Books on Filmmaking

DesperadoMan17

DesperadoMan17

Hey everyone, so a lot of people on here are against film school. A lot of you say read books and read books. Okay well I am going to take your advice. So what are some good books to read? I looked at some at Barnes and Nobles and going to buy them on Amazon soon. The books I was looking at are "The portable film school", "Movie Making Course", and "So you want to be a producer". Thanks
 
Well, since filmmaking is an integrated whole here's a partial list of books that pertain to sound-for-picture:

Sound Design - David Sonnenschien (take this one in small nibbles)

Practical Art of Motion Picture Sound - David Lewis Yewdall (A general technical guide)

The Foley Grail - Vanessa Ament (Some history, fun anecdotes and some "how to" in relatively simple language. The DVD is fun.)

The Sound Effects Bible - Ric Viers (Lots of technical info and some practical stuff presented in an "introductory" fashion)

Dialog Editing - John Purcell (This one is a bit deep for beginners.)

Producing Great Sound for Film and Video - Jay Rose


Spend a lot of time on FilmSound.org. There are many fantastic articles about history (yes, history IS important), process and technique as well as film specific articles. The Randy Thom articles are terrific as are the Walter Murch articles.

In fact, start with this one; "Stretching Sound to Help the Mind See" by Walter Murch

http://www.filmsound.org/murch/stretching.htm

Then move on to "Designing A Movie For Sound" by Randy Thom.

http://www.filmsound.org/articles/designing_for_sound.htm

In fact, I reread these articles (and many others) when I feeling down or need inspiration.
 
Yes...
General:
http://www.amazon.com/Filmmaking-Teens-Pulling-Your-Shorts/dp/1932907688/ref=pd_vtp_b_80
http://www.amazon.com/Rebel-without-Crew-23-Year-Old-Filmmaker/dp/0452271878/ref=pd_vtp_b_14

Directing:
http://www.amazon.com/Film-Directing-Shot-Visualizing-Productions/dp/0941188108
http://www.amazon.com/Film-Directin..._B000APTBKU_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1353853892&sr=1-2
http://www.amazon.com/On-Directing-Film-David-Mamet/dp/0140127224/ref=pd_vtp_b_15

This whole series is incredible:
http://www.amazon.com/Master-Shots-Vol-2nd-Techniques/dp/1615930876/ref=pd_vtp_b_1
http://www.amazon.com/Cinematic-Sto...ntions-Filmmaker/dp/193290705X/ref=pd_vtp_b_2
http://www.amazon.com/Master-Shots-Volume-Shooting-Dialogue/dp/1615930558/ref=pd_vtp_b_6
http://www.amazon.com/Setting-Up-Your-Scenes-Workings/dp/1932907084/ref=pd_vtp_b_48
http://www.amazon.com/Film-Editing-Great-Every-Filmmaker/dp/1932907629/ref=pd_vtp_b_19

Cinematography:
http://www.amazon.com/DSLR-Cinema-Crafting-Film-Video/dp/0240815513/ref=pd_vtp_b_44
http://www.amazon.com/The-Filmmakers-Eye-Cinematic-Composition/dp/0240812174/ref=pd_vtp_b_5
http://www.amazon.com/Painting-With-Light-John-Alton/dp/0520089499/ref=pd_vtp_b_62
http://www.amazon.com/The-Five-Cs-Cinematography-Techniques/dp/187950541X/ref=pd_vtp_b_10
http://www.amazon.com/Cinematograph...phers-Directors/dp/0240812093/ref=pd_vtp_b_12

Editing:
http://www.amazon.com/On-Film-Editing-Introduction-Construction/dp/0240517385/ref=pd_vtp_b_51
http://www.amazon.com/Blink-Eye-Revised-2nd-Edition/dp/1879505622/ref=pd_vtp_b_9

Sound (not mentioned above):
http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Vision-...1353854262&sr=1-1&keywords=chion+audio+vision
 
knightly said:
Yes...
General:
http://www.amazon.com/Filmmaking-Teens-Pulling-Your-Shorts/dp/1932907688/ref=pd_vtp_b_80
http://www.amazon.com/Rebel-without-Crew-23-Year-Old-Filmmaker/dp/0452271878/ref=pd_vtp_b_14

Directing:
http://www.amazon.com/Film-Directing-Shot-Visualizing-Productions/dp/0941188108
http://www.amazon.com/Film-Directin..._B000APTBKU_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1353853892&sr=1-2
http://www.amazon.com/On-Directing-Film-David-Mamet/dp/0140127224/ref=pd_vtp_b_15

This whole series is incredible:
http://www.amazon.com/Master-Shots-Vol-2nd-Techniques/dp/1615930876/ref=pd_vtp_b_1
http://www.amazon.com/Cinematic-Sto...ntions-Filmmaker/dp/193290705X/ref=pd_vtp_b_2
http://www.amazon.com/Master-Shots-Volume-Shooting-Dialogue/dp/1615930558/ref=pd_vtp_b_6
http://www.amazon.com/Setting-Up-Your-Scenes-Workings/dp/1932907084/ref=pd_vtp_b_48
http://www.amazon.com/Film-Editing-Great-Every-Filmmaker/dp/1932907629/ref=pd_vtp_b_19

Cinematography:
http://www.amazon.com/DSLR-Cinema-Crafting-Film-Video/dp/0240815513/ref=pd_vtp_b_44
http://www.amazon.com/The-Filmmakers-Eye-Cinematic-Composition/dp/0240812174/ref=pd_vtp_b_5
http://www.amazon.com/Painting-With-Light-John-Alton/dp/0520089499/ref=pd_vtp_b_62
http://www.amazon.com/The-Five-Cs-Cinematography-Techniques/dp/187950541X/ref=pd_vtp_b_10
http://www.amazon.com/Cinematograph...phers-Directors/dp/0240812093/ref=pd_vtp_b_12

Editing:
http://www.amazon.com/On-Film-Editing-Introduction-Construction/dp/0240517385/ref=pd_vtp_b_51
http://www.amazon.com/Blink-Eye-Revised-2nd-Edition/dp/1879505622/ref=pd_vtp_b_9

Sound (not mentioned above):
http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Vision-...1353854262&sr=1-1&keywords=chion+audio+vision
Click to expand...

WOW! Thank you so much! I would really like to get that whole series, plus some other ones.
 
My recommendations:

CUT BY CUT by Gael Chandler
DIGITAL MOVIEMAKING 3.0 (Third Edition) by Scott Billups
DIGITAL VIDEO: AN INTRODUCTION by Tom Ang
DV FILMMAKING FROM START TO FINISH by Ian David Aronson,
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF COLOR CORRECTION (Final Cut Pro) Alexis Van Hurksman
FILM FESTIVAL SECRETS by Christopher Holland
I WAKE UP SCREENING by John Anderson
IN A BLINK OF AN EYE by Walter Murch
INDEPENDENT FILM PRODUCING - AN OUTSIDER'S GUIDE by Paul Battista
MOTION GRAPHICS AND EFFECTS IN FINAL CUT PRO by Kevin Monahan
NAKED FILMMAKING by Mike Carroll
THE POCKET LAWYER FOR FILMMAKERS by Thomas A. Crowell
PRACTICAL DV FILMMAKING (Second Edition) by Russell Evans
THE REEL TRUTH by Reed Martin
SHOOT OUT by Peter Bart & Peter Gruber
SHUT UP AND SHOOT DOCUMENTARY GUIDE by Anthony Q Artis
TALES FROM THE FRONT LINE OF INDIE FILMMAKING by Peter John Ross
WHAT THEY DON'T TEACH YOU AT FILM SCHOOL by Camille Landau

Reviews on each here: http://www.lexiecannes.com/id16.html
 
Don't forget to go to seminars, meet & greets, etc.

I've been to acting seminars - they helped me to communicate with talent and to have beginning to understand their process. I also stick my hand up for every exercise; there is no way I'll ever be an actor, but it's fun and it stretches my thinking as a sound editor/designer (despite the fact that I feel foolish!).

I've attended editing and directing seminars; again they help with the communication process, and to occasionally insert my point of view.

And, of course, sound seminars.

It doesn't require a large investment of time, just two or three hours each time you go, and it's a great way to meet potential clients and talents (I've called actors to do quick ADR, VO and "loop group" sessions).
 
I just got a hold of an advance copy of Adam Leipzig's new book on indie filmmaking and it is FANTASTIC. Highly recommended by several directors and producers I know, so I checked it out. Very quick read but I found it to be really helpful. It's called:

Inside Track for Independent Filmmakers: Get Your Movie Made, Get Your Move Seen and Turn the Tables on Hollywood.


CLICK HERE FOR FULL INFO

Adam is a pretty cool guy. Former president of National Geographic Films, a past senior VP at Disney and a longtime indie producer. I had the pleasure of meeting him several times and can say that he is very genuine and just an all around great guy.

Here's one great quote of praise:

"Full of insider information you won’t find anywhere else, it is an absolutely
essential reference manual for aspiring filmmakers.”
—Gale Anne Hurd, producer, The Walking Dead, The Abyss, Aliens, and all Terminator films

Click here to read comments from 18 pros that have read the advance copy of the book.

I think the book comes out in January, but is going to be available before that on Kindle.

InsideTrackCover.png
 
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