RECOMMENDED FILM BOOKS READING LIST Revised July 2007

General Reference
CineBooks Editors. The MovieGuide. (PerigeeBook/Penguin Putnam Inc, 1998)
Fielding, Raymond. A Technological History of Motion Pictures and Television
(University of California Press, 1984)
Halliwells Film Guide (HarperCollins/Harper Perennial) [annual updates]
Katz, Ephraim. The Film Encyclopedia, 4
th
ed. (Harper Collins, 2001)
Konigsberg, Ira. The Complete Film Dictionary, 2
nd
ed. (Penguin Reference, 1997)
Maltin, Leonard, ed. Movie & Video Guide (Signet Reference) [annual updates]
Pincus, Edward and Ascher, Steven. Filmmakers Handbook (New American Library,
2000)
Roberts, Kenneth and Sharples, Win J r. A Primer for Filmmaking: A Complete Guide to
16 and 35 mm Film Production (Bobbs-Merrill)
Singleton, Ralph. Filmmakers Dictionary (Lone Eagle Publishing, 2000)
Wilhelm, Elliot. VideoHounds World Cinema: The Adventurers Guide to Movie
Watching (Visible Ink Press, 1999)

World Cinema Surveys
Cook, David A. A History of Narrative Film, 2nd ed. (Norton, 1990) [or latest edition]
Dyer, Richard, and Ginette Vincendeau, eds. Popular European Cinema (Routledge,
1992)
Nowell-Smith, Geoffrey, ed. The Oxford History of World Cinema (Oxford University
Press, 1996)
Thompson, Kristin, and David Bordwell. Film History: An Introduction (McGraw-Hill,
1994)
Thompson, David. A Biographical Dictionary of Film (Knopf, 1994)

Film History
Biskind, Peter. Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex-Drugs-and-Rock n Roll
Generation Saved Hollywood (Simon and Schuster, 1998; Touchstone, 1999)
Bogle, Donald. Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies, & Bucks: An Interpretive History of
Blacks in American Films, 3rd ed. (NY: Continuum Publishing, 1996)
Bordwell, David, J anet Staiger, and Kristin Thompson. The Classical Hollywood
Cinema: Film Style & Mode of Production to 1960 (Columbia University Press,
1985)
Brownlow, Kevin. The Parades Gone By (Ballantine, 1968) [or re-issues]
Cherchi Usai, Paolo. Burning Passions: An Introduction to the Study of Silent Film.
Trans., Elizabeth Sansone (British Film Institute, 1994)
Dunne, J ohn Gregory, Monster: Living off the Big Screen (Vintage Books, 1998)
Everson, William K. American Silent Film (Oxford University Press, 1978; Da Capo
Press, 1998)
Friedrich, Otto. City of Nets: A Portrait of Hollywood in the 1940s (University of
California Press, 1997)
Gabler, Neal. An Empire of Their Own: How the Jews Invented Hollywood (Bantam
Doubleday/Dell Publishing Group, 1989)
2
Griffin, Nancy, and Kim Masters. Hit & Run: How Jon Peters and Peter Guber Took
Sony for A Ride In Hollywood (Simon & Schuster Trade, 1997)
Harmetz, Aljean. The Making of the Wizard of Oz (Hyperion, 1998)
Huston, J ohn. An Open Book (Da Capo Press, Inc., 1994)
Kracauer, Siegfried. From Caligari to Hitler: A Psychological History of the German
Film (Princeton University Press, 1990)
Pierson, J ohn. Spike, Mike, Slackers & Dykes: A Guided Tour Across A Decade Of
American Independent Cinema (Hyperion, 1996)
Schatz, Thomas. The Genius of the System: Hollywood Filmmaking in the Studio Era
(Henry Holt and Company, 1989/1996)
Sklar, Robert. Movie-Made America: A Cultural History of American Movies (Vintage
Books/Random House, 1975) [or latest edition]
Spoto, Donald. The Dark Side of Genius: The Life of Alfred Hitchcock (Plenum
Publishing Corp., 1999)

Cinematography
Alton, J ohn. Painting with Light. (University of California Press, 1995)
Ballinger, Alex. New Cinematographers. (Collins Design, 2004)
Barclay, Steven. The Motion Picture Image: From Film to Digital. (Focal Press. 2000)
Bergery, Benjamin. Reflections: Twenty-One Cinematographers at Work (The ASC
Press, 2002)
Box, Harry C. Set Lighting Technicians Handbook, 3rd ed. (Focal Press, 2003)
Brown, Blain. The Filmmakers Pocket Reference. (Focal Press, 1994)
Brown, Blain. Cinematography Theory and Practice. (Focal Press, 2002)
Brown, Blain. Motion Picture and Video Lighting. (Focal Press, 1995)
Browne, Steven E. Film-Video Terms and Concepts. (Focal Press, 1992)
Burum, Stephen, ed. American Cinematographer Manual, 9th ed. (ASC Press, 2006)
Carlson, Verne, and Sylvia Carlson. Professional Cameramans Handbook, 4th ed.
(Focal Press, 1994)
Carlson, Verne, and Sylvia Carlson. Professional Lighting Handbook, 2nd ed. (Focal
Press, 1991)
Cheshire, David. The Book of Movie Photography (Knopf, 1979)
Clarke, Charles. Charles Clarkes Professional Cinematography. (ASC Press, 1994)
Courter, Philip R. The Filmmakers Craft: 16mm Cinematography. (Van Nostrand
Reinhold, 1982)
Daley, Ken. Basic Film Technique. (Focal Press, 1980)
Courter, Philip. The Filmmakers Craft: 16mm Cinematography (Van Nostrand Reinhold
Co, 1982)
Dancyger, Ken. The World of Film and Video Production: Aesthetics and Practices.
(Wadsworth Publishing, 1999)
De Leeuw, Ben. Digital Cinematography. (Academic Press/Morgan Kaufmann, 1997)
Eastman Kodak Co. The Book of Film Care. (Eastman Kodak Co., 1983)
Eastman Kodak Co. Cinematographers Field Guide 8th ed., (Eastman Kodak Co., 2002)
Eastman Kodak Co. Eastman Professional Motion Picture Films. (Eastman Kodak Co.,
1992)
Eastman Kodak Co. Exploring the Color Image. (Eastman Kodak Co., 1996)
3
Eastman Kodak Co. Handbook of Kodak Photographic Filters. Eastman Kodak Co.,
1990)
Eastman Kodak Co. Kodak Motion Picture Film. (Eastman Kodak Co., 1983)
Eastman Kodak Co. Student Filmmakers Handbook. (Eastman Kodak Co., 1999)
Elkins, David. Camera Terms and Concepts (Focal Press, 1993)
Elkins, David. The Camera Assistants Manual, 4
th
ed. (Focal Press, 2005)
Ettedgui, Peter. Cinematography Screencraft Series (Focal Press, 1999)
Fauer, J on. Arriflex 16SR3The Book. (Arriflex, 1996)
Fauer, J on. Arriflex 35 Book, 3rd ed. (Focal Press, 1999)
Fauer, J on. Arriflex 435 Book, 3rd ed. (Arriflex, 1999)
Fauer, J on. Arricam Book. Hollywood, CA: ASC Press, 2002.
Fauer, J on. Shooting Digital Video: DVCAM, MiniDV and DVC Pro. Boston, MA: Focal
Press, 2001.
Fauer, J on. DVCAM: A Practical Guide to the Professional System (Focal Press, 2001)
Ferncase, Richard K. Film and Video Lighting Terms and Concepts (Focal Press, 1995)
Ferrara, Serena. Steadicam: Techniques and Aesthetics. (Focal Press, 2000)
Gloman, Chuck B., and Tom Letourneau. Placing Shadows: Lighting Techniques for
Video Production, 3
rd
. Ed. (Focal Press, 2002)
Gross, Lynne S., and Larry W. Ward. Digital Moviemaking, 5th ed. (Wadsworth
Publishing, 2004)
Grotticelli, Michael. American Cinematographer Video Manual3
rd
ed. (ASC Press,
2001)
Happe, L. Bernard. Basic Motion Picture Technology (Focal Press, 1971)
Hart, Douglas C. The Camera Assistant: A Complete Professional Handbook. (Focal
Press, 1995)
Hummell, Rob. American Cinematographer Manual 8
th
Ed. (ASC Press, 2002 )
Hershey, Fritz Lynn. Optics and Focus for Camera Assistants. (Focal Press, 1996)
Hines, William. Operating Cinematography for Film and Video. (Ed-Venture
Films/Books, 1997)
Hines, William. Job Descriptions for Film, Video and CGI. (Ed-Venture Films/Books,
1999)
Hirschfeld, Gerald, A.S.C. Image Control: Motion Picture and Video Camera Filters and
Lab Techniques. (ASC Press, 2005)
J ackman, J ohn. Lighting for Digital Video and Television. (Focal Press, 2004)
J ames, J ack. Digital Intermediates for Film and Video. (Focal Press, 2005)
Kennell, Glenn. Color and Mastering for Digital Cinema. (Focal Press, 2006)
Krasilovsky, Alexis. Women Behind the Camera: Conversations with Camerawomen
(Praeger, 1997)
Laszlo, Andrew. Every Frame a Rembrandt: Art and Practice of Cinematography (Focal
Press, 2000).
LoBrutto, Vincent. Principal Photography: Interviews with Feature Film
Cinematographers (Praeger, 1999)
Lowell, Ross. Matters of Light & Depth. Philadelphia, PA: Broad Street Books, 1992.
Malkiewicz, Kris, and M. David Mullen. Cinematography, 3
rd
ed. (Fireside, 2005)
Malkiewicz, Kris, and Robert E. Rogers. Film Lighting. (Fireside, 1986)
Maltin, Leonard. The Art of the Cinematographer: A Survey and Interview with Five
4
Masters (Dover, 1978)
Mamer, Bruce. Film Production Technique: Creating the Accomplished Image, 4th ed.
(Wadsworth Publishing, 2005)
Mascelli, J oseph V. The Five Cs of Cinematography. (Silman-J ames Press, 1998)
Millerson, Gerald. Lighting for Television and Film, 3rd ed. (Focal Press, 1999)
Ohanian, Thomas A. and Michael E. Phillips. Digital Filmmaking: The Changing Art and
Craft of Making Motion Pictures (Focal Press, 1996)
Perisic, Zoran. Visual Effects Cinematography. (Focal Press, 1999)
Petrie, Duncan. The British Cinematographer. (British Film Institute, 1996)
Pincus, Edward, and Steven Ascher. The Filmmakers Handbook. (New American
Library, 1984)
Rahmel, Dan. Nuts and Bolts Filmmaking. (Focal Press, 2004)
Ratcliff, J ohn. Timecode: A Users Guide. (Focal Press, 1999)
Ray, Sidney F. Applied Photographic Optics, 3rd ed. (Focal Press, 2003)
Rogers, Pauline. Contemporary Cinematographers on Their Art (Focal Press)
Rogers, Pauline B. Art of Visual EffectsInterviews on the Tools of the Trade. (Focal
Press, 1999)
Rogers, Pauline B. Contemporary Cinematographers on Their Art. (Focal Press, 1998)
Rogers, Pauline B. More Contemporary Cinematographers on Their Art. (Focal Press,
1999)
Samuelson, David W. Hands-On Manual for Cinematographers, 2
nd
ed. (Focal Press,
1998)
Samuelson, David W. Motion Picture Camera and Lighting Equipment. (Focal Press,
1987)
Samuelson, David W. Motion Picture Camera Data. Boston, MA: Focal Press, 1979.
Samuelson, David W. Motion Picture Camera Techniques. (Focal Press, 1984)
Samuelson, David W. Panaflex Users Manual, 2
nd
ed. (Focal Press, 1996)
Sawicki, Mark. Filming the Fantastic: A Guide to Visual Effects Cinematography.
(Focal Press, 2007)
Schaefer, Dennis, and Larry Salvato. Masters of Light: Conversations with
Contemporary Cinematographers. (University of California Press, 1985)
Schroeppel, Tom. The Bare Bones Camera Course for Film and Video, 2nd rev. ed.
(Tom Schroeppel, 1982)
Schroeppel, Tom. Video Goals: Getting Results with Pictures and Sound. (Tom
Schroeppel, 1998)
Samuelson, David. Hands-On Manual for Cinematographers (Focal Press, 1998)
Taub, Eric. Gaffers, Grips and Best Boys (St. Martins Press, 1995)
Schaefer Dennis, & Larry Salvato. Masters of Light (University of CA Press)
Swartz, Charles. Understanding Digital Cinema: A Professional Handbook (Focal Press,
2004)
Uva, Michael G. The Grip Book, 3
rd
ed. (Focal Press, 2006)

Uva, Michael G., and Sabrina Uva. Uvas Basic Grip Book. (Focal Press, 2001)
Uva, Michael G., and Sabrina Uva. Uvas Guide to Cranes, Dollies and Remote Heads.
(Focal Press, 2001)
Van Sikill, J ennifer. Cinematic Storytelling, (Michael Wiese Productions, 2005)
5
Viera, Dave, and Maria Viera. Lighting for Film and Digital Cinematography, 2nd ed.
(Wadsworth Publishing, 2004)
Ward, Peter. Digital Video Camerawork. (Focal Press, 2000)
Wheeler, Leslie. Principles of Cinematography: A Handbook of Motion Picture
Technology (Fountain Press, 1981)
Wheeler, Paul. High Definition and 24P Cinematography (Focal Press, 2003)
Wheeler, Paul. Digital Cinematography. (Focal Press, 2001)
Wheeler, Paul. High Definition Cinematography, 2
nd
ed. Boston, MA: Focal Press,
2007.
Wheeler, Paul. Practical Cinematography, 2
nd
ed. Boston, MA: Focal Press, 2005.
Wilson, Anton. Anton Wilsons Cinema Workshop, 4
th
Ed. (ASC Press, 1994)
Zone, Ray, New Wave King: The Cinematography of Laszlo Kovacs, ASC.
(ASC Press, 2002)
Zone, Ray, ed. Writer of Light: The Cinematography of Vittorio Storaro. (ASC Press,
2001)

Directing
Acker, Ally. Reel Women: Pioneers of the Cinema, 1896 to the Present (Continuum,
1991)
Arijon, Daniel. Grammar of the Film Language (Silman-J ames Press, 1991)
Bjrkman, Stig. Woody Allen on Woody Allen (Grove Press, 1994)
Block, Bruce. The Visual Story: Seeing the Structure of Film, TV, and New Media (Focal
Press, 2001)
Fuller, Samuel. A Third Face (Knopf, 2002 ISBN 0-375-40165-2)
Katz, Steven D. Film Directing Shot by Shot: Visualizing from Concept to Screen (Focal
Press 1991)
Katz, Steven D. Film Directing, Cinematic Motion: A Workshop for Staging Scenes
(Michael Wiese Productions 1992)
Lumet, Sidney. Making Movies (Random House, Inc 1996)
Milne, Tom, trans. and ed. Godard on Godard (Da Capo, 1972)
Peacock, Richard Beck. The Art of Movie-Making: Script to Screen (Prentice Hall, 2001)
Pintoff, Ernest. Directing 101 (Michael Wiese Productions 1999)
Pollock, Dale. Skywalking: The Life and Films of George Lucas (Da Capo, 1999)
Quigley, Elizabeth, trans. Fellini on Fellini (Da Capo, 1996)
Rabiger, Michael. Directing: Film Techniques and Aesthetics, 4
th
ed. (Focal Press, 2007)
Rabiger, Michael. Directing the Documentary 4th ed. (Focal Press, 2004)
Rodley, Chris, ed. Lynch on Lynch (Faber and Faber, 1997)
Smith, Gavin, ed. Sayles on Sayles (Faber and Faber, 1998)
Thompson, David, and Ian Christie, eds. Scorsese on Scorsese (Faber and Faber,
1989/1996)
Thompson, Roy. Grammar of the Shot (Focal Press, 1998)
Truffaut, Franois. Hitchcock (Simon and Schuster, 1984)

Editing and Sound
Altman, Rick, ed. Sound Theory, Sound Practice (Routledge/AFI Film Readers, 1992)
Bayes, Steve. The Avid Handbook: Intermediate Techniques, Strategies
6
and Survival Information for Avid Editing Systems 4th ed. (Focal Press,
2004)
Dancyger, Ken. The Technique of Film and Video Editing (Focal Press, 2002)
Hollyn, Norman. The Film Editing Room Handbook: How to Manage the
Near Chaos of the Cutting Room 3rd ed. (Lone Eagle Publishing Co. 1999)
LoBrutto, Vincent. Selected Takes: Film Editors on Editing (Praeger, 1991)
Miller, Pat P. Script Supervising and Film Continuity 3
rd
Ed. (Focal Press, 1998)
Murch, Walter. In the Blink of an Eye: A Perspective on Film Editing (Silman-J ames
Press, 1995)
Ratcliff, J ohn. Timecode: A Users Guide (Focal Press, 1999)
Reisz, Karel, and Gavin Millar. The Technique of Film Editing, enlarged edition
(Hastings House, Publishers/Focal Press Limited, 1968)
Rosenblum, Ralph, and Robert Karen. When the Shooting Stops the Cutting Begins: A
Film Editors Story (Viking Press, 1979)
Weis, Elizabeth, and J ohn Belton. Film Sound: Theory and Practice (Columbia
University Press, 1985)
Yewdall, David Lewis. Practical Art of Motion Picture Sound, 3
rd
Ed. (Focal Press,
2007)

Producing
Arijon, Daniel. Grammar of the Film Language (Focal Press) ISBN: 0-8038-2675-3
Bart, Peter & Guber, Peter. Shoot Out (Putnam, 2002 ISBN: 0-399-14808-6).
Behlmer, Rudy. Memo from David O. Selznick (Samuel French Trade, 1990)
Berstein, Steven. Film Production (Focal Press) ISBN: 0-240-51343-6
Dancyger, Ken. World of Film and Video Prod Aesthetics and Practices, The (Harcourt
Brace College Publishing) ISBN: 0-15-502861-8
Daniels, Bill, David Leedy, and Steven D. Sills. Movie Money: Understanding
Hollywoods Creative Accounting Practices (Silman-J ames Press, 1997)
Houghton, Buck. What a Producer Does (Silman-J ames Press, 1941)
LaLoggia, Nicole, Wurmfeld, Eden. IFP/Los Angeles Independent Filmmakers Manual
2
nd
Ed. (Focal Press, 2004)
Linson, Art. A Pound of Flesh: Perilous Tales of How to Produce Movies in Hollywood
(Grove Press, 1993).
Mamer, Bruce. Film Production Technique (Wadsworth Publishing)
ISBN: 0-534-20568-2
Pierson, J ohn. Spike Mike Slackers and Dykes: A Guided Tour Across a Decade of
American Independent Cinema (Hyperion, 1995/1997)
Vachon, Christine. Shooting To Kill (Avon Books, 1998)

Production Design
Ching, Frank. Architectural Graphics, 3
rd
Edition ISBN: 0471287539
Ettedgui, Peter. Production Design and Art Direction: Screencraft ISBN: 020804007
Guthrie, Pat. The Architects Portable Handbook: First Step Rules of Thumb for Building
Design ISBN: 007025303X
Lobrutto, Vincent. By Design ISBN: 0275940314
Olsen, Robert L. Art Direction for Film and Video ISBN: 02080189X
7
Sennett, Robert S. Setting the Scene: The Great Hollywood Art Directors
ISBN: 0810938464
Vas, Mark Cotta. Industrial Light & Magic: Into the Digital Realm ISBN: 0345381521

Screenwriting
Cooper, Dona. Writing Great Screenplays for Film and TV, 2
nd
ed. (Macmillan/ARCO/
AFI, 1997)
Field, Syd. The Screenwriters Workbook (Dell Publishing Company, Inc. 1984)
Goldman, William. Adventures in the Screen Trade (Warner Books, 1983)
Hauge, Michael. Writing Screenplays that Sell (McGraw-Hill, 1988) [or latest edition]
J ohnson, Claudia Hunter. Crafting Short Screenplays that Connect (Focal Press, 2000)
Vogler, Christopher. The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers, 2
nd
ed.
(Michael Wiese Productions, 1998)

Aesthetics, Genre Studies, Theory and Criticism
Andrew, J . Dudley. The Major Film Theories: An Introduction (Oxford University Press,
1976) [or latest edition]
Arnheim, Rudolf. Film As Art (University of California Press, 1972)
Bordwell, David, and Kristin Thompson. Film Art: An Introduction, 4th ed. (McGraw
Hill, 1993) [or latest edition]
Bywater, Tim, and Thomas Sobchack. Introduction to Film Criticism: Major Critical
Approaches to Narrative Film (Longman, 1989)
Dancyger, Ken. The World of Film and Video Production: Aesthetics and Practices
(Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1999)
Dmytryk, Edward. Cinema: Concept and Practice (Focal Press, 1988).
Eisenstein, Sergei. Film Form: Essays in Film Theory. Trans., J ay Leyda (Harcourt,
Brace & World, 1949)
Grant, Barry Keith, ed. Film Genre Reader (University of Texas Press, 1986)
Hirsch, Foster. Detours and Lost Highways: A Map of Neo-Noir (Limelight Editions,
1999)
J ameson, Richard T., ed. They Went Thataway: Redefining Film Genres (Mercury
House/National Society of Film Critics, 1996)
Kerr, Walter. Tragedy and Comedy (Da Capo Press, 1985)
Mast, Gerald, Marshall Cohen, and Leo Braudy, eds. Film Theory and Criticism:
Introductory Readings, 4th ed. (Oxford University Press, 1992) [or latest edition]
Silver, Alain, and Elizabeth Ward. Film Noir: An Encyclopedic Reference to the
American Style (Overlook Press, 1979) [or later editions]
Sitney, P. Adams. Visionary Film: The American Avant-Garde 1943-1978, 2nd ed.
(Oxford University Press, 1979)
Tarkovsky, Andrey. Sculpting in Time: Reflections on the Cinema. Trans. Kitty Hunter-
Blair (Faber, 1989)
Truffaut, Francois. The Films In My Life (Da Capo Press, 1994)
Voytilla, Stuart. Myth and the Movies: Discovering the Mythic Structure of 50
Unforgettable Films (Michael Wiese Productions, 1999)

Non-Fiction Film
8
Barnouw, Erik. Documentary: A History of the Non-Fiction Film (Oxford University
Press, 1993)
Barsam, Richard M. Nonfiction Film: A Critical History, revised ed. (Indiana University
Press, 1992)

Visual Effects
Abbott, L.B. Special Effects: Wire, Tape & Rubber Band Style (The ASC Press, 1984)
ISBN: 0-935578-06-4
Baker, Christopher W. How Do They Do It Computer Illusion in Film (Alpha Books)
ISBN: 156761-422-1
Dunn, Linwood & Turner, George. ASC Treasury of Visual Effects. (The ASC Press,
1983).
Fielding, Raymond. The Technique of Special Effects Cinematography (Focal Press,
1985)
Finch, Christopher. Special Effects Creating Movie Magic (Abbeville Press, 1989)
ISBN: 0-89659-452-1
Hamilton, J ake. Special Effects In Film & Television (DK Publishing)
ISBN: 0-7894-2813-X
Hutchison, David. Film Magic Art and Science of Special Effects (Prentice Hall Press,
1987) ISBN: 0-13314774-6
Kerlow, Isaac Victor Art of 3-D Computer Animation & Imaging, The (Van Nostrand
Reinhold) ISBN: 0-442-01896-7
Penny Lane Animation. Little Black Book of Visual Effects (Penny Lane Animation,
2000)
Perisic, Zoran. Visual Effects Cinematography (Focal Press, 1999)
Reinfield, Eric & Sherry London. Real World After Effects (Peach Pit Press, 1997)
ISBN: 0-201-68839-5
Rogers, Pauline B. Art of Visual Effects Interviews on the Tools of the Trade. (Focal
Press, 1999).

Film Music Composition
Morgan, David. Knowing the Score: Film Composers Talk About the Art, Craft, Blood,
Sweat, and Tears of Writing for Cinema (Harper Entertainment, 2000)

Animation
Finch, Christopher. The Art of Walt Disney: From Mickey Mouse to the Magic Kingdom

Thomas, Frank and Ollie J ohnston. The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation
Maltin, Leonard. Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartooons