Girl Director: A How-To Guide for the First-Time, Flat-Broke Film & Video Maker

by Andrea Richards

Girl A How-To Guide for the First-Time, Flat-Broke Filmmaker. Hey are you the kind of gal who`s ready to make your own movie? If so, you know that all the fun is behind the camera, calling the shots, telling your own stories, and being in charge. Girl Director is the guide book for developing girl directors with insights and advice from the greatest female directors in the business. Learn everything you need to know about low-to-no budget moviemaking,
*WHAT type of movie to make and what to put in it
*HOW to make it happen (cool techniques like framing your shots, lighting, editing, animation and special effects)
*WHERE to find your equipment (from that old Super 8 camera in your parents` attic to borrowing a camcorder or using computer equipment)*WHO to show your flick to (organizing your own film festivals and putting together your screenings)
* and MORE! And for inspiration, Girl Director throws in information about women directors--past and present--so that you can find, enjoy and learn from other flicks by independent chicks.

Genres: Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2001

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

it would have been better if I had read this as a 13 year old. the history was really nice and h feel like it tried to empower but as an adult it was sort of patronizing.

[Esther Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am the female director on the cover. So, maybe I am a bit biased ;)
When this book came out, it was the first time I was learning about many of the female directors in the book. I also loved that it was fun and just had a wonderful go & do it attitude about making films! Everyone of any gender should read this book and make sure you watch the directors' work that is quoted in the book. Books like this one helped the world start recognizing women directors on a bigger scale. Thankfully the internet has made it a little easier for people to learn about women filmmakers because the film & tv industry typically does not champion, praise or hire women directors as much as male directors. Try looking on http://www.filmfatales.org for more great directors and their work... and let's get a real database of the thousands of women who have been making films since the FIRST true narrative fiction film was made by DIRECTOR Alice Guy-Blaché in 1894. Film schools/books have always claimed the Lumière brothers were the first which is true when it comes to projecting moving pictures but it wasn't till after Alice Guy-Blaché cut together a story with camera angles and a protagonist that the art of actual narrative filmmaking was truly born.

[Selena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! It is laid out in a way that inspires the newbie to experienced, female, filmmaker. Every page shares an abundance of information about the history of women filmmakers to present day women in the business. The pages are fun and inviting, so you don't feel like you're reading a book full of words. I like the film strip that comes to life of a girl filming with her camera as you quickly turn the corner pages of the book. The book is a bit outdated, but the basics of film-making is still relevant and you can indeed learn to create your very first film without a huge budget. I revisit this book often for inspiration and as a reference book. It is also an awesome reminder, for me, of all of the women who have come before me, with a desire to be brave, out-of-the-box, storytellers through film-making.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very dated, but I still found the profiles of women filmmakers to be interesting. It is very basic information, so for a student beginner.

[Jennifer]

adorable

[Assortedtrashprincess · Rating 2 out of 5]

The formatting was very bad, hard to read.