These books are ones I have personally have found helpful in becoming an independent movie-production studio. They’re organized alphabetically by author — or, in the case of movies, alphabetically by director. If you click the title to order a copy from Amazon.ca, I’ll receive a small tip — thanks!
If you want to send me something for review, please do (here’s my contact information). If I get something out of it, I’ll be pleased to add it to this list.
Audio
Jay Rose: Producing Great Sound for Film and Video
In the first — and perhaps the only — sound book you must have, Rose explains pretty much everything you need to know about recording dialogue and sound effects for your movie, in as much technical detail as you need. He offers practical advice for working on a budget, and tips to minimize mistakes and maximize opportunity.
Directing
David Mamet: On Directing Film
Playwright, screenwright, and director Mamet offers his thesis (borrowed from Sergei Eisenstein) that the essence of cinema is the juxtaposition of uninflected shots, and proves it with examples from his class and his favourite movies.
Editing
Terry Gilliam (director): Brazil (Criterion Collection 3-disc boxed set)
Movie-maker and Python Gilliam has proven himself one of the most visionary and uncompromising creators in the field. Brazil is famous as much for the battles over its release as for its story. This three-disc set includes Gilliam’s “final final cut”, as well as the studio’s “Love Conquers All” cut; it’s interesting and instructive to compare the two, and see how different stories can be constructed from the same source material.
Movie-making
Dave Knox: Strike the Baby and Kill the Blonde
Hollywood camera-guy Knox provides “An Insider’s Guide to Film Slang” via definitions and humour. Learn what a C47 is, what a Best Boy does, and how important coffee is to a working movie crew. A fun read for anyone who’s ever puzzled over movie credits.
Rick Schmidt: Feature Filmmaking at Used-Car Prices
Schmidt teaches how anyone can make a feature-length movie on film for the price of a good used car.
Rick Schmidt: Extreme DV at Used-Car Prices
Schmidt’s next book teaches how anyone can make a feature-length movie on digital video for the price of a good used car.
Writing
Syd Field: Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting
Screenwriting guru Field literally wrote the book on screenplays — and this is it. He details three-act structure, and instructs you how to keep the dramatic tension high and the failure rate low. This is one of the standard textbooks for screenwriting.
William Goldman: Adventures in the Screen Trade
Oscar-winning screenwright Goldman writes with humour and intelligence about his experiences as a writer in Hollywood. He provides tips both on how to write a screenplay, and on how the Hollywood movie-making business treats writers.
William Goldman: Which Lie Did I Tell?
Goldman relates “More Adventures in the Screen Trade”, providing more juicy gossip and lessons learned.