{"id":83524,"date":"2017-08-31T06:00:44","date_gmt":"2017-08-31T11:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/?p=83524"},"modified":"2018-11-05T00:12:17","modified_gmt":"2018-11-05T06:12:17","slug":"filmmaking-books-reading-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/filmmaking-books-reading-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"The Essential Back to (Film) School Reading Guide + 3 Free EBooks"},"content":{"rendered":"

No need for film school. Here are your book recommendations for every film department + 3 FREE e-Books<\/h2>\n

Fall is near, with its pumpkin-flavored everything and college students flooding back into a city near you. It\u2019s back to school, but even if your days in the classroom are done, don’t fret! I’ve got the books to keep your mind sharp<\/strong> and inspiration flowing well into the winter months!<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t have to be in film school to study filmmaking. With the internet and all its resources (like your friends here at PremiumBeat), it is easier now than ever to learn all the skills you need to make films<\/strong>. But if you\u2019re itching to go deeper and take the more old-fashioned approach, here is a list of some great film books to check out<\/strong>. From story to screenwriting to lighting: these books are the best in their categories.<\/p>\n

This list comes from\u00a0recommendations straight off of\u00a0film sets<\/strong>. I spoke with friends in a number of film\u00a0departments to get their \u201cgo to\u201d books.<\/p>\n

\n

\"The<\/h4>\n

The Filmmaker\u2019s Handbook<\/a><\/h4>\n

by Steven Ascher & Edward Pincus<\/p>\n

The Filmmaker\u2019s Handbook<\/a><\/em>\u00a0covers it all, from start to finish, and in an accessible language for any level filmmaker. From pre-production all the way through to distribution<\/strong>, this book is a crash course for each step of the way. It even includes information for shooting on film<\/strong> and is full of tables and data rates in its wonderfully fat appendix.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Making Movies<\/a><\/h4>\n

by Sidney Lumet<\/p>\n

Making Movies<\/a><\/em>\u00a0is a mixture of memoir and how-to by the Oscar-nominated director. He reflects on his experiences working with actors and handling the pressures on set<\/strong>. He also talks about his process for making creative decisions.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/h4>\n

Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and The Principles of Screenwriting<\/a><\/h4>\n

by Robert McKee<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve often felt it\u2019s best to know the rules behind story and structure before you break them. In this highly recommended read, McKee lays the groundwork for story structure and development<\/strong>. It technically covers screenwriting, but the meat and bones of this book are in studying the art of story.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/h4>\n

Film Directing Shot by Shot<\/a><\/h4>\n

by Steven Douglas Katz<\/p>\n

I absolutely love this book! With so many ways to tell a visual story, Katz’s comprehensive manual is chock full of diagrams and storyboards<\/strong> that show, side by side, the different ways storytelling techniques play out\u00a0on the screen.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/h4>\n

On Directing<\/a><\/h4>\n

by David Mamet<\/p>\n

Speaking to his own experiences as a filmmaker, this book is less of a how-to and more about Mamet\u2019s theories and approaches to storytelling<\/strong> in the visual medium of filmmaking. Short and sweet to read, but packed with a lot of concepts that will challenge you to think more critically about the way you approach filmmaking.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/h4>\n