By Platypus Underground
I’m a huge bookworm. When I get interested in something (“obsessed” might be a better word…) I read everything I can about that topic. It doesn’t matter what it is; Star Wars, martial arts, Game of Thrones, some random movie I saw on Syfy, whatever.
Most of these obsessions come in bursts or phases. I’ll read every article on google, Wikipedia, or anywhere else online I can find them. I’ll go to the bookstore and pick up any book related to the topic and just tear through it in a few days.
The one phase I never got out of was filmmaking. Since that passion began in 5th grade, I have acquired a butt-load of movie-making books. Here are some of the best I’ve read (in the order that I happened to notice them as they sit on my bookshelf). I think you guys will appreciate these as well.
1. Make Your Own Damn Movie! by Lloyd Kaufman He’s a bitter old man and his movies are nigh unwatchable, but Lloyd Kaufman has a lot of great advice in this book for low budget filmmakers. It’s also a great kick in the pants as far as motivation goes, and that’s always a good thing. I must have read this book 50 times. (Lloyd also has a bunch of other books, like Direct/Produce/Sell Your Own Damn Movie! They’re all pretty much the same, but I read them all too. Make! is definitely the best, and the others don’t have much in them that isn’t in this one).
2. What they don’t teach you at FILM SCHOOL
by Camille Landau and Tiare White This has lots of practical advice about filmmaking, but it’s mostly inspirational. Camille and Tiare are really cool and it was super easy for me to relate to them.
by Camille Landau and Tiare White This has lots of practical advice about filmmaking, but it’s mostly inspirational. Camille and Tiare are really cool and it was super easy for me to relate to them.
3. The Complete Independent Movie Marketing Handbook by Mark Steven Bosko Yeah, it’s not about actually making a film, but you gotta be well rounded, right? If nobody ever sees your movie you just wasted a ton of your time. So get this book. It has lots of great information about marketing independent movies and will help you get your work seen!
4. Filmmaking for Dummies by Bryan Michael Stoller Don’t dismiss the dummies and idiots books! These are treasure troves of inspiration. Also check out The Complete Idiots Guides to Independent Filmmaking and Screenwriting.
5. Writing Short Films by Linda Cowgill Lots of great in-depth stuff in this one. This breaks down EVERYTHING, so if you have a question about anything in regards to writing a movie, it is excessively talked about in this book.
6. The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler This isn’t exactly a film book, but it talks about a style of storytelling that influences a lot of movies made today. It breaks down the steps of the Hero’s Journey, as well as the archetypal characters and situations heroes often meet along the way. If you plan on making the next Wizard of Oz or Star Wars, this is a must read.
7. Rebel Without A Crew by Robert Rodriguez This is an absolute must-read for every aspiring filmmaker. This is one of my favorite filmmaking books out there. A mix of “how I did it,” journal entries, and lots of inspiration for low-budget filmmakers.
8. How to Shoot a Feature Film for under $10,000 and not go to Jail by Bret Stern I love this guy. This book was amazing, filled with great advice, tips, examples, and humor. Read it.
9. On Filmmaking by Alexander MackendrickVery practical advice on filmmaking from start to finish.
10. Film Directing Shot by Shot by Steven D. Katz This is mostly practical and technical stuff, from framing shots to making storyboards. Very helpful!
11. Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder Probably the best screenwriting book I ever read. Aspiring screenwriters need to read this!!
12. The Complete Filmmaker’s Guide to Film Festivals by Rona Edwards and Monika Skerbelis Great advice for how to enter and get accepted into film festivals. Also great tips on what to do when you attend a festival. This stuff works! I got my last film into 3 festivals using their advice!
13. If Chins Could Kill by Bruce Campbell This is just a great memoir by the B-movie acting king. Inspiring and informative.
14. Lego Studios Director’s Handbook There will always be a special place in my heart and an open space on my bookshelf for this book. I doubt you can even find this anymore. It came with the original Lego Studios movie maker set way back when. I probably read this about 1,000 times in 5th grade during study hall periods. This was the first book I ever read about filmmaking, and it started a fire that has never gone out.
A few additional things:
Don’t ever limit yourself with knowledge; always look for other skills that will compliment your career choice. You won’t regret it, and it will make you a better-rounded PERSON (as well as a more valuable business asset!). Always look for people you want to emulate, someone who can be a hero and you can use as inspiration.
(as well as a more valuable business asset!). Always look for people you want to emulate, someone who can be a hero and you can use as inspiration.
People have done this before you! So why not learn from them? Steven King is a master storyteller. Don’t you think learning to write successful stories will translate to your film career? Steve Jobs was a marketing genius! Filmmaker? No, but you better believe that you will need to be able to market your films if you want to make money!
Don’t limit yourself to just “film” books. You can learn something from anywhere! Check out a few of these books to add to your knowledge base.
The $100 Start-up by Chris Guillebeau Great advice for starting up a company. Use it to start a film company!
Jumpstart your awesome film production company by Sara Caldwell Another business sort of book, but more related to actually starting a company for making movies! Good tips and advice in here.
Branding Yourself by Kyle Lacy and Erik Deckers Amazing advice on how to create a brand out of yourself. This can also be APPLIEDto your company or your films. Tons of useful marketing and social media advice that can help you sell your products or get a job.
to your company or your films. Tons of useful marketing and social media advice that can help you sell your products or get a job.
Steve Jobs by Walter IsaacsonA bio about Steve Jobs filled with tons of great info on how the greatest marketing man ever ticked. It tells you what he did, how he thought, and how he put his own dent in the universe. This can definitely translate over to film.
On Writing by Steven King Storytelling doesn’t just take place in the movies. If you really want to learn, you’ve got to be well-rounded. How can you do that? Learn from the masters!
I hope you find something useful on this list. I have a billion more books on my shelf, but these are the ones that I felt really deserved a mention.
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