FilmCraft: Cinematography

by Mike Goodridge, Tim Grierson

As chief collaborators with the directors on a film, cinematographers are artistic masters in their own right. In Cinematography sixteen of the world’s greatest “painters of light” share their insights, anecdotes, and technical achievements through a series of exclusive interviews. Fascinating for both film fans and practitioners, this book is the perfect companion for anyone who wants to stand on the other side of the camera, with some of the greatest film artists of our time.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction, Media Tie In

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 16, 2011

Reviews

[Horror DNA · Rating 5 out of 5]

FilmCraft is a new series from Focal Press that deconstructs the art of cinema by studying it from the inside. Each volume in the collection focuses on a different aspect of film production by gathering interviews with master craftsmen, who are able to relay a lifetime of experience in a series of intimate and informal conversations. The first two installments, Editing (Justin Chang) and Cinematography (Mike Goodridge and Tim Grierson), set a high bar for future volumes and are easily recommended sources of information and understanding.

You can read ZigZag's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.

[Victor Volchenko · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great introduction in cinematography if you haven't read anything about it before (as in my case). Reading interviews with greats in that work is really interesting.

[Karl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read! My sense with these coffee table style books is that the publishers and even authors don't really expect you to read every word but to kinda bounce around and read random passages.

Having said that this book slows down a little in bits but overall is worth a cover to cover read. They got interviews with enough major players to feel like we're given a real sense of contemporary cinematography. Really fascinating to see people with (ostensibly) the same job have completely different theories and values (ex. the relationship between DP and actors).

My only real criticism is the example photography or stills don't always acuratly represent the look of a scene/ movie/ concept and, at least in my edition, we're printed quite dark.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mike Goodridge's Filmcraft series is always great. Accomplished and Interesting artists talk about all aspects of their work and their collaborations with lots of film stills to study and examine.