QMM is much better at OPs than me
QuestionMarkMan wrote: »Since there isn't any kind of dedicated filmmaking thread or resource around here. I'd like to put together something that can help out anybody interested. Right now I'll just post links and little descriptions.
Websites
General:
The Anonymous Production Assistant's Blog. If you want to get into the industry, chances are you're going to be a PA at some point, and this gives you a little heads up on what it's like.
Studio Daily blog. Lots of tech related industry news.
FilmSound.org. Everything you could want in Sound Design.
My Film Project '09. This guy chronicled his process of making an independent feature film and includes lots of materials including his proposal and screenplay.
Truly Free Film. Blog which breaks down film-festival advice to its most essential elements and delves into hardcore topics such as copyrights and branding.
Screenwriters:
Celtx. If you don't have Final Draft or any kind of screenwriting software. Celtx is free and is pretty good from what I've heard.
Wordplayer. This was started by Terry Rossio and Ted Elliot, the guys who wrote the Pirates movies and lots of other things. The most useful thing for me are the columns which give lots of advice for writers as well as general industry advice.
John August's blog. More helpful advice and tips.
Hollywood University: or How to Get a Job in Hollywood. Started by a girl from Kansas who wanted to move to LA to work in TV. Lots of tips as well as general advice to newbies wanting to move to LA or just enter the industry. She also just started the HU Scriptwriter's Network which is like the facebook for screenwriters. If you're looking for work, roommates, or whatever it's really helpful.
Books
For me, the first book to read is Sydney Lumet's Making Movies. It is as Roger Ebert states on the cover, probably the best text anybody could read about the art of making motion pictures. Through thirteen chapters Lumet (the director of by my count 45 films, including 12 Angry Men, Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon and Network) discusses almost every facet of filmmaking there is. It is a brilliant account by a director who is both insanely prolific yet exceptionally consistent. The book successfully communicates all the arduousness that can go into making a film, something which is difficult to explain simply to those unfamiliar with filmmaking.
He also gives one of the best inspirational filmmaking quotes on page 10.“For anyone who wants to direct but hasn’t made a first movie yet, there is no decision to make. Whatever the movie, whatever the auspices, whatever the problems, if there’s a chance to direct, take it! Period. Exclamation point! The first movie is its own justification, because it’s the first movie.”
For cinematography, this book is required reading at USC. It's a good technical book to have and is relatively up to date. If you want to learn the old techniques, John Alton's Painting with Light is excellent. It was printed in the 40's so there are bits that are outdated, but the techniques are incredibly useful.
Editing-wise, I've gone on a Walter Murch binge and there are some great books out there that really can help editors out. In the Blink of an Eye was written by Murch and goes into his basic techniques. Behind the Seen is about Murch being the first person to use Final Cut on a big studio feature. VERY good book that delves into his whole process for a film. Finally, there's The Conversations which is half about his techniques and half about his philosophy and interests. Read this one if you're still interested after the other two.
Screenwriting: There are a lot [url=http://www.amazon.com/Screenplay-Foundations-Screenwriting-Syd-Field/dp/0385339038/ref=pd_sim_b_1[/url]of[/url] books on actual screenwriting, but really you need to just read a lot of scripts to get an idea of the form. For basic formatting, The Hollywood Standard is a good book to just have at your side when you have questions. Adventures in the Screen Trade by William Goldman is probably my favorite screenwriting book as it's less about the writing and more about what it's like to be a screenwriter in Hollywood and all the problems you can encounter outside of writing.