by Stacie Marshall
You don’t have to live in Hollywood or New York to be in the film business any more. Our own River City, Richmond, VA, (or the RVA as we like to call it!) is lucky to have a vibrant and growing film community. In recent years, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg have further put us on the map by filming their “little” projects here. RVA film festivals such as The 48 Hour Film Project are open to anyone who wants to participate and could land the winner in front of a global audience in Cannes.
Here are five great reads about the film industry. Feel free to leave your comments below and share your favorites that I’ve omitted.
1. The Man Who Heard Voices
This is an interesting read about a (then) successful filmmaker (The Sixth Sense, Signs) and the film (train wreck?) he was working on at the time the book was written. It’s also a great lesson for any artist about ego versus vision and the importance of having trusted folks who help hone your vision and keep it on track.
2. Adventures in the Screen Trade: A Personal View of Hollywood and Screenwriting
This fascinating read is by William Goldman–the man responsible for writing some of the industry’s most perfect screenplays (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All the President’s Men, The Princess Bride) and who is long-rumored to have ghost-written other Oscar winners, including Good Will Hunting. His follow-up book, Which Lie Did I Tell? is equally good, and worth the read if only for the memorable first tale that opens the book.
3. How Not to Write a Screenplay
Have you ever created something you thought was awesome until someone burst your bubble? (Or you saw amazing work by another artist and you burst your own bubble?) Learning how not to do something is often just as helpful as learning how to do something. That’s why I liked this book.
To really understand the art of filmmaking, you have to first understand story. A screenplay is, obviously, that story in written format. However, a screenplay’s role is much more than just telling the story–it has to share the steps for HOW to tell the story that will be used by everyone involved in the picture.
Screenplays must follow a format and structure, and books like The Screenwriter’s Bible, Screenwriting 434 and Save The Cat are great for this. Once you’ve gotten the hang of the format (and have probably purchased Final Draft) you can move on to books by Christopher Keane to sell your masterpiece.
4. Master Shots
Master Shots is a solid reference book for anyone wanting to learn how to film a scene. It gives plenty of examples and diagrams and breaks it down nicely. To learn to frame your shots, I’d recommend a good still photography course. (Like some of these. Or these.)
If you’re really interested in learning to shoot big budget scenes on the cheap, check out Robert Rodriguez’ 10 Minute Film School segments on YouTube. Rodriguez has also written a book that’s on my must-read list for 2013, Rebel Without A Crew: Or How a 23-Year-Old Filmmaker with $7,000 Became a Hollywood Player.
5. Bossypants
I’m always fascinated to learn more about artists, their processes and what makes them tick. This book gives you that behind the scenes glimpse into the mind of Tina Fey (SNL, 30 Rock, Mean Girls), and it’s stinking funny.
Learn more about digital & photography classes, and writing workshops & classes at VisArts.
—
Stacie Marshall is the Marketing and Public Relations Manager at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond and a life-long learner in the arts. She has studied with Tom Rolf (Oscar-winning editor, The Right Stuff), Russell Carpenter (Oscar-winning cinematographer, Titanic), and Mimi Edmunds (award-winning producer, 60-Minutes), and is currently having a blast learning to paint in Introduction to Acrylic Painting at VisArts.