Customer Reviews

Film Directing: Cinematic Motion, Second Edition

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

 

 

Cinematic Motion, by Steven Katz, published by Michael Wiese Productions, is another one of those absolutely must-have books for serious filmmakers. The subtitle, A Workshop for Staging Scenes, is just what this valuable resource and reference manual is...a workshop in a book! It's unique in that it is written from the film director's viewpoint. The focus of the book is on creative visual staging of each scene, and the storyboards and diagrams are clear, consistent and workable. Katz shows you how to choreograph scenes and create illusions, as needed, through blocking, camera movement, moving an actor or actors in a scene, and staging, in scenes with confined spaces up to large spaces, interiors and exteriors. The interviews with director John Sayles (The Secret of Roan Inish; Passion Fish; City of Hope) and production manager Ralph Singleton (Pet Sematary II; Clear and Present Danger; Last Man Standing) are very informative and helpful for the beginning filmmaker and the experienced filmmaker alike.

Both Steven Katz books are great. Full with ideas.
If you are choosing between the blue covered and the red one, pick the blue for begginers.

Os dois livros do Steven D Katz são ótimos, mas o de capa azul é mais completo. O vermelho é como uma continuação do outro, traz mais idéias para trabalhar com grua, trilho, etc. Comprei os dois usados pela amazon. Sem grilo, os livros tavam perfeitos, pode confiar.

This is the second textbook I have bought from author Stephen Katz. The first one was excellent for the beginning director. Very simple and laid out nicely for the film directing enthusiast. This second edition was all that I expected it to be. Katz goes into camera cinematics and choreography of large scenes and shots filled with lots of people. If you didn't get the basics in the first edition you'll be in the dark with this one. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was because it was everything I expected it to be. No surprises or extra pages. I think he'll be coming out with another one in the not so distant future!

This book is really a must have for new working directors that try to make it on their own. Great help to me.

This book is great, anyone who would like to shoot a decent video should read it.

This is an amazing piece of work that addresses the staging aspect of a film very comprehensively. Most of the books treat this subject with a lot of words, but Steven Katz has chosen to explain the nuances of staging in a visual form - demystifying the entire art behind it. If you are budding movie maker - read this before you stage your first shot.

Now in an updated second edition, Film Directing Cinematic Motion is an extensive how-to manual especially for aspiring and practicing directors to fine-tuning the art of creating a personal camera style, piecing together extended sequence shots, make the most of digital technology for visualization and script breakdown, and much more. Including interactive online 3D storyboards for hands-on practice, Film Directing Cinematic Motion is extremely down-to-earth in its presentation, offering direct Q & A with an expert, extremely detailed situational examples, frame-by-frame diagrams to illustrate complex points, and much more. Highly recommended for anyone involved in the field, whether amateur or professional.

This book is great. Very informative, clear and concise. A must read for all aspiring directors or director/writer hyphenates.