Girl Director: A How-to Guide for the First-Time, Flat-Broke Film and Video Maker [Paperback]

Andrea Richards (Author), Elizabeth Mccallie (Illustrator), Allison Anders (Foreword)

Book Description

Chock-full of fascinating photographs and colorful directives, GIRL DIRECTOR is an instruction manual, history lesson, scrapbook, and celebration of women and film rolled into one. Director and cinephile Andrea Richards all but hands the reader a camera as she raucously paves the way for young women to make their own films. Sharing tales of the coolest femme filmmakers from history and recounting advice from the best women directors now in the business, Richards explains step by step how anyone can make a film using a standard video camera. Covering such topics as screenwriting, storyboards, set design, editing, distribution, Claymation, music videos, film festivals, and the digital revolution, GIRL DIRECTOR is a must-have handbook for the aspiring auteur of any age.A guide to do-it-yourself filmmaking from a female perspective, featuring accessible expert advice and a hip history of women in film.A must-have reference (and an excellent gift) for tweens, teens, adults, or anyone interested in making movies.Includes specifics on the who, what, where, and how of making low-budget videos and films.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Girl Director: A How-To Guide for the First-Time Flat-Broke Film Maker (and Video Maker) by Andrea Richards, illus. by Elizabeth McCallie, is filled with information for aspiring film makers, with advice on everything from choosing a genre ("Movie Madness Deciding What Type of Movie to Make") to learning the basics ("Getting to Know [and Love] Your Equipment") to showing off the work at its best ("An Editrix's Guide to Easy Editing"). A hip design incorporates film stills, historical tidbits and quotes from experienced women filmmakers past and present. (May)
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From Library Journal

Girl Press continues its mission to publish "slightly dangerous books for girl mavericks" with this volume geared toward the teen market. Aiming to instill self-reliance and self-esteem, their latest offering serves as a handy if slight guidebook for prospective filmmakers, regardless of gender. It features zippy design and advice from directors like Allison Anders and Gillian Armstrong. A chapter on pioneering film women rapidly segues into practical information. Chapters briefly touch on such topics as funding, screenwriting, storyboards, set design, framing, editing, animation, and distribution. A resource guide and a small bibliography complete the contents. One cannot help but question the utility of Girl Director overall, given the complexity of filmmaking and the rapid evolution of the industry. It does convey a fair amount of information in a limited space, but does it meet the needs of anyone except completely novice mavericks? Public libraries might consider for purchase. Neal Baker, Earlham Coll., Richmond, IN
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press (April 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580086756
• ISBN-13: 978-1580086752
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 0.4 x 9.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,466,250 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What every Girl (and boy) needs!, August 5, 2001

By 

"superpolavision" (Hollywood, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Girl Director: A How-To Guide for the First-Time, Flat-Broke Film & Video Maker (Paperback)

FILLED with information and presented in a fun and entertaining book. Great interviews and profiles on women directors. The most interesting part to me is how much women were involved in the early days of film. As a filmmaker myself, I appreciate the "how to" details which are presented in an easy to understand manner. Great descriptions of all the basics of how to make your first film - or your second film. Photos and illustrations will help the kids enjoy it....

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's not just for girls., June 4, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Girl Director: A How-To Guide for the First-Time, Flat-Broke Film & Video Maker (Paperback)

This book offers an entertaining look at the history of women making films (it's been happening longer than you think!), plus the inside scoop on being an all-in-one, movie-making machine. More than a how-to guide or a historical overview, Girl Director is fun to read, great as a gift, and a must-have for the bookshelf of anyone (of any age) who aspires or loves to make movies. From where to buy a camera or how to develop stories, to entering a film into a festival or finding out where some of our beloved female directors got there start, this handy book will take you there.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Book! Lots of Fun to Read!!!, January 20, 2007

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Girl Director: A How-to Guide for the First-Time, Flat-Broke Film and Video Maker (Paperback)

This is a wonderful book! It goes through all the basic techniques of film making from writing your script to camera angles to lighting, and gives great encouraging advice to future girl directors. There's even a little history at the begining that tells about the woman directors from the past. I really enjoyed this book!! It's so much fun to read and is so encouraging! Any teens interested in movie making will love this book! I know I do.