Project Reviews

Project #35 – Read On Directing Film (Review)

At barely over 100 pages, On Directing Film is an even quicker read than I had anticipated.  With that said, Mamet’s straight-to-the-point style helps to share a number of great ideas, even if not all of them will work all of the time.

The main concept I picked up from the book is that, as a director, you want everything as simple as possible.  The way the film is set up, particularly the juxtaposition between two shots, will inform the audience of what is happening.  That means the shots, the setup, and even the acting, should be simplified so that the cuts and images will come through to the audience.