Best reference guide for beginner?

MyST wrote on 5/12/2004, 7:10 PM

Lots of books out there on learning how to shoot great looking DV films. Maybe too many?
Which one would you recommend?
Michael Rubin seems to be a highly regarded author on the subject.
I don't want to just "shoot" and then be left with footage that couldn't be made interesting no matter what.
There's obviously alot more to look for such as panning techniques, zooming techniques, etc.
Absolute beginner at filmaking here... help. (Actually, seeing what I'de shot using my analogue camcorder a few years ago made me realize how much I need help!)

Thanks

Mario

Comments

Spot|DSE wrote on 5/12/2004, 7:31 PM

Bryce Button's book is awesome, so is Rubin's book, Scott Billups is a hero too. If I could only choose one, I'd buy Billup's Digital Film making book.

RexA wrote on 5/13/2004, 12:15 AM

I asked about books recently here and got many good suggestions. Here is a link to the other thread:
Books

I picked up the book that SonyEPM suggested "Cinematograpyh Theory and Practice". I am still reading it but I find it very good. It covers a very wide range of topics, but it is probably the clearest and most detailed book of this type that I have read.

The "Digital Video and HDTV" by Poynton is a good book on a wide array of technical details of video recording and presentation (but not really focused on cameras).

Scott Billups "Digital Moviemaking" is good, but he basically says that miniDV cameras are toys and a waste of time, so it may be depressing for many of us.

Grazie wrote on 5/13/2004, 12:48 AM

MyST, I like your comments and have taken my "cue" from your "There's obviously alot more to look for such as panning techniques, zooming techniques, etc" . . yes there is . . . and your comment about having all this stuff back on the edit deck and trying to "do" something with it . . . you also say you are a total beginner .. NO YOU AINT! - Once you've realised this you are on an upward spiral - GREAT STUFF! - You are now thinking of "Shooting for the Edit" . . . this will always be your Holy Grail . .it is mine - honest!

Okay, just picked up the "Grammar of the Shot" Roy Thompson - PUB Elsvier - ISBN 0-240-51398-3. Just been reprinted in 2004! So, much wanted book and full, FULL of well produced pencil sketch drawings showing "How to do shots" and, as it says - "Grammar of the Shot is a manual for those who are about to embark on a career in shooting pictures. It is aimed at the novice, concentrating purely on the principles of shooting - still the best way to tell a visual story"

This Focal Press have about 20 books in their multimedia range . . The next one I'm buying is "Grammar of the Edit" same author! Roy Thompson? " . .freelance director and has frequently worked as a trainer for the Television Centre of Deutsche Welle, Berlin" . .so, I guess he knows the experience and frustrations of the "learning" camera-operative - yeah? Looks like he has distilled this experience into this 190 page manual for all of us!
Oh, here is the weblink to Elsvier . . and the actual book "Grammar of the Shot" .

Have fun!

Grazie

MyST wrote on 5/13/2004, 7:43 PM

Thanks for the help guys, much appreciated.

Grazie...

"Shooting for the Edit" is exactly what I'm talking about!
Grammar of the shot looks like a great beginner's book. I'll probably start there. The others mentioned look like "must-haves" once I get more into the swing of things.

Thanks all for the suggestions, including the very useful link to the other thread.

Mario

Grazie wrote on 5/13/2004, 9:42 PM

Yer welcome . . If I keep asking questions, the answers may follow . . If I don't even ask questions, I can't expect answers. Sometimes I find that my questions form their own answers - yeah?

Have fun!

Grazie