First Time Director: How to Make Your Breakthrough Movie

by Gil Bettman

This book explains in precise, easy to understand language everything the novice director needs to know before taking on his or her first professional assignment.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0941188779
• ISBN13: 9780941188777
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Michael Wiese Productions
• Length: 385 Pages
• Weight: 1.21 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.9" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

A good book deserves a good reader to absorb its essence

There are way too many books on directing and most of them cover the basics well but very rarely we come across a book that takes us to the next level which is the real time world of film making and the constraints. This book constantly keeps us rooted to reality despite explaining the art of showbiz. The book beautifuly covers the design of a moving master with four tasks, objectives for actors, directing method actors, improvisation, script breakdown, team building and casting. Gil Bettman's approach makes us think about the simple things of film making that we tend to put away into our closets once we finish film school. The book not only is a great refresher which brings back wonderful memories of my own film school experience but also is a lesson in Cinema's most important skill; namely man management or also known as people skills. Bettman's witty and humorous comments make the book a great read not just for the knowledge gains but also as a window into the hollywood system of film making which is exciting and rivetting. It is a must read for all.

A Director's View: From the Trenches...

My name is David Worth and I've been a professional Director / DP in the film industry for nearly 30 years. I've Directed features with Jean-Claude Van Damme, Roy Scheider and Dennis Hopper, as well as being the Director Of Photography on features with Clint Eastwood, Bruce Campbell and the late Shelly Winters. Like most of the reviewers remarked, Mr. Bettman's book: First Time Director: How To Make Your Breakthrough Movie, is "...essential... inspiring... invaluable...". Mr. Bettman writes about the basic "nuts & bolts" of "in the trenches" Directing by someone who has obvilously been there. I believe that his book is an absolute MUST for any one aspiring to be a Director or a woking professional in the film industry and that it should be part of the required reading for every Film School, Course or Program on the planet. Anyone not getting the "tongue in cheek" and "gallows humor" of some of Mr. Bettman's remarks simply hasn't been there,"in the trenches" tying to make a film with never enough time or money. The mantra "the Master becomes the Coverage" is the hallmark of someone who not only understands the process, but also has the chops of a world of experience behind them. Mr. Bettman's book comes from the heart and soul of a Filmmaker and a Professor of Cinema, the forward by Mr. Zemeckes is simply the icing on the cake and in my humble opinion, "The Good Filmmaking Seal Of Approval"!!!

A gem!

Bettman's guide through the tumultuous undertaking of a first film is brilliant. He understands the reality of what it takes to direct in film and television and this is a must have reference for anyone looking to hit a home run in the industry. This tested professional gets it and it comes through in this awesome source of information! Bettman preaches, "The master becomes the coverage." (pp. 79-86) In my line of work, it better, because you only get one chance.

An insider's account

Finally, someone has taken the time to carefully lead the first-timer down the path toward a better cinema. In a world over-crowded with Entertainment Tonight wannabes and Tarrantino sneers, Bettman has demystified the "how to" of filmmaking in a way that puts the burgeoning population of film students more at ease with the daunting task of making their first film. Anyone who is starting out, whether in film school or making cinema in their kitchen, needs to check this book out before making crucial mistakes when attempting the most fascinating artform the 20th century left behind.Michael Miner, director, THE BOOK OF STARS, co-writer, ROBOCOP