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Book details

  • Genre:performing arts
  • Sub-genre:Film / Direction & Production
  • Language:English
  • Pages:600
  • Paperback ISBN:9798317808143

The Director's Guide to Everything

A Comprehensive Guide for Motion Picture Directors on Every Aspect of Movie

By Jay Holben

Overview

The Director's Guide to Everything is the ultimate road map for mastering the craft. More than just a guide — it's a masterclass in how to turn your vision into reality. The Director's Guide delivers a comprehensive, no-nonsense education in the art and science of directing — with practical knowledge drawn from decades of experience in the trenches of motion picture production.
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Description

Acclaimed filmmaker Jay Holben pulls back the curtain on the director's true job: not just to imagine — but to inspire, organize, and elevate every frame. From working with actors to commanding a set, from preproduction to post, this book arms you with the language, tools, and techniques you need to lead with confidence. Holben covers every phase of the filmmaking process with practical advice, insider knowledge, and real-world strategies for success. Inside, you'll find innumerable insights on communicating with every department, making smarter creative decisions, balancing art with resources, and building a set culture that thrives on collaboration, not chaos. The Director's Guide to Everything is the definitive handbook for anyone focused on mastering the director's role in professional filmmaking. Inside: • The language of every department — how to understand and speak it fluently. • Deep dives into producing, writing, acting, cinematography, production design, editing, color, sound, and beyond. • Tips for building trust, loyalty, and artistry across your cast and crew. • Manage the pressures of a real-world set — budget, time, communication, and safety. • Proven strategies for avoiding costly mistakes on set! A candid, inspiring love letter to filmmaking — from a working professional who's done it all. Whether you're a first-time filmmaker or a seasoned pro ready to sharpen your edge, The Director's Guide to Everything will change the way you see the job — and the way your crew sees you. Master the craft. Lead with passion. Tell your story.
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About The Author

JAY HOLBEN is an independent director and producer in Los Angeles. He is a world-renowned expert in the field of cinematography: an associate member of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), co-chair of the ASC's Motion Imaging Technology Council, in addition to being a member of Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers. He has authored over 600 articles for American Cinematographer, The Hollywood Reporter, Digital Video, Videography and Government Video (among others) on the art and science of cinematography. He is an international lecturer on filmmaking as well as serving as a former faculty instructor for the Global Cinematography Institute – a school started by the late Academy Award winning cinematographer, Vilmos Zsigmond, ASC – and a frequent instructor for the ASC's Master Class program. He is the contributing technical editor for American Cinematographer and former technical editor and columnist for Digital Video. He is the author of five previous books on cinematography: A Shot in the Dark: A Creative DIY Guide to Cinematic Lighting on (Almost) No Budget, Behind the Lens: Dispatches from the Cinematographic Trenches, Shot Craft: Lessons, Tips and techniques on the Art and Science of Cinematography, Lessons from American Cinematographer: Sharing Nearly Three Decades of Tips and Techniques Learned from the World's Top Cinematographers and the international best-seller often noted as the "Bible of Lenses" The Cine Lens Manual: The Definitive Filmmaker's Guide to the Design, Implementation and History of Motion Picture Optics, co-authored with Christopher Probst, ASC. As a filmmaker, Holben has worked his way through all of the trenches serving in every role in production and post with very few exceptions. In the course of his career, he has worked on Steven Spielberg's Minority Report, Showtime's Dexter, and Disney Plus' The Mandalorian. Working as a cinematographer for more than a decade, Holben "hung up his meter" to work full-time as a producer and director. His feature film directorial work includes Before the Dawn, Black Tar Road and The Invoking 2 along with high-profile technology innovations such as the ASC's Standard Evaluation Material 2.0 (StEM2) film The Mission a project completed in connection with the ASC, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Amazon Studios, Disney, Sony, Warner Bros. and more. He has also served as additional unit director for HBO/Cinemax and Showtime as well as directed documentary, television, music video, commercial, reality television and shorts.
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