Filmmaking covers broad area of expertise and no one book covers everything. A library could be filled if you try to read and learn everything, and that's humanly impossible. However below are the books I believe were very helpful in learning the overall process and especially the job of a director.
"Make your Own Damn Movies!" By Lloyd Kaufman
- A book by the legendary Troma founder. One of the best filmmaking book I've read. Packed with practical information that can only be given by someone with decades of tromatic filmmaking experience.
"The Jaws Log" by Carl Gottlieb
- This was Steven Soderburgh's filmmaking bible. A first-hand account on the making of Jaws by its screenwriter. One thing most film academics can't teach is that half the filmmaking is dealing with people and solving unexpected problems. The book tells you a lot about how the Hollywood production team works and the kind of problems that could arise from it.
"King Kong - Peter Jackson's Production Diaries"
- a DVD box set that chronicles the pre-production to the release of the movie. Surprisingly detailed and thorough document on each production stage and role of the production team members. Without a doubt more than years worth lessons in a film school.
"On Writing" by Stephen King
- Not exactly a screenwriting book, but is a half-memoir, half how-to-write book. It doesn't tell you a lot about technical side of writing, but he reveals how to deal with your muse, how to prepare yourself for the long and hard journey of writing a story, developing your own "tool box", etc. There are tons other screenwriting books that tell technical things but this is the one I thought was especially helpful in navigating the process of writing.
"The One Minute Manager" by Kenneth Blanchard, Ph.D.
- Again this is not a filmmaking book. But if you are trying to become a director with more than one crew to work with, knowing how to delegate is essential. And this is the one of the books that tells you how to.
Dov S-S Simens' 2-Day Film School
- Okay, I have never attended his class and have not seen these DVDs. But I have been hearing lots of good things and been checking his website
http://dovsimensfilmschool.com. Quentin Tarantino, Christopher Nolan, Guy Ritchie, Will Smith all attended his classes, and looks promising.
Hope this helps!
