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suggest a book
If you feel there is a abook that should be listed here, please e-mail me at:
 
suggested reading

Here you'll find of list of film related books that I own or have read. Some deal directly with film production and other chronicle the stories of filmmakers. If you know of a book that you think should be listed here just use the form at the bottom of the page.

All books listed below are available at Amazon.com, if not you're local bookstore.

 

general/overall

Film Production Technique

Bruce Manner
Publisher: Wadsworth

An overall guide for the more technical side of filmmaking. A good filmmaking 101 book.
amazon
 

The Filmmakers Handbook

Steven Ascher & Edward Pincus
Publisher: Plume
This was use as the text book in my first filmmaking class. A good overall teaching tool and a handy reference. I still use it today.
amazon
 

How to Make it in Hollywood

Linda Buzzell
Publisher: HarperPerennial

This book tries to prepare you for Hollywood with a lot of flash and "insider"  lingo ("Power Rolodexes, Godfather Calls, Rhino Skin"). But underneath the glossy terminology and attitude, there is good information.
amazon


cinematography

Professional Cameraman's Handbook

Sylvia Carlson & Verne Carlson
Publisher: Focal Press

Technical details on just about every kind of film that you'll find. A must have for Assistant Cameras and DPs.
amazon


producing

Independent Feature Film Production

Gregory Goodell
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Excellent if you're new to filmmaking or seasoned. Geared toward producers and UPMs. I would recommend this book if you're considering producing your first feature
amazon
 

The Complete Film Production Handbook

Eve Light Honthaner
Publisher: Focal Press
This book is full of paperwork examples. That may not sound very interesting but I use this book frequently. Deal memos, SAG paperwork, product placement release, etc, etc,. This book comes with dozens of forms (in the book and on an included CD) with examples of how to fill them out and when to use them.
amazon

 

screenwriting

The Complete Guide to Standard Script Formats

Hillis R. Cole, Jr & Judith H Hagg
Publisher: CMC Publishing
A guide for various screenplay formats (feature film vs. sitcom for example). A very useful reference. This book does not address any creative issues. It is purely a technical reference guide.
amazon
 

Writing Screenplays that Sell

Michael Hauge
Publisher: HarperPerennial
I like this book in the sense that it tells you what "they" want to hear... it suggests methods to creating a commercially viable script and how to go about selling.
amazon
 

The Tools of Screenwriting

David Howard & Edward Mabley
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

The best part about this book is that it not only explains the elements of a script (character, structure, theme, etc) but also uses several films to help explain how they work (Citizen Kane, ET, The Godfather, Sex, lies, and videotape, plus more).
amazon


editing/post production

Digital Nonlinear Editing

Thomas A. Ohanian
Publisher: Focal Press

Not a creative reference book but a technical one. It will give you a good basic understand of the technology behind editing with computers.
amazon


miscellaneous

Thinking in Pictures

John Sayles
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Sayles wrote this book during and after the production of his film "Matewan." This is one of the first film related books I read.
amazon
 

Breaking In

Nicholas Jarecki
Publisher: Broadway Books

A collection of 20 interviews with successful film directors (Barry Sonnenfeld, Neil LaBute, Kim Peirce to name a few) detailing how they made their "big break."
amazon
 

Getting Started in Film

Emily Laskin (Editor)
Publisher MacMillian

The AFI conducted interviews with 49 filmmakers and asked them the questions you'd want to ask them. They didn't stop and just producer and directors either, they interviewed editors, production designers, sounded editors and more on how they got started. (Some "big" names interviewed are George Lucas, David Lynch, Haskell Wexler)
amazon
 

What I Really Want To Do Is Direct

Billy Frolick
Publisher: Dutton

This book follows 7 would-be filmmakers for three years just after their graduation from film school. It chronicles (in there own words form journals and telephone interviews) their struggle to get a start as directors. There are also insights and comments from notable directors, writers and agents scattered throughout the book.
amazon


Copyright 2005
Benjamin T. Brammeier