David E. Elkins SOC, “The Camera Assistant’s Manual, Fourth Edition”

Every film or video shoot calls for at least two camera assistants. Camera assistants (or first and second ACs, as they’re known) have the important job of maintaining the camera, readying it for use, troubleshooting (such as knowing what to do when a camera drops into the ocean), and preparing it for transport. The Camera Assistant’s Manual teaches the complete workflow in easy-to-understand terms and does not assume prior knowledge. It is a must-have on the set for camera assistants and is loaded with reference material such as camera illustrations, forms, charts, checklists, and equations. Invaluable career advice rounds out the book.

• New companion website with extensive forms, charts, and illustrations to print out and use
• Completely updated with information on digital video and high definition cameras that are changing the camera assistant’s job
• Career tips and complete job descriptions help camera assistants get and succeed at jobs

Filmmaking For Dummies by Bryan Michael Stoller

With all the recent advancements in filmmaking technology, more people than ever are trying their hand at filmmaking. Keeping up with the newest information in this booming field, this updated edition of Filmmaking For Dummies features up-to-the-minute coverage of the latest and greatest hardware, software, accessories, and trends–including high-definition technology and new outlets for films such as YouTube and MySpace. It demystifies the nuts-and-bolts of filmmaking, from developing a project and securing financing to hiring a cast and crew, editing, and getting distribution. This new edition also provides new movie examples and updated contacts and resources. Whether people want to become professional filmmakers or simply shoot quality home movies, this practical guide has all the advice and tips needed to succeed.

Carl Casinghino, “Moving Images: Making Movies, Understanding Media”

Moving Images is the first comprehensive media studies and motion picture production textbook of its kind. Offering a series of hematically-driven units that provide opportunities for collaborative learning, enhancement of creativity, and development of higher order thinking, this book is designed to get your students excited about making movies. Students will not only learn how to analyze and appreciate motion pictures, but they will also study the fundamental skills needed to create and produce their own movies.

Film Directing Fundamentals, Second Edition: See Your Film Before Shooting by Nicholas T. Proferes

Unique among directing books, Film Directing Fundamentals provides a clear-cut methodology for translating a script to the screen. Using the script as a blueprint, Proferes leads the reader through specific techniques to analyze and translate its components into a visual story. A sample screenplay is included that explicates the techniques. The book assumes no knowledge and thus introduces basic concepts and terminology.

* Unique, focused approach to film directing that shows how to use the screenplay as a blueprint
* Clear-cut methodology for translating a script to the screen
* Case studies featuring famous films

Film Structure and the Emotion System by Greg M. Smith

Films evoke broad moods and cue particular emotions that can be broadly shared as well as individually experienced. Although the experience of emotion is central to the viewing of movies, film studies have neglected to focus attention on the emotions, relying instead on vague psychoanalytic concepts of desire. Movies, Emotion, and Mood synthesizes recent research on emotion in cognitive psychology and neurology in an effort to provide a more nuanced understanding of how film evokes emotion.