Filmmaking Community discussion

I thought it could be fun to have a thread where we can post the books we've read on films, writing in general, script writing, etc.

Oh, I read a good one called, 'From Scrpit to Screen.'
It was about all the other parts of film making--directing, producing, acting--other than writing.
It reassured me a bit, since a lot of other books make it sound like they'll take your precious story and make it horrible, but this one showed me that everyone working on the story really does care about the story.

How refreshing!!! I'll have to read the book just for that!! That is a good point, though - because even if others involved in the production change the script, hopefully it is always to make it better, and tell the story in a clearer way. :)

The first book I read was How to Sell Your Screenplay: A Realistic Guide to Getting a Television or Film Deal. It's been a few years since I read it, but I found it very informative and helpful! I'm thinking about picking it up again now that I have an even better understanding of "the process." ;)

Oh, that does sound good.
I think I know a book that you would like, since you're trying to find an agent and everything--it's called Breakfast With Sharks, and it's about the contract side of things.
(Sorry, I don't really know how to add links; I'm not really computer talanted.)

I'm not especially computer talented, either ;) Somewhere along the way I figured out (or someone told me) that if you click the "add book/author" link at the top of the comment box, you can search for the book you want to add. :)

But yeah, Amazon.com keep recommending "Breakfast with Sharks" but I've never picked it up for some reason - but if that is what it's about, then sounds like it'd be the right time for me to get it - thanks!!!

The one I'm reading now is called Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need.
Not sure it's "the last" book you'll ever need, but it is certainly interesting! It's not really a 'nuts and bolts' on screenwriting, but more on concept and structure. So far I've found it really interesting and easy to read - and amusing! :)

Oh, I never noticed that link before! Funny the things that you don't see.

I've seen Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need at the bookstore, but I never really looked inside it.
Do they ever explain the title? :)

Lida and Jamie wrote: "Oh, I never noticed that link before! Funny the things that you don't see."

OH I know what you mean! lol!!!

And yes, the title is explained - and thankfully, fairly early on in the book :) I mean, the authors drags it out a little, but it's not like you have to read to the end or anything :)

We should add these to the bookshelf. I have a ton of books on a variety of topics in the filmmaking process. Also, for people who want to be screenwriters, my biggest tip is to READ SCREENPLAYS. My professor recommended reading the New Market Shooting Script Series, as they are the exact written version of what happens on the screen. I can only find one I had to read:

The Shawshank Redemption

There are lots of others, though, like A Knight's Tale, Juno, and Castaway. Also, Syd Field's book, Screenplay, often comes recommended.

Caity wrote: New Market Shooting Script Series, as they are the exact written version of what happens on the screen.

Oh, that looks really useful! And if that movie won Best Screenplay, then it would probably be a pretty helpful read. :)

Caity wrote: "We should add these to the bookshelf. I have a ton of books on a variety of topics in the filmmaking process. Also, for people who want to be screenwriters, my biggest tip is to READ SCREENPLAYS. M..."

Yeah, that's a great idea to add the books to the bookshelf! (I'll go try and figure out how to do that...)

And yes, those New Market Shooting Scripts sounds awesome! I'll have to find some :) - Thanks!

Does anyone subscribe to any script magazines? I'd love to find a magazine on script writing (like how they have Writer's Digest, etc.) but am not sure what that would be...

Does anyone subscribe to any script magazines? I'd love to find a magazine on script writing (like how they have Writer's Digest, etc.) but am not sure what that would be...

I don't supscribe to anything, but I've found some magizines that have websites:

www.creativescreenwriting.com
www.scriptmag.com
www.twelvepoint.com

I don't know how to add any off-site links, but these look really useful!

Lida and Jamie wrote: "Does anyone subscribe to any script magazines? I'd love to find a magazine on script writing (like how they have Writer's Digest, etc.) but am not sure what that would be...

I don't supscribe t..."

No, that's great! Thanks so much!!!

No, that's great! Thanks so much!!!

Oh good! I thought the scriptmag one looked like it had some really nice articles.

I went ahead and signed up for the Creative Writing magazine... don't know how useful it will be at this stage of my "career" (haha) but I got one volume from Borders and it looked interesting enough...

Oh, that's neat! There's nothing wrong about learning things in advance...Maybe I should see if I could find any old magizines at my library.

I hadn't thought about the library, but that's a great idea! I'll have to check out mine, too! :)

Yay for libraries! *waves flag*

Haha, so true! Every time I find an out of print book, or an expensive audiobook at the library, I'm so grateful!

I know; my life would be so much more expensive if libraries didn't exist.

Lol! Yup!

By the way, this book, The Screenwriter's Sourcebook: A Comprehensive Marketing Guide for Screen and Television Writers was pretty helpful. It had a list of agents and producers, and a list of contests--which I wasn't really considering before, but some of the look like the prizes could lauch a carrer!

Wow, really? Okay, thanks! I might go ahead and get that one then. I'm thinking of starting to send out queries in the next few weeks (unless I can talk my brother-in-law into proofing my script first, lol!). But, I'm planning to send it out to get copyrighted by the end of the week... I hope... (eek).

Oh, that's great! Good luck!
That's really brave of you to start sending stuff out; I'm sure that I'll be a nervous wreck. XD

Thanks :)
But, since I haven't actually sent anything yet, I'm not sure how brave I'll end up being.... :-\

I'm sure you'll do fine. It's not as if you can go fishing around in the mailbox once you put it in. (Not without hurting yourself, anyway...;))

Haha!!!! You have a point there! :-D

Now I can only imagine myself trying to explain to a mailman why my arm is stuck in the mailbox. XD

Did you ever read The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller?
I've gotten it a couple times, and I thought a lot of the stuff was really useful.

Lida and Jamie wrote: "Now I can only imagine myself trying to explain to a mailman why my arm is stuck in the mailbox. XD"

Hahahahahahaha!!!!! Oh, that's hilarious!!! Yeah, one time when I sent something out I think I started checking my phone the next day (I mean, I was aware that my query wouldn't have even been delivered yet, but, still...) ;->

I haven't read that book - but I'll add it to my shelf, it sounds really helpful!! Thanks!

I'm sure if I sent something out that I'd be checking my e-mail every five minutes to see if there was a reply!

Yeah, it's a pretty good book, although I think it repeats itself a lot as you get further in.

Well, that's good to know about the repeating. Still though, tis better than not knowing it at all I guess ;-)

I'm thinking I might have posted this a while ago, but maybe not, but I also really enjoying watching the bonus features on DVD. I think it's really interesting (well, on some) and can be very informative as far as just getting a sense of what all goes into a movie, and how the story is built, etc.

That's a good point! Sometimes I just don't feel like setting the DVD up again, but I didn't think about that. :) It should be really useful, being able to hear the directer and everything.

Yeah. Some aren't as good, or not as detailed (I like commentaries because they tend to be detailed). But, too, some of the more 'action' films will have behind the scenes technical stuff, and I just think it's interesting to see how much goes into a film and all the different aspects. Plus, it's helpful to get used to all the movie 'terms' and slang they use. I think - 'course, I *could* just be using it as an excuse to watch more movies, hehe....

Ha ha! There's always an excuse...;)

Have you ever thought of any other way you would want to work in the movies? I read Career Opportunities in the Film Industry and it really shows that there's a lot going on.
I'm not sure that I would want to be a director--I'd be terrified of handling such a large budget--but I likie to draw, so if I get the chance, I might try storyboarding.

Storyboarding would be so cool! :D I love to draw but am not very good at it, but I do think that would be a fantastically fun job to have! Have you ever watched stuff of Walt Disney where he's going over storyboards? I don't know if it's still done the same way, but I always think it's fun to see :)

I'm with you on the directing thing. Maybe years down the line I'd feel differently, but now I wouldn't feel comfortable at all with the responsibility!!

I do think it would be fun to act - I've done local theater stuff before, so have kind of been "bitten by that bug" ;-)

Costuming would be fun, or location hunting, but I have no qualifications for either. I should read that book though - at least it would give me a better idea of all the jobs there are!

It really is neat, isn't it? I used to be not-so-great, but at one point I decided to actually practice and see if I got better. :)

I've seen some of the orignal concept drawings, and they look like so they would be so much fun to draw! I got my first set of really nice colored pencils a few weeks ago, so maybe I could try to make a little flipbook or something.

Acting is awesome--except it looks so easy when someone else is doing it. I don't think I've got the emotional range for it though.

Ditto about the fun, and the qualifications. I do like to traval, though, so maybe someday I could give the location hunting a try!

That's so great you got new colored pencils! Have you tried to make the flipbook yet?

No, not yet! I'm still busy working what I would do, and experimenting with pencils. I didn't buy the most popular brand out there, and all the books I've looked through use the Prismacolor brand for the demonstrations, which has more colors than the brand I got.

So, I've been getting the Creative Screenwriting for a while now, and I quite enjoy it. It's a little more "bio" heavy, in that a lot of the magazine is taken up with stories of new screenwriters and how they broke into the business (which is more interesting than helpful, per say) but sometimes there's some good "how-to" articles that, for $25 can be fairly worth while.

I highly recommend Moviemaker's Masterclass by Laurent Tirard. It's a brilliant little book which details a series of interviews the author had with some of the world's most respected directors. If you're a budding director yourself, this book is a must have.

Jennifer van Sijll's Cinematic Storytelling is also great. It helps you to think visually in your approach to film making / script writing rather than in exposition.

Both amazing books!

Thanks, Daina! I'll go check both of those out on Amazon :D

I can also recommend How to Sell Your Story in 60 Seconds. I forget who it's by, but it's really helpful for formulating pitches.

Lida and Jamie wrote: "I can also recommend How to Sell Your Story in 60 Seconds. I forget who it's by, but it's really helpful for formulating pitches."

That sounds really familiar - I think I might have looked at that one in the past but hadn't gotten around to buying it yet. I've added it to my Amazon cart as a reminder though for when I place my next order - thanks!!!

Hello...new to Goodreads and as a director/writer and film instructor I wish to bring to your attention my memoir "Kiss Me Quick Before I Shoot" so if you love the movies and want a behind-the-scenes fun crazy wild look at the movie/TV world and you're also a romantic at heart, then don't miss this book. Giving away 5 signed copies before Dec 12.

Hello Guy!

Welcome to Goodreads and to our group!! What a pleasure to have you :)

Thank you for bringing our attention to you book. I'm sure it's fascinating to get an insider's view of the industry. I'll go add the book to my Goodreads "to-read" shelf :)

Hi All,
Are any of the members in the group into Steresocopic (or in simpler terms 3D) filmmaking?

I read through the thread and see a lot of interest in screenwriting. I recently wrote an article on the subject Screenwriting for Stereoscopic 3D Films
http://realvision.ae/blog/2012/03/scr...

I'm waiting on clearance from Good Reads to give away one copy of my book "Think in 3D: Food for Thought for Directors, Cinematographers and Stereographers"

The book deals with the Art of visual storytelling using Stereoscopic 3D as the Medium.
Check it out a sample if you have time, and 3D is your thing.
http://bit.ly/GP81RI

Best Regards.