Books and apps

Books

Local libraries in Australia have a plethora of books on filmmaking. Our friend's at MyState Film Festival's favourites include:

Filmmaking for Teens: Pulling off Your Shorts Series, by Troy Lanier (published by Ingram Pub Services, February 2010). This guide takes young, would-be filmmakers from the moment of inspiration to a finished short film and beyond. Young amateurs-in-training learn everything they need to become the writer/producer/director of their first short film. The book also offers information on how to make money from the online video revolution.

Making Short Films, by Clifford Thurlow (published by Bloomsbury USA Academic, July 2013). A complete guide to short filmmaking, from script to screen.

Cracking Animation, by Peter Lord and Brian Sibley (published by Thames and Hudson, 2010). A unique guide to making your own 3D (or stop-action) animation, from the creators of the wildly successful Wallace and Gromit films and Chicken Run.

Filmmaking for Kids—Kids’ Filmmaking from beginning to end, by Christiana Hart (published by ShortFilmIdea.com, July 2013). This excellent guide, for children aged nine and under, simplifies the filmmaking process for little filmmakers. Written in a way that children and their parents (and teachers) can easily understand, Filmmaking for Kids teaches children how to go out and make a film in a weekend.

The Basics of Filmmaking Series, by Robert Edgar, John Marland, Steven Rawle (published by AVA Publishing). This series offers a lively and accessible introduction to the key concepts and techniques of the filmmaking discipline. Each book is packed with real examples from students and professionals, and is beautifully illustrated with clear diagrams and inspiring imagery. The series offers an essential, practical exploration of filmmaking.

Apps

Finding and using the right apps can make life a whole lot easier for filmmaking students (and their teachers). There are apps available for video editing, special effects, adding text and animations, time lapse and many, many more. Check out these suggestions to get you started: