On Film-making: An Introduction to the Craft of the Director

The book is great. The delivery of the book by Amazon is terrible

I'm not huge on film books...it's hard to find good ones. Most are either too technical or too snobbish. But this book is great. I read it in two days. MacKendrick has a humorous but nurturing tone in his writing that makes the book an easy read. There are some great tips and advice in it, both in terms of story and directing. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will definitely take it out to re-read parts in the future.

This book got stellar reviews and Martin Scorsese writes a glowing preface. I appreciate Mackendrick's advice but wish the content were a little more comprehensive. We get bits and pieces, anecdotes, into the art of screenwriting and directing. The book was edited together, post mortem, from Mackendrick's notes on the craft of filmmaking, and the seams show. The content is good but fragmentary. The book is somewhat like reading the pre-socratic philosophers--a great deal of wisdom but not much coherence or development. On Filmmaking seems best, not as an introduction to the craft as advertised, but as a secondary or tertiary reference for an emerging filmmaker.

When Sandy MacKenrick told my CalArts MFA Thesis committee that my thesis film script was, "long, much too long, and very much too long" and, "doomed to never be completed", I was shocked and terrified. Sandy was one of the most brilliant and irritating people ever to tell a story or to browbeat an egotistical young film student. His films and lectures convey that contradiction -- his every work is a pearl. If you were not lucky enough to get Sandy's notes while at CalArts, you must buy this book. Odds are good, you won't have the genius of Sandy MacKendrick, but you will appreciate how much you could grow as you strive to attain what he found so simple. I was proud to invite Sandy to the first screening of my thesis film, "Pirate's Dagger", and it still hurts that he was too ill to attend. I wouldn't have gotten it done without his special form of encouragement.

On Film-Making by Mackendrick should be on every filmmakers, both director's and screenwriters, as well as actors short lists of must reads. It is essentially a Masters Thesis by a Master. So rewarding, timeless and resonant. I wish that I had read it 20 years ago, before I made my first film. If you ever wished that you had studied film at CalArts, read this book.

This is a great book for teaching how to become a director. I took a lot of notes I would recommend this for beginners.

The book is just as described, but it arrived on the very last day it could for acceptable delivery. I ordered it for Christmas and it did not make it in time. The son I bought it for was no longer in AZ so I had to pay twice to ship it, cause I had to send it to New York where he lives. But the seller was allowed weeks to send it and I did get it within that time frame. My son loves the book and that is all that matters

One of the best books if you want to understand the crux of filmmaking and establish a career in the field. The book is supported with several examples and definitely an interesting read. It throws information with logic soooo makes reading it more understandable and relatable.

If you only ever buy one book on filmmaking then this is it. If you need a second then try Steven D Katz "Shot by Shot." These are the most useful books on filmmaking that I've come across since 2006 and I read lots on the subject regularly. However other complimentary books such as Judith Weston - "Directing Actors" can also be handy. If unsure check out the content of the book "On Film-making" from your local University library to help you make up your mind on buying it. Well, University libraries (if asked nicely) will allow access to general members of public with proof of ID (e.g. utility bills, passports etc) but may not allow you to borrow the book or make photocopies of it if you are not a student in that institution. Hence this is just an excercise to help you take your time reading various books at leisure before you commit your hard earned cash to it. Anyway, this is how I discovered McKendrick's On Film-making plus various quality books on the subject including those mentioned above then I go to Amazon and buy with confidence because I already have very clear idear of the book content and quality. And your local public library are unlikely to stock these quality books hence do find a University library or local bookstore - take a good read and head to Amazon for good deals for the book(s) you like. Good luck and I hope this info has helped at least one person out there.

Muy buen libro,el contenido es claro e ilustrativo,el envío fue rápido,el único inconveniente fue el embalaje venía en un sobre de DHL con espuma, llegó bien el libro salvó un pequeño golpe en la esquina del lomo del libro por el resto de cosas ,todo estuvo en perfectas condiciones ,el material y la textura del libro da muy buenas sensaciones de que es un libro de calidad.

Just watched his famous noir movie Sweet Smell of Success. What an intricate cineastic language, highly recommended for movie students and practitioners.

Alexander Mackendrick was a master. The book is very helpful If you want to understand "the process".