The Beginning Filmmaker's Guide to Directing [Hardcover]

Renee Harmon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2003

This book provides the orientation and training you need to get a film project off the ground. For the writer, actor, or cinematographer who wants to earn the right to wear the director's hat, here's the commonsense, nuts-and-bolts advice necessary to get a movie from the idea stage to the screen. This is an ideal training manual for the beginner or recent film school graduate with only limited funds, written by a professional moviemaker active in the low-budget field. This book covers such key topics as the economics of directing, how not to waste money, how to cast and rehearse actors, ways to handle disputes, the development of an approved script into an actual shooting script, practice scenes for camera setups and movement, location and scene breakdowns, elements of editing, trick shots, what you need to know about crews and equipment, and pre- and post-production essentials. The interest in filmmaking continues to burgeon, as do markets for film and trained film professionals. Directors and their skills are needed in many rapidly growing arenas of the entertainment industry: cable, TV, domestic video, and home video markets overseas as well as in the United States, plus industrial and educational filmmaking. Renee Harmon has over a dozen years of experience as a producer and director. With her at your side, you will have one of the best teachers in the business guiding you every step of the way.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Film directing requires more than just being able to yell "action!", and no matter how good the material, a poorly directed film will not sell. Writing for people who may have worked in film but have never actually directed, Renee Harmon, a veteran of the film industry, explains the nuts-and-bolts of film directing. She addresses all aspects of the director's job including setting up shots, casting parts, editing in the camera and conserving money. Whether you're wanting to turn out a biting social commentary or just Saturday afternoon entertainment, the advice given here will put you on track for celluloid success. -- From The WomanSource Catalog & Review: Tools for Connecting the Community for Women; review by FGP --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Have enough sensitivity to listen to your actors' suggestions. If possible, refrain from giving your actors line readings such as, "Please, Janice, read that line this way," or "Do me a favor, Ben, and emphasize this word." Don't forget, actors are professionals; they know what to do, and any amateurish attempt at coaching will meet with strong resistance on their part. Yes, control your actors' goals, motives, and reactions, but never direct their lines. If you do, you may lose their respect. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 197 pages
• Publisher: Walker & Company (January 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802712193
• ISBN-13: 978-0802712196
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,552,808 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not all that great, February 13, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Beginning Filmmaker's Guide to Directing (Paperback)

When I first picked up this book I thought it would be a sound read. Well, I was wrong; while not a horrible book it is rather outdated, dealing with such things as Moviolas and splicing film all of which is dissolving from an increasingly technological industry. Also, take a look at some of the films this "filmmaker" has made - Jungle Trap, Exterminator II. I didn't have the courage to watch them, but instead visited the internet movie database, found a review of the latter film by Leonard Maltin, who gave it a rating of "BOMB". As much as I can appreciate the author's experience making movies, I find it silly to be taking advice on how to make films from someone who has been working "in the industry" for over a decade and has not had one commerical, or (apparently) critical success. Even the technical stuff gets old after awhile. Do yourself a favor and go read Robert Rodriguez's Ten Minute Film School (or whatever it's called), and avoid this outdated book, written by someone who really has about as much place giving advice to other filmmakers as I do.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly disappointing, March 10, 2000

By 

D Gary Grady (Durham NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Beginning Filmmaker's Guide to Directing (Paperback)

What surprised me most about this book is how much information the author simply gets wrong. Some of it is technical and possibly not that important for a director to know (a cinematorgrapher once told me a famous director I won't name could not even comprehend the basics of photography), but some is fundamental, such as how to handle basic screen direction continuity. Other places the writing isn't clear enough to know whether the author is offering useful advice or not. That said, the book has some merits, including some sensible advice on directing actors. It might be worth while as supplemental reading, provided one takes what is says with a grain of salt, but it would be serious mistake to try to direct a film based only on what is in this book. A much better choice would be Sidney Lumet's Making Movies or Gaspard & Newton's Persistence of Vision (both of these aren't just informative but a real joy to read). Also, pretty much anything by Michael Wiese would merit a look.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars BOMB, September 13, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Beginning Filmmaker's Guide to Directing (Paperback)

Like a lot of movies it has maybe one good scene. Advice on working with actord is basically correct. Advice on how to cut budget is puching it. One thing most people learn is to NOT edit in the camera, but to have a well planned shoot with the option to shoot throw aways. While other authors use award winning, audience pleasing, well-known films, she opted to use less than memorable work.