Directing the Documentary, Fifth Edition |  | Author: Michael Rabiger
Publisher: Focal Press
Category: Book
List Price: $49.95
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Rating:  24 reviews
Sales Rank: 9,895
Media: Paperback
Edition: 5
Pages: 672
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3.2
Dimensions (in): 10.2 x 7.2 x 1.4
ISBN: 0240810899
Dewey Decimal Number: 070.18
EAN: 9780240810898
ASIN: 0240810899
Publication Date: February 27, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Directing the Documentary is a comprehensive manual that has inspired over 100,000 readers worldwide. If you are interested in making documentary films, everything you need technically and conceptually is here. Filled with practical advice on every stage of production, this is the book you will return to throughout your career.
Directing the Documentary covers the methods, technologies, thought processes, and judgments that a director must use throughout the fascinating process of making a film. It emphasizes low-cost digital technology, which allows cutting-edge creativity and professionalism on shoestring budgets. And, recognizing that you learn best by doing, the book includes dozens of practical hands-on projects and activities to help you master technical and conceptual skills.
Just as important as surmounting technological hurdles is the conceptual and authorial side of filmmaking. This book offers eminently practical tools and exercises to help you develop credible and compelling stories. It shows you how to surpass mere technical proficiency and become a storyteller with a distinctive voice and style.
* Comprehensive manual on the creative, technical, and artistic aspects of directing; become an inspired director!
* Includes dozens of practical exercises that demystify the complex process of making a documentary and make it achievable
* Realistic advice and encouragement from a highly regarded filmmaker, mentor, and teacher to help you on your path to making successful documentary films
* New companion website features tons of handy production checklists & forms, videos for some of the films discussed in the book, along with a master bibliography (access information for the companion site is located inside the book)
* "Remember Me" and "Project" boxes are now scattered throughout the text, pointing out key concepts and practical projects that students may undertake
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 24
"The First Step to The Academy Awards!" Directing The Documentary: A Critical Review. December 13, 2009
Andre Lawrence (Miami, Florida)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Focal Press puts out a number of books related to fine- and digital art, Feature, Independent and Documentary films as well as Animation Techniques. However, one of their best titles that touch upon all of the above-mentioned categories is a recently released book called Directing The Documentary, The Fifth Edition by Michael Rabiger.
There are many "how to" books, Rabiger reminds us, but there are philosophical and structural differences in making a Feature (fictitious) film and a Documentary film.
For instance, the Feature is a work that is constantly striving to be consistent with a pre-existent script. And, the goal of the director, crew and actors is to be faithful to the written word. A Documentary, on the other hand, starts off with a question and the director, crew and guests attempt to capture future, undetermined events in a relentless pursuit of The Truth. The Documentary, therefore, is essentially the process by which an answer is obtained.
These distinctions are important because it influences how the film would be made, the costs incurred, the manner in which footage is used, types of video, audio and perhaps, digital editing and processing time. There's also issues dealing with "rights" that cannot be known until footage is shot.
The book, Directing The Documentary, lays out in the most minutest of detail the basics and some advanced theories on creating a marketable documentary feature. The text is broken down into two (2) "books." One, "The Fundamentals" is an overview of creating a documentary by examining theories behind pursuing the project, the use of audio and video tools, working with cast and crew, budgetary issues, post-production tools and festivals. The other, Book 2, "Advanced Theories," is just that, an in depth look at aesthetics, production issues (pre and post), the script, narration, music and editing structural problems as well as some thoughts about starting a career as a documentary filmmaker.
This is one of the most valuable books on the subject of filmmaking and documentary filmmaking in particular that anyone who is remotely interested would want to own.
It is my sincerest pleasure to recommend this book without any hesitation.
An exhaustive, must-have tool for any film buff December 12, 2009
M. Fulkerson (Portland, Oregon)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
To give a full and detailed review of this book would be an impossible task. It is one of the most detailed books dedicated to the process of a craft that I have ever seen. For those people who have a great idea in their minds and are convinced that their documentary vision will just have to be made, you HAVE to read this book first.
I have a minor in film studies, and this book covers more details than all of the text books I've ever read about film making. Everything from the cameras, to the sound, to the locations, to the language. And that's just the beginning. This is one of those books that, as a film maker, I could see carrying around and using on a daily basis to the point where it become so dog-eared and overused that you'd have to buy another one because of its importance. Reading this book has made me more interested in the process of film making, not just as an art, but as a quest! You really begin to appreciate all of those great documentaries you've seen over the years once you really delve into what makes them successful in the first place.
Another great thing about this book is that author Michael Rabinger makes it a very readable experience. While most text books, and that's what this is for the most part, ramble on and on in a very stale style, Rabinger doesn't talk down to you or accommodate his readers. He suspects that the reader knows something about film already, and guides you along necessary paths in order to understand the realities of documentary film making.
I would unabashedly recommend this book to anyone who considers themselves a film buff, whether you're a film maker or not. EVERY possible angle is covered here, and it's very accessible as well.
Not as scary as it sounds. December 17, 2009
M
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I was scared to tackle this book, as I was sure I would be overwhelmed with too much info. I am far from directing anything but mini films at this point. But we are living in a tube-nation, and this is the perfect place to start to make sure you go in the right direction.
To be honest, to me, this is more of a reference tool than a book I could ever read page by page. I have a lot of questions and notes in my head, and found this to be an easy to navigate guide to getting answers. With answers came more questions, and before you know it, I have post-its, tabs and notes all over the place.
This is so much more than a book on one subject of a Documentary. It covers every step that is involved. From preparation to expenses, restrictions, deductions... was not expecting this plethora of coverage.
Most importantly, the book is inspiring. You feel like your thoughts that were out of reach are right in front of you. You get a heavy dose of reality with things you never considered would be part of this journey, and soon you will be creating a film crew and working with people who believe in your vision. There is so much involved with dealing with legal aspects, certifications, permits, royalty and copyright issues. Plenty of focus on audio and musical elements as well.
So, don't be intimidated by the product. Embrace the book as an open door. I look forward to seeing what comes from this for me... and you!
Have Camera Will Travel April 13, 2010
Dave Mayer (Huntington Beach)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I can't imagine a more comprehensive book on documentary directing. This textbook like book will take the absolute beginner and teach her everything she needs to know to direct a documentary.
The fundamentals which are discussed in the first half of the book will take you from developing your idea to preproduction to production and on to post production, teaching you everything you need to know along the way. What I got out of that was that your idea is paramount. No matter how good you and your equipment are, a bad idea isn't going anywhere.
The second part of the book covers advanced ideas like the director's or storyteller's point of view, style, values, ethics, optics, how to organize your crew and so much more. There really is a lot to learn, but if you're like me, you have a camera, you're willing to travel to make your film and you feel like a sponge, ready to soak up everything to make your dream come true, then this is the book for you.
Keep it within arm's reach! May 7, 2010
Claire Jordan (New Orleans, LA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I've owned the third edition of "Directing the Documentary" for years, so I was elated to receive the new edition. I taught video editing at a major university for many years and received a lot of production books to review. After reading through them once, most of them went on the bookshelf perhaps to be cracked open now and again as a reference book. But from the time I first opened it, "Directing the Documentary" has been on my desk with the two or three other production "bibles" I can't live without.
I sometimes take it with me to lunch and flip through it for inspiration, of which it contains plenty. Let me stress that this is not a technical manual. Yes, it does include a great deal of "nuts & bolts" information, but it's strength lies in the fundamental concept upon which Mr. Rabiger builds the book: making documentaries is an artform. Yes, it can be very technical and there's a lot to know and understand, but that technical knowledge is a foundation upon which you can, and should, create art. It's that core, of which Mr. Rabiger never loses sight, that makes "Directing the Documentary" so very different from most production books.
I have recommended this book to complete novices (I just recommended it the other day to a friend who is going to Mongolia for a year and wants to take a video camera to document her experiences) and to people who already have some experience in documentary production. Every single person to whom I've recommended this book, who has purchased it, has thanked me for turning them onto it.
Some books are essential. "Directing the Documentary" is definitely at the top of that category.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 24
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