What are some good books?

RexA wrote on 4/15/2004, 2:31 AM

Somewhere recently in this forum I saw a suggestion for this book:
Color Correction for Digital Video.

I found it at my favorite vendor, but if I'm going to order, I might as well get one or two more. --- Any good ideas?

I am open to either technical subjects or sorta how to shoot, create, etc.

Here's some good stuff I already have:
Spot's DVDs
Spot's Vegas book
A book on Acid
DVD Demystified
Shot by Shot- Katz
A few screenwriting books including...
The Screenwriter's Bible - Trottier
Rebel Without a Crew - Robert Rodrigues

Recent Technical aquisitions:
Video Demystified - Jack
Digital Video and HDTV - Poynton

So I like all of the above and have some others I didn't mention.

What is good? How would you describe it? Why is it better than others?

Thanks for leads or reviews. I hope we all get some good ideas.

Comments

Cheno wrote on 4/15/2004, 5:41 AM

Really depends on what you want to read up on. All of your suggestions below are worth the $

For trade specific tools, Spot's Vegas 4 book is fantastic.

Shot by Shot and Rebel Without a Crew occupy space on my shelf and are two must haves as well.

I also love Scott Kelby's Down and Dirty Tricks books... lots of cool Photoshop secrets that translate over to Vegas really well.

PAW wrote on 4/15/2004, 7:37 AM

The whole of the CMPbooks DV Expert Series are worth a look, the color correction book is from the series.

I like the

Non linear editing, storytelling......
Great Sound for Digital Video

in fact the whole series

Regards, Paul

David_Kuznicki wrote on 4/15/2004, 7:42 AM

I have to agree with the quality of the CMP books! I own quite a few of the titles-- Color Correction, Motion Graphics for AE, AE in Production, Photoshop for Non-Linear Editors, etc.
They all seem to be well thought out & well written, so it all depends upon what you want to learn. Of course, I'm sure they've published at least ONE dud... but I've yet to find it!

David.

SonyEPM wrote on 4/15/2004, 11:58 AM

Here's cool one:
Cinematography, Theory and Practice
Blain Brown, Focal Press.

busterkeaton wrote on 4/15/2004, 1:11 PM

Ralph Rosenbloom's book on editing is good.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0306802724/qid%3D1082059249/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/102-0425402-8807369

As are Walter Murch's books
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1879505622/102-0425402-8807369?v=glance

Have you seen the documentary Visions of Light? It's a documentary on cinematography with tons of amazing clips and interviews with the world's greatest cinematographers. It's a wonderful movie for any movie-lover
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/630583685X/inktomi-dvdasin-20/ref%3Dnosim/102-0425402-8807369

fwtep wrote on 4/15/2004, 5:37 PM

I'll second the opinion on Ralph Rosenbloom's book. Besides the insignts into editing, It's actually one of the most interesing books I've read about production.

Oh, what the heck, I also second the opinion about Murch's book and the Visions of Light film.

vicmilt wrote on 4/15/2004, 9:03 PM

What is the title on the ACID book?
Love ACID could use some experience and inspiration to get to the "next step".

busterkeaton wrote on 4/16/2004, 12:07 AM

vicmilt, you should check out the VASST website, they are coming out with a ACID training DVD. Look for Spot's post for info.

Also I spelled Ralph Rosenblum's name wrong above. If you are searching on his name, use this spelling.

RexA wrote on 4/16/2004, 12:51 AM

The book was Sams "Teach Yourself Acid 3.0 in 24 Hours" Rebholz and Bryant.

I think I picked that one from a recommendation in these forums. Most people also said Acid is pretty easy to learn. I never used the book as a tutorial (as designed) but skimmed it and went back for details when I had qusetions from my experiments.

It's probably a decent book if you are looking for and Acid reference.

RexA wrote on 4/16/2004, 1:02 AM

Buster,

Thanks. Right now, I already placed my order and included SonyEPM's recommendation. I saw that book recommended before, but had forgotten about it.

All of what you mentioned sounds great. I may find myself placing another order. The DVD is especially intriguing and even more so with the low price.

Everyone, please keep the discussion going. There is no such thing as too much information.

Thanks for the great advice so far.

-Rex

filmy wrote on 4/16/2004, 1:39 AM

Depends on what you are looking for but since you have already heard some of the obvious ones I thought I would take a non-obvious path -

"Hit and Run (How John Peters and Peter Guber took Sony for a ride in Hollywood)" - A nice little behind the scenes look at Hollywood.

"Knock Wood" (Autobiography of Candice Bergan) - I never knew one persons life could interweave with so many. This book blew me away because it brings to light old Hollywood and the 60's hollywood, Charlie Manson and Sharon Tate included, and just being an actress who wants to act.

"Cult Movies" - the first one that came out. A great little referance to see what films were considered 'cult' films before it was so trendy to try and *make* cult movies. It is also just a great guidebook for films to study.

I don't know the name off the top of my head but it is a book by David Elkins on how to be an AC. Great idea - everyone always writes about being a DP or cinematographer but no one wrote about being an assistant. So he did.

There is more..but it is really late and I am tired.