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John Badham On Directing: Notes from the Set of Saturday Night Fever, War Games, and More
Veteran director John Badham explains the elements of action and suspense and dissects the essentials of any good scene from any genre. Badham’s list of “12 Questions You Must Ask Before Stepping On Set” is an absolute must in any filmmaker’s toolbox. Whether actor, director, cinematographer, production designer, or any other creative, Badham gives you the tools to deconstruct and solve scenes that either don’t work or need sharpening. Continuing the work begun in his best-selling book I’ll Be In My Trailer, Badham shares more insights into working with difficult actors, rehearsal techniques, and getting the best performance from your cast.
- GenresFilmNonfiction
240 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
February 25, 2020
مهما تقرا في كُتب إخراج كتبها مدرسين وأساتذة، مافيش زي كتب المخرجين اللي مارسوا المهنة بالفعل لسنوات طويلة. كتاب جون بادهام فعلاً من أحلى كتب الإخراج اللي قريتها، فيه نصائح وخطوات عملية مدعومة بأمثلة عديدة من مواقع تصوير أفلامه وأفلام مخرجين آخرين، عن مشاكل واجهوها في كافة مناحي الإخراج، وإزاي تعاملوا معاها وحلوها. وفوق كل ده قراءة ممتعة ولطيف للغاية وحمسني لقراءة كتابه الآخر عن العلاقة بين المخرج والممثل.
May 26, 2021
If you can get past the misogyny there’s some valuable information.
April 23, 2013
I loved John Badham’s I’LL BE IN MY TRAILER: THE CREATIVE WARS BETWEEN DIRECTORS AND ACTORS. It’s been one of the most useful books I’ve read about directing actors for the screen. Badham, of course, is the veteran director of SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, BIRD ON A WIRE, WAR GAMES and yards of other films and TV. I had the pleasure of working with him on a project about Paul Watson, the rogue environmentalist/pirate. If anyone’s qualified to do a nuts and bolts book about directing, John Badham is your guy.
In ON DIRECTING, Badham expands his survey beyond dealing with actors to the rest of directing, from why you don’t want to shoot a master shot of an action sequence (your editor will chop it up anyway), to how to use storyboards, to the need for a point of view in your camera placement.
No one can teach you everything about directing in a book. Actors need different things from their director. Directors have different cinematic styles. ON DIRECTING acknowledges that, but still gives you lots of useful tools and nuggets of information. How to deal with an actor who is creatively blocked. Why you need to slow fast action down, and how to do it convincingly. How to deal with actors who want to do their own stunts.
And it’s not all Badham’s knowledge. Badham has interviewed director and actor friends, and the book is filled with insightful quotations.
My only complaint, really, about this book, is that I wish it were a lot thicker. It’s 240 pages long, convenient for throwing into a backpack. I wish it were two or three times as long, because there’s so much to learn from it.
In ON DIRECTING, Badham expands his survey beyond dealing with actors to the rest of directing, from why you don’t want to shoot a master shot of an action sequence (your editor will chop it up anyway), to how to use storyboards, to the need for a point of view in your camera placement.
No one can teach you everything about directing in a book. Actors need different things from their director. Directors have different cinematic styles. ON DIRECTING acknowledges that, but still gives you lots of useful tools and nuggets of information. How to deal with an actor who is creatively blocked. Why you need to slow fast action down, and how to do it convincingly. How to deal with actors who want to do their own stunts.
And it’s not all Badham’s knowledge. Badham has interviewed director and actor friends, and the book is filled with insightful quotations.
My only complaint, really, about this book, is that I wish it were a lot thicker. It’s 240 pages long, convenient for throwing into a backpack. I wish it were two or three times as long, because there’s so much to learn from it.
Read
February 25, 2024It's like getting trained by a cool shift lead who knows how to break the rules. The advice sometimes comes from vice rather than virtue, but it's an essential look at the practical "you just have to get it done!" bottom-line of a craft often dragged down in theory or technical know-how. The first part, on navigating collaborative relationships, is probably the most useful, while the checklist at the end is worth rewriting into your own reference document.
March 3, 2021
Whether you are just scratching the surface, studying or in the middle of prep, this is the most practical and thoughtful guide I have come across. Badham lays out applicable instruction and wisdom drawn from his years of experience that will save you when covering action, aid in guiding performance, in breaking down the script, rooting your visual choices in the story and prepping for each step of the process -- on top of plenty of entertaining anecdotes, he does a tremendous job with a real flair for instructing. This is a great read to get your head in the game and it's well told.
March 24, 2024
Full of invaluable information. Huge insights on how to best work/communicate with actors, how to ensure you get the most out of each scene in your film, and some really good insights on what it's like to a guest director on a TV Show.
October 1, 2022
Probably the best filmmaking knowledge I’ve obtained over the past couple of years since an initial basic understanding. Not so much technical skills, but an understanding of human behaviour, interactions and relationships. Badham provides some insightful anecdotes from across his film career, I especially enjoyed his takes on dealing with conflict on set and ultimately avoiding it altogether.
July 18, 2021
Ожидал от этой книги многое, а получил гораздо большее. Хороший учебник для тех, кто режиссирует, но имеет мало опыта. Увидел миллион своих ошибок, и способы их исправить. Советую всем заинтересованным в режиссуре
September 24, 2020
Just as there is no book that can, alone, teach you how to become a great writer, there is no book that can, alone, teach you to become a great filmmaker. That includes this volume. But...if a person were to go out and actually work and direct some short films, learning hands-on, this book would be an invaluable assistance to that.
Badham, a director known for such high-profile films as Saturday Night Fever, Wargames, and Short Circuit, has been directing professionally since 1971. He is a man who knows what he's talking about. He's not some film school teacher who's merely directed three or four student films no one's ever seen. When a director of Badham's caliber who possesses the credentials he has, speaks, a would-be filmmaker would do well to pay attention.
Sharing insightful stories about such experiences as directing Goldie Hawn in Bird on a Wire and working with Kurt Sutter on an episode of The Shield, Badham more than establishes himself as a knowledgeable expert with more than enough experience. But if Badham's experiences alone aren't enough for you, he also enlists a score of his notable director pals, such as Jodie Foster, John Frankenheimer, Sydney Pollack, and Taylor Hackford (just to name a few) to share their thoughts and experiences, as well. For instance, Oliver Stone observes, “In my experience, actors will give you a good performance only if you force them to look into themselves and get out of their comfort zone.” Then there's the great William Friedkin discussing the importance of, and the lack of respect given to action sequences.
Would-be directors will learn everything here from how best to work with actors to help them feel comfortable and give the best performances they can to the best ways to work with a crew to get maximum effort and enthusiasm out of them. Badham even covers the best ways to work with child actors. He discusses camerawork and the importance of maintaining character POV through that. Badham's book discusses character motivations and what the director can do to clarify those. The veteran director also discusses one of the most important and often overlooked aspects of directing, which is planning for efficiency in a way that keeps costs and man hours at a minimum.
John Badham on Directing is accessible too. This is perhaps the single most impressive element of the book. Badham didn't go for an overly-academic textbook writing style, but instead cuts right to the chase in the clearest way possible. He also does this without assuming what the reader does or does not already know; he provides a little background, as well as definitions of each aspect of the director's job, masterfully doing this in a way that educates the filmmaking novice without boring the more knowledgeable reader. In addition, he also includes a ten-point summary at the end of each chapter.
If you are a would-be filmmaker yourself or simply want to learn more about the craft and the considerations behind a director's decisions, this book is heartily recommended. John Badham on Directing makes for a valuable addition to any film reference library. It's not just a quality book on film directing, it's the essential book on film directing. $29.95 may be a hefty price for a paperback, but it's well worth it to anyone who really wants to learn about the craft.
Badham, a director known for such high-profile films as Saturday Night Fever, Wargames, and Short Circuit, has been directing professionally since 1971. He is a man who knows what he's talking about. He's not some film school teacher who's merely directed three or four student films no one's ever seen. When a director of Badham's caliber who possesses the credentials he has, speaks, a would-be filmmaker would do well to pay attention.
Sharing insightful stories about such experiences as directing Goldie Hawn in Bird on a Wire and working with Kurt Sutter on an episode of The Shield, Badham more than establishes himself as a knowledgeable expert with more than enough experience. But if Badham's experiences alone aren't enough for you, he also enlists a score of his notable director pals, such as Jodie Foster, John Frankenheimer, Sydney Pollack, and Taylor Hackford (just to name a few) to share their thoughts and experiences, as well. For instance, Oliver Stone observes, “In my experience, actors will give you a good performance only if you force them to look into themselves and get out of their comfort zone.” Then there's the great William Friedkin discussing the importance of, and the lack of respect given to action sequences.
Would-be directors will learn everything here from how best to work with actors to help them feel comfortable and give the best performances they can to the best ways to work with a crew to get maximum effort and enthusiasm out of them. Badham even covers the best ways to work with child actors. He discusses camerawork and the importance of maintaining character POV through that. Badham's book discusses character motivations and what the director can do to clarify those. The veteran director also discusses one of the most important and often overlooked aspects of directing, which is planning for efficiency in a way that keeps costs and man hours at a minimum.
John Badham on Directing is accessible too. This is perhaps the single most impressive element of the book. Badham didn't go for an overly-academic textbook writing style, but instead cuts right to the chase in the clearest way possible. He also does this without assuming what the reader does or does not already know; he provides a little background, as well as definitions of each aspect of the director's job, masterfully doing this in a way that educates the filmmaking novice without boring the more knowledgeable reader. In addition, he also includes a ten-point summary at the end of each chapter.
If you are a would-be filmmaker yourself or simply want to learn more about the craft and the considerations behind a director's decisions, this book is heartily recommended. John Badham on Directing makes for a valuable addition to any film reference library. It's not just a quality book on film directing, it's the essential book on film directing. $29.95 may be a hefty price for a paperback, but it's well worth it to anyone who really wants to learn about the craft.
May 10, 2023
Listened to this one in stints during commutes - a very useful set of tools and tips for directing in general, and directing action specifically!
What Badham does nicely is order his chapters into specific areas of directing, each containing lists of pitfalls to avoid and techniques to consider, which are each introduced, expounded upon and then summarised. He also provides useful examples from his own experience as well as that of colleagues and other industry experts who he has interviewed on specific points. He then goes on to recommend viewing or books by those experts to learn more about that technique.
All in all it serves as an essential handbook and springboard for further research into directing.
Read if you are in this field, aspire to be, or are simply curious about it!
What Badham does nicely is order his chapters into specific areas of directing, each containing lists of pitfalls to avoid and techniques to consider, which are each introduced, expounded upon and then summarised. He also provides useful examples from his own experience as well as that of colleagues and other industry experts who he has interviewed on specific points. He then goes on to recommend viewing or books by those experts to learn more about that technique.
All in all it serves as an essential handbook and springboard for further research into directing.
Read if you are in this field, aspire to be, or are simply curious about it!
August 23, 2023
An excellent guide to directing that covers both film and television. If you're either an aspiring or working director, then I can't recommend this book enough. While other books may focus on the technical aspects of directing, this book really goes into equally important interpersonal stuff such as how to work with difficult actors and the importance of remembering the names of your crew. It's definitely an invaluable resource for filmmakers.
May 30, 2022
Fabulous book. TRUST. GOALS. CONFLICT. ACTION. be specific, treat everyone like they’re the most important on set. HEAR THEIR IDEAS. Plan & prepare but be ready to abandon for the better idea. Essential book. Let’s make some movies.
March 2, 2025
Badham's sense of humor, knowledge of craft, and pithy sense of writing drive a compelling and informative read on directing. Also notable is the compendium of other writers on directing and acting and the relationship between actors and directors. A must read for directors.
November 22, 2020
While I'm not an aspiring director, it was interesting to get this much detail and depth into the decision making process that directors go through to get the best performances out of actors.
August 5, 2022
Easily the best nuts and bolts handbook on directing I've ever come across.
December 13, 2022
Enjoyable pacy ryn through of hints on good directing, bolstered with lots of nice anecdotes from his personal experiences and those of fellow directors. Need to watch Blue Thunder now.
January 21, 2023
Some great advice wrapped up in some very outdated examples.
March 29, 2023
Helpful and thought-provoking insights on the craft.
December 5, 2023
Great little insight into the art of film directing but hoooo boy, some of his interview subjects raise all the eyebrows.
January 1, 2024
a little goes a long way; otherwise, required reading for first year film school
May 18, 2024
Great great great, SUPER helpful to read as a director and especially before embarking on a new project
June 9, 2017
I know exactly how you feel. You finished John Badham’s first book I’ll be in my Trailer, and wished desperately that he’d come out with another book. His interviews were so entertaining, his lessons so accessible, and his overall conversational tone so delightful—one book wasn’t enough!
Well, Professor Badham (as I’ll always think of him, since I took his classes at Chapman University) has written another book just for you! (And all the other millions of people who were wishing for the same thing.) Just as in his first book, Professor and Director Badham draws upon his decades of experience to teach future directors how to treat others in the industry with kindness. In my three years at Chapman, Professor Badham was the only teacher who took that attitude.
While the first book was mostly focused on the director-actor relationship, John Badham On Directing broadens the syllabus to other aspects of directing. Always humble, always entertaining, Director Badham uses his triumphs and mistakes as lessons in how to keep tension in a scene and how to keep the big picture in mind at all times. When I read it, I kept imagining his delightful voice reading it aloud. His tone isn’t pretentious; this is a man you want to get to know. And bonus, it looks like there’s an audio version with Professor Badham himself reading his book—how cool is that?
I’ve read a lot of film books during my three years as a film student, many of which were written by my teachers. None compare to John Badham’s books. These are in a class by themselves. No pun intended.
http://hottoastyrag.weebly.com/john-b...
Well, Professor Badham (as I’ll always think of him, since I took his classes at Chapman University) has written another book just for you! (And all the other millions of people who were wishing for the same thing.) Just as in his first book, Professor and Director Badham draws upon his decades of experience to teach future directors how to treat others in the industry with kindness. In my three years at Chapman, Professor Badham was the only teacher who took that attitude.
While the first book was mostly focused on the director-actor relationship, John Badham On Directing broadens the syllabus to other aspects of directing. Always humble, always entertaining, Director Badham uses his triumphs and mistakes as lessons in how to keep tension in a scene and how to keep the big picture in mind at all times. When I read it, I kept imagining his delightful voice reading it aloud. His tone isn’t pretentious; this is a man you want to get to know. And bonus, it looks like there’s an audio version with Professor Badham himself reading his book—how cool is that?
I’ve read a lot of film books during my three years as a film student, many of which were written by my teachers. None compare to John Badham’s books. These are in a class by themselves. No pun intended.
http://hottoastyrag.weebly.com/john-b...
November 2, 2013
“Why do we care about the trust? We care because a trusting person is going to give you more of their creativity. A person who doesn’t trust you is going to say I'll just give him what I know is safe. “
I had the pleasure of interviewing John Badham for Actors Talk Podcast. The interview (audio only) can be found at http://www.actorstalkacting.com/badham
In his new book, John Badham on Directing, Badham picks up where he left off with his prior book, “I’ll Be In My Trailer. ”
Through his own experiences and those of his many contributors, Badham tackles the issue of TRUST between directors and actors. And how trust, or the lack thereof, can win over the actor and help him/her to give their best performances. Or fracture the relationship and result in a working experience and that is anything but optimal for either director or actor. And that’s just the first part of the book.
Badham employs a writing style that is at once informative and entertaining. This is no boring textbook. The use of specific, real world examples and experiences supplied by not only himself but a long list of top professional colleagues gives the reader the sense that the curtain has been lifted and behind the scenes secrets usually reserved for only the special few are ours for the taking. So, take.
I had the pleasure of interviewing John Badham for Actors Talk Podcast. The interview (audio only) can be found at http://www.actorstalkacting.com/badham
In his new book, John Badham on Directing, Badham picks up where he left off with his prior book, “I’ll Be In My Trailer. ”
Through his own experiences and those of his many contributors, Badham tackles the issue of TRUST between directors and actors. And how trust, or the lack thereof, can win over the actor and help him/her to give their best performances. Or fracture the relationship and result in a working experience and that is anything but optimal for either director or actor. And that’s just the first part of the book.
Badham employs a writing style that is at once informative and entertaining. This is no boring textbook. The use of specific, real world examples and experiences supplied by not only himself but a long list of top professional colleagues gives the reader the sense that the curtain has been lifted and behind the scenes secrets usually reserved for only the special few are ours for the taking. So, take.
March 10, 2014
Excellent book for directors who want to improve their grasp on the workings of a script, scene by scene. A major part of the book desks with the psychology behind working with actors and can be seen as sort of a "I'll be in my Trailer" 2.0. Which is a good thing, because Badham's first book is extremely useful for the working director as well.
"On Directing" is less a book with technical diagrams about camera angles or long shot vs. close up, like say Katz's "Film Directing Shot by Shot" and it isn't nearly as complete as Rabiger's book on directing - but as a working director I found Badham's book far more useful and readable than the other, almost encyclopedic approaches to teaching filmmaking. This book is truly a boots on the ground report on how to make better films. strongly recommended.
"On Directing" is less a book with technical diagrams about camera angles or long shot vs. close up, like say Katz's "Film Directing Shot by Shot" and it isn't nearly as complete as Rabiger's book on directing - but as a working director I found Badham's book far more useful and readable than the other, almost encyclopedic approaches to teaching filmmaking. This book is truly a boots on the ground report on how to make better films. strongly recommended.
February 24, 2021
Before writing a screenplay, or a novel, EVERY WRITER should read this book. John Badham's extensive experience and brilliant sense of the dramatic are clearly evident in his advice about directing movies. As a struggling neophyte screenwriter myself, I found it most useful to understand the director's point of view, which is so similar to what has to take place in the writer's own imagination of characters, scenes, thoughts, motivations, action. His subchapter, "What happened before this scene that has a direct effect upon it?" reminds me of an old adage: When dealing with a person, you need to consider what he/she was experiencing just before you encountered them. Everybody comes from somewhere. Although the book was written to be a textbook for students of directing, it will be an interesting and entertaining read for anyone.
July 5, 2016
This was really fun to read. All the stories and quotes from other filmmakers and actors made it enjoyable just because I love movies. I'd guess (since I don't work in film) that this would be helpful for anyone who works in film, not just in directing, but acting too. However, even if you just make a movie once a year with your friends or just like watching movies this book will be hard to put down.
January 1, 2024
One of the most resourceful/informative filmmaker biographies.
...or exact opposite of Ted Kotcheff's cumbersome Director's Cut: My Life in Film
March 18, 2016
So much insight from this director! LOVE this book!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews