Directing: Film Techniques and Aesthetics

By Michael Rabiger and Mick Hurbis-Cherrier

Book Overview

Directing: Film Techniques and Aesthetics is a comprehensive manual that has inspired tens of thousands of readers worldwide to realize their artistic vision and produce well-constructed films. Filled with practical advice on every stage of production, this is the book you will return to throughout your career. Directing covers the methods, technologies, thought processes, and judgments that a director must use throughout the fascinating process of making a film. It emphasizes low-cost digital technology, which allows cutting-edge creativity and professionalism on shoestring budgets. And, recognizing that you learn best by doing, the book includes dozens of practical hands-on projects and activities to help you master technical and conceptual skills. Just as important as surmounting technological hurdles is the conceptual and authorial side of filmmaking. This book provides an unusually clear view of the artistic process, particularly in working with actors. It offers eminently practical tools and exercises to help you develop credible and compelling stories with your cast, hone your narrative skills, and develop your artistic identity. This book shows you how to surpass mere technical proficiency and become a storyteller with a distinctive voice and style. This edition has been streamlined and thoroughly revised for greater ease of use. Other updates include: * current information on digital technology * an expanded section on directing actors that cross-references thirty exercises * new questionnaires to help you pinpoint a film's aesthetic needs and assess where your vocational strengths lie; and much more. The companion web site includes teaching notes, checklists, and useful forms and questionnaires: www.focalpress.com/cw/rabiger

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0240808827
• ISBN13: 9780240808826
• Release Date: August 2007
• Publisher: Focal Press
• Length: 584 Pages
• Weight: 2.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.0" x 1.3" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

Plain speak on directing

I have read many books on directing, and recently been directed my first project with a real budget, real crew. This book is the best for learning the production process, and covers it all in a plain-speak nuts & bolts fashion. A great resource ro prepare a director who wants to work at the professional level.

This book should be more famous

This book doesn't seem to be particularly famous, but it's one of the best books out there on the spirit of the artist as well as the nuts and bolts part of directing. I've bought about three or four feet of books and this is a keeper. You'll refer to it many times and read different chapters at different moments. It's a mature book that doesn't pander to just the dreamers. The cute books are for the dreamers. This one's for the terrified but willing. His other book, "Developing Story Ideas" is good as well.

Invaluable

I first came across this book in film school. I did not intend to be a director back then, I intended to be a writer. And I still refuse to touch a splicer. The startling thing about this book was, it had more to say about story and scene construction -- and more concisely -- than most books out there about actual writing. I've kept it with me ever since.

One of the most complete guides to filmmaking

This book is designed as a textbook for an aspiring film student. It covers all the basic skills that are necessary in making a movie. It is very complete. Aside from the useful technical knowledge in this book, which alone would give it 5 stars, Rabinger has the student/reader do excercises that has the student develop their own sense of asthetics. Of all the books on filmmaking that I've read, this is one of the most comprehensive, and consequently, most valuable.

Wanna be filmmaker? This is the first book you should read!

What is really cool about this book is that it cover the WHY direct and HOW to do it. A perfect combo. This is really the first book to get if you want or think that making movie is for you. Get it and you'll know why.