Interesting topic, this. I'll definitely pick up some of these! Here are some books I have gained a lot from:
And how about more specific books about areas where money actually are present?
I mean corporative films, professional interviews, weddings, etc..
May be some marketing for small firms.
Of the dozens of books I have read and studied over the years, the following books are what I still find inspirational when designing production syllabi:
I have to second what @notrons listed: FILMMAKER'S HANDBOOK by Steven Ascher & Edward Pincus
I had to acquire many books for film school and this was one that I hung onto. I have one of the earlier versions though still so much useful information. I have lent this to other filmmakers who ended up buying their own copy because they like it so much.
Cool, lots of my favorites on here and some new stuff to seek out! My favorite film book, the one I'd keep if I had to throw the rest out, is Cassavetes On Cassavetes, edited by that great maniac Ray Carney. I recommend his writings on Capra and Dreyer, too, if you're in an academic mood, and to browse his Boston U. site for some of his more general writings to film students and the like. I don't always agree with his takes on things (what fun is that?), but he's a loony treasure. Indispensable. No bullshit. (the piece comparing film majors to auto mechanics is SPOT ON)
This is indispensable http://www.ascmag.com/store/product.php?productid=7600&cat=258&bestseller=Y
And one of my favourites from film school .. an oldy .. but I don't think it will ever date http://www.amazon.com/Technique-Documentary-Production-Communication-Techniques/dp/0240509188
Attached you will find a picture of my book pile. Slight focus on documentary filmmaking!
Most books are for sale, as I switch to e-books entirely! PM if you are interested.
My favorites:
- Cinematography: Theory & Practice, brown (essential reading!)
- Telling the Visual Story (essential reading!)
- Shut Up & Shoot Documentary Guide (down to earth)
- Bird by Bird (getting started with writing)
- Creative Interviewing (the blueprint for learning how to interview)
Some books that I found interesting:
Reflections: Twenty-One Cinematographers At Work
Shot by Shot
Leçons de cinéma 1 & 2/ Lecciones de Cine y Mas Lecciones de Cine. Laurent Tirard
Film: A Critical Introduction
Story: Substance, Structure, Style and The Principles of Screenwriting
Technique of Film Editing
Directing Actors
I think this is the best beginners book:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Shut-Shoot-Documentary-Guide/dp/0240809351/
Down to earth, fun and available as Kindle book.
Nick Ray's autobiography "I was Interrupted" was actually a very helpful book for working with actors. When he taught a college class they basically put some transcripted chapters of his workshops into the book.
An other amazing book is Henri Cartier-Bresson "The Minds's Eye", jus a quick pearl from it: "In order to give a meaning to the world, one has to feel oneself involved in what one frames through the viewfinder..."
Once again, I have to mention the narrative film-maker's indispensable reference, guide and Bible:
Daniel Arijon's Grammaire du langage filmé
I, for one, sometimes think I can plan a shot without it, go ahead yet later realize I would have done it better had I looked it up earlier! The diagrams look hard to follow at first, but it's easier to plan Arijon's way than to try later editing the un-editable or get everybody back for a re-shoot.
It's unusual in that it was written in French but first published in quite quirky English.
My previous post about this book was at http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/comment/39216#Comment_39216
It's a hefty hard-bound book. This site claims to have available a PDF copy of the English Version,. Titled "Grammar of the Film Language" [sic]:
http://www.ebooksdownloadfree.com/Miscellaneous/Grammar-of-the-Film-Language-BI18877.html
Just splurged on a $100 hardcover edition of Sculpting In Time, recommended by @xavieramelio and @kronstadt above. I love Tarkovsky's cinematography, but haven't studied him very extensively. After reading up some more on him and this book in particular, I can't wait for it to arrive!
I found this to be a good study -
Fine Cuts: The Art of European Film Editing http://www.amazon.com/Fine-Cuts-European-Film-Editing/dp/0240516842
FilmmakerIQ.com posts links to YouTube videos and articles of good material specially interviews, excerpts of famous filmmakers where they talk about film philosophy, art, craft and everything in-between.
An excellent beginners book is by Steve Stockman, "How to Shoot Video That Doesn't Suck". I taught video and this is one of the best books for novices. A good place to start. Once you know basics and get comfortable behind the camera you can use many of the other books recommended above to improve and develop your art
This is a 352 page book covering everything you think of when it comes to both digital and film photography. Nice photos, but not so many that it detracts from the information contained therein. Every chapter has a few pages colored beige to separate it from the rest of the chapter. These beige pages offer a more in depth, more technical explanation for those who might already grasp the basic concepts.
http://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Photography-Essential-Handbook-Digital/dp/0375711570
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