The IFILM Digital Video Filmmaker's Handbook

I have purchased and read dozens of books about digital filmmaking and low budget filmmaking and Collier's book is undoubtedly one of the most comprehensive. The book covers everything from film basics to an excellent explantion of digital production and post production technology and technics. I learned alot just reading the very informative glossary.

I have to agree with the review below that it is not the best edited book but the writing is excellent. I was impressed with the personal and inspiring tone of the book. Unlike one of the other digital filmmaking book I recently read (Digital Moviemaking by Scott Billups), this book is a great read. And, Collier's book cost less and comes with a DVD. (The DVD was kind of boring, but it has some real handy production forms on it that you can print out on your computer.)

While I'm a fan of other filmmaking books such as Feature Filmmaking at Used Car Prices (Rick Schmidt's classic), Collier's book covers digital technology far more thoroughly. If there is a better digital filmmaking book available, somebody PLEASE let me know the title and I'll order that one as well. Otherwise, the IFILM Digital Video Filmmaker's Handbooks gets my vote.


Book review from BOOKWATCH   June 12, 2001
12 out of 15 found this review helpful

Ably edited by Scott Smith, the IFILM Digital Video Filmmaker's Handbook is a complete "how-to" instructional guide for digital filmmaking and covers all creative and technical aspects of pre-production, lighting, digital video, editing, post-production, distribution and exhibition. An essential, core title for personal, professional and film school library collections, The IFILM Digital Video Filmmaker's Handbook is enhanced with an accompanying and invaluable DVD of filmmaking resources.


A complete "how to" instruction guide for digital filmmaking   June 7, 2001
Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA)
8 out of 10 found this review helpful

Ably edited by Scott Smith, Maxie Collier's The iFilm Digital Video Filmmaker's Handbook is a complete "how to" instruction guide for digital filmmaking and covers all creative and technical aspects of pre-production, lighting, digital video, editing, post-production, distribution and exhibition. An essential, core title for personal, professional, and film school library reference collections, The iFilm Digital Video Filmmaker's Handbook is enhanced with an accompanying and invaluable DVD of filmmaking resources.


Almost Perfect   February 5, 2002
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

I have to give Maxie 5 stars, because this truly is one of the most concise yet simple-to-read books on the subject of DV. I had only one major complaint though; Maxie makes a comparative anylasis of PCs vs Macs by comparing Mac OS to Windows 95 - and this book was published last year! Windows 95?? Come on Maxie! WinNT, Win2k and WinXP Pro are by far the standards for DV on the PC platform, and Maxie just doesn't do the PC fair in his argument.


Did You Honestly Read This Book?   February 27, 2002
Andrea Clark (Atlanta, GA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

We used Maxie's book as a textbook for an introduction to digital moviemaking class I took last semester. I finished reading the book the first week of class, it was so easy to read! When we started shooting our short films, most of the people in the class had the book on set with them. The glossary alone is filled with useful information. Out of more than 20 people in the class, there was never one complaint about the book. I think the teacher is using it again this semester. I leant my copy to a friend who ended up buying her own copy. I highly recommend this book.