Whether one is interested in cinematography, direction, production, or any other aspect of making movies, they can learn a lot from good filmmaking books. These are treasure troves of knowledge. Not only do they share tips and tricks about technique, but they also share invaluable experiences that the authors have lived through. Those in themselves are lessons, as they may be situations that the reader will face one day. Let’s list down some of the best filmmaking books every filmmaker should read.

At a glance, this is our list:

  1. In the Blink of an Eye
  2. Shooting To Kill
  3. Rebel Without a Crew
  4. On Directing Film
  5. Making Movies
  6. Hitchcock/Truffaut

Now let’s go into a slightly more detailed review of the books.

Best Filmmaking Books Every Filmmaker Should Read

1. In the Blink of An Eye: A Perspective on Film Editing

This is a book for filmmakers who are specifically interested in editing. It’s written by an editor of the hugely popular movies The English Patient, Apocalypse Now, and The Godfather. The author, named Walter Murch, writes about the art and craft of editing. This book is usually at the top of most lists of filmmaking books for beginners. It’s considered a reading essential for budding film editors.

In the book, Murch covers cuts, continuity, and discontinuity in three realms – editing, dreaming, and reality. He discusses what a good cut is and what cues can be used in the editing processes. What readers love about this book is that it gives more importance to emotion rather than getting deep into editing technicalities.

2. Shooting to Kill

Christine Vachon shares what it’s like to work at the frontlines of independent films in this interesting take on the filmmaking process. It’s a book every filmmaker should read. The author was a major player behind the Oscar-nominated movie, Carol. In this book, she gets right into the process of making films, from developing a script, to financing the whole thing. She also shares how to manage the most volatile of all the elements in filmmaking – egos. It’s a motivating read for those interested in making self-financed films specifically.

3. Rebel Without A Crew

Another classic book, this one’s been written by the famous Hollywood director Robert Rodriguez. One could say it’s an inspiring film direction book as it’s written in a diary format and illustrates the director’s earliest days. That’s when he had worked at a medical facility to raise the money he needed for his first film. He shares how we went on to make the film and his experience in Hollywood selling and promoting the movie at film festivals.

This is a great read for those interested in DIY and independent movie-making. Rodriguez also shares the low-budget techniques that he’d used to cut corners. His practical and affordable techniques have made him an icon and a legend in the modern indie filmmaking community.

4. On Directing Film

Another goldmine for wannabe directors who prefer a more modern approach to films. This book is David Mamet’s opinion on what a film director must do. Based on the classes he taught at the prestigious Columbia University, Mamet argues that the film director’s main job is to think visually. The book is written humorously but is also instructive. This is because, in the book, he is encouraging his students to share their stories not through words – but the juxtaposition of images.

He also highlights how master filmmakers weave individual shots together to truly use the art of cinematic storytelling impactfully. In the book, Mamet cites inspiration from Russian filmmakers, like Sergei M. Eisenstein, and Konstantin Stanislavsky. He shares his views on their ideas of directing, writing, and acting.

5. Making Movies

Whether you’re looking for cinematography books or film production books, Making Movies is one such book that can be valuable to all who read it. This book covers many topics, such as the factors behind script selection, how to motivate actors through take after taking of just one scene, how to stage a gang fight with over 100 extras, and more.

It’s written by Sidney Lumet, one of America’s most acclaimed directors. It’s a memoir of his inspiring life and a guide on the art, craft, and business of making movies. The book has stories from Lumet’s forty years of hands-on experience in making movies. He shares the knowledge he gained from projects such as Long Day’s Journey into Night, Network, to The Verdict.

6. Hitchcock/Truffaut

Another great book for aspiring filmmakers is Hitchcock/Truffaut. This classic was written by Alfred Hitchcock and Francois Truffaut. It’s based on an exchange between the two directors back in 1962. The two had spent an entire week together at Universal Studios talking about movies. During that time, they were in a room together and spent their days talking openly about their movies. They discussed actors, substance, style, and processes. The book reveals a lot about how Hitchcock’s mind worked.

Have these inspiring stories sparked a flame in you to create your film? If so, you must undertake guidance from the masters. You’ll be able to seek such teachers from one of the best film schools around – DICE-VFS (School Of Entertainment Arts).

We offer practical and advanced education to students aspiring to create a niche in the film and entertainment industry. They teach practices and programs that are in sync with Vancouver Film School’s curriculum. DICE-VFS has world-class facilities and a modern infrastructure spread across a sprawling campus.

Come and make on-screen magic at the best college for filmmaking in Mumbai!

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