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