The Little Blue Book for Filmmakers: A Primer for Directors, Writers, Actors and Producers

by Carl Gottlieb, Toni Attell

Originally conceived as a workbook for young directors, The Little Blue Book for Filmmakers has become a handbook for easy reference, with all the information a student director/actor/producer needs to create a film, from inception through production, to sales, distribution, and exhibition.

The book discusses issues faced by all beginning filmmakers, with a historical perspective that explains problems and solutions that reach back to the invention of movies at the turn of the last century, and stretch forward to include new digital technology and the popularization of videography as global self-expression. A valuable addition to the shelves of all film school instructors who've not had years of practical experience working in the trade, it's also a syllabus in itself and can be the foundation for a course schedule. More important, it's something every film student will want to own as a reference and guide.

208 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2012

Reviews

[Matt Lohr · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Little Blue Book for Filmmakers" is a compact, concise, and very readable beginners' guide for anyone looking to write, produce, direct, or act in a film, TV pilot, documentary, or reality television program. Gottlieb (an estimable writer / producer whose credits include "Jaws") and Attell (an Emmy-nominated actress who has appeared in everything from "The A-Team" to "90210") have a lot of no-nonsense tips for aspiring filmmakers, on everything from the sensitive vs. aggressive communication styles for dealing with actors, to the proper way to conduct yourself when offered sexual favors by cast or crew members, to the hierarchy of responsibility when you are being assaulted during the filming of a politically inflammatory documentary (apparently, it's protect the footage, then the camera, THEN yourself).

Please note that this is very much a book for beginners, as much designed to get you in the right mindset for filmmaking as to prepare you for the shoot itself. If you are looking for advice on video formats and camera selection, the proper studio rates for ADR recording, or how to file a location permit, you are not going to find that information here. But you probably will find a healthy helping of encouragement, inspiration, and camaraderie, which can be just as useful as practical matters when you are first getting started. There's even a list of must-see titles to help boost your cine-literacy, and you can tell Gottlieb and Attell know what they're doing, because they include a couple of potentially instructive BAD movies as well. After all, how can you tell how great "Casablanca" and "Citizen Kane" really are unless you've also gagged down "Swept Away" and "The Adventures of Pluto Nash"?

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This small volume has good advice on filmmaking for beginners, but, writing about it now, a little over a month after I finished it, I can't remember any of it, so make of that what you will.