Production Reading
So as part of my goal to give people a reason to come back to this site I'm starting a series of articles dedicated to various topics related to the movies we make.
My first entry: Books about film production. By no means is this to be seen as a comprehensive list. These are just books I have read that I take some value from. I'll try to give it in the form of pro and con of each book, but I won't be that formal.
To be clear, I reccomend all of them (I'm ommitting books I've read but don't reccomend.) The negative comments are just there to give you a little grain of salt with which to take the book.
Make Your Own Damn Movie!: Secrets of a Renegade Director
by Lloyd Kaufman
Good: It talks about the advantage of a low budget movie, specifically how it allows the creative team spearheading it more creative control. It has good tips for auditioning actors, cheap special effects, and running a production.
Bad: You get the picture that Lloyd Kaufman is kind of a jackass, and you wouldn't want to work for him. He seems to be downright abusive to his actors/crew/supporters/fans. He's also a little self righteous talking about his B-horror shlock as "art." Don't get me wrong I want to see Sgt. Kabukiman NYPD, but not because I think of it as a Renoir or something.
How to Shoot a Feature Film for Under $10,000 (And Not Go to Jail)
by Bret Stern
Good: This one also talks about making movies with less money. It gives a lot of decent advice on reducing price, and choisng an audience. It's also very entertaining.
Bad: It's a little too much with the entertainment. Sometime it's hard to know when he joking, and when he's serious.
The Filmmaker's Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for the Digital Age
by Steven Ascher, Edward Pincus, Carol Keller, Robert Brun, Ted Spagna, Stephen McCarthy
Good: Pretty much a textbook with which to learn the basics of filmmaking. It gives a good grounding in both the video and film worlds. It has quite a bit of depth on all facets of production.
Bad: Pretty much a textbook. This isn't one you want to curl up with, cause it will put you to sleep.
Posted by: pregnant pictures at October 17, 2009 2:50 PM