Directing: Film Techniques and Aesthetics

By Michael Rabiger and Mick Hurbis-Cherrier

Book Overview

This comprehensive manual 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. The core of the book is the human, psychological, and technical knowledge that every director needs, the enduring elements of the craft that remain vital.

Directing

also provides an unusually clear view of the artistic process, particularly in working with actors and principle crew to achieve personally expressive storytelling and professionalism on any budget.

Directing

explores in detailed and applicable terms how to engage with the conceptual and authorial sides of filmmaking. Its eminently practical tools and exercises show how to: discover your artistic identity; develop credible and compelling stories with your cast and crew; and become a storyteller with a distinctive voice and style.

The companion website includes teaching notes, dozens of practical hands-on projects and film study activities to help you master technical and conceptual skills, film analysis questionnaires, and all the essential production forms and logs.

New to the fifth edition

* Virtually every chapter has been revised, updated, and re-organized for a streamlined and integrated approach.

* Expanded sections on the basics of drama, including thorough analyses of recent films

* Discussions of the director's approach to script analysis and development

* New discussion exploring the elements of naturalistic and stylistic aesthetic approaches.

* New discussion on the narrative power of lighting and the lens - including many recent film examples for shot size, perspective, focus and exposure

* Greater emphasis on the implications of composition, mise-en-sc ne, continuity shooting and editing, long take shooting, point-of-view sequences, and camera handling

* Expanded discussion of collaboration between the director and principle creative crew

* Updated coverage of workflow and comparative advantages to digital or film acquisition

* New section on film production safety, set protocol and etiquette

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0240818458
• ISBN13: 9780240818450
• Release Date: January 2013
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 517 Pages
• Weight: 2.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 7.4" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Wonderful resource.

wonder tips and techniques. Good resource.

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.