Filmmaking / Directing : Filmmaking Books by Maurice Vaughan

I haven't read any books but I have researched many websites and read numerous articles online. Now mind you I'm not saying this to garner favors or kiss tushy, but Stage 32 so far is the best thing I've come across. I love this site. I feel like a kid in candy store here. I've on this site all day and that's never happened on any other screenwriting site. Love Stage 32!!!

But if you have some recommendations, I'd love to hear them. Thanks my friend.

I haven't read any filmmaking books yet, Horatio Lewis Tihanyi. I'm looking forward to hearing what others have read. Stage 32 is the best creative platform I've been part of. You're right. It does feel like being a kid in candy store. Keep an eye out for the events and resources (like the Education) on here. Stage 32 is always adding events and resources.

A History Of Narrative Film By David A. Cook. It was the official book for the filmhistory lessons at my filmschool.

Hi, Willem Elzenga. It makes sense to study film history if you want to become a filmmaker. Thanks for the book rec.

Willem Elzenga great book. I had it in school as well.

A highly inspirational book for me back in the day was "Sex, Lies, and Videotape Movie Edition Screenplay" by Steven Soderbergh. He details the writing of the screenplay, funding the film, then includes the final version of the screenplay printed out the day before production, then details the shooting and post-production process, and then describes going to festivals, etc. It's quite funny, remarkably humble, with lots of pictures, and very insightful.

Thanks for the book rec, Tucker Teague. It sounds like an incredible book for filmmakers! It details the writing of the script and the final version of the script the day before production. I wanna check out the book for screenwriting.

My favorite book from a director's POV is MAKING MOVIES by Sydney Lumet. The book is about 30 years old but timeless and Lumet, who made so many amaizng films including NETWORK, DOG DAY AFTERNOON, THE WIZ, THE VERDICT and so many more, is a brilliant and experienced artist worth learning from.

Hey, Sam Sokolow. Thanks for the book rec. NETWORK, DOG DAY AFTERNOON, THE WIZ, THE VERDICT. I'd read that book for the filmmaking advice/insight and just for fun!

Robert Rodriguez’ Rebel Without a Crew and its follow-up, Roadracers: The Making of a Degenerate Hot Rod Flick.

Any basic screenwriting book. I recommend How Not To Write a Screenplay.

When I started out, I read Skywalking, the bio of George Lucas, then read all the early drafts of Star Wars. I took notes on how they were written and what changed from draft to draft. What improved? How can I learn from those choices.

I did a similar thing with Quentin Tarantino: Shooting From the Hip. I then read the screenplays of From Dusk Till Dawn and Kill Bill.

All I Need to Know About Filmmaking I Learned from The Toxic Avenger by James Gunn and Lloyd Kaufman is smart, funny, and full of gross anecdotes and asides. Lloyd’s other books are good too.

Film Directing Shot By Shot is more of a textbook, but is a go-to for film language, composition, best practices, etc.

For editing, see books by Walter Murch. Or Paul Hirsch, who had a good one last year.

I’ve read tons of making-of books and director biographies. It never ends… I’m reading the Taschen book on Kubrick now. Taschen has some great ones on Disney, Star Wars, Hitchcock, and film noir.

I liked the Nora Ephron biographies I read. I like when there are books that describe the making of certain movies. For example, Emma Thompson's The Sense and Sensibility Screenplay & Diaries.

The Roadracers book is out of print, but you can get the epub or mobi file here:

https://archive.org/details/roadracers-the-making-of-a-degenerate-h-robert-rodriguez

This is great, Mike Boas! Thanks for the book recs. I like the idea of reading all the early drafts of a movie and taking notes. Thanks for the idea.

Thank you for the book recs, Debra Holland.

Hi Maurice! Great question, I like the look of this library section you're shaping! I was recommended a book a while ago that I bought and have found to be a great resource for basics through to piecing together how the business functions. It's called The Independent Film Producer's Survival Guide by Gunnar Erickson, Harris Vulcan and Mark Halloran. Our industry is dynamic, on shifting sands sometimes so you can find some things have updated but it's comprehensive and I found it a great study and guide to dip into!

Hi, Emma Louise Smith. Thanks for adding the book to the list. It sounds helpful.