filmmaking

The Power Filmmaking Kit: Make Your Professional Movie on a Next-to-Nothing Budget
$39.95
To give this less than 5 stars would be to do this very detailed book an injustice. At this point in time if you could buy just one book on filmmaking this is the one to buy. However, this is a critique rather than a review--and I do want to point out what irks me about this book. But lets start with what is really good about it.

1) The book is fascinating--and even someone who has read many other books will find it engaging and enlightening.

2) The included movie that the author made for $2,000 is superb. (This is a little depressing as it is so good why isn't it better known, and what does that imply about the films we will make.)

3) The book is superbly detailed in every area. For example I've purchased books on directing actors that were not as enlightening as the directing actors section of this book.

4) There is genius in the depth it goes to. For example a veritable checklist about parking, etc, when your actors invade the neighborhood of the shoot.

What I didn't like was the fact that although the author made his film for so little, he does not share as much detail about that accomplishment as I would have liked. It is not like How to Make a Low-Budget Digital Movie which focuses solely on a low-budget film, and although that is not entirely a negative it does get us to where my critique of the book lies. Who the heck is this book for? It is written as if the reader might be a no budge movie maker with a dream, but is slightly more likely to have a spare fortune about to finance their film? And at the same time isn't quite focused on the big budget filmmaker such as From Reel to Deal: Everything You Need to Create a Successful Independent Film. What I would say is that it is a better and more American version of The Guerilla Film Makers Movie Blueprint.

But don't get me wrong. This is still a brilliant book. The author, for example, does not fall into the trap so many others have, of recommending cameras, equipment, etc. Instead he talks about the equipment in general and so doesn't not date his material as badly as others have. Even my Canon XH A1 1.67MP 3CCD High-Definition Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom has a new model Canon XH-A1S 3CCD HDV High Definition Professional Camcorder with 20x HD Video Zoom Lens III (and I recommend 2008 Learn the (Canon XH A1, XH-A1) XHA1 TUTORIAL TEACHING PROGRAMMED-INSTRUCTION DVD for both. Though before too long solid state cameras, i.e. no tapes needed at pure 1920 x 1080 resolution will be the only show to consider.)

In conclusion, my problem is who the author addressed as his reader. I do not as a reader have a problem with the wealth of information here. And until another book comes along this may well be the best book out there.

Filmmaking For Dummies (For Dummies (Career/Education))
$19.99
An excellent book for making your first second third and any other film after that. Being a big fan of the for dummy series, it was good to have a film making guide that covered every area of film making. From preproduction to postproduction. It is a good investment and a worthy compainion as one works on a size project.

On Film-making: An Introduction to the Craft of the Director
$16.00
I have read many books on filmmaking and I have a film school degree (from CalArts, as it happens, where Mackendrick once taught). You can't learn filmmaking from a book or from school, only by making films. Nevertheless, "On Film-making" comes as close as any book I've ever found to explaining precisely and beautifully the work of a film director. Whether you want to make films or are simply a film fan, this book will be an immensely rewarding and illuminating experience.

The Complete Guide to Low-Budget Feature Filmmaking
$14.95
Okay so I bought it, read it, and well overall I'm not that impressed.
Sure it's a good read and he really does give some good advice but there are a lot better books out there.
First of all the title is a little misleading. Low Budget well most indie film makers don't put $100,000 production cost price tags on there films. My husband is an indie filmmaker and trust me he never spends anywhere that much. Sure if you wanted to hire SAG actors then the price adds up quickly but we product feature films for a lot less.
Take it for what it is. A okay book with a few gems in it.