Shooting Movies Without Shooting Yourself in the Foot Becoming a Cinematographer

Shooting Movies is the book for all those film enthusiasts who can't get on a professional set or can't undertake studies at an expensive film school. The book approaches the subject of cinematography from a "hands-on, in the trenches viewpoint, as though the reader were an apprentice on the set. It's a book about learning to shoot a film without making an idiot of yourself and wasting lots of time and money. It's a book about how to take artistic inspiration and make it a reality. A breezy writing style mixed with practical, interactive exercises geared for both film and video give filmmakers the experience they need to take their work to the next level. Beginning with fundamental techniques and concepts of cinematography, the author shares his many years of experience with the reader, imparting invaluable advice and guidance on how to avoid common pitfalls, and more importantly, learn from mistakes.

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION Part 1: REALITIES OF PRE-PRODUCTIONCHAPTER 2 WHAT'S FIRST? 2a FIRST EXERCISE: SHOOTING STILLS? 2b WHAT YOU SHOULD LEARN FROM THE STILL PHOTOGRAPH EXERCISE CHAPTER 3 WE'RE STILL READING THE SCRIPT CHAPTER 4 A FEW MORE THINGS TO THINK OF CHAPTER 5 SHOT LIST CHAPTER 6 CREW CHAPTER 7 LOCATIONS CHAPTER 8 SELECTING A CAMERA CHAPTER 9 SELECTING THE LENS CHAPTER 10 SELECTING FILM STOCK CHAPTER 11 SELECTING A TRIPOD AND HEAD CHAPTER 12 WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING TO PREP CHAPTER 13 THE NIGHT BEFORE Part 2: PRODUCTIONCHAPTER 14 ON TIME AND READY TO SHOOT CHAPTER 15 FIRST DAY/ FIRST SHOT CHAPTER 16 SHOOTING MASTERS CHAPTER 17 CLOSE-UPS AND COVERAGE 17a SECOND EXERCISE: THE STANDARD SHOTS 17b WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE LEARNED FROM THE STANDARD SHOTS EXERCISE CHAPTER 18 OPERATING THE CAMERA 18a THIRD EXERCISE: OPERATING SKILLS 18b WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE LEARNED FROM THE OPERATING EXERCISES CHAPTER 19 STILL MORE COMPOSITION or FOLLOW THE MONEY 19a FIRST MOVIE EXERCISE: VISUAL STORYTELLING EDITED IN THE CAMERA19b WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE LEARNED FROM THE EDITED-IN-THE-CAMERA EXERCISE CHAPTER 20 THE HORROR OF THE 180º LINE CHAPTER 21 THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY (Not necessarily in that order)CHAPTER 22 LEARNING THE HARDWARE CHAPTER 23 WHY WE LIGHT CHAPTER 24 EXPOSURE 24a LIGHTING EXERCISE # 1 EMULSION TEST 24b LIGHTING EXERCISE # 2 DIRECTION OF LIGHT 24c LIGHTING EXERCISE # 3 QUALITY OF LIGHTHOW DOES LIGHT VARY IN QUALITY? 24d LIGHTING EXERCISE # 4 LIGHTING THE FACE, THE GREAT LANDSCAPE CHAPTER 25 EXERCISE: SHOOTING YOUR PROJECT ON FILM 25a WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE LEARNED FROM THE SHOOTING ON FILM EXERCISE Part 3: POST-PRODUCTIONCHAPTER 26 POST-PRODUCTION: TIMING AND TRANSFERRINGCHAPTER 27 POST-PRODUCTION: PUTTING TOGETHER A REEL Part 4: TECHNICALITIESCHAPTER 28 CAMERAS: BLACK BOXES CHAPTER 29 LENSES Chapter 29a THE ZEN OF FOCUSING Chapter 29b THE MAGIC OF FILTERSCHAPTER 30 FILMCHAPTER 31 COLOR TEMPERATURECHAPTER 32 USING AND HANDLING FILM CAMERAS AND LENSESCHAPTER 33 USING A TRIPOD AND HEADCHAPTER 34 THE DOLLY GRIPCHAPTER 35 LABORATORY

Jack Anderson