Best Books

[mjtate]

"The guerilla film makers handbook" is the best book on the subject i've read. Reads like a blue print for getting your film made.
"Directing shot-by-shot" is resonably interesting, bit cold though

[Curtin-Parloe]

I like Guerilla too.
I spoke to the author and he said, if you're starting out, don't worry about any of the heavy stuff in it, just go off and have fun.
(i mean the financing, legal aspects, etc etc)

Paul

[ickle_jim]

well im not trying to get a film ditributed or anything i just wanna learn some basic theory on filming

[Curtin-Parloe]

its good for that too [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Joker to the Thief]

yeah,i can't rate TGFMH too highly, gives you a good understanding about every aspects of film making, through the use of interviews with people in the industry themselves, as well as case studies with people who have gone out there and done it themselves, such as the authors, justin kerrigan (human traffic) and producers of films like sliding doors and lock, stock and two smoking barrels. A tad expensive, so try to get someone to buy or steal it for you.

JTTT

[Chance1234]

Guerrila makers handbook is wank, take it from someone who is making a feature film or alternatibly take it from someone with a bit of common sense who can see what the book actually is.

[eddie]

I really enjoyed:
The Unkindest Cut - Joe Queenan
which few people seem to have read, its very honest, pretty down to earth, illuminating and has so much energy!

But:
Film Directing Shot By Shot - Steve Katz
may be more useful and will help open your eyes to how to use film techniques and visual gramma to tell your storys your way.

[shirt]

Okay, I am with Chance on this... most of those books **** . Robert 'Spy Kids' Rodsucky's book can **** my left testie.

Looking to 'learn' some theory and why things are done certain ways, etc...

FILM PRODUCTION TECHNIQUE
By Bruce Mamer - ISBN 0-534-56205-1

Looking for an EXCELLENT read...

THE CONVERSATIONS: Walter Murch and the art of editing film. By Michael Ondaatje

I wrote my thesis on Murch because of the above book. The man is amazing at what he does.

If Chin's Could Kill is also a neat read if you're looking to be inspired.

Anyways...

[assyrix]

Make Your Own D a m n Movie!

by Troma's own Lloyd Kaufmann

[Kev Owens]

No, books don't have all the answers, I agree with Despin in the sense that nothing really beats experience; but it's good to read the advice of the 'pros' and I can honestly say the more books I've read on film-making, the more I've learnt that there are no rules- everyone makes their own. Just wanted to recommend some books which have been helpful to me:

On directing:
Moviemakers' Master class- Laurent Tirard

On Screenwriting:
Screenplay- Syd Field

On Film history/ theory:
The Cinema Book- Pam Cook

On the madness of 'mainstream' film-making and the bitterness of screenwriters':
Adventures in the Screentrade & Which Lie did I tell- William Goldman