What the industry's most succcessful writers and directors have in common is that they have mastered the cinematic conventions specific to the medium.
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review
happy with my purchase, October 23, 2007
By
Khosrovadukht Aslanyan (los angeles, ca usa)
there was no unpleasant surprise with my purchase. the book came a day or two later than was promised, but other than that, all was as i expected!! :)
Flawed format. Wait for DVD!, October 6, 2007
By
Daniel Benson (Klamath Falls, Oregon)
I certainly agree with the existing reviews regarding content, and have nothing to add in this regard.
HOWEVER, there are two problems:
1. The book measures 7 1/2" tall and 11" wide. This makes it hard to hold and fits poorly on the reference bookshelf where it belongs.
2. The book mentions an upcoming DVD. This would a MUCH better format than book.
This book tries to illustrate various cinimatographic points with still shots from exemplary movies. Sometimes these still shots cannot illustrate the point adequately, while a video clip would be TREMENDOUS at illustrating the point. (For example: various transitions: How in the heck can you illustrate transitions with still photos?!)
WAIT FOR THE DVD. It should be TREMENDOUS,and well worth the purchase.
Spectacular, August 28, 2007
By
Frederic Woodbridge (ID, USA)
To call me a newbie screenwriter would be to insult newbie screenwriters. I'm a fledgling, nascent, inchoate, and very bad screenwriter. And if you would read the mere one-page script I wrote yesterday, you'd call me some choice names but I daresay 'screenwriter' will not be one of the myriad.
That said, this is such a great book, the highest quality through and through, from the binding to the clear type and the clear picture examples of each shot type. I found myself reading this like I would an easy novel: it was literally a page-turner and filled with so much information, and information I could immediately start using.
With each example, I popped in the respective DVD and found the particular shots and marveled at how the author's description and subsequent interpretation of the scene was spot on, a real "Aha!" moment on each page. In my long and very arduous road to screenwriting mediocrity, I believe 'Cinematic Storytelling' will be a staunch ally, immovable from its perch as a resident of my reference bookshelf.
Great take on film theory., May 9, 2007
By
G. Dreher (Baltimore, MD USA)
The use of storyboards and stills from scenes in congunction with a theoretical breakdown make this a vey useful and thought provoking study on cinema.
BILL HASH AUTHOR OF AMRA, January 9, 2007
By
Bill Hash AMRA (atlantic city)
It is a really good book showing the RULES of story telling.DON'T YOU USE A ROAD MAP WHEN THERE IS SOMEWHERE YOU WANT TO GO? GET THIS 'ROADMAP'
