5 Books to Read if You're Starting a Film Degree

Everyone knows that there are lists and lists of stuff out there for people like you, starting your degree in film. Everyone knows that there are films you "should" watch repeatedly if you are studying a degree in film. Everyone knows that there are some film theories that you must by all means, know if you're about to start a degree in film. But, what people rarely discuss is the books that you can read to further your knowledge of the subject. Some people think that film is simply about watching films and writing about them. As someone who majored in film for their MA, I can tell you that this is not the case and that film is a lot more complicated than that. Let me quickly explain:

Take film as a medium, or sub-medium of literature. It goes like this: literature > theatre > film. From literature, you can study Shakespeare and Co. who are playwrights. From Shakespeare and Co. you can study Tarantino and Friends, who are filmmakers (provided that Tarantino still has friends). Books are all important to studying film as are your scripts as are your films. Books on film can teach you so much and I have managed, through the plethora that I have, to narrow this list down to five must-haves in your film library of books.

Your literature is also important for citation. You'll be writing essays and articles on film and will be required to cite reliable and well-written sources. You don't just want some review off IMDB, you want some theory, some analytics, some data and most importantly of all, the techniques themselves that are used in the filmmaking process.

Last of all, you want to make sure that you read widely. If you're studying a particular director's filmography (for example: I briefly looked at avant-garde production in the films of Derek Jarman) you will want to read widely around that particular director. If you want a list for this, then I suggest taking that up with your lecturer. This will be a list about your start-off literature. All the theory, the basics and the best books to read when beginning your road to filmmaking. Here we are:

5. Film Theory: The Basics by Kevin McDonald

This book is pretty small and only goes through the essential basics. It is brilliant though as a good starting point for branching out. It makes everything quite small and easy to digest through its lack of over-explaining and the main thing I liked about this book is that I could read it and then, based on the cited literature—choose what to read further into without having to wade through pages and pages of analysis on things I didn't really require at that moment. If you're struggling to find out what you want to concentrate on in film then you can really get yourself started with this book.

4. Film Theory by Robert Stam

This one is aimed at film and literature. So if you're studying literary theory and philosophies of film then this one could do you some good. It primarily looks at how film theory translates from paper to screen. Like number three, it applies the theory and makes it easy to understand for students who are still at the beginning of their discipline. It was another one of my personal favourites over the years and had a profound effect on some of my essays.

3. Critical Visions in Film Theory by Timothy Corrigan et. al

This book was one that I read over and over again throughout my film study times. I loved it because it really gets in depth about the theories of film and shows how they are put into practice through various case studies throughout the book. It looks at not only how films have changed over the years but also at how film theory has changed due to the way we watch movies and audience responses over the last three decades. It is such an amazing book that you're sure to have a great time with it if you choose to add it to your collection!

2. How to Read a Film by James Monaco

A great source of film, this book teaches you how to "read" a film as if it were a book. It teaches you about critiquing a film properly based on how well it showcases its various themes, symbols and images throughout the picture. It also teaches you how to "read" a film for social critique messages and values that it portrays, what it says about the filmmaker and how it has an overall impact on the culture it was made for. Take into account the legacy of the film and whether it counts as historical (over 30 years old) or not. A brilliant book as your next read, this one could stay with you through to your career as a filmmaker.

1. Film Studies: An Introduction by Ed Sikov

Something I used in my A-Levels and beyond, Ed Sikov's Film Studies introduction book is the absolute basic necessity of film and filmmaking. To be honest, I still flick through it now and mine is desecrated with notes and drawings, doodling and comic strips I drew of film scenes I wanted to make. This book takes you through each section of the filmmaking thought process and you will definitely make such good use of this, I can feel you buying it right now. Trust me, as someone who read this book over and over for over six years, I think I know a thing or two about it.