Shooting Movies is the book for all those film enthusiasts who can't get on a professional set or can't undertake studies at an expensive film school. The book approaches the subject of cinematography from a "hands-on, in the trenches" viewpoint, as though the reader were an apprentice on the set. It's a book about learning to shoot a film without making an idiot of yourself and wasting lots of time and money. It's a book about how to take artistic inspiration and make it a reality. A breezy writing style mixed with practical, interactive exercises geared for both film and video give filmmakers the experience they need to take their work to the next level. Beginning with fundamental techniques and concepts of cinematography, the author shares his many years of experience with the reader, imparting invaluable advice and guidance on how to avoid common pitfalls, and more importantly, learn from mistakes. . Provides a mentorship-in-a-book approach not found any of the other technical guides to cinematography, using both film and video exercises . Written for filmmakers working on a budget . Unique exercises throughout the book provide the reader with an interactive experience that will give them a higher level of expertise and will improve the quality of their shooting, lighting, and reel--all on a budget . Learn the realty of filmmaking from the cinematographer's perspective . Companion website showcases video samples, visual demonstrations of the exercises in the book, and further video explanations of the concepts that are better explained visually.