The Cinema Handbook

A visual storytelling manual that moves from story idea to finished cut, covering cast and crew roles, art direction, continuity, camera and lighting. Produced with support from the Directors Guild of America.

Linda Burstyn, Pam Cunningham, Hillary Jordan, Kym Spring

An open textbook built around the working decisions a filmmaker actually faces: cinematic space, camera, light, sound, shot design and the edit. Student commentary runs alongside each chapter to show how the ideas land in practice.

Jessica Livingstone and Mischa Livingstone

A university level introduction organised by the elements of the medium: narrative, mise en scene, cinematography, editing, sound, documentary and television. A solid grounding for anyone learning to read films before making them.

Graig Uhlin

A department by department tour of how a film gets made, following the scenario writer, director, cameraman, scene painter, carpenter, electrician and projectionist. Over three hundred illustrations show the machinery of early studio production.

Austin C. Lescarboura

A guide to producing documentary work with modest equipment, covering research, interview technique, shooting and assembly. Aimed at people who want to turn archival and academic material into film.

Darren R. Reid and Brett Sanders