The best films, Mamet argues, are composed of simple shots. The great filmmaker understands that the burden of cinematic storytelling lies less in the individual shot than in the collective meaning that shots convey when they are edited together. From a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright comes invaluable insights and practical instructions on the art of film directing. Hundreds of film stills, many in color, plus dialogue, quotations, and other sources add to and illustrate each chapter's overriding theme. It's well known that a vast number of people work on any given movie in roles as varied as writing scripts, choosing locations, dressing sets, costuming the players, lighting scenes, manipulating the camera, directing actors, editing film, working on sound, advertising the finished product, and screening it to an audience.
Movies is a terrific journey through each stage of filmmaking.
He shows why fine directors need to have strong imaginations, extraordinary adaptability, and skill in many different fields. So, you're making a film. There's a lot more at play here, and a lot more a director needs to know about working with actors to get the best performance than one would imagine. Judith Weston having worked both sides of the camera, has crafted a groundbreaking look at how directors can work with actors and produce better acting and a better overall work of art. This is essential reading for anyone interested in directing or acting.