Directing: Film Techniques and Aesthetics

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 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.

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.

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.

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.