Get Books, Make Movies


Today I’m updating my resources page to include a few more book suggestions. With the vast amount of information online for filmmakers, it’s likely rare that most reach for a book before searching the web. Maybe you visit a blog, or scour YouTube for tutorials. The challenge with all of this information is to pick out the best stuff, to curate it, and make sure you’re learning the right information in a timely manner. Then we have to keep from getting distracted.

Worst of all, sometimes we go back months later looking for that really helpful tutorial or post and can’t find it (one reason I keep a list of websites on the resources page).

These are a few reasons I really love books. In addition to making your editing workstation look pretty legit, keeping a truly helpful book on hand is a great way to focus, to track the information you absorb, and to curate your own collection of learning resources.

Of course, book choices can be overwhelming too.

Here’s a short list from my office; some I bought for college and continue to reference, some I discovered on my own, but all of these are staples on my bookshelf and I can recommend them to you:


With all of the free information we’re now accustomed to, it’s hard for a filmmaker to commit to buying a book without knowing whether the purchase will be worth the cash. Don’t forget to check out your public library, and try book-swapping with other artists.

Now get a book, and make a movie!

What books have you found to be really helpful as a filmmaker?


Further Reading

Next: Freelance Filmmaker
Previously: Moby Loves Independent Filmmakers

Tags: Video Production , Resources , Books