Shot By Shot: A Practical Guide to Filmmaking

by and Brady Lewis Cantine John; Howard Susan

Shot by Shot: A Practical Guide to Filmmaking is a clear, easy-to-read introductory text designed for the beginning filmmaker working in high-definition digital video or 16mm or super-8 film. The book is divided into 12 chapters, each of which deals with the basic language, processes and techniques of film and video production: The Moving Image; Film Camera and Film Stock; Video Camera and Recorder; The Lens; Composition; Continuity; Editing Theory; Editing Mechanics; Pre-Production; Lighting; Sound; and Distribution. It includes a comprehensive glossary of important terms.

The Fourth Edition has been completely revised. New chapters have been added to include high-definition digital video production and recent developments in distribution and exhibition. All other chapters have been updated to reflect changes in film production and to cover hybrid film/video workflows. At the same time, the book retains the clarity and straightforward writing style that led to its adoption as an introductory text in over seventy university filmmaking programs through North America.

Shot by Shot: A Practical Guide to Filmmaking was written by three members of the faculty at Pittsburgh Filmmakers, one of the largest media arts centers in the United States. Susan Howard, Brady Lewis and John Cantine are all active independent filmmakers and educators with decades of experience teaching in a variety of settings, from K-12 media literacy programs to undergraduate and graduate-level production majors. Their teaching experience convinced them of the need for a clear, easy-to-read textbook for students starting out in film and video production.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Tori BookWorm22 · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my least favorite of my film books. This book was just jam-packed with too much information given to the readers ar far too quick a pace. Definitely not a book for beginners.

[Kyra Richardson]

Read for film class.

[Arjun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very useful. Glad to have read this.

[Matthew Law · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful information though some of it is outdated in this digital age. In many ways it's a history of filmmaking and why certain things were done because of limitations.

[Rani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good, practical, and compact little primer and reference book for new filmmakers.

[Seth Kenlon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the text book for my beginning filmmaking course in college, and I literally still have the book. Between being a really good reference book and being JUST the right size, it's a handy thing to keep around. Fun fact: I use its fourth edition as the textbook for the beginning filmmaking course that I now teach at a filmmaker's institute.

[Caitlin]

Shot by Shot; A Practical Guide to Filmmaking (3rd Ed.) by John Cantine (2000)

[Seth Kenlon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Third edition. Great book. I reviewed another edition as well. Weird that they are listed all separately..

Anyway, great book if you're trying to learn the technique behind filmmaking.

[K.m. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Serviceable, useful for intro to camera workings, editing, and other processes of filmmaking. Of necessity, very simple and dry.