Top 10 Books on Cinematography and Filmmaking

Here are my Top 10 Books for learning Cinematography and Filmmaking.
There are a lot of books on cinematography and filmmaking, I put together this list of some of my favourites. There are even a couple that are meant more for photography that are incredibly useful for video work as well.
If you would like to be notified every time I upload a new video, subscribe to my channel and click the bell:
bit.ly/36hEbno
=============================
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Links marked as “PAID LINK” are affiliated.
Here are all of the books I mentioned in the video:
Parasite - Bong Joon Ho (PAID LINK)
UK amzn.to/3udHW7J
International amzn.to/2SezaJj
Studio Anywhere - Nick Fancher (PAID LINK)
UK amzn.to/2REB1XX
International amzn.to/3fGVXp8
SetLife - Mattew Webb (PAID LINK)
UK amzn.to/2TcYBvn
International www.setlifebook.com/
Film Directing Shot by Shot - Steven D. Katz (PAID LINK)
UK amzn.to/34ed4sY
International amzn.to/2TdS8QT
Screenplay The Foundations of Screenwriting (PAID LINK)
UK amzn.to/3hOF1Q7
International amzn.to/3fy60N6
The Photographers Eye - Michael Freeman (PAID LINK)
UK amzn.to/3ucqfW3
International amzn.to/2SimLUH
The Technique of Film and Video Editing - Ken Dancyger (PAID LINK)
UK amzn.to/2RFeABY
International amzn.to/3yAkogP
Lighting for Cinematography - David Landau (PAID LINK)
UK amzn.to/34nANHD
International amzn.to/3oPP896
Cinematography Theory and Practice - Blain Brown (PAID LINK)
UK amzn.to/3oJVJl7
International amzn.to/2SlH3Nf
Set Lighting technician's Handbook (PAID LINK)
UK amzn.to/3oHrKKI
International amzn.to/3fFKMx1
Honorary mention! This is the film/video version of the composition book I talked about in this video:
The Filmmaker's Eye: Learning (and Breaking) the Rules of Cinematic Composition (PAID LINK)
UK amzn.to/3fgerxM
International amzn.to/3fGPVoz
MY FAVOURITE EQUIPMENT:
🎬 All of my Kit - kit.co/danielgrindrod
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Introduction
00:14 Parasite
00:46 Studio Anywhere
01:29 SetLife
01:57 Film Directing
02:41 Screenplay
03:27 Photographers Eye
04:05 Film and Video Editing
05:05 Lighting
05:29 Theory and Practice
05:57 technician's Handbook
MY FREE! LIGHTING DIAGRAM OBJECTS:
💡For you to use to create your own Lighting Breakdowns - gum.co/XvkLC
OTHER THINGS I USE:
📚 MZed is my go-to learning resource outside of KZbin - bit.ly/35oT9c5
If you are interested in giving MZed Pro a try, this is my referral link. I will receive a small commission if you do decide to become a member and this goes towards supporting me and this channel, thank you!
I’M HERE AS WELL
🖥 My website / blog - www.danielgrindrod.com/
📸 Instagram - / danielgrindrod
🐦 Twitter - / dangrindrod
A BIT ABOUT ME!
🎥 I’m a UK- based Cinematographer and Video Producer, working in commercials, documentaries and music videos.
#CinematographyBooks #FilmmakingBooks #LearnFilmmaking
=============================
DISCLAIMERS
=============================
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites at no extra cost to you.

[@tuader]

I highly appreciate that you shared these books to your audience, I also love your enthusiasm. Great video!

[@davidrodgersphotography]

Thanks for sharing, I now have an expanded reading list 👍

[@danielgrindrod]

You're most welcome, I hope you find them useful!

[@Aviciiz]

In the blink of an eye” is missing. Great book about editing

[@christianholm5604]

Awesome! You deserve to have many, many more subscribers.

[@danielgrindrod]

Thank you! I hope the it was useful and I appreciate the support.

[@BW4EIRE]

Excellent! I only have one of these books. Will check out the others. Thanks!

[@danielgrindrod]

No problem, I hope you find them useful!

[@MattAitia]

Great list! I definitely need to get on some of these.

[@danielgrindrod]

Thanks Matt, I hope they’re useful!

[@ARISTOTL3333]

this is amazing , instead of being clueless anymore you provided me solutions with these books lol

[@danielgrindrod]

This is a great starting point, there are plenty out there. Far too many to fit in 1 video!

[@heshamabdelghany4685]

That is brilliant

[@hiteshsuthar1410]

Awesome video keep it up

[@danielgrindrod]

Thanks for the support!

[@BenVaserlan]

6:44 the MIRED calculation might be backwards. It should be Desired minus Source. That author might have copied Blain Brown's English error which contradicts Blain's maths. Blain has lots of typos in his book. He's better at maths than English.

[@LeopoldElwes]

Hello from Vorarlberg Austria 😄🇦🇹 I am not making films but i still thinking of it as a helpful set of tools i can apply parts of to my KZbin work. 😅 Got any advice on things that i should watch that is about run and gun film marking or low budget filming? 🤔 I think filming on the move is a challenge you should try out for yourself 😄 Kind regards Leopold 🤗

[@danielgrindrod]

There is lots of great material on KZbin for run and gun filmmaking, that's where I watch and learn most things. A lot of the work I do is very low budget, often I am the only crew involved working as a solo videographer. I have been thinking about doing some sort of vlog about when I'm working. Thank you for the suggestion 😃

[@LeopoldElwes]

@@danielgrindrod i would be really interested in that😁 it would be nice to see it in action 🤔

[@user-sm2rt1ye3l]

❤

[@rathuone3001]

Excellent video 👍😀 Can you suggest a book on blocking

[@danielgrindrod]

Thank you! 😀 I haven't come across a book yet that focuses mainly on blocking, but there are small sections in the "directing shot by shot" book that do.

[@rathuone3001]

@@danielgrindrod Thank you

[@JustinEspejo]

My amazon cart is in danger! 😂

[@danielgrindrod]

Ha! you should see mine on there!

[@slain1000]

I wish I knew this earlier when I had money saved🥲🥲🥲

[@parkerthibault2871]

Anyone recommend Studio Anywhere 2?

[@heshamabdelghany4685]

If im starting from scratch I need to learn video makinng to make videos for my products , which book should I start with?

[@Shivaang466]

story---screenplay---shot list........

[@Herowingss]

thanks i already have parasite

[@danielgrindrod]

No worries! Parasite is a great book, I wish there were more like it.

[@matthewjsparks]

The name's Box...Harry Box.

[@danielgrindrod]

I see what you did there!

[@AnwarAhmed01]

Why didn't you included in the blink of an eye by Walter Murch?

[@danielgrindrod]

This list was focused mainly towards cinematography and filmmaking in general. If it was more post production focused it would have been included I’m sure.

[@abhigyan2025]

I am from India and these books you mentioned are expensive as hell here 😢😢

[@apoorvmishra2857]

yes and I want to read a book that is in my budget. please tell me if you find any book of cinematography or filmmaking

[@BenVaserlan]

Story by Robert McKee is better than any Syd Field book. Field is formulaic.

[@danielgrindrod]

I'd argue both are worth reading if you're interested in screenwriting, along with save the cat of course.

[@dh1163]

I've seen a lot of top 10s-all different.