Customer Reviews

Film Production Technique: Creating the Accomplished Image

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I can barely express how far superior this book is to the restof what's out there. I'll try, of course, but first let me tell you how I arrived at this conclusion.

I looked through all of the books on Amazon that fell under the category of Cinematography, and then chose about the top 25 rated ones. I went to Inter-Library Loans at my university and requested them all. I got about a dozen.

Of all I got, this one, while broad (which I would have thought to be a disadvantage) was by far the most engrossing and the principles were illustrated (graphically and rhetorically) with a clarity that is unusual and tough to achieve. I'm really going to go off on the lighting section of the book (4 chapters, count 'em- "Concepts and Equipment" (which is as far as most books get), "Exposure and Latitude," "Planning the Lighting" (Hallelujah!)and "Executing the Lighting."

Some great advantages: Most of the books I got read like a lighting catalog (this is a tweenie, this is a mini-mole, this is a HMI blah-blah...) As a student filmmaker, that just wastes my time. I don't have access to 10,000 watt HMIs or ultra-specialized fiber-optic lighting kits, so why should I buy a book that more or less advertises them?

One other great strength- They show a photo of a well lit scene (typical) and then pull back with a diagram illustrating the lighting that has achieved this (Unusual for most books, standard for this one). This shouldn't have to be a revelation, but it is.

My interest in this book was sparked with the great lighting section, but there are some other sections stand out: Composition, Previsualization, Basic Scene structure.

The rest of the book is thorough in examining the underlying principles at work: lens, film stocks, audio (with a great section on recording strategies- wow, not just another explanation of a cardioid mic pattern).

I plan on begging, pleading, threatening, blackmailing or whatever means prove neccessary to convince my film professors that this should be our standard text. I would have had an infinitely better time of things on past projects if I had had it.

I'll be honest. The author is a friend of mine and you can find my name in the acknowledgements.
However, i can honestly say this is the best introduction to film production i've ever read. While it is a textbook, it is extremely readable. The information the author gives is first rate. Before you try to read about how to direct, start here and learn what actually goes in to making a motion picture.

...this is the book for you. Covering everything from the camera to editing, this is film school in paperback form.

I had Bruce, the author, as my film production teacher not too long ago. "Film Production Technique" isn't some esoteric diatribe, it is a nuts and bolts "how to" book on film production. The book is thoughtfully laid out, plain spoken, and punctuated with helpful diagrams and pictures.

Intended for the novice, Mamer's book is an indispensable reference for the seasoned film maker as well.

If you have the nerve, "Film Production Technique" will show you how to make your idea a reality.

OK FILM STUDENTS, ITS HERE A BOOK THAT CAN SPEAK OUR LANGUAGE, NO MORE THEORY BOOKS, THROW THEM OUT THE WINDOW, HOW BORING, THIS IS A BOOK THAT WILL SET UR CREATIVE MINDS FREE, HEY I KNOW ITS LIKE 59.00 , BUT ITS WORTH EVERY PENNY, BUY IT!

This is THE best book I have read so far on lighting..bar none. As a first year film student (I am attending the school Mr. Mamer used to teach) I was thoroughly confused about the technical aspects of lighting (f-stops, EI, latitude etc.) and this book came as a revelattion. In fact, the standard text-book that was assigned in my class (which I bought from Amazon) remained unopened throughout the semester while I read this book cover to cover. I really think this should have been our text. The language is direct, anadorned, funny, informative, judicious..in short, fantastic!

Cannot recommend it highly enough.

Unfortunately I was mislead by the picture at the front cover. Beware this is NOT a book for filmmakers, but for first year Film School students. Most of it's contents I knew when I was 15 years old. So mainly it is a waste of time (and money). Unless you want to hear elementary "rules" about the 1/3 image composition, or finding out that the author considers you are too dumn to understand how a HMI works.
There is only one area where the author (obviously a teacher) excells, and that is in the field of lighting with the help of a Sekonic L-398. If you still have one of those respectable relics in a drawer, do not throw it away, there is a lot about it to learn in this book. But whether it is worth the hefty price, will be your own judgment.