Directing: Film Techniques and Aesthetics, 5th Edition

Focal Press is known for their helpful guides to the art of filmmaking and photography.  In their fifth edition of "Directing: Film Techniques and Aesthetics", Michael Rabiger and Mick Hurbis-Cherrier expand the readable manual to a hefty 532 pages.

 

Unlike the previously reviewed "Producing" book, this one reads more like a text book for a film class than something for every day reading or the passing film buff.  With that said, it has a MUCH higher readability factor than your standard text book because of the various first-hand account stories on set and random factoids strewn about.  This is not something you would want on you coffee table for a random guest to pick up when you are too lazy to entertain them, unless that guest happens to be a film student.  

 

Focal Press' "Directing" is an intriguing text filled with numerous helpful tips and advice from fellow filmmakers and is a great addition to any budding director's book collection.  I am generally not one to think that art can be taught or creativity can be expanded through the use of text but, from a technical standpoint, there is a lot to be learned from this book.  With that being said, it is a great purchase if you already have the natural creativity but lack the technical expertise.