kosh, thank you for the recommendations! its so nice to see someone on this forum answer a question instead of arguing with the o.p why their question is stupid :x
also to kosh, from each subject, what books have the best/most/valuable information?
caseyhein- i just looked up those interviews, just by seeing the work that they have done i'm not interested in any of the people, but i'm sure they have good info. if i were to watch just 1 or 2, what do you think is the best ones?
thanks for the replies!
Hey kgasser. Don't mention it. Sorry to hear that people are giving you a hard time for trying to learn something, especially on this site. I have not had any bad experiences on here. Here's hoping it's a better experience for you here on out.
So back to the point. For me, my all time favorites are...
Screenwriting
The Writer's Bible by David Trottier - it's the first movie related book I read ever since I started flirting with the idea of writing screenplays (back in the day). It is a solid book that will give you a strong fundamental foundation on the whole effort from soup-to-nuts.
Save the Cat by Blake Snyder - is a close second for me. It's a fun read from a guy who has had some success Hollywood side. He suggests a development style that is pretty cool and pretty easy to apply. I also bought the software that helps build the "Beat Sheets" covered in his book. It's helped strengthen my writing and appreciation for the craft quite a bit.
Directing
Film Directing Fundamentals, See Your Film Before Shooting by Nicholas T. Proferes - hands down my favorite book so far in all of my movie studies (to think that I was going to pass on it during one of my many trips to Borders). In addition to having actual working experience (see Wanda), Mr. Proferes is also a Professor of Film at Columbia University's School of Arts - so the guy can teach, and teach he does in this easy read. I am a huge proponent of his directing prep-work and style. If you are interesting in directing this book is a MUST READ.
Cinematography
Cinematography, Theory and Practice, Image making for Cinematographers, Directors, and Videographers by Blain Brown - This book is a bit technical, as one would expect when it comes to subject matter of Cinematography. That said, it is a great read and I can see it being a great precursor for an aspiring cinematographer - which I am not, but I have learned quite a bit and think I can speak the language (somewhat) and have a deeper appreciation for the craft. If anything this book has helped me broaden my considerations during the planning phase. The book does have a bit of a film bias and I must admit that I do not have any aspirations to mess with film just yet. Excellent read nonetheless. I also bought another book from Blain (Motion Picture and Video Lighting).
Pacing Shadows is a close second for me.
Camera
Grammar of the Shot by Roy Thompson and Christopher J Bowen - a great read and a field guide for me. High level fundamentals that are great for communication between a director and camera operator. I love this book.
Editing
Grammar of the Edit by Roy Thompson and Christopher J Bowen - same approach and read from an editing standpoint. Nice read and great field guide. Also a high level coverage of the material but nice introductory material, a great place to start if you want to dig deeper into this topic.
I hope this stuff helps, and don't be discouraged by the rough posts/answers on here because as a supplement to all my books and DVDs this site is one of my premier places to get great information from a wide range of people who are at various stages in their respective crafts. Sometimes our passions tend to get the best of us, I'm sure there is no malice intended. Don't get discouraged and follow your passions. Good luck.
