISBN# 1-58965-010-7. Author: Joseph Daniels

Career Diary of an Animation Studio Owner: Gardner's Guide Series is a detailed 30-day journal of Joseph Daniel's life at Blak Boxx Computer Graphics. The diary is introduced by Daniel's career path that takes him from school to his current position. It describes his current responsibilities and the training that prepares him to juggle various trades. A quick and easy to read format with illustrations and production photos, this diary will tell you what is it like to be a computer animator and owner of a small computer graphics studio.

Career Diary of an Animation Studio Owner provides a clear and fascinating up-close look at a successful small businessperson in the media graphics field. The actual process of developing computer animation is clearing documents, doing conceptual storyboards, scanning artwork, creating models, animation, rendering compositing and output.

Daniels gives an in-depth view into the amount of work and dedication needed to be successful in the animation business. The diary provides a clear career path taken by author: from choices of colleges/majors, to working for large and small companies, to ultimately deciding to work for himself.

About the Author
Joseph Daniels is the owner of Blak Boxx Computer Graphics, a small computer graphics and animation studio located in Dublin, Ohio. A former student of the Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design at Ohio State University, Joseph created his company during a time when other computer graphics companies were going out of business. Since that time, he has been successfully operating Blak Boxx, producing award-winning animation for over ten years.

Career Diary of an Animation Producer: Gardner's Guide Series. 7.5 X 5.5 size. 178 pp, $14.95US. ISBN# 1-58965-011-5. Author: Sue Riedl

Career Diary of an Animation Producer is 30 days at a small animation company in Toronto. Some days are crazy and others are relatively calm. Through this period, a variety of projects are produced at Head Gear, from Halloween promos done in stop-motion, to the redesign of a movie channel combining live action, photo collages, and animation. All the projects present their own challenges but have a unique style. The role of the producer in her various roles is explored in this book. Riedl takes you from the conception of ideas to the final billing of the project, to most important…tea time.

Riedl's easy to read style is introspective and insightful. The details of her business contacts and work ethic allows those interested in Computer Animation a unique look at the demands and rewards of the field. You cannot get this insight from a two-page work conditions essay or guidebook. Recommended for public libraries, career centers and academic institutions with animation program.

About the Author
Sue Riedl has been working in the film industry since 1995 after graduating with a film degree from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. She began her career as an assistant editor working on TV commercials. From there, she moved into long format work as a post- production coordinator, and a few years later began working for Visual FX, both on set and in post. Currently, Sue works as a producer at Head Gear Animation. She has also completed several short films and co-written a children's animated series, which is currently in development with a Canadian broadcaster.

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Career Diary of a Graphic Designer: Gardner's Guide Series. 7.5 X 5.5 size. 178 pp, $14.95US. ISBN# 1-58965-017-4. Author: Crystal Ann Mitchell

Career Diary of a Graphic Designer is a 30-day in-depth look at the professional life of Crystal Ann Mitchell.

About the Author
Crystal Ann Mitchell is a Senior Graphic Designer for Roland Corporation U.S. She is responsible for the concept development, direction, planning, and designing of regional/trade advertising materials, as well as promotional items and various corporate communications projects. She is owner/director of Luciusbirks and is also a part-time educator at The Art Institute in Costa Mesa, California. Prior to Roland, she worked for NBC, MTV, and Warner Lambert/Pfizer. She received her Master's Degree in Communications Design from Pratt Institute in New York City.