Synopsis

Dreaming of the silver screen during Algebra? Composing your Academy Award acceptance speech instead of your English essay? Now, you have a guidebook that can help those dreams become a reality. With readily available technology, you can pull off your shorts. This funny and irreverent 'how-to' takes young would-be filmmakers from the moment of inspiration to a finished short film and beyond. Young amateurs-in-training learn everything they need to become the "slash" (writer/producer/director) of their first short film. With tips and techniques on brainstorming, screenwriting, scheduling, shooting, editing, and marketing this accessible, hip, and complete guide will nurture and inspire a new generation of filmmakers. Make your first short film without the headaches with this complete guide to movie-making. It is written by two experienced filmmakers and educators who will teach you all the tips and tricks to make your film a success. It covers the entire filmmaking process from idea, through screenwriting and production to editing and marketing - all you need to know in one handy volume!

Quotes:

Thoughts: It is a helpful book but there is only so far that it can take you. It says that it is for teens but it is not limited to teens at all, it is for anyone who has no idea where to start on making a film and wants to learn. However, because it is for teens it does take a slightly tongue in cheek approach to everything that it talks about but it is at the same time giving out some important advice. It's really a book that is trying to teach you the same things that you can learn from university and therefore is not a huge help to me. It is nice to have a reminder if needs be but is never really delving into the technical side of filmmaking, just the creative side, a side that arguable can't even be improved, the idea being you are either creative or you aren't if you aren't you should read a more technical book on how to work the camera properly. Overall, thought it was worth a read and makes some good points along with some important reminders. It would have been better however, for someone who didn't already have knowledge of filmmaking.

 Writing a screenplay (John Costello 2006)

synopsis

This book explodes the myth that a screenplay is the easiest literary form to master, navigates a relatively painless path through the screenwriting labyrinth, and offers an easy to digest step-by-step guide to writing a script from inception to completion.

Quotes: Knowing your market - "if you intend to write for film or television, immerse yourself in those media".

Inspiration - "5% inspiration, 95% perspiration' is a tired catchphrase... and also true".

Thoughts: Overall, this book hit home hard about just how difficult it is to write a screenplay. It really does have to be perfect. It does not take a sympathetic or empathetic view for a screenwriter, but kicks the screenwriter up the backside and says so it better or else it won't be any good. This approach worked well for me, it made me really consider my storyline and my character progression. I new character traits had to get across quickly and simply and that I could not bog the story down with unnecessary dialogue. I think this was an important book to read before I wrote my screenplay. Even though it is a pocket size book it has a lot of information in it that teaches you about formatting and turning your creativity into technical ability. Overall, I think it plaid a big part in shaping my film.