Below you will find the list of my favourite books about filmmaking and writing. I love to read those books and go back to them time and time again.
I hope you will find the list useful and helpful.
Writing
“Good In A Room” by Stephanie Palmer – a handy book for anyone willing to learn how to pitch projects, ideas and products.
“Stephen King On Writing A Memoir Of The Craft” – Stephen King writes about his writing pedigree, his childhood, and what he thinks is essential for a writer to do and to know.
“Writing Down the Bones” and “Wild Mind: Living The Writer’s Life” by Natalie Goldberg – I love her writing. I love her teaching method. I love her Buddhist approach to writing. It doesn’t matter if you are a scriptwriter or an author, her tips, exercises and down to earth approach will undoubtedly improve the way you write and look at your work.
“Save The Cat!” by Blake Snyder – there are many screenwriting methods and books out there, and many of them are excellent, helpful and useful. At the moment I find Blake’s method working for me and my writing the best. It may change over time, but for now, the structure he proposes is the most comfortable for me to work with.
Filmmaking
“A Screen Acting Workshops” by Mel Churcher – Mel Churcher is an acting coach and has worked with many well-known and highly respected actors over the years. From a director’s POV, I find her book full of useful information that can help a director understand the actors’ working process. I always use her book while preparing for the film shoot. I highly recommend it not only for actors but also for directors who want to understand the acting process on a much deeper level.
“Directing Actors” by Judith Westone is another my go-to book before I start rehearsing with my actors. Her inside knowledge and practical advice help the director to feel confident in understanding how to work with actors and what actors need from the director to make the performance the best they can.
Other books I found inspiring, fun or interesting over the years and I believe could be helpful for other writers or filmmakers.
“Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert – I like her writing and in this book she shares her journey, practical advice and it is one of those books that makes you feel optimistic about your work and your life in the arts.
“Raving Fans!” by Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles – we all need raving fans to watch our films, read our books and in general appreciate our art. In this book, you will find out how to turn your audience into raving fans that will help you spread the word about your work and will keep on supporting you no matter what.
“The Mailroom Hollywood History From The Bottom Up” by David Rensin – it is a fun read and a must-read for anyone who is planning to move to Hollywood.
“Peak. How All Of Us Can Achieve Extraordinary Things” by Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool – a scientific book that will give you a lot of examples of what all successful people do to become successful. It’s not one of that wishy-washy stuff but it’s based on years of data gathering and years of experimenting. It is mind-opening. A very inspiring read.
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