Ali is a seriously underrated film. This video looks at how Mann(and the rest of the creative team) use the tools of cinema to create a unique and rounded supporting character, Drew "Bundini" Brown.

This great article by Bilge Ebiri is what made me rewatch Ali - [ Ссылка ]

Book Recommendations


If you like any of my videos here’s a bunch of the best books I’ve ever read about filmmaking.

Some of these books aren’t about filmmaking directly, some of these books aren’t even books.

(Affiliate links - please consider buying through these links. This helps me keep making films and film related stuff)



The Visual Story - Bruce Block
This book is about how the different elements of a moving picture; lines, shapes, colours, movement etc can be used to convey emotion in a story. This is a brilliant book with concepts I’ve never read anywhere else and certainly not all in the one place.

1st Edition Amazon US - [ Ссылка ]
2nd Edition Amazon US - [ Ссылка ]
3rd Edition Amazon US - [ Ссылка ]

3rd Edition Amazon UK - [ Ссылка ]


Impro - Keith Johnstone
Keith Johnstone sort of invented improv comedy. He learned story telling the best way, he went out night after night in front of an audience and saw what worked and what didn’t.

Amazon US - [ Ссылка ]
Amazon UK - [ Ссылка ]


Picture this: How Pictures work - Molly Bang
This is a cool little book. It shows in a simple visual way how objects in a frame have weight and they can be used to effect the emotion of the viewer(or not)

Amazon US - [ Ссылка ]
Amazon UK - [ Ссылка ]



Directing Actors and The Film Directors Intuition - Judith Weston

I did some courses with Judith back when you still could. She now works as an acting consultant on massive films like The Revenant. These books is a great path to learning how to help actors give great performances as a director.

Amazon US (Directing Actors) - [ Ссылка ]
Amazon US (Film Director’s Intuition) - [ Ссылка ]
Amazon UK - (Directing Actors) [ Ссылка ]
Amazon UK - (Film Director’s Intuition) [ Ссылка ]


Writing Dialogue for Scripts - Rib Davis
There are soooooo many scriptwriting books. This one is unique in that it focuses just on writing dialogue which is something other books ignore

Amazon US - [ Ссылка ]
Amazon UK - [ Ссылка ]

The Chair (TV Show)
Two young directors are given the same script and go out to make their version of it. If you don’t understand how much impact a director’s voice can have on project you’ll see it here.

Amazon US - [ Ссылка ]
Amazon UK - N/A


The Sopranos Script Book
You’ve got to read scripts and what better ones to read. Has a great little intro from David Chase too. With the finest response ever to an actor saying “My character wouldn’t do that….”

Amazon US - [ Ссылка ]
Amazon UK - [ Ссылка ]


Film Directing Fundamentals - Nicholas T Proferes
This is almost like a “how to direct” textbook and I mean that in a good way. Starts with ways to break down a script and then how you can apply these ideas to a visual medium. Also has the simplest explanation of how the 180 line rule works.

Amazon US - [ Ссылка ]
Amazon UK - [ Ссылка ]


Film Art an Introduction - David Bordwell and Kirstin Thompson
Reading this from cover to cover takes a month. There is so much in here that I’ve never come across anywhere else. (You’ll also see where the Every Frame a Painting guy got inspiration for some of his early videos)

Amazon US - [ Ссылка ]
Amazon UK - [ Ссылка ]


Bird by Bird - Annie Lamott
This is a writing book that doesn’t have anything to do with teaching you how to write. It’s about the journey and life of being a writer.

Amazon US - [ Ссылка ]
Amazon UK - [ Ссылка ]

Backwards and Forwards - David Ball
This is a book about analysing stage plays as a director. But almost everything in it applies to film scripts. A director should know the script better than anyone and this is a great guide to the work that will get you there.

Amazon US - [ Ссылка ]
Amazon UK - [ Ссылка ]



Making Movies - Sidney Lumet
How Sidney Lumet is not a better know name I don’t know. He directed so many classics. This is proper advice from an actual great filmmaker dealing with the reality of filmmaking.
Amazon US - [ Ссылка ]
Amazon UK - [ Ссылка ]




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