Film Directing Shot by Shot: Visualizing from Concept to Screen

Film Directing Shot by Shot offers a good introduction to the rudiments of film production. Steven D. Katz walks his readers through the various stages of moviemaking, advising them at every turn to visualize the films they wish to produce. Katz believes that one of the chief tasks of filmmaking is to negotiate between our…

filmmaking.net rating: ★★★★★

Film Directing, Cinematic Motion: A Workshop for Staging Scenes

A sequel to Steven Katz’s Film Directing Shot by Shot, this book tackles specific problems of staging cinematic scenes. How should directors shoot scenes in confined spaces, such as small rooms or the interior of a car, in large open spaces, or with a number of characters involved in busy dialogue? As in his previous…

filmmaking.net rating: ★★★★★

Setting Up Your Shots: Great Camera Moves Every Filmmaker Should Know

Setting Up Your Shots is a complete visual encyclopedia of creative camera set ups and moves every filmmaker and cinema fan will want to own. Over 100 storyboards with simple descriptions have been especially designed for this book. They show filmmakers, home video buffs and cinema fans how to achieve an incredible number of effects,…

filmmaking.net rating: ★★★☆☆

On Directing Film

According to David Mamet, a film director must, above all things, think visually. Most of this instructive and funny book is written in dialogue form and based on film classes Mamet taught at Columbia University. He encourages his students to tell their stories not with words, but through the juxtaposition of uninflected images. The best…

filmmaking.net rating: ★★★☆☆

The Film Director’s Team

I recieved this book as a gift, and got a lot from it. It is dated, and based mostly on West-coast studio work, (2 things I am not), but there was still a great deal of information for me to continue my education in the Assistant Director department. I also found the UPM info a…

filmmaking.net rating: ★★★☆☆

Directing Actors: Creating Memorable Performances for Film and Television

This is essential reading for anyone interested in directing or acting. Judith Weston’s brilliance is to recognize that directors, actors, writers, and technicians are involved in a process that is at essence a collaboration. In order for them to have the best shot at creating something true and meaningful, they must share a language and…

filmmaking.net rating: ★★★★☆

Directing the Documentary

Documentary films are directed, not just edited from random shots. They are also planned, as this nine-part book shows, taking the reader through pre- and post-production of a series of documentary projects on both film and videotape. “No one ever got rich making documentaries,” Rabiger states, but one can get much satisfaction out of making…

filmmaking.net rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Directing: Film Techniques and Aesthetics

Directing: Film Techniques and Aesthetics is a comprehensive manual that teaches the essentials of filmmaking from the perspective of the director. Ideal for film production and directing classes, as well as for aspiring and current directors, Directing covers all phases of preproduction and production, from idea development to final cut. Thoroughly covering the basics, Directing…

filmmaking.net rating: ☆☆☆☆☆