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The most helpful favorable review
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
A Unique, Must-Have Book for Filmmakers
I teach a class called "Story" at Los Angeles Film School and this book is on my Recommend Reading List for all students but I especially tout it to cinematography, production design and directing majors. There are many books that talk about the basics (shot size, 180 degree rule, etc.) but if you want to go beyond that to find out what kinds of choices the great...
Published on February 5, 2008 by Nancy Hendrickson
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1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
eh...
Bought this book for class. I feel like the ideas are pretty basic and that they are pretty basically presented. I feel like I'm getting the same level of information as I would taking intro biology for non-science majors. Simple, simple, simple. So as an introduction, it's probably good, but as anything more... I find it rather lacking. (I bought Directing the Story...
Published 7 months ago by Sarah
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
A Unique, Must-Have Book for Filmmakers, February 5, 2008
This review is from: The Visual Story, Second Edition: Creating the Visual Structure of Film, TV and Digital Media (Paperback)
I teach a class called "Story" at Los Angeles Film School and this book is on my Recommend Reading List for all students but I especially tout it to cinematography, production design and directing majors. There are many books that talk about the basics (shot size, 180 degree rule, etc.) but if you want to go beyond that to find out what kinds of choices the great filmmakers make and why, this is the book with the answers.
One thing young filmmakers and students often fail to understand about the auteurs and master directors is that they base their shots on what serves the story, not the fact that the shot "looks cool." I love the fact that author Bruce Block talks so much about the need for the visuals to follow and reflect the ups and downs of the underlying story structure. I also love the fact that that he takes film theory and shows the filmmaker how to apply it. Ordinarily, film theory and film practice are two separate worlds.
I never thought I'd find a film book I liked better than the first edition of "The Visual Story," but now I have: It's the 2nd edition, which has a bigger, easier-to-read format, many more color illustrations and more, updated examples. The students who've taken my advice and read this book are blown away by it. I believe it should be mandatory reading for anyone who is in the film business or who hopes to be.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
Terrific Tool - for the visual and language learner!, January 28, 2008
This review is from: The Visual Story, Second Edition: Creating the Visual Structure of Film, TV and Digital Media (Paperback)
I am a visual person. I'm currently taking a film class and had to purchase The Visual Story for class. Let me first say that I am an aspiring filmmaker. I have an incredible library of handpicked books catering to any and all aspects of the filmmaking experience and this is by FAR among the very top of my selections! It is really terrific at not only explaining concepts very concisely, but it also is full of real visual examples. Terrific book. Buy it! You'll be glad you did.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
It has changed the way I handle preproduction for life!, April 1, 2009
This review is from: The Visual Story, Second Edition: Creating the Visual Structure of Film, TV and Digital Media (Paperback)
The Visual Story by Bruce Block
reviewed by The Monkey Butler Ninja [..]
The subjects covered in this book are CRITICAL to all artist, Photographers, Painters, Game Designers, and Videographers. We must have a good grasp of fundamental principles concerning visual structure.
The Visual Story by Bruce Block reads a lot like a textbook. Since I prefer a book to come across as if hearing some guru on the subject teach me, this is a con. That being said, it is an excellent textbook. In the early chapters it sets stages for fundamentals like Contrast/Affinity and Space for example. Then, throughout the book it constantly refers to these pillars of visual design giving real world examples.
Which brings me to my next point, the examples this book gives are superb. Bruce Block will cover a subject, like TONE, for an entire chapter and at the end he will bring the lesson full circle by giving you `films to watch.' But wait! The films that Bruce recommends vary extensively! In the TONE chapter, `films to watch' include the movies T-Men (1947) and Kill Bill (2003) [plus a handful more]. Using this layout, Bruce is able to convey that the subject matter for each chapter is TIMELESS! His example movies transcend not only time released, but also subject matter and themes.
This book really shines with its illustrations. An absolute ideal amount of visual aids are delightfully displayed throughout the book. Not too many, not too few. Even the graphs (which typically aren't the most exciting graphical element) had a proper layout. I seem to remember running across somewhere that the first edition of this book was all black and white, wow. GREAT move going to full color, I can honestly say that this book would have not been nearly as impacting. I do have a problem with the cover art though, it's a small gripe but I always use my hands to frame a picture in widescreen (thumbs to index fingers). That is very nitpicky but the cover to a book is pretty critical, and since it aced the illustrations in the book, I wanted to mention it.
Early in the book it can seem a bit drawn out and basic. I would encourage readers to not skip the beginning chapters as they are constantly referenced throughout the book. Even if you feel you have a fantastic grip on the subject matter, it never hurts to review.
The appendix is very detailed and honestly, it feels like these were sections of chapters pulled out to keep the pace up a little. Regardless, this section is full of info that needs to be read.
Chapter Nine is Story and Visual Structure. I have a post-it note sticking out of this with "fantastic chapter" written on it. Seriously, this graph filled chapter will change the way I look at all productions and will effect my planning and execution for the rest of my professional career.
I was going to give The Visual Story 4.5 out of 5 stars but realized the impact this book has on my future work and decided it deserves my highest recommendation. Full 5 stars for Bruce Block. It may feel a bit `text-booky' but it has certainly changed my work process.
Bravo Bruce this Monkey feels more like a Ninja. Monkey Butler Ninja gives The Visual Story 5 out of 5 ninja stars and a banana tree!
Go BUY IT!
[..]
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
very easy to read, September 13, 2008
This review is from: The Visual Story, Second Edition: Creating the Visual Structure of Film, TV and Digital Media (Paperback)
Because of plenty of pics the read is very easy and took me something like 2 days (on occasional reading). The book itself deals both with composition and movement, and some very interesting points about flat and deep space. I recommend it not only to cinematographers but also interested in composition. This is a good explanation of all types of perspectives and many other things. Easy to read but quite solid in quality of info.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
A Very Useful Addition to the Composition/Design Literature for Photography, February 7, 2009
This review is from: The Visual Story, Second Edition: Creating the Visual Structure of Film, TV and Digital Media (Paperback)
Photographers should own this book. It has the best, clearest presentation of visual space/depth in images of any book I know of currently in print. The only book that is more advanced is Alexander Lapin's "Photography as ..." and that is only in Russian. Hans Hofmann comes to mind in theoretical sophistication.
I like the way he separates topics and uses diagrams. He breaks out his argument almost in outline form. The only thing easy to criticize is some repetition of statements through the text.
The section on visual rhythm is as good as I have seen anywhere.
While not everything in this book applies to still image photography, 70% to 80% of the topics do. The presentation is basic, but substantial. It is probably the best presentation for photographers at the elementary theoretical level available. Freeman's book is much more comprehensive, but Block's approach stands up well.
Some of the vocabulary will not necessarily be what photographers and painters are used to. Block's term "affinity" is the film maker's term for what the rest of us would call "harmony," as the other end of the spectrum from contrast. Maitland Graves has the best presentation of defining contrast and harmony among design elements that I have seen.
Knowing this material about moving pictures can translate substantially into better understanding of one's still pictures.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
Finally, a Film Book about VISUAL Storytelling, January 18, 2008
This review is from: The Visual Story, Second Edition: Creating the Visual Structure of Film, TV and Digital Media (Paperback)
There are plenty of books out there about how to write a great screenplay. But film is a VISUAL medium, and books about telling stories VISUALLY are few and far between. Not only does Bruce Block have a superior instinct for visual composition, but he's able to explain the often complex relationships between subjects, light, color and motion in ways that are easily accessible. If you're interested in writing or directing movies, THE VISUAL STORY will help you immeasureably along your career path. And if you just like to see movies, this book will give you insights into cinematic storytelling elements you've always FELT, but probably never before recognized. This is an essential book for anyone who loves to make or enjoy motion pictures.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
Become a Better Filmmaker, January 19, 2008
This review is from: The Visual Story, Second Edition: Creating the Visual Structure of Film, TV and Digital Media (Paperback)
Film is all about the image, and Bruce Block gives you a visual toolkit. With this book, you can construct images that help to tell your story, set the mood, and control how the image affects the audience. He helps you build your film shot by shot. His techniques, illustrated with new art and images from films, will make any film stronger and all filmmakers more confident and creative. Many of Hollywood's leading directors have benefited from his expertise. Now the rest of us can, too. I highly recommend this book.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Excellent book to understand the visual language of film, January 2, 2010
This review is from: The Visual Story, Second Edition: Creating the Visual Structure of Film, TV and Digital Media (Paperback)
I was in a two-day seminar with Bruce Block when I worked for a major studio and had my eyes completely opened to the visual language of film-making. This book covers everything he went over in the seminar. A few years later I was in a story-telling session with the main story boarder / story visualizer from Pixar and this book was 90% of his presentation. If you want to become a film maker or understand film, read this book.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
A good Visual guide for Filmmaker, May 5, 2010
This review is from: The Visual Story, Second Edition: Creating the Visual Structure of Film, TV and Digital Media (Paperback)
This is a good book for anyone who wants to know about visual style in film making. A recommended book for any film student.
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Awesome Book, September 5, 2010
This review is from: The Visual Story, Second Edition: Creating the Visual Structure of Film, TV and Digital Media (Paperback)
This is a great book for the business of filmmakers a must in the collect. Peace care TMU
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