Cinematography for Directors: A Guide for Creative Collaboration [Paperback]

Jacqueline B Frost (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2009

The essential handbook for directors and aspiring filmmakers who want to get the best visuals for their films while establishing a collaborative relationship with their cinematographer. This is the only book that focuses exclusively on the relationship between the director and cinematographer.

Product Details

• Paperback: 292 pages
• Publisher: Michael Wiese Productions (August 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932907556
• ISBN-13: 978-1932907551
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #48,270 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, extremely detailed, great read..., August 20, 2009

By 

Matthew Terry (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cinematography for Directors: A Guide for Creative Collaboration (Paperback)

The first thing I did when I decided to make my feature film was to bring in a DP. Mike was a guy I worked with backstage on some musicals and a guy I knew who was a hard worker, easy to get a long with, didn't put up with crap and someone that I could trust. I also had a chance to work with a guy who had professional lights, professional equipment and was willing to "help out." Though this other guy was available, I went with Mike because I had relationship with him. And I'll be honest with you: He taught me more than I realize.

Ms. Frost book is about those relationships. Those "getting on the same page" moments that define the film-making process. When you think about it - you need to have EVERYONE on the same page - from the sound guy, to the actor, to the home owner whose home you're abusing in the process of making your film.

What Ms. Frost does in her extremely detailed book - is give the director all the tools he or she needs to find that common ground with the Cinematographer. To get on the same page. To recognize what it is that the Director of Photography (or the guy who showed up with the really nice camera) brings to the ENTIRE process. She takes you through everything from lens choices and film stock to cameras and aspect ratios so that you have some understanding of what is going on in your DP's head to create an environment of trust and understanding. To create the magic that is film-making.

What magic? When I made my film we were filming at night a poignant scene at the loudest cemetery in Washington State (in which we had no official permission to film). We were using a consumer Canon HV20 camera. My daughter, who was on pain meds and kind of drowsy, held up a box light we purchased from Ikea - power fed by a generator 20 feet away. We got the actors in place and Mike looked through the camera. Like a kid on Christmas morning he motioned me over: "Look at this!" The shot was beautiful. It was magical. It conveyed everything I could have ever wanted in the scene. Could I have got that shot myself? I highly doubt it.

Still...what makes Jacqueline Frost's book stand out is not only the great information that she provides, but the hundreds of quotes from cinematographers about all the aspects of cinematography. This is THE book that takes you into the mind of the cinematographer and helps you, the director, become better at your craft. Excellent.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential information for directors from a cinematographer, October 3, 2009

By 

Tony Levelle (Lower Lake, Ca United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cinematography for Directors: A Guide for Creative Collaboration (Paperback)

Frost explains exactly what every director needs to know about cinematography.

She covers everything, including: creative collaboration, script, visual palettes (colors), lighting, genre films, lenses, and cameras. She also has a very useful chapter on classic creative collaborations in film.

As a freelance cinematographer, teacher and film industry insider, Frost knows exactly what she is talking about, and all her explanations are drawn from first-hand experience. She explains exactly how to forge a collaborative relationship between director, cinematographer and production designer. The history of film shows that this collaboration is the single best way to get the highest production value for any film. Absolutely essential information!

Although Cinematography for Directors is clearly written for professionals by a professional, Frost's explanations apply directly to low-budget films.

Any filmmaker--including documentary--can usefully use the chapters on Visual References and Color Palette. These chapters tell exactly how you can use specific color palettes to differentiate between characters or locations or time periods, to establish a specific tone or mood, or to maintain the stylistic mood of a genre.

When I asked Frost if it was possible to shoot a "decent" film with a small prosumer camera, she said "Absolutely. What really matters it is the way in which you use the camera. Shoot film style with carefully
selected shots and compositions, light it softer to avoid the harsher video look, and tell a good story. People generally don't care about format they care about story."

If I were ever to produce a film, I would make sure that my director, cinematographer and production designer all spent a day with Jacqui Frost.

Recommended for: film students, film teachers, independent filmmakers, directors, production designers, cinematographers, camera operators and anyone even remotely interested in producing an independent film.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "THE" Director's Handbook, December 8, 2009

By 

M. Clack "future_legend" (San Antonio,Tx) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cinematography for Directors: A Guide for Creative Collaboration (Paperback)

I just finished reading this book and I have to tell you this is the book aspiring directors have been waiting for.It clears all the misconceptions and mystery of cinematography for the none cinematographer.This book is great for the the Director who wishes to know more about what the DP has to do make his vision an reality.(Well not really reality since it's fiction but you get the point.)Don't go on your next project without this.It will definitely come in handy on the set.