Shoot Like Spielberg: The Visual Secrets of Action, Wonder and Emotional Adventure

by Christopher Kenworthy

Spielberg makes his audience feel something, whether he’s shooting a kids’ ­adventure, a dramatic chase, or the darkest war scene. The auteur always employs a core set of techniques that make each shot crystal clear and evoke the most intense emotions from the audience. This book shows you how. From tension to tearjerker, these moves will make your scenes memorable enough to be talked about for years to come. Spielberg directs films that cover everything from childhood dreams to the horrors of war. He always hones in on the emotional center of a scene. This book unravels the secrets of his core techniques, and shows how you can use the same simple camera moves and setups to make your films full of wonder, thrills, and emotion.

Genres: Film

144 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2015

Reviews

[Stephanie Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certain sequences would have been helpful to see in color rather than black and white, but overall a very thorough and effective breakdown of Spielberg's techniques

[Olga Osorio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Para aspirantes a directores, estudiantes de audiovisual, etc. Me encantaría que incluyera enlaces a las escenas que comenta o al menos el minutado, pero el análisis es excelente.

[Jilles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great analysis of Spielbergs decoupage, but the book is almost to short to really get into this fascinating subject.

[Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really a short book that serves as a practical guide that breaks down Steven Spielberg’s directing techniques into clear, usable lessons for filmmakers. Each section is a specific technique with pictures and explanations. It shows how he stages scenes, moves the camera, and builds emotion, with examples that are easy to follow, even if you’re not a professional. I liked how the book makes complex directing choices feel approachable and gives you ideas you can actually try with your own camera work. Some of the breakdowns are simple and may feel repetitive if you’re already experienced, but overall it’s a helpful, accessible resource for anyone who wants to understand why Spielberg’s films have such a distinctive feel. It will make you want to rewatch the various films with your newfound knowledge.

[Arijit Saha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a one of a kind book, which masterfully breakdowns the visual storytelling techniques of master filmmaker Steven Spielberg. The content of this book is very rear and it should definitely be a crown jewel for any film students and new filmmakers.

[coolwind · Rating 5 out of 5]

The examples are very good and easy to understand.

[Fede Boccacci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una guía interesante para analizar algunas puestas de cámara en escenas de películas de Spielberg.

[Mango · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was actually looking forward to this book after reading his Tarantino book. However, I got sick of Kenworthy's writing style and I struggled to finish this book.