The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide: A Down & Dirty DV Production,   ISBN:9780240809359

Customer Rating: 

This book has definitely inspired me to get out and get it done! Anthony Artis dispenses with the mumble jumble that traditionally bogs down newbie film makers and drives the point home, GET OUT THERE AND MAKE THE MOVIE! The tips and tricks from the people who have walked the path you're starting on now means that your learning curve won't be as steep (or expensive) as theirs. And while Shut Up & Shoot is no 'hold your hand' type book, it covers everything you need to see your project through the entire production pipeline. A must read for new film makers or those who must teach new film makers. All the information is logically and concisely presented and is easily understandable. Remember, "It doesn't take money to make a movie, it takes resources." Anthony Q. Artis

Customer Rating: 

This is a no-nonsense guide to producing documentaries with "any budget, any camera, any time." In addition to page after page of in-depth instruction, it's also full of pictures, illustrations, and diagrams that very much make producing documentaries clear and accessible. Granted, much of the advice is stuff I learned at the Defense Information School when I was trained to do my job as an Army Broadcaster. But the book is also proof that no matter how much you think you know, there's plenty more you can learn from others... especially from a guy like Artis, who has been making documentaries for years.

Customer Rating: 

The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide: A Down and Dirty DV production offers the basics on making documentary films, using a light yet direction conversational manner for filmmakers ready to actually shoot a production. From camerawork and lighting to gathering a crew and shooting, this packs in tips on making a high-quality production and is a 'must' for any collection catering to filmmakers.

Customer Rating: 

What a great book! And how filmmaking has changed since the days when I was in film school, forbidden to shoot anything in video.

Today the tools of filmmaking are available to everyone. Artis knows what its like to be an aspiring filmmaker with a limited-to-none budget. He shows how to do it--how to get your resources together, how to plan and make your film, and the many possible ways for indie filmmakers today to get their work seen.

This is a terrific book that should be a basic text in every film school.

Customer Rating: 

I am a self taught video maker and I was looking for a book about documentary making as it is what I'd like to do next. This is exactly the book I needed. The author runs down all the steps (from preproduction to distribution) and generously shares all of these things he obviously learned first hand. Each step (camera setup, lighting, sound recording as well as budget planning or crew hiring) are detailed and the information apply to the beginner as well as the advanced documentary maker. More importantly, the book brings the beginner enough knowledge to get going, start shooting and learn by doing which seems to be the best way to progress. If you're starting out, grab this book and you will not regret it. For a more detailed review, you can check out the wwangle blog.