Good books on documentary making

[cuervo.taylor]

Hi guys,

Been reading some books on documentary like Shut up and Shoot, which was really good for a newb like me.


Also I just finished a book by a visual anthropologist: Picturing culture, and it was good theoric book about the search of truth and ethic when shooting visual anthropoogy.

Last, I'm reading MAking documentary films and videos, it's a nice book very easy to read.

Which other books would you recommend me to read?

[Drew Ott]

I've read a few books on making documentaries, but I never really loved any of them. I would read some books on journalism (particularly about becoming a good interviewer), ethnographic writing (particularly the practical aspects like gaining acceptance in a culture and such), and screenwriting story structure (so books about writing narrative fiction).

My favorites for these are "Telling True Stories," "Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes," and then pretty much any classic screenwriting structure book like "Writer's Journey" by Vogler.

If you're a beginning documentary filmmaker, I'd honestly recommend that you practice something like street photography. I don't know what sorts of documentaries you shoot, but for a long while I was afraid to get too close to people and ask them personal questions... which is exactly what you should be doing. The camera is an obtrusive tool no matter what, and to become a great documentarian you'll need to gain an almost sociopathic immunity to feeling like you're violating somebody's privacy. This immunity needs, of course, to be balanced with ethical considerations. I'm not advocating you violate privacy.

Also as another training tool, I'd recommend starting small-talk with three strangers a day. I think the social skills you'd gain from that would be invaluable. This comes in handy for day-to-day shooting with your subjects as well as negotiating permissions to shoot in tricky places.

[ZazaCast]

I found this whitepaper an interesting read: http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/...ary_script.pdf

[bosindy]

I thought this one well done http://www.amazon.com/Directing-Docu.../dp/0240806085

[Rainer]

I thought this one well done http://www.amazon.com/Directing-Docu.../dp/0240806085

+1. Likely the best book on filmmaking (not just documentary) you will ever read.

[Danny1280]

The rabinger book is tops.... Nothing like it!

[custerc]

I thought this one well done http://www.amazon.com/Directing-Docu.../dp/0240806085

+100000000000000000000. This book is excellent and you should buy it immediately. I've bought a bunch of doc books; this is the only one I keep around.

[cuervo.taylor]

ok many thanks, will buy it since all you guys are recommending it

[Mercatus]

+1 for Rabiger's book here, that and Shut Up and Shoot are my two bibles for the picture I'm working on

[simonpwood]

'Shut up and Shoot' is pretty good for basic & intermediary practical advice for beginners. Definitely worth a look.