Storyboarding & Film Books


I think one of the common misconceptions about my professional work is that it's about painting and drawing. That IS the technical means I'm using, but really, I see it as "communicating through visuals."

When framed that way, it's easier for someone to understand why I have several books on film, screenwriting, and story listed here: they are frequently using the same methods!

These books have been very useful to me over the years. Enjoy.


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Story

Robert McKee

Ostensibly a book about screenwriting, but really it's a book about ANY kind of visual storytelling from children's books, to cartoons. A bit didactic in parts, but I found it very useful.

$$-$$$

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Film Directing: Shot by Shot

Steven Katz

A really solid "textbook" on how to "direct" a film. I use the quotes because the same thinking applies to static pictures in many ways as well. Also an excellent text for learning about storyboards.

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The Art of Fiction

John Gardner

A concise, clear, and thoughtful text on writing. It's a classic text for a reason, and a lot of his insights apply equally well to any art form.

$

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The 5 C's of Cinematography

Victor Mascelli

I don't refer to this book much now, but when I was first learning about visual storytelling as a teenager, I found it very helpful, especially with staging a picture.

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Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life

Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston

The textbook for Disney-style animation. Written by the guys who were doing the work.

$$$$

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Writing Down the Bones

Natalie Goldberg

A very helpful book, almost like a series of meditations on the writing process. Like Gardner's book, many of the exercises would work equally well as visual art exercises too!

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Price Code:

$ = Under $15
$$ = $15 to $30

$$$ = $30 to $60

$$$$ = Over $60

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