Ultimately responsible for the creative content on screen, directors are the captains of the ship on every film. All actors and heads of department report to them. Some directors are also writers, employing unique styles of dialogue. Others, like Pedro Almodóvar, create inimitable visual and tonal styles that set their films apart from the crowd. Unlike the other volumes in the series, Directing covers all disciplines of film art that pass through the director's hands, from development and writing, to working with actors, designers and cinematographers, to post-production and distribution.
I really love the Filmcraft collection by Focal Press. Every one of them is the perfect blend of artist biography and filmmaking tips. They are also quick reads with lots of visuals to enhance the descriptions. The Directing book in the collection is no different.