A lot of people who start making movies or study film for a long time may find that they don't know as much as they used to. There are a lot of great filmmaking books out there that you're looking for to help you improve your skills even more.

We've put together the best list of filmmaking books so that you can write, direct, film, raise money, and finish your video projects, no matter what.

BEST FILMMAKING BOOKS

Hollywood Producers Directory

Author(s): J. Douma & D. Perez

This is the most important book on this list for real-life use. Every good producer has this book. It brings together most of the things you need to make a professional film, show, or new media project.

This book has a lot of important information about vendors, permits, film financiers, production companies, and other things. People who make movies or want to learn more about it should check out the Hollywood Producers Directory when they want to read the best books about film.

Making Movies

Author(s): Sidney Lumet

This isn't the first time we've used ideas from Making Movies in some of our filmmaking videos. In this book, Lumet shares a lot of his secrets and techniques with the world. There is also a lot of information in this

This is not all that he talks about. He also talks about how to make films, which is very important in many cases. One of the main lessons from Making Movies is called The Lens Plot. In our video below, we go very in-depth on this lesson. As a filmmaker, this is a very advanced lesson.

In The Blink of an Eye

Author(s): Walter Murch

When you finish, you'll learn how to cut and send your changes to a music composer. He also tells his readers how to make a "emotional cut." Wait for your acceptance speech for the Academy Award to come on, then start.

On Directing Film

It helps you understand how ideas come up, how ideas move through the business pipeline, and how to take advantage of chances. Mamet talks about everything from how to write a script and direct actors to how to talk to cinematographers and producers.

He even talks about how to edit your own projects for the best results. There isn't any better movie-making book than On Directing Film if you want to learn how to direct.

He shows you how to read the script, how to direct actors, how to talk to cinematographers, how to work with producers, and how to edit your project for the best results.

When Mamet taught at Columbia University, he wrote the book based on his lessons.

Rebel Without A Crew

Author(s): Robert Rodriguez

Take a look at how one film director tried to make a low-budget movie for his or her first film. It is the best thing for someone who wants to start making movies. And in my opinion, this book is better for new filmmakers than any other book on this list.

It's been a long time, but Robert Rodriguez hasn't lost that well-earned "chip on the shoulder." He likes to help people benefit from his fearless ingenuity.

Something Like an Autobiography

Author(s): Akira Kurosawa

You don't want to miss the chance to learn from a true master, and that's what Something Like an Autobiography does.

Akira Kurosawa may be the best filmmaker of all time. He took the art of filmmaking to a new level that no one else has ever done. He used science, math, and the language of movies to change how people see the world. To fully understand his movies, you must read his book.

Kurosawa gives the reader an idea of what it's like to direct a movie. What it means to live that life outside of business or work. How it changes you as a person.

One of the best film directors. One of the best books on filmmaking.

Taking It All In

Author(s): Pauline Kael 

Pauline Kael worked as a film critic for the New Yorker. She is still a favorite of many top Hollywood moviemakers, like Quentin Tarantino. She was very critical of movies and helped start a new kind of movie culture in the 1970s.

You don't have to agree with everything Kael says. Her opinions aren't gospel, but the lessons you learn from her book are important. Even when you don't agree with them.

Master Shots Vol. 1, 2, 3

Author(s): Christopher Kenworthy

This book is a great visual aid that takes a deep dive into the emotional outcome of some of the best shots in movie history. Kenworthy shows you how to frame, angle, and move the camera.

They keep this book with them on set in case they need to look back at it.

They love this book because it's all about the pictures.

Directors love this book because it helps them learn more about how to use a camera better than many other film production books.

The Filmmakers's Handbook

Author(s): S. Ascher & E. Pincus

The filmmakers handbook tries to cover as much filmmaking as it can, and it does a good job. Some of the things they cover: lighting, finance, crew and cast. They even updated this version to take into account the move away from film to the digital age.

It's a film production book that you can trust. It includes both old and new techniques.

Everyone who works on a movie, from directors to writers to producers to production coordinators, will learn something from The Filmmaker's Handbook.

If It's Purple, Someone's Gonna Die

Author(s): Patti Bellatoni

If it's purple, someone is going to die. In this book, it tells filmmakers how to choose the right colors for their scenes. The book is broken up into six sections based on six colors. Each section explains how each color makes the viewer feel in a very specific way. These sections have examples, stories, and advice on how to use or avoid each color.

The book has interviews with Roger Deakins and Ed Lachman, and you can learn about how your choice of color can make your project more powerful.

---