Customer Reviews

First Time Director: How to Make Your Breakthrough Movie

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

If you don't know what an AD is, it's the guy/gal that many a novice has mistaken for the director, since the AD is usually the one shouting "Quiet on the set!" and "Roll sound/camera!"

So I picked up FTD expecting more of the mishmash and anecdotes you get from writers who have not spent much, if any, time on a set. Not so. Despite the "sleep with your producer" line (which I too found bizarre beyond belief and is the only reason for 4 stars instead of 5), FTD is probably the best book I've ever read on the actual mechanics of making your first movie as a director. I don't know the author and I don't know the publisher, but what I do know is this stuff is coming from a guy who's been there in the trenches, sweating blood and tears to make a movie. Bettman's advice is better and more on point than anything I ever got at USC film school, and is matched only by the advice I got from--and eventually gave to-- the directors I've worked with.

So buy it if you're looking for the nuts and bolts of directing your first feature, ignore the sleep with the producer line, and I think you'll find it worth your hard-earned cash.

My name is David Worth and I've been a professional Director / DP in the film industry for nearly 30 years. I've Directed features with Jean-Claude Van Damme, Roy Scheider and Dennis Hopper, as well as being the Director Of Photography on features with Clint Eastwood, Bruce Campbell and the late Shelly Winters.

Like most of the reviewers remarked, Mr. Bettman's book: First Time Director: How To Make Your Breakthrough Movie, is "...essential... inspiring... invaluable...". Mr. Bettman writes about the basic "nuts & bolts" of "in the trenches" Directing by someone who has obvilously been there. I believe that his book is an absolute MUST for any one aspiring to be a Director or a woking professional in the film industry and that it should be part of the required reading for every Film School, Course or Program on the planet.

Anyone not getting the "tongue in cheek" and "gallows humor" of some of Mr. Bettman's remarks simply hasn't been there,"in the trenches" tying to make a film with never enough time or money. The mantra "the Master becomes the Coverage" is the hallmark of someone who not only understands the process, but also has the chops of a world of experience behind them. Mr. Bettman's book comes from the heart and soul of a Filmmaker and a Professor of Cinema, the forward by Mr. Zemeckes is simply the icing on the cake and in my humble opinion, "The Good Filmmaking Seal Of Approval"!!!

There are way too many books on directing and most of them cover the basics well but very rarely we come across a book that takes us to the next level which is the real time world of film making and the constraints. This book constantly keeps us rooted to reality despite explaining the art of showbiz. The book beautifuly covers the design of a moving master with four tasks, objectives for actors, directing method actors, improvisation, script breakdown, team building and casting. Gil Bettman's approach makes us think about the simple things of film making that we tend to put away into our closets once we finish film school. The book not only is a great refresher which brings back wonderful memories of my own film school experience but also is a lesson in Cinema's most important skill; namely man management or also known as people skills. Bettman's witty and humorous comments make the book a great read not just for the knowledge gains but also as a window into the hollywood system of film making which is exciting and rivetting. It is a must read for all.

As a filmmaker and actor, I was looking forward to reading this book to clarify and enlighten me on different aspects of an overall project. How enlightened I was when I got to page 15 and read about how to get along with a producer: "Do whatever he sugggests that you do together, right up to having sex with him." I kept reading thinking this was a joke or an anecdote but no, the author continues condoning doing everything necessary to foster a conducive working relationship with the producer and the cast and crew as well. I shut the book at that point and sent it back. The author's admonishment that in Hollywood this is part of the process of networking and getting a film made and that if one doesn't agree with it, one should find another line of work is nothing short of asinine and totally out of line. I'm confused; did these other reviewers not read this chapter? Are they his students? There's even a foreword by Robert Zemeckis. Did he not read this chapter? Even on a technical level, the Preproduction Chapter is not at all about anything a filmmaker needs to do in preproduction. I've made a number of award winning short films and I can tell you, kissing my producer's fanny or otherwise is not something I've ever had to do. And we've all gotten along just fine.

Film is, quite simply, a director's medium. You're here reading this review because you're serious about making films; and you've come to the right place. Sure, you're going to learn the most about directing by making a movie yourself, but reading about the process can also be helpful. In any movie industry, the so called pros who write a book on directing to show how many stars they have worked with or what big name films they have done; are a dime-a-dozen and no really help to you. The names may impress you...but you'll soon realize, that you've walked away with learning nothing at all on how to make your own movie.

Whether you're a script writer, actor, first time filmmaker or just someone interested in movies; after reading this book you will walk away truly empowered; with a new understanding of making a motion picture and a new found confidence in your ability to handle just about any directing job thrown at you. Bettman, a mesmerizing storyteller, takes us on a rollercoaster ride of Hollywood in his First Time Director: the penny pinching producers, the fierce competition, and above all...the art of making a movie itself. Filmmaking, he'll have you know, is about creative talent and technical knowledge, but just as importantly, about relentless networking. Every aspect of pre-production and post-production seems to be covered, including the impossible hurdle of dealing with actors. And Gil Bettman knows. A television and feature film director at the heart of the nation's entertainment industry, he has directed dozens of television episodes, including cult favourites Knight Rider & The Fall Guy. He explains that in order to be a capable director you must know about and be able to do so many different things. The director's job ultimately,we learn,is to ensure that their movie is both entertaining and enlightening to an audience.

The people I passed this book onto - which varied in age, background and profession - loved it, as did I. The author is a captivating, informative writer. The sometimes blunt straight-forward prose is him being the streetwise guy who tells it like he sees it; readers will find that the writing style is informal, personal, and he is both humorous and approachable. There are a number of reviewers here on Amazon.com that don't seem to get the tongue in cheek humour of the book; when he tells you it's a good idea is to sleep with your producers to secure the job; he's being as witty & sarcastic as it gets. It's too bad that some people are not smart enough to read between the lines and trash this for nothing at all. They need to pick it up again and see what a well written book this is. In a nutshell,this provides a comprehensive and extremely fast paced introduction to the industry; and for those with more experience it can clarify questions. If you have already had the opportunity to direct a project of your own as I have, you know something about the difficulty of putting together a piece of film that actually works. Few artistic endeavors are more challenging, or more rewarding. If you're not ready to start and direct your own movie after this reading this book, then you better brush-up on your waiting table skills. A must read for any serious aspiring filmmaker.

Finally, someone has taken the time to carefully lead the first-timer down the path toward a better cinema. In a world over-crowded with Entertainment Tonight wannabes and Tarrantino sneers, Bettman has demystified the "how to" of filmmaking in a way that puts the burgeoning population of film students more at ease with the daunting task of making their first film. Anyone who is starting out, whether in film school or making cinema in their kitchen, needs to check this book out before making crucial mistakes when attempting the most fascinating artform the 20th century left behind.

Michael Miner, director, THE BOOK OF STARS, co-writer, ROBOCOP

Bettman's guide through the tumultuous undertaking of a first film is brilliant. He understands the reality of what it takes to direct in film and television and this is a must have reference for anyone looking to hit a home run in the industry. This tested professional gets it and it comes through in this awesome source of information!

Bettman preaches, "The master becomes the coverage." (pp. 79-86) In my line of work, it better, because you only get one chance.

This book really gets to the heart of the matter when it comes to telling a student of film what is and is not important and how to navigate the world and the business of film. It's all great advice. I am a director and teach as well, so I can with some authority to sincerely recommend this book.

'First Time Director' goes beyond the usual instuctional book and puts the reader in the shoes of a first time director. Then writer Gil Bettman gently takes the reader/1st time director by the hand and leads him or her through the production minefield with clarity, style and sly wit. By the time you've finished this book, the reader feels like he's made his first film! Concise, more than informative and fun!

Gil Bettman offers a unique take on the craft of film directing. His slim volume covers all the basics without overcomplicating matters. But the value added is his method for visual storytelling, which makes this book truly stand out, as does Bettman's passion for the subject. Personally, I have been a fan of First Time Director since I read it back in Russia after it came out, and found it well-worth multiple re-reads ever since. Lately, I attended a seminar Gil Bettman taught in LA with Mark Travis, which I also highly recommend. I defy you not to become a better director after Gil Bettman is through with you!