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Theatre and Digital Filmmaking

A guide to resources for theatre and digital filmmaking classes

"I just want to wander the shelves looking for a book..."

Sometimes, it's nice to just wander the shelves looking for just the right book, flipping through to gauge the contents. The book collection is organized according to Library of Congress Call Numbers. Where to start?

Copyright-free Resources

"What can I use and what can't I use?!" Because the videos produced in this class will be shown to the public, you want to avoid using intellectual property that is covered under copyright or that would require you to pay royalties. For instance, you better believe you can't take a clip out of an Avengers movie. Even a performance of a musical work that is hundreds of years old can be covered by copyright because it has been interpreted by contemporary musicians. Just because something is on the internet does not mean it is free to use. Not to despair! More and more works are being covered under Creative Commons, which means their creators have said that others can use them in different ways. To learn more about the different licenses, click here. You can also search the Creative Commons website through the link below.

A Selection of Filmmaking Books from the Golden Library

Blueprint for Screenwriting

A practical tool for any writer, this distinctive resource: *offers a blueprint for writers to follow, breaking the writing process down into specific, easy-to-follow steps; *stresses the psychology of the characters as well as that of the writer; and *offers first-hand knowledge of the screenwriting process and gives practical advice for completing and marketing scripts.

Intro to Screenwriting

This book explains how fundamental storytelling principles apply to visual film-making then marches through standard formatting or appearance of a screenplay, thinking plot in cinematic structure, creating dramatic characters and writing multi-layered dialogue along with succinct, vivid narrative. You will be introduced to book-to-film adaptation techniques, Industry jargon, many resources, and essential professional tools like Log Line and the one-page Synopsis.

Blueprint for Screenwriting

Starting with the story's framework, Dr. Ballon helps readers to understand the key "building blocks" of story structure and character development, including characters' emotional and psychological states, story conflicts, and scene and act structure. She also covers the essential components in the script writing process, such as outlines, script treatments, synopses, and formats.

Screenwriting

Screenwriting: Step by Step is user-friendly basic introduction to successful screenwriting for the student and novice screenwriter. The text covers twelve steps to good screenwriting. It teaches students how to choose a theme, establish a central conflict and write a story that works as drama. The book is divided into two sections: "First Steps" which teaches students the essentials of writing drama; and "Next Steps" which teaches the essentials of writing drama expressly for film.

Screenwriting Secrets in Genre Film

After a succinct review of fundamentals, eleven cinematic concept divisions are examined then exemplified in eleven movie genres. Some areas are the do's and don'ts of plotting, scene structure and sequencing, subplot development, characterization for Character Arc and casting, succinct dialogue, and importance of visuals. The essential needs of the genres outlined include Mystery, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Comedy, Juvenile, Horror, Romance, Western, Historical, Action-Adventure, and Inspirational. Exercises are intended to motivate readers to write beyond formula yet maintain appeal to audience expectations.

Celtx

This is a beginner's guide - a hand-holding fun ride with step-by-step instructions and illustrative screenshots.If you want to write a professional script or screenplay using the open source tool Celtx, this book is for you.

Short Films

Every award-winning short film begins its life with a clever idea, a good story and a screenplay. Patrick Nash here analyses the process of writing short film screenplays and gives advice on story and structure, idea generation, plot and pace, screenplay format, character motivation and goals, cliches and stereotypes, hooking the viewer, rewriting and much more. The book also includes a number of award-winning scripts and interviews, advice and contributions from award-winning screenwriters and a discussion of the benefits to writing a short screenplay.

1,000 Incredible Costume and Cosplay Ideas

1,000 Incredible Costume and Cosplay Ideas provides a broad and detailed glimpse into the ingenious artistry and attention to detail behind some of the most fabulous costumes you can find. Featuring costumes from popular convention-goers to professional craftsman, this stunning, photo-filled book by Joey Marsocci and Allison DeBlasio of Dr. Grymm Laboratories walks you through scads of your favorite characters as imagined and created by fans.

Props and Costume Armor

In this book, master prop maker Shawn Thorsson uses his unique blend of humor and insight to turn years of painful experience into detailed explanations. He'll show you many of the tools, methods, and processes that you can use to create professional-looking science fiction and fantasy props and armor. Basic fabrication methods using inexpensive, commonly-available tools and materials. Simple, low-cost methods to make foam armor out of easy-to-find foam mats.

The Green Screen Handbook

Step-by-step instruction and time-saving tips cover matting and keying basics; lighting and digital camera essentials; setups using fabric, portable background panels, and paint; broadcast TV hardware switchers; professional HD and major motion picture compositing; multi-colored screen composites; directing storyboards and talent; working with virtual sets; motion tracking; and much more. Additionally, this new edition has been updated to include: Coverage of the latest digital camera technologies, lighting gear, and compositing and editing software Advice on using apps for portable devices that will help you light and shoot better green screen

Lighting for Cinematography

Written by veteran gaffer and cinematographer David Landau, the book helps the reader create lighting that supports the emotional moment of the scene, contributes to the atmosphere of the story and augments an artistic style. Structured to mimic a 14 week semester, the chapters cover such things as lighting for movement, working with windows, night lighting, lighting the three plains of action and non-fiction lighting.

VES Handbook of Visual Effects

The book covers techniques and solutions all VFX artists/producers/supervisors need to know, from breaking down a script and initial bidding, to digital character creation and compositing of both live-action and CG elements.

Designing Sound

A practitioner's guide to the basic principles of creating sound effects using easily accessed free software. Designing Sound teaches students and professional sound designers to understand and create sound effects starting from nothing.

Premiere Elements 8 for Dummies

This book is for the beginning video editor who is eager to get started using the vast array of tools that Adobe Premiere Elements offers. Veteran author Keith Underdahl covers all the essentials of using Adobe Premiere Elements 8 to import video, create clips, put those clips together, add effects, work with sound and music, and output to DVD or the Internet.

The Art of Motion Picture Editing

Learn how to use images and sound to tell a motion picture story. This guide reveals how editing affects a motion picture's pace, rhythm, structure, and story, and spells out exactly what an editor does. The tools, methods, and processes of movie editing in any medium are revealed so that readers working with film, video, or digital equipment can apply the principles to all their work, from studio theatrical releases to short works for the Internet.