Here is a very nice list of books to get you started:
http://www.filmmaking.net/store/category.asp?id=1

Regarding preparations, I suggest you write a couple of
script (short ones) or team up with a writer, find a camera
(any camera - it doesn't have to be a "good" one)), gather
some friends and make a few movies. I never went to films
school, but from age 14 that's what I did. I just made a lot
of movies. You have a year. You should make at least 6
short movies during that time. They don't have to be great,
They just have to be finished. You'll bet better and better
each time you make a movie.

Are you up to it?

=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

I usually suggest hitting free online resources first. There is a lot about filmmaking out there:

http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Filmmaking
http://screenwriting.4filmmaking.com/
http://actioncutprint.com/

Above all, the most critical quality required for pursuit of filmmaking is perseverance. Second most critical quality would be the opposite of procrastination (i.e. if you are considering doing it, do it right away, instead of using an excuse to postpone it). Be it reading a book/textbook, taking a course, writing a script, finding friends for cast and crew, scheduling a shoot, shooting a film, editing a film, posting a film on Vimeo/YouTube... If you think you'd like to do any or all of this stuff, you should make every effort to actually do it as soon as you have free time. Too many aspiring filmmakers remain aspiring because they don't have enough drive in them to get things moving along.

quote:

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Originally posted by missamera

I am an aspiring filmmaker with little practical and theory experience who has a deep interest in different film genres but does not have the means to go to film school yet. Does anyone have any advice as to what books and preparations I should be making in terms of being prepared for film school in a year.

I would really appreciate it

Thanks to all for reading
?:D??:D??:D?

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If I had to do it all over again (today), I'd start here by reading EVERY article they have: http://www.wordplayer.com

Then I'd read these two books in this order:

http://www.amazon.com/Film-Scriptwriting-Practical-Manual-Second/dp/0240511905/ref=cm_syf_dtl_top_3

http://www.amazon.com/Save-Last-Book-Screenwriting-Youll/dp/1932907009/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277400244&sr=1-1

Then read this one (disclaimer: I wrote it!): http://www.amazon.com/What-Really-Want-Set-Hollywood/dp/0823099539/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275317564&sr=8-1

Then this one: http://www.amazon.com/Movie-Producer-Handbook-Producing-Picture-Making/dp/0064637247/ref=cm_syf_dtl_pop_2

When you've finished with those, THEN watch these movies in this order:

Living in Oblivion (1995)
ASIN: B00007L4OB Living in Oblivion

And God Spoke (1994)
ASIN: B00009NHAL And God Spoke

The Big Picture (1989)
ASIN: B00006HAWL The Big Picture

The Player (Special Edition) (New Line Platinum Series) (1992)
ASIN: 0780618564 The Player (Special Edition) (New Line Platinum Series)

Swimming With Sharks (Special Edition) (1995)
ASIN: B0009A40EI Swimming With Sharks (Special Edition)

When you've finished all of that, THEN you should sit down and consider PRECISELY what you want to do and focus on. If you wish to be a Director, then work on your storytelling skills. That may involve actually writing your own work if you consider yourself a good writer. If not, then find a friend who IS a good writer and work on scripts together.

The same goes for camera work. I know that the conventional advice is for all aspiring "filmmakers" to rush out and buy a camera and do all of that by themselves. My advice a little different. I suggest that if your goal is to be Director or Writer or Producer, DON'T purchase any of your own equipment. Instead, find people nearby who WANT TO do those jobs that you are necessarily interested in doing. You're not about to go buy special fx makeup or wardrobe racks or sound equipment or lights (right?). So why purchase a camera? Instead, find someone who has that interest (in camera work AND LIGHTING) and enlist their help so you can concentrate on directing the movie! Invest the money you would've spent on a camera (that will likely A) be insufficient for what you want to accomplish anyway and B) will be "obsolete" sooner than later) and instead put it into "the projects." That may mean perhaps paying people a little bit or renting gear for a short period of time or creating sets and props.

The overall advice is that you don't NEED a formal filmschool to learn what you need to know. There are enough resources out there that you can get at relatively low-cost so you can learn on your own at your own pace. And before you sign up with a filmschool, ask yourself what you want to get from that experience beforehand. What can THAT specific filmschool offer you that you can't get on your own (for less money)? I'm not saying to not go to a formal filmschool. I'm merely suggesting that you ask yourself why you are going so that you A) choose the correct one and B) get what you want out of it. Remember, YOU are the consumer and THEY are selling you a product. If you can't get the educational value out of that school that you feel you need, then don't go. If you feel that you will, then by all means, go and get everything you can out of it. Just remember that in the end, NOBODY cares about your degree in "film." All that matters is the product you make and/or the work you do. It's about who you know and who knows you.

If you have the opportunity (or can create it), go to work (volunteer) with working professionals in your area. Whether they are shooting documentaries or industrial "films" or corporate videos, the things you'll learn "on set" in a practical environment will help you understand the practicalities of "filmmaking" much more than most books and schools can ever hope to teach you. Find local production companies, equipment rental houses, and/or local freelancers and call them. Don't be afraid! 🙂 Tell them who you are, what you wish to do and learn, and ask if you can help them for a week or two. You'll help move cases and gear around while you're observing them work. You'll get some "no's" but all you need are a few "yes's." You want to work with as many different professionals as possible in as many environments and situations as you can. As you do those "internships," the things you are reading (or studying in school) will start to make more sense.

For MANY more resources, I urge you to visit the forums section at http://www.realfilmcareer.com.

Good luck!

Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com

First of all, Thank you all for your advice and comments, its greatly appreciated.

bjdzyak - In reply to issues which you have raised about considering if film school is a good idea or not, i thought i would explain my situation a bit more.
I have a degree in Law already but have for many years been interested in Directing. However, I have very little experience in directing, my view is that considering i don't have any relevant experience as yet also there aren't many opportunities for gaining much experience where i live. Nor do i know anyone in the business, it seems film school will open doors for me but close a few to if i'm not to careful.

Based on what I have explained what do you advise?
Would you still not go to film school, if given the opportunity?

quote:

---

Originally posted by missamera

First of all, Thank you all for your advice and comments, its greatly appreciated.

bjdzyak - In reply to issues which you have raised about considering if film school is a good idea or not, i thought i would explain my situation a bit more.
I have a degree in Law already but have for many years been interested in Directing. However, I have very little experience in directing, my view is that considering i don't have any relevant experience as yet also there aren't many opportunities for gaining much experience where i live. Nor do i know anyone in the business, it seems film school will open doors for me but close a few to if i'm not to careful.

Based on what I have explained what do you advise?
Would you still not go to film school, if given the opportunity?

---

There's no one answer to this question. I think that the heart of the question, for most people, is "will going to filmschool help me become a WORKING Director so that I can make a tangible living doing so?"

There are no guarantees at all. You offered up the idea that filmschool could "open doors." Maybe, maybe not. If we were to look at statistics of aspiring Directors who went to film school and compare those who are "successful" vs those who aren't, it would be easy to conclude that filmschool is NOT worth the investment in time and money for MOST people. It's not because filmschool can't give you the education in directing that you seek (necessarily), but because the "job" of directing isn't about getting a degree or applying for a job, there is no direct line to be drawn from school to that job.

What I suggesting is that while attending a formal school for a formal education can certainly be helpful for some people, it is situational as every aspiring Director has different needs in terms of the education they need. The idea that a filmschool can "open doors" is the hope that in addition to the formal education one gets, that the people you meet will somehow ALSO become "successful" so that you'll all help each other on your path to the top.

The bottom line is that it's a crap shoot either way. I'd say that if you choose to go to filmschool, go in with realistic expectations that A) you'll spend a lot of money and time and B) you probably won't meet anyone else there who will "help" you get where you want to be.

In regard to "B," maybe you will and maybe you won't. That's where the crapshoot comes in. But, you CAN increase your odds of meeting the "right" people by attending the "right" school. Which one is that? Good question and one without a definitive answer. However, if you consider schools where most alumni ARE "successful," then you have a better chance of having a curriculum that, arguably, is doing something right. Plus, many of those filmschools have classes or workshops that are taught by industry professionals so that you're learning more than theory. You're also hearing from those who are in the trenches and learning exactly how to get it for yourself.

So, while a hypothetical school in the middle of Antarctica may claim to have "the best" school with "cutting edge" technology, etc., you have to look at your purchase of that education relative to what you hope to get out of it, which likely is that wish to have a viable money-making career as a professional Director.

With all that in mind, my suggestion for ANYONE wishing to work in this industry at any level is to FIRST seek out and read every book they can that attempts to describe the ins-and-outs of the industry. For aspiring Directors, read every book you can about directing, and there are many on the shelves. Also, read books about acting and about producing and about screenwriting. The price you pay and the time you invest in those resources will be far less than you'll pay for a single semester of a formal education. After you've devoured everything you can at home, THEN ask yourself if you need a filmschool or not. If not, then gather together all the financial resources you can muster and put together a project, either a short-film or a feature. If you do still want to attend a school, then use the information you've taken in to better evaluate the hundreds of choices for schools scattered around the world. Don't just take the school's marketing information and decide based on that. Truly research your choices by studying their curriculum and calling or visiting the school to ask specific questions about what you will get out of it. Remember, you're the consumer and hope for a specific result based on your purchase of this product (the education). If you're not confident that a school can deliver the results you're looking for (ie, filling in the gaps of your knowledge that you didn't gain from at-home study), then look for another school. Research the alumni associations to find out the "success" rate. If possible, call up alumni to find out their personal experience with the school and faculty.

Filmschool can be very expensive and Universities and other programs make a lot of money selling "dreams" to thousands upon thousands of aspiring film professionals every year. But the vast majority of those students never get to their goal (of directing, etc) and many more never manage to work in the film industry at all despite all of that schooling.

Ultimately, like most things in life, the best way to learn how to direct is to go do it. But before doing so, you need to understand fully what the duties and skills of a successful Director are. You can learn most of that on your own at home by reading the RIGHT books and avoiding the money-making schemes that are just out to take money by selling dreams to starry-eyed naive "filmmakers." Then, you just jump in and start directing. Nobody will ever hand you a studio-project. There is no one path to becoming a successful working professional Director, but the common path is to have a body of work which proves to others that you know what you're doing, both creatively and logistically. It's not all about just being "creative" to put "your vision" on screen. You also need to know how to complete the work in the time allotted within a given budget. You need to know how to communicate effectively and efficiently with your cast and crew and those above you who hold the money. So, you start small and make short films or other projects to get used to working in the environment. Then, with any "luck," you've directed a project that can get the attention of someone "bigger" than you ... and so on and so on.

I wish there was a simple answer, as in "get a degree and then get the job," but it doesn't work that way for any job in the professional film industry. It's all about who you know, who knows you, and that they know (and like) what you are capable of doing. You could get lucky and convince someone that you are worth the risk even if you aren't entirely prepared. Or you could know absolutely everything there is to know but never meet the right people and have to fall back to practicing law. There's just no way to know, but if directing is something you really want to do, then you drop everything else and drive forward with every ounce of passion you have. Again, there are no guarantees, but if you only try half-way, then the odds are against you. But if you hit the ball hard, you might miss the mark, but your odds are greatly improved.

Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com

I wrote an article or two about this very subject. You can find them over at http://ezinearticles.com/.

You can learn a lot about this topic from them or http://www.ehow.com/sitemap.html

However, if you are bored you can read this article.

<<<<<Relax. This is NOT a promotion of a product>>>>>>

3 Things to Consider Before You Begin to Learn Filmmaking

Directing and making movies is a lot of fun. You can learn filmmaking in a short period of time and begin filming for fun and profit if you like. However, before you invest in an education and learn anything else about filmmaking there are 3 things you should consider.

Budget
Filmmaking is a lot of fun, like we said earlier. However, but budget are you going to set on your films? This is a question you should answer before you even start filming. Keep in mind youll need to pay for actors, props, directors, editors, lighting and so on. So before you invest a dollar into your film, decide on your budget so you know what you have to work with.

Equipment and Computer Programs
You dont need the newest highest price HD camera to make a great film. However, usually the better the equipment you have, the better quality of film you will produce. Consider your computer and what kind of computer programs youll need for it. Make sure you invest in good editing software. You can shoot a terrible film, but a good job editing will cover a multitude of sins.

Whats The Plot?
Dont mess this one up. If you want to learn filmmaking, you should read a few books from some great film directors. They share their stories on how to come up with a good plot and its really quite interesting. Decide if you want a comedy, drama or action. Then pick the actors you believe will fill the roles you have written the best. Keep in mind, the plot concept can take longer than the actual filmmaking itself. Do you think Star Wars was put together over night? Not likely. Developing a plot will consist of sitting down with a pen and paper and thinking all over your paper. Some of the best authors and directors use this technique. You should too.

When you just start to learn filmmaking or enter a Film College, these are not ideas often thrown at you. However, you should consider these 3 concepts before you begin your film career to see if filmmaking is even right for you.

<<<End>>>

Good luck to you and yours and I hope you become wildly successful in the film business.

Peace,

Shane