Customer Reviews

Directing: Film Techniques and Aesthetics, Second Edition

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Kudos to Mr. Rabiger for making a comprehensive manual tackling issues from script to rehearsal to mise-en-scène fundamentals to editing. He dispels the myth that film directing is that illustrious, far-away, somehow unobtainable form of "magic." Instead, he spends 500+ pages explaining technique, and offering advice that, in a subtle way, is saying "Get off your ass and make films." The point here is NOT to create a masterpiece the first time out. It's about making mistakes, picking yourself up, and trying again. And again. And again. Success in film will NEVER come overnight. He makes that point perfectly clear. He also stresses the importance of learning how and why great films remain great---hint: analysis. Learning the principles of areas like screenwriting, acting, cinematography, and editing are essential. It's like taking apart a machine, learning how it works, then re-assembling it, with a better understanding of its nature. But make sure the theory goes into practice. Otherwise, this book will be a waste of money.

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.

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.

The book is well written and interesting. I found the chapters and appendices on how to find schools, how to start your career very practical and useful.

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.

All the previous reviews are extensive and revealing about this very good book. Although i like to praise two thinks about it that impressed me.
The first is the wonderfull way the author initialy explains to the reader the power and the importance of the script. The second is the chapter called "The process of writing" itself. This chapter is an unexpected powerfull gift to the aspiring screenwriter/director who has ideas or pictures and visualisations in his mind and wants to give them life in the form of a good script.

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.

I like the overall value offered in this book and the coverage of topics is pretty nice. However I find the author is slightly pessimist or maybe pragmatic (who knows) and that is the biggest turnoff of this book. I hope if the author had written with a slight optimist POV it'd have been much better. Every one knows that the Film industry is pretty competitive but you don't have to be pessimist to convey the message.

This book helped me to understand the inner philosophy of cinema and its techniques. I'm a Director in film and tv industry. I tried to find resources about the art of my specialty. This book is what I wanted it's writing about Low budget film making but in a totally profecional way. I was so bored of these books writing about the "HOLLYWOOD" filmmaking standards. I appreciate that this book brings the art of Cinema in the hands of ordinary people, with no money to make the "extraordinary production" films but in people which trying to find the real essence of Cinema.