Master Shots Vol 1, 1st edition: 100 Advanced Camera Techniques to Get an Expensive Look on Your Low-Budget Movie

by Christopher Kenworthy

Master Shots gives filmmakers the techniques they need to execute complex, original shots on any budget. By using powerful master shots and well-executed moves, directors can develop a strong style and stand out from the crowd. Most low-budget movies look low-budget because the director is forced to compromise at the last minute. Master Shots gives you so many powerful techniques that youll be able to respond, even under pressure, and create knock-out shots. Even when the clock is ticking and the light is fading, the techniques in this book can rescue your film and make every shot look like it cost a fortune. Each technique is illustrated with samples from great feature films and computer-generated diagrams for absolute clarity.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction, Art, Photography, Writing, Media Tie In, Reference

227 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Addy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the book that got author Christopher Kenworthy started. Wildly successful, he was obviously compelled to revise and publish a 2nd edition, which is what I'm reviewing now. (Also note that Kenworthy followed up "Master Shots Vol. 1" with two more volumes, each with varying degrees of applause.) Vol 1. is very popular among indie filmmakers. At the time of its release, nothing like it existed, and with the arguable exception of Gustavo Mercado's "The Filmmaker's Eye", nothing comes close even now. Competition remains the least of the author's worries. This book's template is simple and effective: text on one page, b&w stills from films and illustrated diagrams on the other. Kenworthy's claim (in this foreword) that seasoned directors have written to thank him with many "letters and emails" may not be entirely exaggerated. One reason might be that the information contained with the 200 pages is instantly applicable—Kenworthy has an analytical, critical eye and he breaks down his observations/lessons into sections as varied as "Fight Scenes", "Entrances and Exits", "Dialogue Scenes" and, of course, "Love and Sex Scenes". For those of you in a hurry, just skip to a section of choice and bam! You can frame and move the camera like Spielberg or Ridley Scott!

It might not be the popular thing to say, but I believe it is with "Master Shots: Vol 3" that Christopher Kentworthy finally found his groove. Volume 1 is comprehensive and useful enough, but relies far too heavily on practicality and 'quick tips' than lasting value. Volume 3 is more thoughtfully written.

One last thing. And this is kinda important. No mention is made in this book of cinematographers responsible for the films Kentworthy so vigorously dissects. I have rued and cried in my reviews of Volume 2 and 3 about this unfair policy of not crediting cinematographer. A policy that has continued unabated and was rarely if ever challenged. What a shame.

[Marcello · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book, but a rough read, if trying to binge.

Master Shots Vol.1 is basically a dictionary/handbook of different shots, grouped by types of scenes (From Dialogue, to Action, to Love scenes).

It's a great book to have around to push camera work into the professional realm, or simply to understand why some shots work better than others. After finishing the book, I would feel very comfortable trying to create my own movements as well.
Though reading it from cover to back may turn out to be bit boring and tedious, I still recommend doing it at least once, to get a better feel for shots and see what all the book has to offer.

[Reagan Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

would probably be incredibly valuable if you were making an action film in 2004

[Herman Litt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very useful whether for film and video, cinematography, cgi or performing arts. 5/5.

[Uriha · Rating 4 out of 5]

.....Interesting, helpful. in the sense that it will give answers on which might work for scenes.

[Ren Santos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very simple and useful reference guide. A must-have for beginners and pros alike.

[Hanif Umarbhai Bloch Rajkotvi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book, which guides the new filmmaker / director how to deal with the shots / camera !

[Lyf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall a very good, simple and useful reference book.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book with great tips and techniques. I liked that it even gave suggestions on which lens to use for the different shots.

[Milan · Rating 4 out of 5]

good

[Will Caster · Rating 5 out of 5]

This film directing book is a great book to have for all film-making weather your new or well experience in the field of film-making. I would highly recommend this book to have in your tool-kit...

[Hernán · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the book quite useful but I had problems with the quality of the images.

[Srinidhi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good book....great for aspiring filmmakers...

[Paul Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read the first two of these books before, but I find them helpful to re-read to find any inspiration before filming something. It's rare that I actually pull from the book, but they're good to get the mind working creatively about shooting angels. Will read the third one soon.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loosely technical. You still need to work throught these shots as you go or need them. Every filmmaker should work through these to understand how they really work so you can then bend or break the rules.

[Jake McAtee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great intro to the basics. The stills on the right page were sometimes not helpful at all.

[Wes R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very useful reference guide.

[stains · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve used for class and it does help teach and learn new types of camera angles and ways of shooting them. Many are kinda hard to understand on how it should be filmed.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I look forward to getting every book in this series. What a triumphant collection of technique, style, and reference for filmmakers and film lovers everywhere.

[Amin369 · Rating 4 out of 5]

کتاب خوبی بود در مورد موقعیت های سینمایی مثل درگیری ها یا صحنه های داخل ماشین توضیح میده دوربین رو کجا بکاری یا چه لنزی بزاری و... میتونه کمک کنه بهتون پیشنهاد میشه.
مراقب هم باشیم کنار هم بمونیم.

[Raghav Khanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the best shit of my life last night. It was partly because of all the fiber in the beans I had for lunch, but most of it was due to this simple and succinct guide on choosing the right camera angle and motion for particular scenes. It makes you think why you want the audience to see the action with camera position A than B, and how that has the ability to magnify the emotion in the shot.

[Joakim Gustafsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great albeit a bit shallow analysis of what makes specific scenes work and where to place them.
A great read if you want to expand your mental archive of shots, but if you are just starting out I would recommend some other more in-depth books.

[Jacob · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is just barely acceptable as a tool of learning film making. The publishers decided its extremely long, thin shape was a good idea, for some reason, even though it just makes flipping through pages--which the book requires a lot since none of the films pictured are identified on the pages where they appear, but rather in the appendix--a pain. And, for all its examples, the authors provide no time stamp during which the technique in question appears. They must assume you have the time to watch or fast-forward through a feature-length film to see one technique.

Only one example comes with each camera technique the book outlines, and, from that, there is just a few frames from the actual film and a few more from an imagined film represented with graphics that look like they came from virtual reality circa 1990. Generally, these don't do much to explain the technique in question either.

Similarly, for some reason, there is a still from a film with the default "watercolor" photoshop filter at the title page of every chapter to make it appear stylish, one supposes. All the font in this book is way too big and the language not nearly economical enough. It's as if the authors knew their product was lacking and thought flash would make up for it. Overall, this book points toward some interesting technique, but doesn't do enough to make sense of them; it mostly wastes its own, strangely-shaped space.

tl;dr: Look at it in the store or check it out from the library, but don't buy it.

[Shashank Peri · Rating 4 out of 5]

must read for aspiring filmmakers

[Mike Calla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Passable read on framing and blocking. However the kindle version is tedious to read as you can either view the example OR view the text. After converting the kindle book to PDF, it was much easier to digest.

Although the examples can be long winded, it's still an easy read for a novice, and a passable refresher for the working camera op.

[Askar Ibragimov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Useful series of books about cinematic "shots" that also a storytelling photographer can possily benefit from. Interesting read. The only downside is black and white screencaps from movies, it is not clear why they were not published in color.

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[Kartikye Gupta]

i want to read this book so that i learn something about camera and all

[Jeri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous book for shot sequences. Wish the images were better quality.

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

"2 Stars" from me. "Cinematic Storytelling" is a better reading alternative to understand how to deliver powerful and meaningful imagery.