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Film Directing: Shot by Shot - 25th Anniversary Edition: Visualizing from Concept to Screen Paperback – April 29, 2019

by Steve D. Katz (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 421 ratings
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Shot by Shot is the world’s go-to directing book, now newly updated for a special 25th Anniversary edition! The first edition sold over 250,000 copies, making it one of the bestselling books on film di-recting of all time. Aspiring directors, cinematographers, editors, and producers, many of whom are now working professionals, learned the craft of visual storytelling from Shot by Shot, the most com-plete source for preplanning the look of a movie. The book contains over 800 photos and illustrations, and is by far the most comprehensive look at shot design in print, containing storyboards from movies such as Citizen Kane, Blade Runner, Dead-pool, and Moonrise Kingdom. Also introduced is the concept of A, I, and L patterns as a way to sim-plify the hundreds of staging choices facing a director in every scene. Shot by Shot uniquely blends story analysis with compositional strategies, citing examples then il-lustrated with the storyboards used for the actual films. Throughout the book, various visual ap-proaches to short scenes are shown, exposing the directing processes of our most celebrated au-teurs ― including a meticulous, lavishly illustrated analysis of Steven Spielberg’s scene design for Empire of the Sun.
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  1. Print length
    400 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Michael Wiese Productions
  4. Publication date
    April 29, 2019
  5. Dimensions
    7.25 x 1.25 x 10 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1615932976
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1615932979
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Film Directing Shot by Shot offers a good introduction to the rudiments of film production. Steven D. Katz walks his readers through the various stages of moviemaking, advising them at every turn to visualize the films they wish to produce. Katz believes that one of the chief tasks of filmmaking is to negotiate between our three-dimensional reality and the two-dimensionality of the screen. He covers the number of technical options filmmakers can use to create a satisfying flow of shots, a continuity that will make sense to viewers and aptly tell the film's story. Katz provides in-depth coverage of production design, storyboarding, spatial connections, editing, scene staging, depth of frame, camera angles, point of view, and the various types of stable compositions and moving camera shots.

Review

"Now that you've got a couple of shorts under your belt, why not get a little more analytic? Steven Katz's book gives a great breakdown of the fundamentals of film directing. It's not something you might want to start off by reading, but once you are ready to have your films take that next step this should be number one on your to do list. Katz breaks down film language for you so that you can learn how to speak it in your own way." - www.austinfilmfestival.com

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Michael Wiese Productions; Anniversary edition (April 29, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1615932976
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1615932979
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.9 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.25 x 1.25 x 10 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 421 ratings

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Steven D. Katz

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
421 global ratings
Great book, condition wasn't perfect
4 Stars
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Great book.. 4 stars because it arrived with a dent in the corner
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Top reviews from the United States

Rafael Vargas
5.0 out of 5 stars Film Directing: Shot by Shot
Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2021
Verified Purchase
What a great book full of information - GOLD in the tip of your fingers!
I read it a few time since I got it!!! A must have book if you''re into filming -
One person found this helpful
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Karl Epps
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome
Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2022
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Fabulous filmmaking nuts and bolts
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Victoria Rosendahl
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Guide for Newbies!
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2020
Verified Purchase
I'm planning to direct my first short film and, as a writer, this really helped me understand the basics of shot set up and planning.
3 people found this helpful
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CuriousNarf
5.0 out of 5 stars Very informational
Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2021
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Great book and very useful especially for cinematographers and future Directors of Photography.
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Murray I. Suid
5.0 out of 5 stars Visualizing Stories—a key skill for directors, production designers, editors & (yes) screenwriters
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2019
Most of us have in mind the image of a director staring at actors through a camera viewfinder. In the background is the “director’s chair” labeled “Hitchcock” or “Lupino.” But as Steven Katz makes clear in Film Directing Shot by Shot, much of the director’s work happens long before the cast and crew arrive on set or on location.

Pre-production planning is crucial in making movies worth watching. Much of the planning has to do with figuring out how to turn the words of a script into moving pictures. That’s what Katz’s recently revised classic text is all about.

The main topics are Visualization, Continuity, and Moving the Camera. A great deal of the discussion focuses on storyboarding. Bringing in examples from well-known movies, the book covers shot size, angle, pacing, mood, zooming, and every other visual element. The examples--plus behind-the-scenes lore--make this very practical book fun to read.

While the title suggests that Shot by Shot is for directors, the concepts are vital to all members of the creative team. This obviously goes for production designers, cinematographers and editors. But the lessons Katz offers can be transformative for screenwriters, who may be so caught up in plot structure and dialogue that they forget that movies are about moving pictures. As one of those screenwriters, I found that the book has helped me do a better job of imagining scenes and sequences.

Although Film Directing Shot by Shot is rooted in Hollywood, the book is not limited to big-budget productions. Katz’s insights apply equally well to indie moviemaking, where the director might double as the camera operator, props manager, and caterer.

Recognizing that most indie directors don’t have excellent drawing skills and can’t afford to hire professional storyboardists, the author makes the argument that even stick-figure visualization can be powerfully. The examples included—some by famous directors—will encourage drawing-challenged readers to make previsualization sketches, even if they’re ugly works of art.

Of course, we live in the digital age. These days we can find software that assists us in generating storyboard images or “borrowing” layouts from produced movies. Katz analyzes the pros and cons of the most popular visualization apps, including some that are very affordable.

If you’re making a low- or no-budget movie, pre-visualization won’t save you millions of dollars. But the method presented in this book will almost certainly contribute to your making a better quality end product whether it’s a short thriller or a music video, or a feature-length drama.
2 people found this helpful
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Maria Angelica Villaluz
4.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2021
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This book is a great read for those who are interested about cinemathography
One person found this helpful
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John Badham
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Survey how Filmmakers use Cinematic Tools to tell their Stories!
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2023
For anyone who finds conceiving and realizing their cinematic visions obscured by the camera's technological jungle, Stephen Katz's excellent guide will bring clarity to beginner and advanced storytellers alike. The fact that it is it's 25th anniversary edition speaks to its powerful explanations, visual examples, and freedom from off-putting techno-babble. Highly Recommended.
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Found Highways
5.0 out of 5 stars Selectors vs. Directors
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2019
Vine Customer Review of Free Product( What's this? )
This update of filmmaker Steven D. Katz's textbook on directing is primarily about one activity—visualization. Katz is teaching the craft of imagining what you want to see on screen, and the techniques of putting it there.

The craft is taught in the book. The art, Katz says, is up to the reader.

The book is divided into four sections: how production design and storyboards enable the director to visualize shots and sequences; how to use the different kinds of shots to compose; how to use camera angles and staging to to tell the story; and how to move the camera.

If you want to be a director or a cinematographer, or learn any technical craft, Steven Katz's book is up to date and the knowledge contained in it is absolutely necessary.

Most of the books on movie making I've read approach the topic from the angle of screenwriting, where you're advised not to indulge in technical jargon. I expected this book to be interesting but perhaps too technical to actually read.

The book—all nearly four hundred pages—flows smoothly and will profit anyone who is interested in film or television.

Katz divides filmmakers into selectors or directors. The directors work with their colleagues, plan their movies, and can therefore work quickly and more cheaply. The selectors have to try out (or be shown) possibilities and then experiment.

Of course in any art form there are different ways to work—some mystery novelists plan their stories out in detail and others just start writing. I would hazard a guess that the prolific, successful writers plan to some degree. And the same for directors.

One of the most interesting and informative sections of the book is the section where a fictional director in training shadows an experienced one from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM during a typical day. You may know that a lot of work goes into shooting a small amount of film, but it's fascinating to learn exactly what has to be done.

Steven Katz doesn't only deal with technology. He also explains what actors need to do, and what they need from the director.
6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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João Henrique Rodrigues
5.0 out of 5 stars Essencial
Reviewed in Brazil on May 2, 2024
Verified Purchase
Essencial para quem está mergulhando no mundo da direção, o livro é bem detalhado, apesar de não aprofundar, dando uma visão geral e norteando artistas emergentes.

Recomendo demais para ter na sua biblioteca para sempre que tiver uma dúvida!
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manuel lopez t.
5.0 out of 5 stars A must have
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 9, 2024
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A must have for any filmmaker. I have lost my copy and I needed to have it again.
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Cliff
5.0 out of 5 stars Information Overload!
Reviewed in Canada on October 10, 2020
Verified Purchase
As an amateur film maker, I can say that this is an incredible find. Densely packed with information regarding all aspects of film, well written and with great presentation, I feel this book is a must have for anyone trying to learn the craft.
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Good intro for director
Reviewed in Germany on September 30, 2021
Verified Purchase
I also liked the new Edition which gives updates in the storyboard industry.
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Bobby
5.0 out of 5 stars Star product
Reviewed in India on February 5, 2021
Verified Purchase
Illustrative and narrative
Very useful for an overview of the pre production knowledge set required
Will definitely guide you
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